On my bucket list: Santorini, the beautiful Greek island with the hillside villages full of stucco homes with brilliant blue-domed roofs. There, I imagine, every room is always full of light, and every breeze smells like the sea. Browsing through hotel websites, I was struck not just by the beauty of the island, but also by the lovely, spare, effortless elegance of the Greek interiors.
Someday I will go to Santorini. In the meantime, I'm thinking about picking up a few things to make my house a little more like an Aegean retreat.
The Inspiration
1. Santorini. Image via Jetsetter.
2. Perivolas Suites, Oia, Santorini.
3. Home of interior designer Marilyn Katsaris in Tinos, Greece, by Zege Architects.
4. Bratsera Hotel, Hydra.
5. Villa in Mykonos.
The Goods
First row:
1. West Elm end table.
2. Aluminum bench from ABC Carpet & Home.
3. Anthropologie coffee table.
4. White sofa from High Fashion Home.
5. Weathered desk from ABC Carpet & Home.
Second row:
1. Ikea canopy bed.
2. Jonathan Adler vase.
3. Rug from Anthropologie.
4. Shine Labs pendant lamp from 2modern.
Images: As credited above.
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Staying in a cave house on Santorini was a dream of mine from the time I was in grade 10 or 11. I saw the most amazing pictures in a Greek design spread inside House Beautiful, and it stuck with me for over 20 years.
My husband made 10 days in Oia a birthday gift to me one year...
This is where we stayed; it should really be on your list.
http://chelidonia.gr/
The rooms are full of vintage and antique furniture, and are authentically renovated.
mschatelaine: you have a great husband. That place looks amazing! I really want to stay in #2 in the photos above, though...
Meh. Mykonos for me. Santorini smelled of cat piss and donkey poo when we where there.
Ohmigod. #5 is the reason I long to visit Greece and southern Italy.
@mschatelaine How wonderful for you! Looks like a gorgeous place to stay.
Nice post. It's got me dreaming. *sigh*
One of the best ways to see the Greek isles is by sailboat. If you have a chance, I do highly recommend a sailing voyage. The smaller, lesser known islands are especially quaint and memorable. However, Santorini and Mykonos both are wonderful.
Does anyone know the material used for the houses over there?
That white stuff.... you know?
This is my favourite image of Santorini. It looks so blissful, I'd really like to go there.
@KandM - i think it's just whitewashed stone, but I may be wrong
I have visited Santorini 3 times and it is a magical place. But you have to be careful where to stay and where to book. Oia is the best location (where mschatelaine stayed). Fira should be avoided, it is more for young people who are mainly interested in nightlife and crowd.
KandM, the original white stuff is lime (ασβέστης in Greek). A material used by Greeks in the past times to whiten but also to disinfect their houses and yards. However the material used in the photos must be a type of microcement in order to give a finer result.
Yes, I really lucked out in the husband department :-D (...and after 22 years, he can still make my knees wobble when I see him across a huge crowded lobby)
The top row of photos is dreamy--serene and exotic.
i adore all of the greek islands! peloponese is amazing too! http://www.79ideas.org/2011/06/dreamy-villa-in-santorini-greece.html
hi from Greece! thank you all for your kind words! I am very pleased to hear that you like our country!! the white substance on the houses is lime. they use it because it reflects the sunlight and therefore the houses don't get too hot!
Wow, thanks everyone for your answers. :]