Add A Hint of Spain To Your Home...

Traditional Style
Country homes and fincas often have an existing number of striking features, such as wood-frame windows, wooden beams, carved panels and ceilings, covered cozy porches, ornate fireplaces, antique archways and a number of smaller rooms as opposed to big open spaces. Your interior design plan should aim to enhance these, making them focal points with remaining décor following on from there. In this way you can create a room which is elegant and majestic, retaining the unique character of the building. Allow your country home to reflect its close connections with nature, opting for natural materials and textiles, combining warm, rich colours, such as burnt oranges, brilliant amber, burnished gold, deep reds and vibrant or mustard yellows. Why not create an accent wall, perhaps where the fireplace or sofa is situated, using richer hues of red wine, burgundy and amethyst, which will give the room dimension and a subtle touch of class. If the property tends to attract little sunlight then its best to choose lighter or neutral colours for the walls and soft furnishings and make good use of mirrors to reflect any light and open up dark corners. Walls in traditional Spanish homes are usually finished with a smooth-touch stucco texture, a mixture of marble dust, lime, and water. A faux finish may then be applied, which relies on a paint technique where brush strokes, sponge patterns or varying shades of the same color are used to add depth. Most paint manufacturers make textured paint, which can be purchased at any home improvement store. Flooring tends to comprise of dark-coloured hardwood beams in older houses, which should be distressed before finishing. The look is easily softened with the use of large rugs or small throw carpets, often taken up to relieve the heat of summer.

Classic Compliments
In terms of furniture itself, traditional homes are best complimented with the addition of mission-style dark, distressed wood furnishings, in a choice of mahogany, walnut, ebony, butternut, teak or rosewood. These will work in delightful contrast with the characteristic architectural elements of the building, such as soft arches and carved wood panels. Antique wooden benches and straight back wooden chairs upholstered in woven cotton fabrics will also suit this classic design style. Paintings and wall hangings are an ideal way to brighten up plain, uninspired walls, with tapestries looking particularly at home in rural properties. Ornaments should carry through the natural theme, with all types of pottery and ceramics among the best materials for complementing the décor. Windows will ideally be dressed in light, natural materials, such as linen or muslin curtains, and if you decide to add shutters then wooden designs will be most suitable. With the right combination of all of these elements you can create a welcoming, serene atmosphere with elegant simplicity.

There is far less “design protocol” to adhere to when decorating properties of a more contemporary style, as you are basically dealing with a blank canvas to embellish as you desire. Your interior design plan will probably reflect your personality, be it classic, quirky, or an attractive twist of the two. Modern Spanish homes usually lend themselves to bold, vivid colours, and daring, geometric designs, also giving you creative license to add all manner of ornaments and accessories, in keeping with the Mediterranean environment. If it is a beachfront property you may wish to reflect the surroundings in your décor, pairing the intense blue of the sea with a golden yellow wall. Violet is an extremely popular choice, and can be toned down perfectly with cream-coloured doors, skirting and fireplace surrounds. Alternatively, for instant sophistication why not go for a striking combination of champagne walls with gold trim, complimented by charcoal coloured furniture and gold accessories.

Modern Furnishings
Fully carpeted spaces are unusual in Spain, although foreign investors in particular have chosen to include them in their contemporary interior design project to add a touch of comfort through the chilly winter months. Modern homes will more often feature high-sheen or matt finish ceramic tile flooring, slate or terracotta tiles, the more intricate the design the better. The tile theme might be continued to adorn walls, staircases and outdoor terrace areas, often interspersed with charming ethnic motifs to create a mosaic pattern, thus enhancing the Mediterranean feel. Living room furniture will usually be of chic leather or plush fabric finish, including luxury modular and sectional sofas, and matching armchairs. This will look stunning when teamed with contour wall units and TV cabinets in black, stone or white; or innovative coffee table creations such as oval shaped, rotate square or stacking editions. Metal is becoming an immensely popular material for furnishing a Spanish property- think wrought iron dining table and chairs, curtain poles, mirrors, doorknockers, headboards, cabinetry, chandeliers and interior or exterior wall lights. Elaborate staircase designs are also currently on trend, infusing a touch of sophistication to surroundings rooms.

Outdoor Style
With thanks to its mild Mediterranean climate, your outdoor space is as important as indoors when it comes to Spanish living, and you may even find that you spend the majority of your time here. Therefore, whether you own a town or country home, you will want to focus on making this area as comfortable and inviting as possible. Front yards look amazing when in full bloom, and the amenable weather conditions allow a variety of species to flourish. If you are not really the green fingered type then you may prefer to add a selection of terracotta pots of varying designs and colours, planted with palms and other shrubs which need little care and maintenance. Porches and terraces should reflect the predominant style of the property, with wooden or cane furniture best suited to traditional style homes; whilst wrought iron or rattan teamed with glass look great against a contemporary backdrop. The addition of other garden accessories will largely depend on availability of space, but fountains, sundials, stone barbeques, plunge pools or hot tubs are all attractive choices to achieve the perfect finish to a your Spanish style casa.