DOXA HOME: Kathryn Ireland

Monday, October 12, 2009

Mediterranean Interiors

Being in Florida, this is an aesthetic which is frequently requested as we have been blessed with many Mizner designed and inspired homes as well as Spanish Colonial homes...and cursed with the bastardized McMansions and Cul-De-Sac interpretations as well (had to be noted, sorry, but its true..ugh) I almost titled this post, The Good, The Bad and The Fugly, the McMansions would most definitely have fallen in the latter category. However, I decided to simply focus on the good as I am not looking to make enemies nor insult anyone;), if you want to see the bad and the fugly, simply open up a copy of a "shall remained unnamed" Florida design magazine, nuff said. On to the good...I love actual Mediterranean interiors as they are all about being unpretentious, pragmatic and layered contrasts. The aesthetic is made up of Italian, Southern French, Greek, Spanish and Moorish influences. Natural materials such as cotton, linen, silk, sisal, iron, ceramic, terracotta, stone and wood are used and the more eclectic a space is, the more authentic. Unlike formal Parisian drawing room style or dark Florentine or Madrileno design, Mediterranean design is carefree and casual, emphasizing the colors and textures found in the surrounding landscape. Nature is apparent in the architectural elements and furnishings in Mediterranean style. The following photos are images of Mediterranean influenced interiors and items which I really appreciate, I hope you feel the same.