I start every project with sketches, moving step by step with the client toward the house of their dreams. It's an important stage, and one not to be underestimated — sketching is still one of the most important ways of expressing ideas in architecture. Every time I land on the right image, I get excited about making a house special, with its own character and personality.

Summer, the sea — well, not really) But we can dream.

The designs for this project are in the Mediterranean style.

The defining feature of the Mediterranean style — color: the walls should be light, so they reflect the sun and keep the rooms from overheating. That's why the main wall finish for the house in our project — beige plaster with a textured application. Shutters, pergolas for climbing plants, a large balcony, and majolica above the windows all help round out the complete look of the house.

Bright shutters add a splash of color to a calm, understated façade.

It helps to echo the shutters with color elsewhere so they don't look out of place, which is what we did with the front door. But it's important to keep the balance and not overdo it — green roof tiles, for example, would have been too much.

Another nice detail in the house's trim — the brickwork around the windows and under the roof.

We also offered the client a more contrasting option with a deep maroon wall color, which works well with the green shutters and white rusticated inlays.

When you come to us for this service, you can choose a complete façade project that includes photorealistic renderings of the house, in-depth detailing, utilities, exterior lighting plans, a bill of finishes, and detailed instructions on how to do the work.

Or you can go with a low-budget, lighter version — the conceptual design. It's more of a concept study, but it still relies on accurate 3D modeling so the proportions hold up, and it includes a list of the main trim materials.

For this project we propose finishing the house with Nichiha panels and Cedral fiber cement siding. The accents will be decorative metal inserts with a graphic pattern on the bay window.

They catch the eye on the spare, monochrome facade and refresh it without overdoing the look.