If you’ve lived in Lakewood for awhile, you’ve noticed some of the unique architecture. Maybe that’s what attracted you to this area in the first place. One of the people responsible for this uniqueness was Clifford D. Hutsell. Between 1926 and 1941, Hutsell built 50 homes in our neighborhood. The homes he designed and built can be seen on Lakewood Blvd. and Tokalon as well as on Mercedes and Monticello.

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Hutsell’s Spanish Eclectic designs are whimsical and flamboyant with their multi-colored Spanish tile roofs, cream-colored brick (to simulate stucco) with wrought iron accents, round turrets and stained glass windows. This architecture style is very rare outside of southern California.

Hutsell was inspired by the California home of cowboy movie star Tom Mix, and in 1926 began to incorporate some of these features into his designs. He favored L-shaped floor plans built around an enclosed courtyard, possibly with fountains and exterior hearths to create an outdoor living space.

Hutsell built this home for himself in 1930 for $10,000.