By: Architectural Historian Shelley Roff, Ph.D. The Frida Kahlo light switch plate in the kitchen says it all. Bright and earthy Mexican colors; imagery of an luscious tropical garden with monkey; Frida standing in the foreground in a gorgeous old-fashioned dress, flower-ornamented hair piled on top of her head.....waiting. The Rosewood property lacks the tropical garden, however the whimsical curves of the chimney, arches and wall planes extending from the house give it a picturesque quality that beckons Frida to emerge from the bright zinnia-orange entry court. To be a part of the story, you must enter through the whitewashed walls and sky blue lined arches that lead into the entry court. Before you enter, you are greeted by a Mexican tile plaque over the entry way that states "Bienvenidos: Mi casa es su casa" (Welcome: My house is your house"). The interior is just as fun and inviting. In the living area, a prominent painted-block fireplace with a chunky wood mantle recalls heavy Spanish colonial furniture, and it is set off by a terra cotta, rust and yellow tile mosaic at its base. The fireplace is complimented by windows on each side with attractive wood shutters. The arches on the exterior of the house are carried inside to a few interior details. Notice the telephone niche in the dining room (requisite in a 1920s house), which is framed by a semi-circular arch. The Spanish-style arches are highlighted in yellow over the kitchen sink and cabinets. The house is also ornamented with other magical curiosities, mostly with curving plant-inspired motifs. Check out the antique floral design of the pewter light switch plate in the dining area; the curly-q cut-out design under the kitchen shelves; the cut-out panels of the front bathroom cabinets; and a very curious circular wall-plate whose purpose I could not define. The Rosewood house resides on a small corner lot within a quaint neighborhood just off Fredericksburg Road. This neighborhood is well known for the charm of its small, but imaginatively designed houses, each exuding a nostalgic re-creation of another country or time period. These houses and the people who lovingly take care of them, together, create a real feeling of community. | 
Historically and Architecturally Significant San Antonio Vintage Homes 
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