Contemporary Mediterranean house tour

As I love Spanish style, I was thrilled to see this house cross my desk and had to share it with you. Let's take a tour of this gorgeous Mediterranean house, a Spanish home with a definite Australian twist.

Characterised by its defining arches and subtle Mediterranean tones, Arcos Villa sits proudly in the quiet suburb of Paddington, just a few kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD. The palatial five-bedroom, six-bathroom house, which also contains three living rooms, a swimming pool and space for eight cars is built on three levels. The spectacular renovation, a collaboration between Joe Adsett Architects and Graya Construction, is home to Robert Gray, Managing Director of Graya, and his wife Meghan Gray.

The couple bought the block, which is just over 800 sqm, with the aim of turning an old Queenslander into a Mediterranean inspired luxury villa, while still maintaining an essence of its local character. The result is the owners’ ‘forever’ home, a space built for entertaining which can also accommodate the idea of family living. “We wanted a home that felt like we were in an international hotel, a home away from home. We wanted to achieve a Spanish villa feel with an Aussie twist,” says Robert Gray from Graya.

Elegant archways, which are a hallmark of Mediterranean style, greet you at every angle from the exterior of Arcos, which means “arches” in Spanish. Entry is through a dramatic and softly-lit arched tunnel, which leads to incredible free-flowing interior and exterior spaces, all basked in natural light. The same subtle tones, which characterise the exterior, exist throughout the residence, adding an immersive and homely feel to the luxurious and palatial structure.

The living space, which includes both an elevated and sunken living room on either side of the kitchen, takes place around the open plan, sun-drenched courtyard, which is as much a part of the home as the interior. “We wanted a space where we could easily entertain, a space that was connected to both the living area and outdoor entertaining area, yet comfortable for day-to-day use,” says Robert. There are multiple elements to the zone, which could easily accommodate up to 200 people without feeling cramped, from a 12 seated dining room, to the sunken living room as well as a spa.

In designing the kitchen, the owners wanted to create a connected space that was suitable for multi-uses and which fitted seamlessly into the open plan layout of the home. Lux, yet minimal and user-friendly, the kitchen sits back quietly at the heart of the entertaining zone, making an unobtrusive statement while still continuing the story of the home through its subtle detail.

The rounded edges of the kitchen island echo the incredible statement curved staircase which connects two floors of the residence and light oak was selected for the kitchen’s cabinetry, which complements the natural organic feel and soft tones that feature throughout. “Seeing the whole house come together has been unlike any other home. As this is our forever home, we spent a lot of time initially planning the design so it’s great to see it all come together,” says Robert.

To marry the sleek and unobtrusive feel of the kitchen the owners selected Gaggenau 200 series ovens, following advice that the appliances would not only assist in creating a professional kitchen environment but enhance a streamlined design. “Gaggenau ovens were recommended to us as they are highly regarded for their performance,” says Rob. “Additionally, their seamless design enhanced the feel of the kitchen, they have a much more blended look rather than the focus being on the oven.”

Sitting flush to the surface, it’s a subdued aesthetic that defines the Gaggenau 200 series ovens. Features also include distinctive solid stainless steel control knobs and TFT display, up to 13 heating methods, a core temperature probe and adjustable automatic programs. The selection has helped to create a functional kitchen that fits in aesthetically with the rest of the home and which will stand the test of time.

What I love about this Mediterranean inspired house

I adore Spanish style and therefore love the Mediterranean touches in this contemporary home.
The curved staircase is beautiful. You can see other examples of this in my Walsh Bay Apartment tour.
The kitchen is understated and elegant and I really like the curved bench, partnered with the large round dining table.
The flooring, flowing to the outside is seamless. I love the warm tones, but then I usually do favour warm tones over cooler ones.
I do know that this style of house could be very divisive. I am sure that there will be those who love it or hate it. But it is great to see the design norms being pushed as I am in no doubt that this style will become more popular.

What do you think? I would love to hear your comments below.

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Image credit David Chatfield