Table Of Content
As befits properties built for moderate climes and coastal views, these homes encourage al fresco living and ample appreciation of the outdoors. Spanish Mediterranean-style homes are typically built with clean-lined shapes and low-pitched roofs. However, more striking Spanish-style homes might also feature intricate tilework, as seen above and around the front door of this house. The windows with wrought-iron details are another Mediterranean design touch.
Defining elements and characteristics of Mediterranean interior design
"Around the 1990s, developers were starting to build more 'authentic' versions of Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial Revival structures. The success of these developments has supplemented a new interest in the style." Mediterranean-style homes might be having a moment right now, but the hype was decades in the making. According to Wilk, Mediterranean-style homes first broke onto the architecture scene in the 19th century—and eventually become the dominant home style in California during the 1920s. Before we dive deep into the world of Mediterranean-style homes, it's important to know exactly what this type of architecture entails.
Spanish Eclectic Modern
And, since it doesn’t handle moisture well, you have to seal it every few years. Shifts in the foundation can also lead to cracks up the walls, costing you on average between $500-$1,000 to fix. Like the exterior, the inside of a Mediterranean home blends with the surrounding environment and climate. In the Italian Renaissance style and the modern Mediterranean, the layout usually allows for increased airflow to make those hot summer days a little more bearable. This means open floor plans, high ceilings, and arches above doorways, so there’s less separation among rooms.
Mediterranean house exterior characteristics
"In Florida, people are looking for a more contemporary style of living," Ronderos says. "So if the existing home was Mediterranean, we do our best to modernize it." Sometime during his first marriage, Pratt picked up a farm he calls Stillwater Ranch in the San Juan Islands of Washington state.
Mediterranean homes have many overarching themes that are still prominent today, regardless of the architectural movement they were built in. Here are some of the common indoor and outdoor features you can find in most Mediterranean style homes. The front porches of Mediterranean houses, especially those with Italian influences, are often defined by stone columns spanned by arches. Roofs feature wide, overhanging eaves with large brackets under the roofline. A variety of terra-cotta tiles top this stucco home, mimicking the look of reclaimed Italian tile without sacrificing durability. Several of these distinctive exterior Mediterranean features, including the stucco and roof materials, are intended to help keep these homes cool in hot, sunny climates.
Colorful Mediterranean Homes
From Mediterranean to Masterful and Moody in Naples - Gulfshore Life
From Mediterranean to Masterful and Moody in Naples.
Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:13:08 GMT [source]
These thick walls help keep the heat out during the day to maintain a cool interior in warm climates. Crisp white stucco covers the exterior of this Mediterranean-style home, defined by stylized arches and wrought-iron accents. This Mediterranean-style home is inspired by Italian architecture and applies elegant, authentic design.
Mediterranean Homes and Gardens
Clay roof tiles, grand arches, and a mix of stone and stucco give the exterior a classic Italian appearance. Arches are used inside and outside the home to impart a sense of history. One of the perks of a Mediterranean lifestyle is its indoor-outdoor living, so, of course, you’re going to find a good amount of outdoor space in these homes. They almost always have a courtyard, patio, veranda, or even a pool to take full advantage of the warmer weather.
Ronderos, who tends to work on Mediterranean homes with an outdated yellow tone, agrees. In addition to warming up the space with wood and natural materials, like stone and marble with geometric patterns, Ronderos relies keeps both paint and furnishings minimal. "The first thing that we do is brighten it up with a crisp white paint to finish," she says. "Once we get to the furniture, we rely on clean lines and neutral tones for the main pieces with a few pops of color in the art."
Mediterranean-style homes are almost always white or cream-colored stucco with a red or brown tile roof. Recessed windows and doors with abundant outdoor spaces protected from the sun are typical. Multiple levels are common but are usually limited to a portion of the house rather than the whole footprint. Wrought iron gates, lighting and door hinges are typical, with similar fixtures on the interior. When it comes to a Mediterranean home’s interior characteristics, expect to see lots of warm tones mixed with white walls and exposed wood beams. Earthy and warm colors fill the interiors so you’ll likely see shades of ochre, chestnut, and clay.
The 20s were a time of economic expansion and fanciful desires, which no doubt contributed to their attractiveness to home buyers. What’s more, Period Revival styles represented a way for Californians to connect their contemporary with the region’s Spanish and Mexican past. "We create intimate spaces—like a built-in fire pit that feels really cozy or a canopy over a dining area—so it feels more like a destination versus one big, expansive space," Davin says. DKOR Interiors' Ivonne Ronderos agrees, noting that clients are updating their homes to reflect how they live today.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site.
