Ocean Inspired - Tour a Seaside Home on the Mediterranean Coast
Russian architect Jenya Lykasova designed a two-storey house on the Mediterranean coast for a family of 6. The owners wanted to infuse their home with sea-themed accents, creating a vibrant yet cozy atmosphere as well as a timeless style. The design concept focuses on combining simplicity and nature of the Mediterranean style with “rough” textures of wood and stone, such as driftwood, earthy furniture pieces which crossed the ocean from abroad, ceramic tiles in the kitchen resembling fish scale, mother-of-pearl lamps in the dining room, large tropical plants et cetera. Light yet warm palettes were chosen to decorate rooms, resembling warmth of sand at the seashore to add spaciousness and airiness to the interior. The owners wanted a lived-in & well-aged ambience, which was achieved by antique wooden beams on the ceiling, natural rustic stone on the walls, distressed furniture and rubbed mirror surfaces. Read on to tour this must-see Mediterranean ocean-inspired home! (All photos and adapted text from: Jenya Lykasova)
The first floor is a common area where the whole family spends time together. This sitting area is a walk-through room, which is why space-saving furniture pieces were chosen. The TV is hidden in the wardrobe, so that the owners and guests won't have to stare into a black void when the TV is not in use. There is a lot of “rough” wood and stone used in this space.
The owners' eldest son works in another city, which is why although he doesn't have his own room in this house, the living room on the first floor can be transformed into his bedroom when he comes home for vacation. There is a Murphy bed hidden in the built-in wardrobe, and the entrance to the room can be covered up by draperies for added privacy. The mirrors on the sides of the wardrobe help to make the space look roomier and brighter.
On the other end of the house is the dining area. Separated from the living & sitting rooms by aged wooden beams, the dining area includes a set of dining table and chairs as well as a part of the kitchen.
The kitchen itself is hidden behind a door disguised as part of the facade cabinets, so that cooking can stay "backstage", keeping the prep work's clutter and smells behind the scenes.
The home office has a masculine style decorated with subtle colours, black metal pendant lamps and succinct furniture forms.
Going onto the second floor is the sleeping area. Aimed to visually distinguish the resting area from living areas, the “rough” stone finish on the walls ends with wooden columns at the corner of the stairs, making a transition into flat walls and herringbone wood floors — which is more cozy and intimate. A beaded chandelier marks the entrance into the sleeping area, where delicate natural elements are introduced to contribute to a soft tranquil vibe.
On one end of the hallway is a set of sheer draperies marking a separated area from the rest of the second floor. Behind the draperies, there are two bedrooms and a shared bathroom which belong to the owners' twin daughters. Although the whole house has a consistent style throughout the interior, each bedroom still reflects each family member's individuality and taste. For example, since the girls are fond of Scandinavian style, Scandinavian elements are used to decorate their bedrooms.
In the youngest son's bedroom, wooden touches, dark grey elements, as well as dark metal tones mark a pronounced masculine character.
In the master bedroom, a closet with built-in vanity desk was installed behind the bed as a divider, allowing a private changing area by the wardrobe as well as a walkway into the ensuite shower room. Crystal, marble and mosaic elements complement each other, creating a classic style in the parents' bedroom. The dark rubbed metal and wooden elements are seen throughout the home, tying classic style together with the rest of the house.
