Andalusian style interior design - how to feel on holidays every day?
They say that anyone who has visited Spain once will surely return here. And not once. Castanets, flamenco, sangria, corrida de toros, siesta - examples of the distinguishing features of this wonderful country can be multiplied indefinitely, but indispensable elements of this counting are the remarkable interiors of Spanish houses.
Spanish style - where did it come from and what can it offer us?
Houses and flats in the Spanish style are full of elements referring to the colourful history of the country, which mixes influences of different cultures: native (schematically depicted plant and animal motifs, eg characteristic bull), pre-Columbian (expressive geometric patterns), and also Muslim (calligraphy, arabesques).
The fusion of styles is also accompanied by an original blend of colours. Spaniards without resistance or hesitation reach for strong colours and are not afraid of expressive and contrasting combinations, for example, pomegranate or turquoise with yellow or red with greenery.
A lot of mixes? This is not the end - the Spaniards also like to play with fabrics and materials. Wood, stone, linen, cotton and similar natural materials are the basis. Mixing textures and colours stimulate the senses - smooth surfaces usually give way to a variety of patterns. This is mainly due to fabrics and ubiquitous tiles or even mosaics that cover not only floors and walls, but also kitchen and table tops.
Wood and iron
Spanish houses are usually decorated with solid wood furniture, eg oak, preferably inlaid, carved or painted. Sometimes they refer to the form or at least some detail of the construction - for example, the specific bending of table or chair legs - to the design of the old epochs. There can’t
be too many pieces of furniture, but they must be massive instead. This is for the interior to be cosy, but not cluttered at all. Therefore, solid shelves, heavy chests of drawers or carved cabinets are welcome.
Equally characteristic is the use of wrought iron in Spanish interiors. Chandeliers, sconces, balustrades, handrails, door handles, handles or bed frames - preferably a giant king-sized four- poster. Wrought iron can be smuggled into a decor in a million ways, it all depends on our creativity.
Ceilings and alcoves
Another "must have" are wooden ceiling beams. Robust and slightly rough. They give cosiness and create a coherent look with a heavy chest of drawers and wardrobes. Even if the interior is not high enough to decorate them with beams, the Spaniards do not give up easily - they use the illusory trompe l'oeil, in this case, the beams painted on the ceiling.
Another, but equally interesting solution can be painting the entire ceiling surface into an eye- catching colour.
Inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula also love niches. In their performance, they are usually very decorative, but also functional. In the alcoves of Spaniards, you can find shelves, comfortable seats, bookshelves or even massive furniture. They are often decorated with colourful tiles and add extra depth to the rooms.
Timeless classics
It is worth mentioning that in Spanish homes, the background of all these characteristics, diverse elements are... white walls. It is thanks to them that you can fit so many seemingly quarrelsome elements, giving you the impression of cosiness, but not clutter and unnecessary units.
Each interior is complemented by windows and doors. In the Spanish style, we rarely see roller blinds or curtains - the shutters and wooden blinds dominate. When it comes to the door? In the aforementioned richness of colours and textures, the best that works together with the walls are the perfect background for the other elements. White, classic, elegant.
¿Y que más?
The whole is supplemented with additives. Decorative dishes, pictures and photographs bound in decorative frames, lanterns and candlesticks are displayed in every free space. Interior arrangements often refer to the local tradition, hence mosaic paintings, posters with images of bulls, famous matadors and corrida scenes, fans, castanets and figures of flamenco dancers stationed in motion. Heavy pots and ceramic pots decorate not only Spanish kitchens but also salons and bathrooms.
