  We present a new theoretical approach to the study of $\nu=1$ quantum Hall
bilayer that is based on a systematic mapping of the microscopic Hamiltonian to
an anisotropic SU(4) spin model on a lattice. To study the properties of this
model we generalize the Heisenberg model Schwinger boson mean field theory
(SBMFT) of Arovas and Auerbach to spin models with anisotropy. We calculate the
temperature dependence of experimentally observable quantities, including the
spin magnetization, and the differential interlayer capacitance. Our theory
represents a substantial improvement over the conventional Hartree-Fock picture
which neglects quantum and thermal fluctuations, and has advantages over
long-wavelength effective models that fail to capture important microscopic
physics at all realistic layer separations. The formalism we develop can be
generalized to treat quantum Hall bilayers at filling factor $\nu=2$.
