Mexican Style. Explore creative design ideas, tips and inspirations for this classic architectural design style.

Mexican Style

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Simulated Leather

A handsome and natural looking finish, the Simulated Leather faux effect can be particularly successful when used to create rustic interiors. It seems a natural solution for the rural design aesthetic, as it compliments the mixed material use so common to this style; wood, stone, terra-cotta and iron. Though this effect is ideally suited for furniture and objects, it assumes a grander, more mature feel when used on wall surfaces

Antique Plaster

Rough textured walls seem synonymous with the Rural Mexican interior. I like to use dark, vibrant colors when working in this style and this simple paint and plaster compound makes it easy to achieve the desired color strength and depth. A light antique glaze completes the effect, adding just the right amount of worn beauty to the walls. In addition, I’ve used this technique in a variety of settings and I’ve found it to be an easy solution to treating irregular or slightly damaged wall surfaces.

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Mexican Style

Emerald jungles, palm-fringed beaches, whitewashed villages, gracious haciendas, imposing Mayan ruins. Mexican style draws on a rich array of natural, artisanal and historical materials. Like the country itself, Mexican design is welcoming and colorful, elegant and quirky.

Art is integral to the fabric of Mexican life. In Oaxaca, El Dio de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated with hand-crafted painted skeletons, candy skulls, elaborate altars adorned with fruit, flowers and food. Guadalajara, the "Florence of Mexico," boasts spectacular murals depicting social and political issues. Throughout Mexico, "las indigenas" produce exquisite artifacts colored with the rich, warm hues of the natural landscape.

Mexico's climate allows a great deal of everyday life to take place outside in both public and private settings. In cobblestone town squares, music floats from bandshells. Family and friends often gather in outdoor cafes against a background of colonial architecture. The vaulted arches of cathedrals give way to fragrant enclosed gardens. Dulcerias proffer intriguing sweets that mix chocolate and cinnamon, tamarind and chilis. Indoors and out, in Mexico, everyday existence satisfies the senses and delights the soul.

Antique Glazes and Aged Finishes

Antique Glaze Create the perfect antique finish. Furniture, objects, paintings, wall and ceilings. Our exclusive line of custom antique glazes are idealy suited for interior and exterior applications. This acrylic based medium is eco-safe, easy application and clean up, with enhanced color saturation. Great for all weather conditions. Pre-mixed colors for historic application, thematic and geographic design styles.

Exuberant decoration juxtaposed with solid structure is the basic recipe for Mexican style. Tile inlay on a mesquite table fashioned with mortise-and-tenon joints. An imposing carved armario (armoire) alongside a handwoven geometric rug. And the decorative possibilities of Mexico's vibrant regional folk art -- wood carving, clay figurines, baskets, pewter, candleholders, yarn paintings -- are virtually limitless.

Elements of Mexican Style

Rustic earth tones

Vibrant, colorful patterns underlie this design style.

Feature tutorial.

The Parchment colorwash. Creating the impression of aged walls, the Parchment finish evokes a feeling of history and old world charm. The color density varies over the finished surface and creates appearances of lightly mottled parchment. A soft and airy finish, the Parchment glaze is an ideal way to create mood and character in any room. I’ve found it to be an ideal solution for finishing irregular or textured wall surfaces.

Mexican Style Inspirations

Metal sconces and interesting figurines.

The Masks of Mexico.

Terre-cotte floor tiles.

Lighting

Lighting is diverse and imaginative. One will find fixtures made of wrought iron, or wood. Candles, colored glass, pottery find comfort in this style. Wrought iron chandeliers hang in large, open rooms.

Furniture

Mesquite, heart of pine structures. Mortise and tenon and dovetails corner details. Large iron hinges, and multi colored wood inlays. A-frame tables, armoires with heavy hinges and drawer pulls.

Floors

The use of tiles and stone are Mexican staples. Rugs woven in Traditional Mexican geometric designs or simple stripes, always with bold or vibrant color themes.

Accents

Mexican style uses many different resources to accent the environment. From clay figurines, masks, candles, and pottery, to wood carvings and pewter objects. Many accents are colorfully hand painted. Hand blown glass, often irregularly formed. Silver frames are commonly used mirror and picture surrounds.

Fabrics

Hand-woven blankets and rugs. Brocade are seen in more formal spaces.

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Early American Style

Colonial Amercians drew inspriation from their European heritage. Curent design styles would filter across the ocean and become reinventedin early America. Proportion and scale took reign over ornementation, A neutral color palette of grey blue, greens and rose pinks is readily apparent.

Stucco Rustico - Aged Plaster

Stucco Rustico is a Traditional interior and exterior textured plaster that epitomizes the rustic old world charm commonly associated with Tuscan environments. I love this treatment for its ease of application and the natural, organic glazed appearance that results when using mineral based plasters and glazes. Whether a rough application or a smooth finish, this treatment holds true to the test of time and, in fact, feels as if time itself stopped to wash the walls personally.

The Rustic Color Palette

The Rustic Style color palette falls within a distinct range of color tones and is essential in creating a successful Rustic interior. By using the appropriate color tones you can create a variety of design styles ranging from Period and Historic, regional or thematic. Color helps define our experiences within an interior and exterior environment. It affects us on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level and can be calming and passive, expressive and vital.

Painted Floral Details

Floral patterns used as accents in fabrics and furniture are common place details in the English Country home. These graceful and organic patterns complement the cozy interior of this style and work particularly well with lace window treatments, an heirloom tea service set and the natural and rustic charm of wooden ceiling beams and slightly irregularly textured walls.