Mediterranean Style: Relaxed Living Inspired by Strong Colors and Natural Materials

Vibrant, informal and, above all, refreshingly simple, Mediterranean style is synonymous with easy living. From Tangiers to Tuscany, an imaginative sense of colour and pattern prevails, allied to a sensitive use of natural materials and local traditions. Floors are natural wood or terracotta tiled; ceilings have exposed beams; and the natural imperfections of brick and plaster walls might be highlighted through the lightest of distemper washes. This is a world suffused with warmth, where the dividing line between indoor and outdoor living is seamless. With colours from Kasbah to Crete so in vogue today, this title reveals the Mediterranean love of strong sun-drenched hues and the subtleties of Mediterranean patterning, found in Moorish mosaic detailing, ceramic tiles, kilim weaves and wrought ironwork. This resource features photography of locations from Umbria to Marrakech combined with 12 specially commissioned projects to provide imaginative ideas for translating this look into the contemporary home.

Vivid colors, bold simplicity, textural contrasts, stone, tile, and stucco--these are the hallmarks of this refreshingly unpretentious style, which is easy to live with and surprisingly simple to evoke at home. Vibrant photos and detailed, practical text explore all the elements of the look and explain what to do with your own walls and floors, windows and doors, furnishings and accessories to re-create the look. And the 12 step-by-step projects (including sand-textured or distempered walls, a pebbled floor, a fretwork window screen, studded doors, and a mosaic tabletop) prove that it doesn't take a huge effort or a huge budget to achieve the relaxed grace of this popular decor. The sun-drenched rooms filled with natural materials and accented with the occasional exotic touch (a filigreed lantern, Moroccan dishware, a kilim rug, Moorish arches, Spanish-style wrought ironwork) are extremely inviting--you'll want to sprawl on a cushy divan and sip a cool beverage as you drink in the enticing warmth of this wonderful style. --Amy Handy