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The Mediterranean style homes convey exotic living experience.  The Mediterranean architectures are characterized by a combination of details which evolved from several eras of European Renaissance palazzos, and seaside villas, and reflect the architectural influences of the Mediterranean coast: Italian, Byzantine, Moorish themes from southern Spain and French.  The homes are designed and built to be comfortable and livable in a humid and scorching heat, a climate of Florida and southwestern region of the U.S., where their deep, open air porches offer respite from heat.

 

 

The Mediterranean architecture incorporate exteriors of natural stone combined with stucco, clay tile roofs, arched windows large and small, arched portal surrounds and stone columns, vestibules entrances, and towering turrets.  The style includes a passage between the entrance and the interiors of a building sometimes defined by sculptured arches and grand columns.  Solid wood entry doors are tall and often include wrought iron grilles.  Traditionally, Mediterranean property exteriors are fenced and gated for privacy.  The roofs are low pitched, hipped roof and covered with terra-cotta colored barrel roof tiles.  The roofs have wide, overhanging eaves with large brackets under the roof line.  Inside, high beamed ceilings of dark weathered wood lift the heat, ceramic tiles keep the floor cool, and wide outer doors help with air circulation.  The Mediterranean style houses have open, practical floor plans that integrate casual indoor and outdoor living.  The walls are predominately textured with either stucco or plaster.  The interior floor plans are mostly informal and asymmetrical in arrangement.  Arched openings separate main rooms or areas.  Interior colors are those that echo the sea and sky; it can also include warm terra-cotta, lavender, and yellow.  The houses are often single-story asymmetrical wings rambling around shady fountain-cooled courtyards.  Instead of the front porch, pools, patios, loggias, and lush garden rooms wraparound these homes.

 

 

 

 

The Mediterranean architectural style is a composite of ideas evolving many periods and many regions.  By borrows, copies, and adapts architectural details and forms, the blended elements emerged into a sun loving style that is able to mediate the heat which, while becoming an American style home with its amenities, it is distinctly Mediterranean in its spirit.