Design Inspiration: Tropical Mexico
Bring the relaxing beauty of south of the border style to your home's decor with tropical colors and textures
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design. I just completed my first remodel, turning my crumbling 1941 kitchen into a beauty of grays, whites and natural wood. If I could, I'd sleep on the countertop. That's how much I love it.
You can also read my parenting blog on Baby Center http://blogs.babycenter.com/author/sschoech/
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel... More »
Apologies to anyone who happens to be stuck in the snow right now, but I'm on the beach in Mexico, in a little town just south of Puerto Vallarta. The beauty of the tropics never fails to stun me.
The colors are brighter, sure, but the light is also different and the textures too. It's the perfect vibe to bring home, but how to transfer it? I can't exactly put a palapa roof on my house or plant a garden full of tropicals in San Francisco.
By taking a closer look at the colors and textures of these tropical surroundings, I found some simple ways to translate them into decor. I don't need a full sunset on my wall, but a hint of the tropics may help me bring a sense of relaxation home.
The colors are brighter, sure, but the light is also different and the textures too. It's the perfect vibe to bring home, but how to transfer it? I can't exactly put a palapa roof on my house or plant a garden full of tropicals in San Francisco.
By taking a closer look at the colors and textures of these tropical surroundings, I found some simple ways to translate them into decor. I don't need a full sunset on my wall, but a hint of the tropics may help me bring a sense of relaxation home.
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| Sunsets are often a mix of the vibrant and the neutral — Mother Nature knows a thing or two about balance. Take inspiration from the beautiful oranges, peaches, grays and beiges in a Mexican sunset. |
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| This balance of bright and neutral means no one will go blind. This sunset-colored room is vibrant but somehow also calming — just like the real thing. |
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| The ocean isn't always blue. In Mexico it ranges from blue to green, with everything in between. This brilliant teal color is my favorite — don't you just want to jump in? |
This room doesn't immediately scream tropical, but its colors are the same soothing blues, teals and whites as the Mexican sea. Stick to these natural but exotic hues to create a subtle tropical-styled space.
Old whitewashed brick is all over south of the border. It's not what you'd traditionally think of as tropical, but it is a very old Mexican style. This brick has an authentic appeal and a wonderful texture, and it provides a nice neutral background for all those colorful accessories.
by Amy Lau Design
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I love old, exposed brick in interiors. It has beautiful texture and lends a certain elegance to a room — it's the decorating equivalent of smoking a pipe.
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| Mexican pink is a very specific color — bright, happy and almost glowing. You see it on walls, fabrics and rugs here, but also in the amazing tropical flora. |
Pink furniture lends immediate cheer to a home. Here are at least three shades of pink paired with orange for a bright, glossy and eclectic look.
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| Palapa (palm frond) shade umbrellas on the beach in Puerto Vallarta are a great example of the natural, earthy style that the tropics offer. This side of Mexican decor is easily translated into a more staid and colonial look. |
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| Grass-cloth wallpaper (used here in panels) adds a tropical but also traditional and colonial feeling to this soothing bedroom. |
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| Weathered hand-painted signs are all over Mexico. It's a look that is very hard to re-create (since time has done all the work on these authentic pieces), but that doesn't mean they can't serve as inspiration. |
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| The literal decorative translation would be to use an old sign as part of your decor. This weathered beauty looks perfect hanging out with its modern friends. |
by ABCD Design LLC
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The less literal decor translation is to incorporate naturally weathered items like this old china cabinet. Search for antiques that show a little wear and tear, or try sanding down an inexpensive painted piece of furniture for a similar look.
More:
Decorating Around the World: Mexican Modern
Houzz Escape: Down Old Mexico Way
More:
Decorating Around the World: Mexican Modern
Houzz Escape: Down Old Mexico Way
Ideabook published on March 30, 2012.
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