A&C In AZ: A Southwest Slice of the Arts & Crafts Style

A photo essay and Arts & Crafts adventure visiting the historic and the new interpretation

by Kate Nixon

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It was safe to say that I needed a break. After planning and executing February’s annual show and conference, caregiving, and taking on additional remote work, the last week of February left me a new level of exhausted. The kind that needed a summer experience out of state — and into the sun — to get my spirit up and moving again.

I decided it was time for an adventure back west and back to my home state of California to visit some childhood friends. And yet I felt the need to experience some SouthWest flavor. After hearing some good things about Arizona and remembering an Arts and Crafts event was held in an historic site in Flagstaff, I organized a pit stop in Arizona and got immersed in the Arts and Crafts style.

Flagstaff, AZ – The historic Riordan Family Mansion

 

I arrived on a mid-May afternoon in Flagstaff, Arizona.  Fresh off a plane, I grabbed a car rental and headed to my first stop: the historic Riordan Family mansion created by Charles Whittlesey, the architect responsible for the El Tovar Hotel in the Grand Canyon, for Flagstaff logging company owners and brothers Timothy and Michael Riordan. The forty-room double mansion and 13,000 square foot site, now classified as a state historic park, housed a fantastic selection of L and J.G. Stickley – and the occasional Charles Stickley – furniture, Louis Tiffany lighting, and oh the Harvey Ellis inlays.

 

 

The Arts and Crafts style architecture make the house one of the finest Craftsman style houses in Arizona — and the interiors are enough to delight the most ardent Arts & Crafts enthusiast. Walking inside, one really does feel immersed in the style as the house is a museum dedicated to preserving many examples of Arts & Crafts furniture in well-maintained detail, original wallpaper, Arts & Crafts lighting —  and arranging all pieces as close to historic accuracy as possible. The black and white photos were a reminder of the house in its 1900s heyday, but I couldn’t help but get sucked into my own personal game of furniture detective, going from room to room trying to identify at first glance. Needless to say, it’s a good idea to brush up on furniture details. But I did identify a few sets of chairs right away.

 

 

Harvey Ellis inlays. Can’t miss them!! This lovely set in the main house and a few others in the house — and even more in the visitor’s center had me crouching to check the fine detailing and admiring the Art Nouveau motifs in person. Oh the craftsmanship… I realized that it was actually my first time seeing them up close in a house setting. To see them in a museum is great, to see them in a house setting shown off to adoring collectors? Wonderful. It has to be said — I do LOVE a Harvey Ellis inlay.

 

 

 

 

My game of furniture detective continued into the office as a very familiar style greeted me. While I was used to seeing this chair in an office, I guessed Stickley and of course I heard the follow up “Which one?” Of course, shame on me. While I am wracking my brain trying to remember, I believe she did say it is a Charles Stickley chair.

And what about the desk? Couldn’t say Stickley on that, but my mind drew a blank. I clumsily blamed my post-flight haze. She said “Let’s open it and find out!”

No doubt some of you collectors are waving your hands in the air and saying “It’s obvious!!”

 

 

Tobey Furniture — of course. Clearly I have some re-reading of my catalogs to accomplish.

Moving on to the living room and upstairs to the bedrooms, I noticed a few examples of dresses and suits on display. I love some good ol’ Early 20th century fashion – and enviable during the summer season since quality linen and cotton clothes can be pricey. I have a new appreciation for textiles, and considering how puffed sleeves came back into style in the late 2010s, it’s nice to see some original models here.

And oh the lace…

 

 

Lastly, the wallpaper… I love a good wallcovering and it helped that there were both historic and reproduction samples here. This sample is called the blue “buckeye tree” design and is most likely from the 1920s. The Buckeye is a small deciduous tree common to the Midwest, which produces a rough-hulled nut visible in the wallpaper design. New replicated blue “buckeye” design wallpaper produced by Bradbury and Bradbury Co. of San Francisco, was installed over the entire west wall with the exception of an 18” square framed area showing the 1904 “flower” motif wallpaper originally beneath the blue wallpaper.

 

After chatting for two hours and meandering around the house — and at the gift shop — I left feeling connected to the style and reassured that this treasured Arts & Crafts house with a history, and its wonderful collection inside, are all well looked after and in good hands. The preservation of historic houses has always been essential in supporting the revival of this movement.  With the Riordan Mansion offering opportunities year-round to be surrounded by the style, it’s safe to say that an A&C jewel continues to shine in Flagstaff.

 

I’ll leave this video here if you want a video on what I saw… if you see this impressive house in Flagstaff, say hi to Nikki and tell her Kate sent ya!

 

 

 

Sedona, AZ – El Portal hotel

Lovingly pairing the Arts & Crafts with SouthWest history

 

 

I continued on to the wellness escape and perfect spot for rest, relaxation and therapy among the Red Rocks: Sedona, Arizona. After hearing about this boutique Arts and Crafts oasis in this hip and iconic Southwest wellness hub, I figured it would be worth my while. Perhaps it was the May weather, not blazing hot yet, offering a lovely balance of light warmth without discomfort, but I was still grateful for the shade and the generous use of plants, flowers, and natural ambience. It was truly a lovely day as tourists came in droves to visit the nearby Tlaquepacque Arts and Crafts village for fine art gallery shopping, but I was planting myself into a wooden adirondack for a few minutes to sip my bottled water and listen to the world.

 

 

On my way inside, I noticed a sign that was a semi-familiar sight if you’re seeking dinner in downtown Asheville. A red 2026 Michelin sign: pretty exciting for a small hotel dedicated to this style. Walking inside, I was immediately greeted with the unmistakable look of the Craftsman style.

 

 

 

From the themed rooms (The Greene and Greene, The Arts and Crafts, and The Hile among them) to seeing the Arts and Crafts style everywhere on both floors, it was a loving tribute, pairing the style with southwest reminders everywhere. I must have walked both floors for a good 45 minutes taking in the atmosphere of a small hotel that was made by collectors and supporters of the movement. After talking with the woman at the front desk, I found out that the owners of the hotel built their own Arts and Crafts masterpiece nearby – they call it the Greene house.

After being on cloud nine and upon asking permission, I got to add my own little touch to the lobby. So thank you Steve, Connie and the employees of El Portal for indulging an Arts and Crafts fan girl and for giving us beauty in Sedona!

Take a look at the rooms of the El Portal.