Mediterranean Style

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.