4 Ways to Infuse Beautiful Design Inspiration from Greece
Over the summer, I spent time in idyllic Greece with my family and shared the experiences with my brother, who lives there, and my family, who also traveled there from South Africa. We visited Athens for a few days, then we took a boat to the Island of Paros and stayed in a villa!
When I get the opportunity to travel, I slow down and immediately start to soak in the sights and details all around me. Inspiration was everywhere in Greece, so today, I’m sharing 3 elements that sparked my creativity…
Inspiration #1: Painted Patterns on Floors
One of the prettiest details I encountered on the Island of Paros was the painted floors. Most often, it is white paint in a pattern that resembles stone grout, painted on concrete floors, or wide grout between stone painted over in white.
This pattern immediately made me think of David Hockey's pool paintings, where the white-painted organic lines almost resemble water reflections in a pool. I could see this idea and concept working in a playful basement, where the floors are laid back and painted, bringing in pattern and interest.
Inspiration #2: White Churches on the Islands
If you have been to an island in Greece, you know exactly why churches are a travel inspiration. Their placement in the landscape and their architecture and scale are always so perfect, quaint, and primarily white. You can often see them from a distance, drawing you in to get a closer peek at the details and texture.
This one in Paros was a study in contrast with the freshly whitewashed exterior with pops of an azure blue that matched the sky. White reflects the sun to keep the interior cool, and designing with very few openings to let in the sun, has a natural cooling effect. Conserving energy in design is the biggest takeaway here to inspire future designs.
Inspiration #3: Retail (and Rest) Therapy
On the island of Anti-Paros, one store drew me in with the built-in organic seating with layers and texture, leading you in to see what else could be through the doors. There are so many pieces of inspiration here to incorporate in interiors and exterior patios, from the curvy wrap-around seating to the floor that matches the seat and walls — genius.
Slowing down and soaking in all that Greece had to offer with my family in tow was unforgettable. The Greeks know how to create simultaneously laid-back, layered, textured, and historic spaces.
Their knack for weaving historical details with modern-day amenities will inspire my work in New England, where so many older homes need creativity to make them usable in space planning and the look and feel.
But seriously, wouldn't it be fun to design a whole pool house on the coast using Greek Island inspiration?
If you’re ready to create a beautiful home inspired by your travels, reach out! We’d love to chat and hear about your project.
Until next time,
Justine
