In the Greek community of Oia on the island of Santorini, homes are carved out of the cliffside. Known as 'cave houses,' these are traditional Greek island homes with whitewashed walls and curved ceilings. They tend to be small, but they can feel surprisingly spacious inside, thanks to some smart interior design decisions.
This little vacation villa is one of three on Santorini operated by Villas of Santorini. Owned by an architect, the villa has been outfitted with modern amenities — including a kitchenette and rain shower — but it retains the traditional form and appearance of a cave house. It's decorated minimally, but with an eye towards keeping the rooms light and airy. Space-conscious details include:
- Wall-mounted bedside lamps that free up surface space next to the bed
- A headboard/ledge that's built into the wall
- Latticed closet doors painted dark gray to bring some contrast into the bedroom
- Banquets that can serve as sleeper sofas in the living room
- Natural furnishings that add texture but keep things light
- Uplights that make the ceiling seem larger and higher
- A round, space-saving breakfast table
- Outdoor dining/lounging space that feels like an extension of the interior
To see a full tour of all three properties with more information and photos, check out Villas of Santorini online.
Photos: Villas of Santorini
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Reminds me of freshly washed white linens.
Ooooo, greek villa overlooking the ocean....dreamy.
Would make me feel like I'd died and gone to heaven.
Swoon!
Hmm....I'm wondering whether I can recreate this in my shabby suburban rental?!?!?!?
Can I go there? Now?
Wow.
The all white interior is so dreamy and the pop of color from the flowers just make me feel happy. This is kind of what I would expect from Greek Villa, now I just have to book a vacation there ASAP.
I actually posted something similar as far as all white interior in a foreign country(Brazil) but this one takes the cake with its view overlooking that beautiful ocean.
http://tolsca.com/
tchau!
Lovely! Spent part of my honeymoon on the island. Always wished my family was from that part of Greece. Though the town of Castoria does have its own charm.
@Perfidia: Break out the white paint, white linens, white curtains.. natural sisal rugs ... hide all your stuff -- check back with me and I'll let you know if I've managed to do the same in my apartment!
So lovely! Although I don't understand how the dark grey closet doors make it seem bigger, from the picture they feel like they pop into the room and dominate the space.
For those replicating the look, I think you might hit a snag without the rounded ceilings and built-ins...
And not having the Mediterranean and all that gorgeous sunlight might make a difference, too.
I know, I know...
I'm afraid I'm beyond the reach of the rational on this one, SherryBinNH. My cinderblock Mediterranean Oasis is a go!
I stayed in a little hotel like that in Santorini - it was really wonderful.