When it comes to designing a new home, many people look to the Mediterranean for inspiration, especially around Sacramento or California in general. This style of architecture fits well within the California landscape and is both timeless and elegant. If you’re interested in bringing the charm of the Mediterranean into your own home, there are a few essential elements that you should keep in mind. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most important aspects of Modern Mediterranean interior design. So if you’re ready to start planning your dream home, keep reading! If you have any specific questions regarding the design, renovation, or new construction process of your Mediterranean home, always feel free to reach out to us via our contact form here .

A Timeless Look

The Modern Mediterranean style home can be very pared down and have subtle details. Lots of white contrasted with natural finish materials and iron or steel. We are using a lot of metal now, such as steel windows and doors or aluminum clad windows to better withstand the heavy wear of the California sun. A pared down backdrop can accommodate both modern and traditional furniture to create your desired aesthetic.

Design by Sean Anderson

The Home’s Main Hub

A lot of Mediterranean homes in our area are of large scale and kitchens can be a challenge. Plan out every architectural and cabinet detail to accomplish a design where everything looks well coordinated and intentional. We LOVE to plan out a kitchen and every functional and aesthetic detail. It’s one of the most rewarding moments to see a kitchen serve a home and family well. Always remember that the kitchen is likely to be your biggest investment; give it the attention it deserves.

Architecture by Vincent Van Duysen

Design by Jenni Kayne

Photography by Stephen Kent Johnson

The Pattern Play

This picture showcases a lot of design elements we are after when designing a Mediterranean home but the tile pattern stands out without a question. It’s classic and impactful!

Travertine is also having a moment these days, and a Mediterranean style home is the perfect match for this material. We love to use it not just as tile but also in furniture pieces, such as this foyer table.

Fresh flowers or cut branches are always a good idea in the entry. They make one feel immediately welcome and at home.

Arches can be found a lot in the Mediterranean style – in both modern and traditional adaptations. We love how they soften the often expansive spaces.

There’s also a big focus on symmetry in general and we like to emphasize that with the layout of furniture and lighting. A well thought out lighting and furniture plan is essential to our interior design services. Make sure that the designer you’re working with creates drawings of everything, so that nothing is left to chance.

Design by Jake Arnold

Photography by Michael P.H. Clifford

Simple Yet Elegant

By no means does simple equal easy. I could give you a hundred quotes about simplicity in design but here are just a few of my favorites and I hope they inspire you:

Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.

– by Leonardo da Vinci

Simplicity, suitability and proportion.

– by Elsie De Wolfe

I like to preserve simplicity rather than over-polishing. Fashions are changeable. Taste is in realizing the essence of a place.

– by Nancy Lancaster

Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.

– by John Maeda

Simplicity, carried to an an extreme, becomes elegance.

– by Jon Franklin

Design by Disc Interiors

Architecture by Thomas Melhorn

Design by Betsy Brown Inc.
Photography by Nicole Franzen

Adding Personality to Your Kitchen

The home’s central hub is a prime location to define the home’s characteristics. Don’t underestimate the power of out-of-the box design solutions for your Modern Mediterranean house (or Traditional Mediterranean house or Santa Barbara style house for that matter).

Designing an interesting vent hood in kitchens can give us much joy and anxiety at the same time. Especially when you remodel an older Mediterranean home, it’s important to find unique solutions that modernize the home, yet retain the character. This picture is a wonderful example of that. Don’t remove all the home’s personality; learn to enhance where you can.

Gaggenau appliances always do the trick for me – very contemporary but with that ability to integrate technology and style into any space.

Design by Atelier 10.8

Sophisticated & Eclectic

For a truly unconventional yet modern classic interpretation of a Mediterranean interior, choose some eclectic items. We can’t get enough of collectible design made by both emerging and well established artisans. When thoughtfully placed, they add tremendous impact and character to any interior. Selecting vintage pieces can also help you lower the stress of dealing with supply chain issues and long lead times.

Design by Transition State Design

Indoor Outdoor Living

– A must for any California home, modern Mediterranean or otherwise.

The focus on indoor-outdoor living is one of my most treasured circumstances about living in California. It’s also a key element of Mediterranean design. Many homes of this style feature spacious outdoor areas such as patios, courtyards, and gardens that are perfect for entertaining guests or simply enjoying the outdoors.

We love incorporating many glass doors to open up the house to the outside. It allows lots of light to flood in, the evening breeze to enter, as well as extend the home’s perceived square footage.

Architecture by Fergus Garber Architects

Design by Mansfield + O’Neil

Photography by Paul Dye

Layering Accessories

Materiality is very important to us as interior designers but we find that it especially important with this style. One strategy to help us achieve a cozy home that feels collected and lived in is to layer: rugs and fabrics in particular. The living room and primary bedroom receive lots of attention during our design process for that reason; we want them to feel comfortable and uplifting, so that the most used spaces give you joy.

Note that window treatments can have a big impact as well. Please do invest in custom solutions, which sometimes need to be planned out during the framing phase of your home (as shown in the picture below). Depending on the usage and functionality of the room, we like to incorporate curtain pockets to hide hardware for window treatments and shades. This works especailly well for modern homes where any additional hardware can interfere with the goal of a clean minimal aesthetic. During the interior design process of any contemporary home, we want to focus more on architectural minimalism, texture and materiality, and less on “fru fru” decor.

Architecture by Ryan Street Architects

Design by Amy Deane & Elizabeth Stanley

Utilize Warm Colors and Textures

… which one of our most favorite ways to inject comfort into our Modern Mediterranean house projects.

Utilize warm colors and textural fabrics as much as possible in your furniture and interior decor. There are great easy to care for options that are family and pet-friendly. Patterns can also help to add character but don’t worry: patterns are not making your home feel less or more Mediterranean – it’s a personal preference. Use modernist furniture and shapes to provide a foundation while vintage pieces, antiquities, and curated details imbue and balance.

Design by Sean Anderson

Are you interested in working with us? We’d love to hear from you. Our interior design studio is deeply passionate about working on the exquisite homes in California that are influenced by Mediterranean aesthetics. For both new construction, full renovations, and partial remodels, we welcome projects in Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles. We love to design and manage projects that are are rooted in traditional and modern Mediterranean houses.

Our holistic approach to interior design services revolves around comfort and joy. We believe that every detail matters. From thoughtfully designed layouts that foster relaxation and human connection, to captivating patterns and textures that emanate positive energy. Our goal is to create spaces that are not only visually stunning, but also highly functional.

We want our clients to live an inspired life within a home that allows them to re-charge and they consider their own personal sanctuary and haven. To learn more, schedule a chat with founder and principal interior designer, Christin Balzer.