Popular in many warm-weather states, the Mediterranean style home is sought after among many homeowners in Las Vegas. Not only are they very common to come across on the market, but they are certainly still considered a break from traditional housing in America.

You can visit new home communities in Las Vegas to browse listings of available homes on the market. In the meantime, here is everything you need to know about mediterranean homes for those who might be interested.

Brief History

The Mediterrenean home as American homeowners know it today incorporates elements from both Spanish and Italian architecture to create a cultural style home that’s both considered natural and relaxing to live in. Being first built in the early 20th century, these homes were once seen as a luxury at the time, blending in with appealing seaside and desert areas around the home. Various architects such as Bertram Goodue and Addison Mizner are credited for the introduction and rise in popularity of the Mediterranean home, starting with Florida and California.

Characteristics

Mediterranean homes are widely known for having light tan or white exteriors that are both bright and timeless, and this light-colored theme makes the home both relaxing to live in as it is to look at. The traditional Mediterranean home features exteriors made of stucco with artistic arch motifs that are made of either brick or stone. A red, terracotta tiled roof covers the home that is highly resistant to fire, mold, and erosion. This roof is a beautiful design that also allows the home to last longer than normal on the lot. To add some charm to the home’s curb appeal, the home also might feature heavy, articulate doors and wrought iron window frames.

Mediterranean home interiors often use light-colored stone and warm-colored woods to help families feel at ease. It also helps the home from getting too hot throughout the day, which is especially needed in a state such as Nevada.

There are a few variants to the Medierranean home that make them differ from others. The Italian Renaissance home will come with rounded arches. The Spanish Revival home will often feature clean lines and a low-pitched roof. The Modern Mediterranean home will often include open floor plans and incorporate outdoor areas into the living experience, such as a second story balcony. But of course, homes can incorporate many of these elements to make for a unique piece of property.

What To Watch Out For

Despite the use of stone to help cool interiors, it can often get stuffy inside a Mediterranean home due to smaller spaces and lower ceiling compared to more traditional American homes. To accommodate this caveat, many Mediterranean homes feature open spaces in order for air to circulate throughout the building. Depending on the home’s construction, the Mediterranean home might also lack natural light, as the smaller windows tend to allow less sunlight inside.

Storage might also be a problem; if you have a lot of belongings currently, they may not be able to fit inside a Mediterranean home without it looking too cluttered. While homeowners can make use of the open space for storage, some might not be willing to make that sacrifice in order to retain a true Mediterranean living experience. But if storage accommodations aren’t present in a home for sale, you can certainly make renovations or additions if need be.

Summary

Mediterranean homes are beautiful, southern-Euro style dwellings that are ritzy as they are relaxing. Be on the lookout for Mediterranean homes that are put up for sale in the Las Vegas area.