Design Books To Give Your Home a Greek Island Makeover

Thanks to the Cycladic architecture, iconic sea front windmills and stylish minimalist interiors, Mykonos has always been recognised as a stylish island. Now this beautiful new tome published by Assouline is certain to cement the island’s status as a must-visit for design lovers. Created by Greek photographer Lizy Manola Mykonos Muse celebrates the rich, lavish history of Mykonos, chronicling the decadence, beauty and rarified atmosphere that create such a potent mix. Documenting natural scenery, portraits and splendid interiors, Manola ensures you’ll find ample inspiration to bring into your home on every page.

If you’re looking for a general inspirational overview from the Greek islands, Mark Ottaway’s survey is for you. Through vivid images of islands across the region, Ottaway conjures the relaxed, tranquil atmosphere of island life. Details such as potent pink bougainvillea on whitewashed walls are easy to recreate, while photos of worn wicker furniture and sea-stained tables will have you hunting around for similar pieces back home. These details are captured within images of every day life on the villages and islands, providing intimate insight to a tranquil world you’ll long to bring into your own home.

Greek island interiors are magically captured in this vintage interiors book by Suzanne Slesin, Daniel Rozensztroch and Stafford Cliff. This rich book captures the nuances and eclecticism of classic Greek design. Brightly coloured terracotta plates and bowls clash with hand woven colourful rugs on cool grey, stone floors, meanwhile religious icons and antique furniture mixes with plastic supermarket purchases. With over 700 photographs inside, there’s no shortage of inspirational arrangements and styles to try for yourself at home.

For a focused and beautiful survey of one greek island home, interior designer John Stefanidis’ celebratory book about his house in Patmos is an excellent place to start. Rich photographs capture the artful compositions of natural fabrics with the verdant natural world outside, the harmony of pastel hues to match the surrounding sun and sea. Simple and uncluttered without ever feeling dull, this is a manual for how to achieve that harmonious island feeling within your own home.

Julia Klimi’s At Home in Greece brings readers an absorbing collection of beautiful Greek homes. To create the book Klimi journeyed across the Greek islands, capturing 35 houses in total from islands on the the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, Saronic and the Ionian Islands, as well as homes on the mainland. The images serve to offer a design feast, documenting the nuances of the landscape and the ways in which interiors can both respond to and react against the natural surroundings. Modern style mixes with more traditional Greek design to ensure that there’s something for every reader.

Living in Greece by Barbara and René Stoeltie celebrates the ‘more is more’ approach to Greek interiors, the clutter and chaos that comes from living with multiple generations of family members. The pair travelled across the Greek island to document the homes of influential and romantic figures. The result is a lovingly crafted and personal book, full of photographs that capture the power of personality and storytelling in interior design.

Iconic French designer Marc Held, creator of the Culbuto armchair , weaves his magic in the fantastical Greek design book Skopelos. Through luscious imagery that evokes the spectacular island scenery, Held invites audiences into his home, and those that he has created for his friends on the island. Rather than traditional Greek island style, Held’s vision surprises with its refinement and choice of materials – introducing a modern aesthetic without compromising the qualities of the island.

Though not specific to the Greek islands, Catherine Haig’s Mediterranean Style provides ample insight into their feel and aesthetic. The book’s tagline ‘relaxed living inspired by strong colours and natural materials’ is an accurate summary of the evocative and inspirational images inside. After flicking through these glossy pages you’ll find yourself throwing down a rag rug and picking up a set of chic, disheveled wooden chairs for your kitchen.