With the sun finally shining, there are many upcoming outdoor events and activities to look forward to – from the Euros to summer BBQs. While escaping abroad to spend summer days in the sunshine is a lovely treat, our design team has curated some tips on how to make your home a holiday sanctuary and the perfect space for a summer staycation.
Incorporating Mediterranean design trends
The Mediterranean interior design dates back decades. However, at Altin Homes, we still incorporate it into many of our projects, but with a modern twist of quiet luxury. Quiet luxury is a timeless style that centres around elevating understated interior design choices, favouring the likes of clean lines and high-quality, natural materials, which ties in well with elements of Mediterranean design.
Generally, homes in the Mediterranean style are airy and light, emphasising indoor-outdoor living spaces. Characteristics that evoke the Mediterranean style include terracotta tile roofs, arched doorways, decorative ironwork, carved wood, and natural stone – all elements that can be found in our recent development of Waterbank properties in Prestbury.
An easy way to bring the Mediterranean to you is by incorporating Mediterranean blue into your home to reflect the essence of the tranquil sea. This particular shade of blue is a dark, pure, marine aqua with a deep-water undertone. Try incorporating this colour with more neutral tones such as beige, sandy hues and whites to give that luxury feel.
Adding different materials and textiles, such as handmade, patterned tiles reminiscent of Mediterranean mosaics, is another effective way to add more European charm to your space. These tiles can be added to bathrooms, outdoor areas, or kitchens for an injection of pattern or a pop of colour. Vogue Creations recently spoke about the importance of mixing and matching textures, as it can add visual interest and depth to a space.
Beautiful porcelain and ceramic decor items are also key to Mediterranean interior design. For a more neutral option, we recommend the Liang and Eimil Gianna ceramic vase in white by Olivia’s. Another texture that can be easily added to your home is wooden furniture. The Lusso Regent curved walnut vanity unit is a beautiful Mediterranean-styled piece of furniture that can be a staple in any room.
Incorporating accessories such as woven baskets or tasselled rugs also helps to curate a design that is reminiscent of holiday destinations. We particularly love the woven basket from Mango, as not only does it add an extra elevated aesthetic to your home, but you can also use it for storage to help de-clutter your space.
Inclusions of marble
Despite being more popular in summer, marble is the perfect year-round choice for helping to make homes more luxurious and acting as an accent piece in any room. It is scratch-resistant, incredibly durable, elegant, and versatile. With its characteristic veined design, marble subtly lends renewal and luxury as existing scratches and flaws in walls, cabinets, and flooring can be hidden. We have recently incorporated marble into our Waterbank bathrooms and kitchen. The marble takes centre stage, as it is featured in all our bathrooms whether it’s the walls, showers or sinks. While in our kitchens, we have incorporated marble by adding it to the flooring and islands.
Bringing the outdoors in
Large glass windows not only give your home a spacious feel, but natural lighting also has many health benefits. Exposure to natural light helps our bodies produce Vitamin D, improves our circadian rhythms and sleep patterns, helps us focus and be more productive, and even makes us happier. Ensuring we get enough of this vital resource is key to our physical and psychological wellbeing.
Large windows that you can throw open to let in the light are popular in sunnier countries and coastal areas, allowing the natural outdoor beauty to be seen indoors. Our Waterbank properties are in the beautiful village of Prestbury in the Cheshire countryside, offering a scenic view to those who reside in the houses.
Creating a welcoming feel for guests
Creating a charming holiday ambience is a necessity for hosting a summer gathering. Emulate the holiday experience by expanding your party to the garden. Bi-fold or other forms of glazing are perfect to bridge the gap between your living space and the garden.
Depending on the space, having a fun focal point that defines the room can elevate the party. For example, an at-home bar or even a wood fire oven can bring a new focus to the party with a sleek and stylish accessory. Features like bespoke timber staircases or an impressive stone island in the kitchen will also wow guests and reflect elegance in the home’s design.
Embracing these tips will help transform your space, allowing you to escape your everyday life by remodelling your home into a luxury holiday retreat.
If you want to learn more about Altin Homes, check out our projects here.