I had some lovely walks when I was in Spain, the sky was so blue and I spent many happy hours just wandering around, looking at the lovely plants and admiring all the creativity of the house owners who have modified their properties.

I wrote about some of the different styles of newer builds in this post last year but what I like doing the most is seeing how people have adapted the smaller, older houses. It is amazing walking down a street where no two houses are the same. I wonder what would happen in the UK if we did the same here to our rows of terraces? It helps that there has been very little in the way of planning laws here and it is only now that people have to get permission for modifications.

These houses were built about 30 years ago and like mine started off as small terraces, single story with one or two bedrooms as in the picture above. I think part of the reason for all the creativity is that a lot of people who live there are retired and they have the time and energy to do a complete remodel.

My aunt and uncle bought a small house on a large plot and over the next 25 years extended it to over double its size, doing most of the work themselves.My aunt has just sold that house and is moving to a lovely new one just the other side of the secret garden that I posted about here.

These terraced houses are limited by plot size so most developments are upwards but what amazes me is all the different styles. A popular one is the traditional Spanish/Mexican adobe, there are quite a few of these and they look very different with their very ornate brickwork and lovely windows.

The one above is just up the road from me and I have watched as over the years more and more has been added, they must have an amazing view from the roof terrace.This one below has gorgeous windows and iron work.

Or if that doesn’t appeal you could go for French chic, this lovely little pink house is just across the street from the last one and would not look out of place on the Riviera.

Terraces are a big feature of most builds and these people clearly love their outdoor space.I can just see a barbecue on the roof and that must be lovely on summer evenings.

The larger detached houses have a lot more scope for creativity as they have space for wall embellishments, terraces and even towers. You can go Tuscan if you wish as in this lovely example complete with vine covered terraces.

Tiles are always a feature and I love this tiled mini tower on the house next door to the Tuscan one, reminiscent of the blue tiled roofs of the churches here.

We also saw some amazing large houses when we took our trip to the beach I showed you pictures of in the last post. It was this place, La Zenia, that changed my mind about Spain. Up until then I had not thought of it as a place to live but seeing beautiful houses like these just next to the beach really inspired  me.

Sadly I can’t afford anything like this and it would be far too big for me anyway but I am looking for inspiration for when I move to Spain full time as I will have a little bit of re-modelling done on the terrace with a new wall and built in barbecue and I love these tiled balustrades on the house next door to the one above.

I also really want one of these Poinsettia trees that I saw everywhere, I love these flowers and usually have them in the house at Christmas so would really like to plant some in place of my very overgrown cacti!

I have not been able to do much sewing this week as I have had a small operation which has meant that my left arm has been a bit painful. I am working on my blog giveaway gift and really enjoying stitching that, especially as one of my favourite Netflix programmes has just released a new season so I have been happily watching Grace and Frankie while I stitch. They have a beach house that is amazing so I have added this to my list of places in world that I want to visit, look at that for a location!

I love the house interior as well, this is the stage set but it is modelled on the real house. That is the most gorgeous view.

I am planning a quiet rest of the weekend, we have had a little snow here but no disruption thankfully, all the jobs are done for the weekend so I can just sit and sew 🙂

I hope you are having a nice time and are cosy and warm, or if you like somewhere hot as a few of my bloggy friends so keeping cool. I will be back soon and will hopefully be able to give you an update on the Steampunk outfit for Whitby as that is my next project after the giveaway gift.

Take care and thanks for visiting.