Mediterranean Home Decor

Equestrian Center: Where boats and cafés meet - but no horses

Saudi Gazette

THE only horses that I know of that have something to do with the sea are those tiny little creatures known as ‘seahorses’, and the white tipped waves on the water called “white horses” which indicate strong winds and rough weather. However, in Jeddah there is a new spot in town called the “Equestrian Centre” at which – surprise, surprise – there is not a horse in sight. It overlooks the Red Sea and is Jeddah’s only downtown marina, which although spacious, is currently home to only two or three cabin cruisers (except during the Boat Show when all the berths are taken up.) So why is it called the “Equestrian Centre”? Perhaps there is a large stable hidden somewhere, home to a fleet of racehorses.
The Equestrian Centre is located on the Corniche, just south of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Notwithstanding the horses, and the deserted-looking main entrance, once you find the parade of cafés and restaurants overlooking the marina, it is hard to believe that you are actually in Jeddah. It feels more like Beirut and, if the marina was full of boats, could even be a European Mediterranean spot. We also discovered that there is another drive into the center, which takes you round to the car park beside the Marina, and right outside all these restaurants.
What gives this parade of cafés and restaurants the Mediterranean feel is the inviting tables that are set up on the long terrace under a series of huge umbrellas. The olive trees growing out of large pots, and the chequered tablecloths, add to this ‘al fresco’ dining atmosphere. There are also no “Singles” or “Family” entrances: there are simply invisible lines demarcating these zones so it feels more international.
The Equestrian Centre is not yet fully subscribed with eateries, but the current selection includes Le Notre (the well established French Café chain), Salad Boutique (offering exotic salads), Mezza Maison (offering Lebanese food), Capuccino Grand Café, and Il Porto, an Italian restaurant.
There are very few places that really come to life in Jeddah before sunset, so when my husband and I arrived for a late Friday lunch, there were very few people in any of these restaurants. We opted for Il Porto, and as the summer heat had already kicked in, we sat in the cool of the air-conditioned indoor section.

The Mediterranean Style of Home Decor | Furniture Stores

The name comes from the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, which is almost completely enclosed by 3 continents!

The sea is bordered to its north by Europe: Spain, France and Italy, Albania and Greece. On the east it is bordered by Asia: Turkey, Syria and Israel. And to its south it borders the African countries of Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco. (To get from the Mediterranean Sea out into the Atlantic Ocean, mariners have to go through the nine-mile-wide Straits of Gibraltar.)

At the same time, the term “Mediterranean style” doesn’t deal with the eastern or southern countries – they each have their own distinctive styles of interior decorating . Rather, it refers to the countries north of the Mediterranean Sea – Spain, Greece and Italy. It is also called Spanish modern.

What are the defining elements of the Mediterranean style?

As far as furniture is concerned, they’re usually low to the ground, with ornately turned legs and feet; the hardware is heavy and usually burnished. Burnished metal simply means that it has “a smooth glossy finish or appearance.”

The walls are the most distinctive part of the Mediterranean style – rather than simply unadorned walls painted in dull and boring, light colors, they’re textured, or covered with faux designs of crumbling wood, or murals of views of a beach through an ornate window, for example.

The floors are also distinctive – the use of mosaic tile designs is quite popular.

There are no bare bones in Mediterranean design – throw rugs, pillows, and different kinds of fabric are everywhere. Pottery, statue, and baskets full of fruit and vegetables cover almost every inch of horizontal space.

Mediterranean design is all about warmth, about feeling cozy and comfortable.

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