This article will discuss the design elements of Mediterranean style architecture.
Mediterranean Style Architecture Design Elements
Fratantoni Design • July 24, 2020
Mediterranean Style Architecture Design Elements
When it comes to designing a Mediterranean home there are key elements in the design that define this style. Fratantoni architects stay true to the history of the characteristics in the architecture. All of these elements of design were made to help adapt to the warm climate in the Mediterranean. Here is what you can expect to see in a Mediterranean home.
Arches
In every Mediterranean style home, you will find arches. Arches in the windows, doors, and entryways give a luxury aesthetic to the design.
Courtyards and Patios
Incorporating outdoor living spaces in a Mediterranean home is very common. When the weather is nice you can enjoy the outdoor living areas. Another feature in the courtyard often is a fountain. The fountains are not only a luxury feature they are also helpful with cooling the living spaces around the courtyard.
Wrought Iron features
Wrought iron details can be found on the staircases, windows, light fixtures, and balconies. Fratantoni Design does all of the custom ironwork on our homes to create a unique luxury design for each client.
High Ceilings
This feature helps homes in warmer climates trap hot air during the day and keep it cool inside. This element of design comes directly from the adaption to the climate in the Mediterranean. You can typically find this style of architecture in warmer climates because of how well the design adapts to the climate.
Patterned Tile
Elaborate pattern tiles are featured on the floors or walls. Our designers love working with bold patterns that will elevate any room.
Conclusion: Mediterranean Architecture Style Design Elements
If you love the Mediterranean style architecture reach out to our experienced architects here. Contact us here to start on your new home.
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When designing a truly exceptional custom home, luxury is not defined by square footage alone. At the highest level, luxury architecture is about how a home functions, how it supports daily routines, and how seamlessly it adapts to the way a family lives, entertains, and evolves over time. The most successful floor plans are those that are intentionally designed around lifestyle, not trends. At Fratantoni Design, we believe that the blueprint is the foundation of everything. Before materials are selected or architectural styles are refined, the floor plan must be thoughtfully developed to reflect the realities of modern luxury living.
When planning a custom luxury home, it is tempting to focus first on construction timelines, budgets, or even finishes. But the most successful residences do not begin with building. They begin with architecture. Architecture is the framework that shapes every experience within a home. It determines how spaces flow, how light is captured, how proportions feel, and how the residence responds to its site. Long before construction begins, architectural planning defines whether a home will feel cohesive, enduring, and intentional or merely assembled. For discerning homeowners, understanding the role of architecture is essential to creating a home that stands the test of time.
Luxury residential architecture in 2026 is no longer about dramatic facades or oversized floor plans alone. Today’s most discerning homeowners are seeking architecture that is intentional, refined, and deeply connected to how they live. True luxury architecture balances beauty with function, vision with precision, and creativity with technical expertise. At Fratantoni Design, luxury architecture is approached as both an art and a discipline. Every home begins with a clear architectural vision, carefully developed to reflect the client’s lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, and long-term goals.
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When building or remodeling a luxury home, the order in which professionals are brought into the process matters. One of the most common and costly mistakes homeowners make is involving interior design before architectural planning is fully developed. While interior design plays a critical role in how a home looks and feels, architecture is the foundation that determines how a home functions, flows, and endures. At Fratantoni Design, we believe architects should be involved before interior design begins. This approach ensures that the home’s structure, layout, and proportions are thoughtfully planned to support both aesthetics and livability from the start.
Luxury homes are no longer defined only by what happens inside. In today’s most exclusive estates, the outdoor spaces are just as important as the interiors. True indoor outdoor living begins at the architectural level, long before the first piece of furniture is placed or the landscape is installed. At Fratantoni Design, we specialize in creating custom floorplans that blur the line between indoors and out, crafting homes that feel connected to their surroundings while offering the highest level of comfort, beauty, and function.
Designing a luxury home on a sloped lot presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While uneven terrain can create design complexities, it also allows for one-of-a-kind architecture that blends seamlessly into the land and maximizes views in a way flat sites simply cannot. At Fratantoni Design, we specialize in crafting luxury residences on some of the most demanding lots across the country, including a Hawaii estate we designed perched dramatically on the edge of a cliff. These are the types of projects that demand creativity, precision, and a deep understanding of topography. With over 40 years of architectural expertise, our team is highly experienced in transforming sloped lots into structurally sound, visually breathtaking custom homes.
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