Happy Guest: An All Natural House On Mykonos

I'm Lisa Hjalt of the LatteLisa blog, one of happy Igor's followers, honoured to write a guest post for him while he's away on vacation. We all know that Igor is from Serbia, was brought up in Austria and now lives in Germany, but the funny or strange thing is that I always associate him with Greece. During his studies there he seems to have done a lot of Greek island hopping and that's why I'm taking you to a Greek island.

This beautiful house on the island of Mykonos is a Deborah French design (she lived in it for some time) and has been featured in many interior magazines. There is simply something about it that reminds me of Igor and his taste. It has a bit of that ethnic vibe that we often find on his blog.

The house and its garden blend perfectly into its surroundings and the stones used to build it come from the mountains. What makes the house even more natural is the layout of the rooms; the shape of the hillside dictates their layout. All materials used are natural and as you can see, there is no fuss on the inside. Walls are white with plenty of rustic wood throughout and the decor consists mainly of things like Greek urns and dried flowers. The result is a peaceful home.

When I first saw the exterior I remember finding it interesting that the house wasn't painted white, as most Greek houses. It turns out that Deborah French had to get permission from the Architectural Committee of the Cycladic Islands to not paint it!

I feel like the one thing missing in this post is a photo of Igor himself jumping on a beach nearby. Enjoy your time in the west, Igor! I'm already looking forward to your Monday posts when you get back.

Photo credit: Paul Ryan for Deborah French Designs

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From Place To Space: My Athens! Part One

Hello Monday, hello spring, hello friends! Let us start into a new week invigorated by ideas, creativity and the insatiable desire to discover new places, new cultures new concepts of aesthetics and happiness. Probably today's virtual trip won't be all too new to everyone of you, but it is a personal return for me, a visit to a city I called home for an entire year as a student: my Athens!

As usual, I will try to tell the story visually through my snapshots. Since I took quite a good number of shots I've decided to split them up and make two parts for the blog so expect next Monday part two. But let us see what I want to share with you in this part one. 

Almost all pics in today's blogpost about Athens were taken at the main touristic sights of the Greek capital. Now you might wonder why I am showing the obvious places instead of unknown corners. Let me explain: I lived there for an entire year. My apartment was a 10 minutes walk from the Acropolis. And yet I enjoyed every single day the view of the ancient city. And every time when I'm back to Athens, I must go there, take in the smell of pine trees, gaze at the stones of a metropolis built thousands of years ago, overlooking the numberless houses of modern Athens, looking at the blue horizon and the flickering waters of the Aegean Sea. However, I do have some favorite spots for the best views of Athens that I will share with you here.

If you intend on visiting or revisiting Athens soon, consider these two options for amazing bird's eye views of the capital of Greece: First, if you head to the Acropolis just continue the main path, passing the entrance to the Acropolis and you will arrive at one of the most magic places of Athens - the Areopagus hill. In ancient time this rock functioned as the high Court of Appeal, nowadays it is the famous spot of couples, few tourists and locals to sit, have a drink and chat while overlooking the endless metropolis (tip: go there at dusk, the atmosphere is enchanting).

The other 'hot spot' for a perfect view of the city and the postcard view of the Acropolis is the opposite hill called 'Philopappous'. I actually used to live right under that hill. The hill's top is marked by an ancient monument. Actually, it's the name of the monument and the hill is officially called Mouseion hill, but believe me, everyone calls it Philopappous. It will take you 10 minutes to climb up (take the stairs just underneath the Areopagus hill) and you will have the most stunning view of the landmark Acropolis. Plus the Aegean Sea will open up in front of you, to all sides you will overlook the city that used to be the birthplace of democracy. Sit down, take in the views and think of how amazing our world is and how much beauty there has been throughout times on this rock that we call Earth and home. 

P.S. The amazing restaurant on the pic above is a great suggestion for dinner: It's called 'Kuzina' and is located in the Thisio area. It interprets traditional Greek cuisine in a refined, modern way and offers a delightful interior design and stunning views of the Acropolis and Ifesteio temple. Go there for a great dinner!

Happy new week, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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From Place To Space: New Hotel, Athens

I am a lover of weekend city getaways where I am discovering new places, new designs, new treats. This time I was up for a prolonged design weekend in Athens, Greece. It was a sort of 'revisited' kind of getaway because I've been many times to Athens and a decade ago I used to live there as a student. Now it was time to visit some old friends, good old neighborhoods and discover a new design hotel - the 'New Hotel' in Athens' city center, a ten minutes walk from the famous Plaka and the Acropolis.

The 'New Hotel' belongs to the Greek hotel group YES! Hotels owned by one of the country's biggest art collectors and art connoisseurs. This fact has strongly influenced the hotel's design: The 'New Hotel' was exclusively designed by the Brazilian design brothers Campana in collaboration with Greek students from the art university in Volos. The design blends the old with the new, mixing modern design with three themes of traditional Greek folklore and lifestyle - the 'Evil Eye Protection', the 'Karagiozis' shadow theater, and old postcards from Athens.

There is one more interesting fact about the hotel. Formerly, this was the old Olympic hotel from the 1950s which was abandoned in the late 90s of the previous century. When YES! Hotels took over the property, it was completely redesigned with a strong reference to its origins. The Campana brothers used the old furniture to reinterpret a modern twist of the hotel's history - they broke up too worn pieces into wooden fragments and created sculptural elements in the restaurant and reception area called 'Favela' in reference to their iconic Favela chair. Other furniture pieces were upholstered and recreated into design pieces that are placed in the entire building.

The rooms, on the other hand, reflect a design concept called 'fragmented design'. With a sort of scissor cut edges and the use of bamboo wood and brass counteracted by Greek folklore elements, the rooms mirror Athens position as a traditional and modern European metropolis. On the top floor, the penthouse adds a notch to the design experience with a huge private balcony and the best views of the Acropolis. Moreover, as of mid April a brand new bar and restaurant with stunning views of the Acropolis will open on the hotel's seventh floor and guarantee an unforgettable Athenian sojourn.

I was lucky enough to be guided through the entire hotel by Mr. Katis (thank you very much!!), a hotel manager, who also told me about the hotel group's other premises such as the flagship Semiramis hotel designed by Karim Rashid (hello colour explosions!). Well, looks like I have to go back to Athens soon.

Happy Monday, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Ideas For A Happy Weekend

Yesterday's post was all about 'colourful happiness'. But there is another side to happiness, too. I love black and white photography. Especially shots of foreign countries, cultures, people. These days I've stumbled over the fascinating work of one of Greece's greatest photographers, Kostas Balafas who passed away last year. Many books have been published with his amazing black and white photographies taken in the past century. I particularly love the book 'Ta Nisia' (The islands) depicting the life of the inhabitants of the Greek islands. Here are four favorites from this book - I would love some plain copies to stick to my wall as eye-catching art pieces. Incredibly gorgeous. Incredibly sumptuous. Incredibly fascinating. I am wishing you a fascinating weekend!

Photography via Kostas Balafas

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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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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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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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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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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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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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