12 Mediterranean Homes That Are the Antidote to Mid-Winter Blues
Awash in sun and relaxed in feel, these Mediterranean homes are the stuff of dreams.
We’d gladly opt for a vacation anywhere in this dreamy region, but for now we’ll settle with just fantasizing. Think picturesque villas set atop dramatic cliffs, charming seaside towns where wine and olive oil flow in abundance, and a laid-back lifestyle for locals and visitors alike.
The architecture of the Mediterranean reflects this culture and builds off the rich heritage of the region. Features of note include rough-hewn beams juxtaposed against stark plaster walls, and large terraces and atriums that bring in more light. Read on for the homes and rentals that have us craving the breezy, simple lifestyle unique to this special terroir.
This John Pawson–Designed Retreat in Mallorca Is a Minimalist’s Dream
This Mallorcan villa was the firm’s first full architectural project. It was originally built for German art dealers whom Pawson had met by chance on an Italian beach. Acclaimed for his moody minimalism, the architect lends his signature touch to this five-bedroom home. To obtain a rosy hue, pigments from the local red soil were mixed with plaster.
Boutique Homes
Located high up on a hill, Es Bec d'Aguila is a place to truly escape urban life by finding sanctuary in Menorca's rugged landscape.
Campo Loft is a blend of industrial architecture and the natural materials found in the surrounding valleys. It is a contemporary residence where contrast plays a large role—old and new, sleek and rustic, light and dark, rough and soft.
Photo by On a hazy morning
If you’re traveling to Puglia in Italy, one of the most iconic sights are trulli (trullo is the singular), an ancient hut that's specific to the Itria Valley in the Apulia region of Southern Italy. Made with dry stone, trulli date back to medieval times.
Courtesy of Boutique Homes
As if undertaking an archaeological dig, architect Carles Oliver peels back layers of his home over the course of three years.
Carles Oliver
Resting along the crest of a volcanic crater on the little-known island of Nisyros in the Aegean Sea, Villa Nemésis marries the mystique of ancient Greece with modern design.
Courtesy of Le Collectionist
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Kilz Flapper Pink Interior Paint
Features: Light pink absent of undertones This 1920's-inspired pink coordinates seamlessly with golds and greens, perfect for use in powder rooms, children's bedrooms, and on furniture The Kilz Tribute interior paint collection offers the combined properties of both primer and topcoat paint, adding the benefit of single application use The inclusion of Kilz Primer provides excellent stain blocking power, resisting any sort of smudges, smears, and spills for years to come Apply on many different types of interior surfaces like woodwork, drywall, plaster, stucco, paneling, masonry, brick, painted metal, and glossy surfaces Photo Courtesy of Build.com
ShopThe New Mediterranean: Homes and Interiors Under the Southern Sun
The New Mediterranean shows you how to bring this sumptuous, sun-drenched minimalism into your own home. A welcoming, new, down-to-earth modernism is gaining momentum, from California to Morocco, Portugal to Mexico. This direction in interiors combines Mediterranean folkloric influences with a contemporary aesthetic—taking cues from sunny landscapes to embrace warmth, light, and organic elements. The New Mediterranean showcases inspiring residences and vacation homes around the world that combine rustic, earthy tones with colorful fabrics, ceramics, rattan furniture, and Berber carpets which are offset by whitewashed walls, concrete, brick, terracotta tiles, and glass. Photo courtesy of gestalten
ShopBloomscape Fiddle Leaf Fig
Tall, sculptural, and dramatic. This plant will flourish in the right conditions. The Fiddle Leaf Fig is easily recognizable and loved for its distinctive foliage. This tall, dramatic plant has very large, heavily veined, violin-shaped leaves that grow upright. It’s not bushy, making it a beautiful interior design addition for a brightly lit corner or cozy nook in your home.
ShopCity House by SMS Arquitectos features a second-floor townhouse extension that explores new possibilities with plywood.
Courtesy of Luis Diaz Diaz
Floor-to-ceiling glass runs along the entire front facade, providing expansive views of lush forests and the Mediterranean Sea in the distance. Polished concrete and natural wood dominate the minimalist aesthetic.
Photo courtesy of Ibiza Sotheby's International Realty
As the former home of modernist architect Barry Dierks, this French Riviera residence that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea was updated with modern interiors and amenities. However, its white cubic architectural facade from 1926 was kept intact.
Courtesy of Uwe Ditz
Rug designer Nani Marquina and photographer Albert Font created their home in a peaceful corner of the Spanish island of Ibiza. In their living room is a pair of kilim-covered chairs by Philippe Xerri, a chest of drawers by Piet Hein Eek, and a handmade Tunisian rug that provides bursts of color amidst the overall color scheme of white, ecru, and cream.
Courtesy of Albert Font
"The placement of the stacked boxes and the space between them has been treated in a sculptural way—always considering the functional needs of habitability and the beauty of the house," explains Estudio Caballero Colón.
Photo by Luis Díaz Díaz
An indoor/outdoor swimming pool flows into the living space and grand, floor-to-ceiling windows lead onto a large ,semi-covered terrace with stunning views of the Atlas Mountains.
Photo Courtesy of The Modern House
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