Showing posts with label Greece. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greece. Show all posts

Sunday, September 16, 2012

From Place to Space: A Little Greek Island


Here we are, a new week, a new Monday. I've spent a weekend with my family in Austria, helped my mother sorting out the basement, found some old, hidden treasures and there it was, my idea for today's blog post. An old, hidden treasure. A little voyage I did a few years ago. And it was then that I discovered a little, hidden Greek island. It is not so known among foreign tourists but rather popular with Athenians as it is not far away from the Greek capital yet so serene and divine that you feel like in the middle of the Aegean. I'm referring to the little island of Angistri. Welcome aboard!

I've dug out a few old snapshots to share with you. The great thing about these kind of islands is that you travel sort of blindfolded. We've entered the ship in Athens and arrived on this little island without any ideas or expectations. Nor any accommodation. But that is not too complicated. The main town is rather tiny and locals offer their rooms to any arriving guest in the little port. A few hotels, taverns and cafés line the main street along the coast and a beautiful and serene beach with clear blue waters is more than inviting. There are a few pathways to climb the hill behind the beach and a great tavern with amazing views of the bay awaits the diligent hiker. A simple Greek salad, some fresh seafood, a glass of chilled wine and a view of the Aegean - can I please order all that on this Monday morning? Happy week, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic


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Sunday, July 15, 2012

From Place To Space: Chalkidiki


That I am a huge Greece lover is no secret here. I used to live and study in Greece and my love for the country and its people has grown even bigger during that period. And I was lucky enough to travel almost the entire country. One destination I would like to highlight today, is the northern Greek peninsula of Chalkidiki. 

The three fingers of Chalkidiki - Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos - are a popular holiday destination for the Greeks and many foreigners. However, sometimes this region is a tad neglected due to the high popularity of the Greek Aegean islands. So, apart from Santorini and Mykonos, there is more to see in this beautiful country. And Chalkidiki will most certainly not disappoint.

Especially when it comes to nature, the peninsula has a lot to offer. It has vast green spaces, untouched forests and dream-like bays and beaches. The shades of blue are immense - some beaches on the Sithonia finger resemble their Caribbean kinfolk. Even though the region is popular for camping tourism, you will find a good number of simple yet cosy hotels and apartments to enjoy the full Greek experience - just as I like to put it here: from place to space. Happy new week, folks!

Photography: Old man via Pinterest; Interiors via Marie Claire Maison; all others by Igor Josifovic
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Monday, July 2, 2012

Hotel Of My Dreams: San Giorgio, Mykonos



Don't blame me. It's the high temperatures that shape my blog content these days. With summer outside I am totally drawn to the south, holidays, voyages. And I am considering my summer vacations too, so I am browsing the net for inspiration. This is how it happened: I've found the hotel of my dreams - the San Giorgio on the Greek island of Mykonos. This is exactly what I have in mind when thinking of perfect holidays: a sun-spoilt island in the Aegean and a hotel that is so beautifully designed that it is hard to leave the room!


Even though I went twice to Mykonos, this hotel make a third time inevitable. Many years ago I went for the first time to Mykonos - it was a get-to-know-each-other Erasmus student week, so I partied a lot and slept little. A few years later I visited the island again with one of my friends from Paris and we partied a lot and slept little. Now that I got older and wiser, it is probably time to spend perfect, more quiet holidays on Mykonos. And the San Giorgio hotel is the perfect place to do that.


The relaxed 'rustic charm meets sophisticated interior design' just nails it for me. The abundance of whites and natural hues are juxtaposed by vibrant colour pops, wooden furniture and a refined selection of decoration. This well-thought design  underlines the subtle mix of Mediterranean and Eastern influences. The hammock on the terrace and the stark blue Aegean sea ahead - only one question remains: Why am I not there right now?

Photography via San Giorgio Hotel


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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Style Under The Sun



With this post I openly admit: I am ready for some sun spoilt vacations! So I was getting some inspiration on the web and while thinking of the upcoming summer holidays I couldn't help but reminisce about the time when I lived in Greece. The extremely clear sunlight, the white houses, the stark blue Aegean. And then I remembered that last year I wrote an article for a local German-Greek magazine and introduced its readers to the tiny Cycladic island of Folegandros. As I am a design lover and enjoy beautiful interiors, I picked the stunning Hotel Anemi as the place to stay on the island. So I decided to share the same hotel here on the blog today. 

I love how the hotel combines traditional architecture with a modern design. The typical Cycladic houses are filled with carefully chosen design classics and huge photographies of the island cover feature walls to set the tone. The colour theme remains neutral with the ever present white as a great backdrop and spiced up by mellow colour pops such as the blue Eames chairs. 


Wouldn't you just love to spend a week there? Or two? Or three? 

Photography via Hotel Anemi
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Sunday, May 6, 2012

From Place To Space: Rhodes


Happy Monday, folks! I hope you all enjoyed a fabulous weekend and you are ready for a good and refreshed start into a new week (unless you are enjoying bank holidays and I envy you endlessly). To start the new week, let's have a little inspirational trip together. Shall we? How about the sunny island of Rhodes? Here we go!

The Greek island is located in the south-east Aegean and is considered to be one of Europe's most popular holiday destinations. In ancient times, it used to be home to one of the seven world wonders - the Colossus of Rhodes. Today the island is highly appreciated for its abundance of sunshine and beautiful beaches. However, the island bursts also with some great sights. The Palace of the Grand Master is a major spot in the capital's old town. The Acropolis of Lindos in the southeastern part of the island is magnificent and the old Ottoman architecture is remarkable. 

The old town of Rhodes city is a little gem. Narrow, cobbled streets are lined up with shops and restaurants, old town houses showcase a plethora of weathered Mediterranean colours and local artisans are the best addresses for a really nice souvenir. The food is delicious as well - try the excellent fish and seafood specialities. One of my favorite beaches is the so-called 'Anthony Quinn Bay' on the eastern coast. Framed by rocks, this sandy beach has incredibly clear waters and a tiny little beach taverna serves yummy Greek plain fare. 

So, are you invigorated and inspired with sunshine and Mediterranean colours? I am. And I am kind of ready for a new week. Have a great one!

Photography by Igor Josifovic
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Saturday, October 22, 2011

From Place To Space: Greece

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Images from Taschen "Living in Greece"


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It’s only been a few weeks ago that I've come back from the sun-spoilt Greek island of Rhodes. I love travelling the Greek islands. Back in my university time I spent a year studying in Athens and ever since I’ve grown accustomed to Greece, the Greek people, language, food. And taking into consideration my soft spot for maritime home decor, it was more than clear that the very first ‚From Place to Space’ blog post had to be about Greece. 


What I love about Greek styles is the use of stark, bright colours that seem to be even a tad brighter than anywhere else due to the very special light that illuminates everything in a unique way - from nature to worn surfaces and hues. The light adds a notion of timeless elegance and beauty. Moreover, I love the references to tradition in Greek homes. Old, family heirloom icons, earthenware, oriental fabrics - all these elements make a matchless blend of fine home decor and an exceptional approach to unintended interior design.


I hope you will find some inspiration here on how to bring a bit of the Mediterranean into your interiors. Sometimes it takes just a few little things to bring holidays where they belong – home!


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