Spanish Style
By Kate Hill
Merrell, £29.95
FT Bookshop price: £23.96

Searching for the “mysterious ingredient that unites this diverse anthology of contemporary homes, world-renowned architecture and traditional hacienda estates”, Kate Hill explores the disparate landscapes of Spain from Galicia to Catalunya and Andalucía in Spanish Style. The book covers varied decor, from a modern apartment in Madrid to a historical hotel situated within Santiago de Compostela. Each property description attempts to classify the interior and architectural design in Spanish terms, be it though the use of certain colours, materials, textures or light.

Hill reminds the reader that the modern Spanish aesthetic draws upon many different cultural heritages, from the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans to the Moors and the northern Europeans – thus making it difficult to define exactly what it embodies. She shows that a range of looks, from a brightly lit apartment in Madrid full of contemporary art and starkly painted walls to a historic hacienda replete with courtyards, fountains and shaded patios, all relate back to Spanish roots. Vibrancy of colour and the use of light might be teamed with pieces from top new international designers as well as with older, more baroque stylings of older homes.

Spanish architect Monica Rivera is quoted in the introduction stating that the country should be understood as “an aggregation of complementary landscapes and cultures” and the author does a good job of showing an aggregated range of interiors, albeit in a somewhat haphazard way. Although the book is a delightful display of Spanish Style, it lacks organisation of property by region or type. Great photography and detailed explanation make up for this, though.