With summer on its way in Europe, our latest lookbook explores houses in Greece, Spain and Italy where living rooms make the most of a scenic landscape or coastline.
Rugged cliffs, olive groves and drought-tolerant plants are all characteristic landscape features of the coastal regions to the north of the Mediterranean Sea.
Some homes draw on this, combining natural stone and timber with earthy tones to create a rustic feel. Others employ white-washed surfaces and bare concrete to offer a cooling contrast.
We’ve spotlighted seven examples, including a converted farmhouse in Menorca, a mountainside holiday home in Crete and a Mykonos residence with a commanding sea view.
It is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. Other recent lookbooks explore yellow-toned interiors, concrete kitchens and soothing bedrooms.
Estancia San José, Menorca, Spain, by Atelier du Pont and Aru Arquitectura
A linear living space fronts this vacation home designed by Paris-based Atelier du Pont and Menorca-based Aru Arquitectura, in a pair of converted farm buildings in the Menorca countryside.
Pivoting doors connect the room with the adjacent terrace, which shares the same terracotta brick floor.
A sofa is built into the wall, topped with stripy cushions, while artworks offer a flavour of the owners’ former homes in Africa, the Middle East and Patagonia.
Find out more about Estancia San José ›
Aimasia Residence, Mykonos, Greece, by Tom Dixon and A31 Architecture
Framed by cast concrete walls, the living room of this hillside villa designed by Athens-based A31 Architecture opens up to a dramatic view of Mykonos’ rocky coastline.
Tom Dixon‘s interior design office Design Research Studio complemented this with sculptural furniture pieces, including Mario Bellini’s iconic 1970s Camaleonda sofa.
Dixon’s own designs also feature, including angular, disc-shaped ceiling lights.
Find out more about Aimasia Residence ›
Casa Ter, Baix Empordà, Spain, by Mesura
Two key features define the interiors of this countryside home near Catalonia’s Ter River, designed by Barcelona-based studio Mesura. The first is a terrace that bisects the building and the second is the traditional vaulted ceiling.
The living room has a correspondingly laid-back, indoor-outdoor feel.
A neutral-toned rug covers the concrete floor, while a built-in bench provides space for table lamps and terracotta pots.
Find out more about Casa Ter ›
O Lofos, Crete, Greece, by Block722
Stepped levels allow the rooms and terraces of this Cretian holiday home to follow the slope of the coastal mountainside into which it is built.
Athens studio Block722 brought a sense of calm to this complex arrangement by adopting a materials palette filled with neutral tones and subtle textures.
Key details in the living room include dark-toned wood furniture, an asymmetric marble coffee table and a wall relief by Greek artist Pantelis Chandris.
Casa Maiora, Puglia, Italy, by Studio Andrew Trotter
The living room of this house designed by Studio Andrew Trotter features a picture window, allowing residents to feel connected to the wild Puglian landscape.
The interior features a complementary colour palette, with pink-toned limewash walls, natural stone flooring, antique wooden furniture and linen-covered cushions.
Find out more about Casa Maiora ›
Villa Mandra, Mykonos, Greece, by K-Studio
This house designed by Athens-based K-Studio has a slightly more formal interior than is typical for the Med, reflecting the tastes of owners described as “a young dynamic couple”.
A sheltered terrace serves as the main living space, so the lounge indoors becomes more of a cosy retreat.
Key pieces include a pair of Børge Mogensen’s classic 1950s Spanish Chairs, a carved timber coffee table and an artfully styled wall shelf that extends floor to ceiling.
Find out more about Villa Mandra ›
Bundle House, Menorca, Spain, by Nomo Studio
Barcelona-based Nomo Studio gave a fully glazed base to this hillside Menorca villa, allowing living spaces to merge with the pool terrace and patios, and ensuring the sea is always in view.
The furniture maintains the clean aesthetic, with a palette restricted to cream tones and natural wood. This results in a colour-block effect in the lounge, where bouclé-fabric sofas surround a matching rug.
Find out more about Bundle House ›
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