Athens Oasis Offers Year-Round Holiday Feel
Meraki Design recently completed a home in Athens that challenges the typical aesthetic of Greek architecture. Founders Eris Koutsoudakis and Maria Kachramanoglou built the space for a young couple who wanted a year-round holiday atmosphere away from the city’s noise. The clients, a Reformer Pilates teacher and a fireworks engineer, described the brief as a desire for a calm, restorative space that felt like a resort oasis. The project merges the studio’s work in London with their Athens base, creating a distinct look that avoids the common blue and white Cyclades tropes often seen in Mediterranean design.
Because the plot was long and narrow, the team had to be clever with the layout. There was no room for a traditional garden, so the design relies on vertical planting to create privacy and greenery. The pool runs along one entire side of the house, with all ground-floor rooms opening directly to the water’s edge. This arrangement mimics the flow of a luxury resort. Inside, the design uses natural materials to connect the interior with the outdoors. Wooden ceilings provide texture that contrasts with the concrete floor, while rattan elements and sandy-toned plaster warm up the minimalist setting. Lavastone is used in the bathroom and around the pool to maintain this visual link to the land.
Furniture is largely bespoke, featuring clever storage solutions to keep clutter at bay. The owners also incorporate pieces by local makers, including ceramics by Anna Karountzou, who creates glazes inspired by the Greek islands. The project stands out because the designers deliberately avoided clichés. While many associate Greek properties with the white and blue of the Aegean Sea, this home draws inspiration from the varied styles of the Ionian islands and the stone architecture found on the mainland. The result is a grounded and zen environment that works for both entertaining guests and enjoying quiet time.
While the visual language of the home is distinctly modern and minimalist, the philosophy behind it remains rooted in the local setting. The use of natural materials allows the interiors to evolve organically from their surroundings. It is a subtle approach to high-end design that prioritizes the specific needs of the residents over broader stylistic trends.
The design team prioritized a serene atmosphere, blending indoor and outdoor living seamlessly. Design Trends Highlighted for 2026 often focus on the integration of nature, a concept executed here through the pool and vertical planting.
