A Spanish Revival home, aged to perfection

The motifs are ancient. But the artwork? Completed last month.

It took a house painter from Sierra Madre to propose the idea. The son of one of Mexico's most prominent muralists to guide the execution. A researcher at the Boston Public Library to keep it historically accurate. And Pasadena homeowners with a passion for the past to commission it.

Standing underneath the 300-square-foot artwork, Andrea Moriarty offers this simple explanation: "My husband wanted something fabulous."

Fabulous, and old. Rather than obliterate all signs of age, as is so often the goal in Southern California, Andrea Moriarty and husband Sean have taken their Spanish Revival further back in time, lending a sense of the past that goes beyond the structure's actual years. Their house is proof that youth may reign in the entertainment world, but in the realm of home décor, the authentically aged -- or anything with a reasonably convincing patina of time -- can still command attention, not to mention top dollar.

For further evidence, one need only look at the latest offering from Mountain Lumber Co.: oak flooring made from century-old Guinness brewing vats and sold for $28.50 a square foot -- triple the price of the Virginia company's other reclaimed wood, Vice President John Williams says. Yes, the scent of beer is gone, he adds. All that's left is a distinctive color, grain and history.

Such examples help explain why sellers of old doors, windows, brick and the like have been so successful, with sales increasing about 45% since 2003, says Brad Guy, president of the nonprofit Building Materials Reuse Assn. He attributes the growing interest to homeowners' environmental awareness, as well as to the rich appearance and novel provenance that can come with such architectural elements.

The Moriartys, like so many others who find comfort and beauty in the design of eras past, have moved beyond faux finishes and carefully selected antiques. Sean, a Ticketmaster executive, and Andrea, a former middle school math teacher who often begins sentences with "Do you know what's interesting?" have literally built age into their home.

Since buying the property in 2001, they have added layers of history that befit a house with four Batchelder tile fireplaces. ("Do you know the story?" Andrea asks. "Batchelder was originally from Boston, but he made his success here selling tile to contractors.")