| This is your sanctuary. Vibrant blue walls, high ceilings, | | | | status and higher taste, while many new conquerors |
| rounded archways, built-in shelves. Sun filters in | | | | (such as the Normans) used mosaic designs to |
| through the tall windows during the day; the room | | | | further the legality of their rule. Often times, the |
| comes to life with glowing reds, oranges and yellows | | | | intricate designs created by local artisans blended |
| from the Moroccan lamps by night. A comfortable | | | | Eastern and Western tradition, or Christian and Islamic |
| white sofa with a sunset-colored throw sits atop a | | | | religiosity. Mosaic tiles could be found back through |
| stunning, finely decorated, Turkish-inspired rug. Small, | | | | Ancient Macedonian palaces in Aegae, Hellenistic villa |
| stocky palm trees sit in large hand-painted clay pots | | | | floors, Roman villa floors in Africa and in Moorish Spain |
| and a Cleopatra end table dazzles beholders. | | | | art. In your home, the beautiful and historically rich |
| You may have seen Moroccan and Mediterranean | | | | mosaic tile can be incorporated on the living room |
| furniture on Home and Garden Television before. It's | | | | floor, as a border, as a backdrop on the kitchen |
| no surprise that many luxurious Spanish-roof-tiled | | | | walls, on a mirror frame or a table top. |
| California homes are incorporating what is sometimes | | | | Colors are very important in Mediterranean furniture, |
| referred to as "Spanish Modern" décor inside | | | | often mimicking sky, sunset and oceanic tones. |
| their home spaces as well. With this unique style, you | | | | You're likely to see designs patterning light and dark |
| can bring the sense of wonderment you experience | | | | blue or light and dark red, coupled with a splash of |
| at museums into your everyday life. | | | | terra cotta, olive green or gold. |
| So what is "Mediterranean style" exactly? | | | | Quality is very high with Mediterranean furniture |
| Mediterranean style encapsulates everything from | | | | because it's all handmade and carefully constructed. In |
| behemoth Greek columns to humble, rounded Spanish | | | | addition, larger pieces of Mediterranean furniture are |
| adobes. So when designing a Mediterranean room, | | | | characterized by long-lasting, heavy wood, sturdy |
| you can start with large, lavish furniture and redesign | | | | black iron and short, thick legs. |
| big - with rounded archways, textured stucco walls, | | | | There's something inherently spiritual about designing |
| wooden ceilings and mosaic mantel tops. | | | | a Mediterranean or Moroccan room. The word |
| Or you can create a simpler design with white walls | | | | "Morocco," derived from a Berber word "Marrakech", |
| and wooden floors, using one or two pieces of | | | | means Land of God. If you gaze upon any of the old |
| Mediterranean furniture, throw rugs and lamps to add | | | | world churches in Spain, Turkey or Italy, you'll see |
| a nice accent to your room. Styles can be extremely | | | | the same mosaic tiles, brilliant colors and ornate |
| formal - such as the "Cream Royal Chair" and | | | | designs that our original, hand-crafted Mediterranean |
| "Arabian Nights Bench", or they can be quaint and | | | | furniture features. Take that moment of serene |
| functional, like the "Sahara Red Chair" and "Marrakech | | | | pleasure once you've arranged everything and |
| Table." | | | | appreciate the historic beauty that these styles have |
| In ancient times, mosaic tiles were a symbol of | | | | brought into your home. |