Mediterranean in the Midwest 6/26

I love Mediterranean design. To me, it evokes the smells, flavors, and sunlight of the south of France, an area I tromped through as a college student (many years ago) and that has enchanted me ever since. Even though I live in the Midwest, I try to add a little of the Mediterranean to by home’s décor. Just introducing a few details can give a room that comfortable “south of France” feeling. Here are some of my favorites:

Mediterranean in the Midwest

The French hills above the Mediterranean Sea are filled with fields of flowers, most of which are used in the region’s huge perfume industry. Lavender, particularly, grows well in the warm, almost arid mountains. After some trial and error, I’ve found that English Lavender does rather well in my Ohio (zone 6) garden. Each June and July, I snip bouquets of sprigs to hang in the basement to dry. Some get stuck in drawers. (Lavender works as well as mothballs, without the noxious smell.) Some get saved for holiday baskets and sachets, and some get placed around the house, in wreaths, inside glass pitchers, and tied with a purple ribbon in the bath.

Lemons are another common sight in the Mediterranean, where citrus trees thrive in small cottage gardens throughout the region. Although I can’t grow lemons in Ohio, in the summer when the farmer’s market has them five for a $1, I make an arrangement of lemons in a bowl on the counter. When they’re past their prime, I use them in the refrigerator or ground up in the garbage disposal to freshen the kitchen. I also favor ceramics, and lemons are a common theme in my collection.

Shafts of wheat also give a Mediterranean feel to a room. They remind one of the reed chair seats in a typical French country kitchen as well as the fields of grasses that blow through Provence. You can find assembled wheat decorations from design stores and catalog retailers, or you can make your own from the discarded tops of the wheat (if you live in the country), or wheat-like grasses at craft stores.

• Country Style Decorating Ideas
• Bathroom Design Pictures
• Interior Paint Color Combinations

• Country French Style Basics
• Common Themes for Teenage Bedrooms
• Designing for Small Spaces
• Basics of Color Design
• Asian Style Interior Design

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