Territorial houses are usually constructed of brick or adobe, sometimes stuccoed over. The walls form a parapet and the flat roof will be set down eight inches to a foot. Territorial design is simple and includes arched portals leading to shady covered patios, front, back (or both) extending the length of the home, often roofed with mission tile.
 

These houses are based on traditional Native American pueblos. Typically made of frame/stucco or block stucco construction, they are softened by rounded corners and edges and wood lintels over the windows and doors. They will have high ceilings, often wooden or saguaro ribbed. These ceilings will be supported by large round beams called vigas which extend to the outside. Santa Fe interiors often have partial walls 4-5 feet high with niches built in. The interior edges will also be rounded. Very often the floors will be finished with saltillo tile. These houses will have flat parapet roofs.
 

Ranch houses are rectangular in shape, have pitched, composition shingle roofs, with overhangs to shade the walls and windows. Construction is usually of slump block, brick, adobe, or frame stucco. They are always one story. These simply designed homes often incorporate large back porches as an extension of the indoor living space.
 

Contemporary style houses are usually constructed of frame/stucco. Typical of the style are vaulted ceilings, clere- story windows, open spaces and large windows. They can be one or two stories. Roofs can be flat, pitched, mission tiled or shingled. These homes are also characterized by geometric lines, inside and out.

California Spanish Ranch

These rambling one story homes are usually constructed with mission tile roofs. Their rooflines may be a combination of pitched and flat. They most often have high ceilings. Their style will embrace details of Old Spanish architecture such as arches and ornamentation around the windows.