Spain’s architectural history is rich and varied. Cities such as Córdoba in southern Spain are home to spectacular examples of Islamic architecture, while others, like Madrid, showcase the extravagant style of the Spanish Baroque period. Spain also has its fair share of famous architects, including Antoni Gaudí, whose unusual and colourful buildings, such as the Sagrada Família, have made Barcelona instantly recognisable around the world.
With such a wide range of cultural influences at their fingertips, Spanish architects have often incorporated many textures, materials and styles into their designs. A typical Spanish home might have a traditional clay tile roof, Mediterranean arched windows and Middle Eastern patterned tiles that speak to Spain’s long architectural history.
However, one of the risks of drawing inspiration from a variety of architectural traditions is that it can make spaces appear chaotic. For this reason, a more minimalist style has recently come into fashion in Spain. Today’s homeowners are opting for simple, geometric buildings with a smooth white finish and no roof tiles. These homes blend into the Spanish landscape, capturing the refined aspect of Mediterranean style that homeowners want.
Design is not all about aesthetics. At Villa Value, we aim to balance style and function
Making a house a home
Villa Value has more than 35 years of real estate experience in Spain. In that time, we’ve seen trends come and go, but our commitment to quality has remained the same. Now, one of the trends emerging in interior design is a desire for elegance and simplicity. Consumer tastes are shifting away from colourful rooms filled with contrasting patterns towards more muted palettes that make use of a few splashes of colour to liven the space up. Sleek metal and stone surfaces are also enjoying a wave of popularity, bringing the added benefit that they are well suited to Spain’s warm climate. Marble flooring, for example, adds contemporary opulence to a room while keeping the temperature down.
In terms of layout, today’s consumers generally prefer airy, spacious rooms. High ceilings and panoramic windows help create this effect. This can also be achieved by making adjustments to typically cramped spaces like bathrooms. Shower cubicles with raised tiled floors, which were all the rage in the 1990s and 2000s, are now considered outdated. Today, floor-level walk-in showers that blend seamlessly into the rest of the bathroom are much more popular.
Design is not all about aesthetics, though. At Villa Value, we aim to balance style and function. As charming as an old Spanish farmhouse can be, it is unlikely to have all of the facilities needed to bring the utmost comfort. By comparison, we ensure that our builders use the most efficient materials and that residents have cutting-edge technology at their disposal. The doors and windows of our properties are fitted with top-of-the-range aluminium joinery instead of wood or steel. Aluminium is a particularly strong metal, meaning window frames can be made much thinner, maximising the glass area. As such, our homes benefit from fantastic views and lots of natural light.
Modern requirements
Our ability to keep up with emerging trends is one reason for our success as estate agents. With each property or project we select, we work only with the best builders, keeping costs low for the homeowner.
Our forward-thinking approach can be seen in how we heat and light our properties. Underfloor heating can bring greater comfort to a home, as it warms the building from the ground upwards rather than concentrating heat in specific areas, as traditional radiators do. What’s more, it’s also an efficient heating system. Similarly, we use Griesser external Venetian blinds, which can be adjusted to control the intensity of daylight entering the home. This not only prevents glare and overheating on a hot summer’s day, but also helps residents reduce their energy consumption.
Energy-efficient design is very important to us. In an increasingly climate-conscious era, architects and property developers must build with sustainability in mind. Simple adjustments to a home can significantly reduce energy use and lower the building’s carbon footprint. According to Underfloor Heating Systems, using underfloor heating can save residents between 15 and 30 percent on their heating bills, while Griesser states that its external Venetian blinds can reduce energy requirements by 10 percent.
It’s equally important to us that these facilities are easy for homeowners to use. With a built-in home automation system, everything from heating to lighting can be fine-tuned with minimal effort. In today’s property market, automation is the way forward.
Settling in
Many Spanish architects strive to integrate their buildings with the surrounding area. The Costa Blanca, for example, is famous for its white-sand beaches. Our properties in this area, with their soft white finish and minimalist style, complement their surroundings perfectly. Meanwhile, our terraces that overlook the Mediterranean Sea are designed to reduce the feeling that there is a barrier between the homeowner and nature.
To achieve harmony between a home and its surrounding environment, collaboration throughout the building process is crucial. By working together from the beginning of a project, our architects, engineers, landscapers and interior designers guarantee that the building is created with one vision in mind.
We pride ourselves on offering a hassle-free experience to homeowners. From the very start of the customer’s experience, we cater to their every need, drawing on our expertise to select the perfect property. This includes making sure that the purchasing process is as smooth as possible.
Once the homeowner is ready to move in, we will take care of any modifications they’ve requested, such as the introduction of new technical features or additional furniture. On the day they move in, our handover team will guide them through the technical features of the property, such as the smart-home, underfloor heating and air conditioning systems. With our team handling the more complicated side of settling in, our customers can start enjoying their homes immediately.
It is this attention to detail and dedication to customer service that makes Villa Value a leading consultancy in the Spanish property market. By engaging with our customers and staying on top of the latest trends in architecture and interior design, we can match each buyer with their perfect property. Moving forward, we will continue to embrace innovation, creating homes that are the embodiment of modern Spanish luxury.