Mediterranean Style Interior Design

From the special online feature Design Styles

This style originated in countries north of the Mediterranean Sea, such as Spain, Greece and Italy and is often referred to today as Spanish modern. Mediterranean-style furniture ranges from simply functional to extremely formal. Pieces are short with ornately turned legs and feet; hardware is heavy and often burnished. Walls are predominantly textured; a bull-nose edge is a common design detail on countertops and fireplace mantels.

Colors - Colors echo those of the sea and sky and depending on the Mediterranean region, can also include warm terra-cotta, lavender and yellow.         

Tile - Mosaic tile designs embody the beauty of a Mediterranean interior. Bring the designs into your home, either permanently on the floor or a kitchen backsplash or on something you can take with you, like a mirror frame or tabletop. You can also simulate the look of tile with a stenciled mosaic border on floors, walls or furniture.

Accessories - Burnished bronze urns, filigree light fixtures and a wrought-iron fireplace screen exemplify a Mediterranean look with a Moroccan influence.             

Texture - Layers of paint and glaze are hand-rubbed on plaster or sand-textured walls to add visual depth. Simulate a the look of a plaster wall with a textured finish using tinted drywall compound and colored beeswax.

 Sam Robin

Public Places, Private Spaces : Episode PPS-211 -- More Projects »

Have you ever taken an exotic vacation and wished you could bring a little bit of that magical feeling home with you? Designer Sam Robin did just that when she created a Moroccan paradise in south Florida in a house that combines the colors of Greece, the mosaics of ancient Egypt and the spice of Morocco. Robin is the designer behind this real life fantasy home and she calls this combination of styles appropriately "Mediterraneo."

•           Whether she's designing a deluxe residence, a fine restaurant or a luxury hotel, Sam Robin creates spaces you never want to leave. In a private home in south Florida, the feeling of a summer breeze envelops you--a vibe created by rooms decorated in cool materials like stone and tile and rich, earthy hues. The natural color palette creates a very tranquil experience.

•           Color is the first thing that hits you when you walk into the living room. The amazing blue was dry brushed on to give the walls a textured look and enhance the cool feel. Since blue is refreshing and reminds us of the sea and sky, it's very cooling, which is necessary in this tropical environment (figure A). The white slipcovered furniture against the cobalt blue walls creates a vivid contrast and a massive stone fireplace is a stunning focal point. All of these elements help to infuse the space with a Mediterranean feel.

•           To continue the Old World/desert theme, the room is filled with urns, sconces and other pieces all gathered from flea markets in Morocco. The corner seating area is an intimate spot for entertaining Moroccan style with a slatted chair, small table and paintings grouped to tell a story of life in the desert (figure A).

•           You can't ignore the mosaic accents in this home, which are a contemporary spin on an ancient art form. Some were actually inspired by the mosaics on the floor in the forum in Rome. When there was a destruction of a part of the floor, they would just lay a different mosaic to patch the holes.  

•           Mosaics also appear in the bedroom but in a whole new way. Robin transformed concrete columns from functional to fashionable with paint, colorful tiles and marbles. Each night is a dream come true in the elaborately carved bed nestled under a painted blue sky dotted with gold stars (figure B). Even the seating areas have a romantic feel with a deep red table and dark wood campaign chairs.