Rewriting a home’s history in Pasadena

December 13, 2024 by Miller Sanford

Rather than try to make their home look more contemporary, Andrea and Sean Moriarty have taken their Spanish Revival further back in time, lending a sense of the past that goes beyond the structures actual years. Here, Andrea Moriarty looks on as mural installer Michael Baughman, far left, and painter Dan Gallagher prepare a 300-square-foot mosaic for its eventual place into the homes library. Also in Home & Garden • An eclectic renovation • Cliff May's imprint • Venice Garden & Home Tour backyards • Eye Candy: Home & Garden Photo Galleries

Rather than try to make their home look more contemporary, Andrea and Sean Moriarty have taken their Spanish Revival further back in time, lending a sense of the past that goes beyond the structures actual years. Here, Andrea Moriarty looks on as mural installer Michael Baughman, far left, and painter Dan Gallagher prepare a 300-square-foot mosaic for its eventual place into the homes library.

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• (David Sprague / For The Times)

Rather than try to make their home look more contemporary, Andrea and Sean Moriarty have taken their Spanish Revival further back in time, lending a sense of the past that goes beyond the structures actual years. Here, Andrea Moriarty looks on as mural installer Michael Baughman, far left, and painter Dan Gallagher prepare a 300-square-foot artwork for its eventual place in the homes library.

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Moriarty Spanish Revival home

Michael Baughman applies paste to the ceiling of the 1921 house.

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• (David Sprague / For The Times)

Moriarty Spanish Revival home

Michael Baughman and Dan Gallagher affix the mural, which is based on an 1890s mosaic in the Boston Public Library.

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• (David Sprague / For The Times)

Moriarty Spanish Revival home

Gallagher, shown here with the finished artwork, sought advice from North Hollywood muralist Martin Charlot, son of Jean Charlot, a founding member of the Mexican mural renaissance in the 1920s and the man whom Diego Rivera credited for reviving and refining the fresco technique in that country. I wanted to do something special for this family, Gallagher says, something that talked about their love of books and life.

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• (David Sprague / For The Times)

Moriarty Spanish Revival home

The Moriartys looked for other ways to give their house a sense of history. The couple recently finished an old sleeping porch, making the once-flat roof vaulted and lining it with tongue-and-groove ash. African ribbon mahogany beams were inlaid red padauk. Gallagher applied metallic Venetian plaster to the walls.

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• (David Sprague / For The Times)

Moriarty Spanish Revival home

A detail of the sleeping porchs beams has a new touch of the old.

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• (David Sprague / For The Times)

Moriarty Spanish Revival home

The living room has one of four Batchelder tile fireplaces in the house.

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• (David Sprague / For The Times)

Moriarty Spanish Revival home

The Batchelder tile gives a sense of place and history.

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• (David Sprague / For The Times)

Moriarty Spanish Revival home

The exterior of the Moriartys’ 5,500-square-foot home.

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• (David Sprague / For The Times)