Tainaron Blue Retreat

In the southernmost geographical point of mainland Europe, in the Cape Tainaron in Greece, a beautiful restored 19th century stone tower, has been transformed into a luxury traditional hotel which has lately opened its doors to the public.

It is situated in a unique place where the rough rocky landscape meets the tranquillity of the sea and the endless sky. 

What I loved most about it, is its bold stone walls combined with cement surfaces, wood in its natural color and contemporary design furnitures.

Plan an escape in... Critamo Cottage

Critamo Cottage is a 200 years old Cretan house, located near the historic town of Chania.... It is built at the beginning of the Ottoman conquest in 1724 and since then passed from father to sun. Now, after its restoration, it has been transformed into a wonderful guest house which can accomodate up to five persons.

It' s about a unique traditional cretan building with exposed stone walls, arches, wooden coloured windows and a spacious yard with trees and flowers...

Its name "Critamo" is borrowed from the homonymous herb, well known in Crete, rich in vitamin C and mineral content, used in herbal medicine...

Plan an Escape in...

....Sophia Suites, in Santorini. A recently renovated mansion, originally built more than 150 years ago, turned into a group of luxurious suites where everyone would dream to spend at least a couple of days! Its magnificent rooms and suites are really spacious and wonderfully decorated, combining the contemporary design with the traditional Cycladic architecture and decoration with some moroccan touches... Plus, it offers an uninterrupted volcano-sea view, which allows the visitor feel like "is flying" above this breathtaking view while he is enjoying his breakfast or sunbathing during the day. The visitor can complete the day by relaxing in the hot water of the private hot tub while he is enjoying a chilled glass of the world's awarded local wines watching the stars and the unique Santorinian moon reflected in the sea. The most dreamy spot of this amazing hotel is the indoor cave heated pool, with led lighting, of its honeymoon suite!

Oh... I really would like to spend my holidays there!!!

Family home in the heart of the nature

This dreamy home is owned by a Norwegian family who decided to move to the Italian countryside near a lake... After a thorough renovation, the owners respecting the character of the old construction and maintaining the old details which made it a unique rustic house, they created an amazingly renovated country house ideal to accommodate a family! What I loved most about this house is its living room with the unique glass roof which in combination with the floor to ceiling opening, gives you the  impression that you are sitting outside while you enjoy the fireplace's warmth!!! A house with enormous yet cozy  internal spaces due to the use of natural materials and colors such as the wooden  off-white beams, the stone wall and the grey cement floors covered with hand made kelims and cow skins for more warmth. And what about the claw foot bathtub in front of the large opening with this breathtaking view to the garden? I would really like to spend some days in this tiny paradise...!!! You?

Spanish 14th century restored villa

Spain is one of my favorites destinations and I love also the charming decoration and the design of its restored houses. So, today we will make a mind-trip in this wonderful country and especially in the historical region of Emporda, in Girona, where a lot of the old country houses have been rescued from oblivion by their owners, who love this area.

A house like those, we will visit today... A 14th century building which rehabilitated fully respecting the original materials of its construction. Its thick stone walls and stone curved ceilings (photo 9 & 11) consist an important part of its decoration. The plastered walls and ceiling blocks of the living room are painted in a vanilla hue in order to help the natural light be reflected in the interior and make an interesting contrast with the natural color of the stone walls and the cotto tiles.

What I liked also about this house was its built-in counter tops finished in polished cement both in the kitchen (photo 7) and the bathroom (photo 11), and then the built-in bench (photo 2) in the living room, topped with a beam of reclaimed wood, completed with a mat and numerous cushions, creating a comfortable nook for social gatherings or reading...

Other interesting pieces in the decoration are the old recovered trunk coated with fabric and used as a side table in the living room (photo 3), the old retro leather chair (photo 4), the rescued aged suitcases (photo 6) and off course the stone sink in the kitchen (photo 7).

A Greek fisherman's house in Koroni

This lovely traditional house is located in the historic town of Koroni, in the Peloponnese, Greece. It is situated below the historic Venetian castle of the town and above of a small beach, offering a dreamy view of Mani while you are seating in its garden.   

A modern home built in a monastery ruins

In the ruins of a 12th century monastery, situated in a tiny village in Provence France, Roger Anger (a well known French architect) created a unique modern home! He restored the medieval architectural elements of the building (the old brickwork, arches and columns) and he combined then with 18th and 19th century antiques, selected mid century classics and modern materials as steel, glass and cement.
The result is unique... I love so much the contrast of the antique furniture behind the modern dining table with the Eames chairs in the dining room(image 1). I would like also have the opportunity to sit in the Eames lounge chair(image 3), which fits perfectly with the medieval surrounding of the room and gazing for hours at this breathtaking view which is offered from the enormous windows...