A Stucco Retreat (with a Hint of Seventies Glamor)

When Athenian architect George Zafiriou designed a retreat for himself on the island of Serifos in the Cyclades, he enlisted set designer Manolis Pantelidakis for help with the interior, replete with built-ins. The duo’s results skillfully balance the simplicity of island vernacular architecture with a touch of 1970’s glamor–think Studio 54, Greek style, lounging included.

Photography by Julia Klimi via decoholic.

Above: In the living room, molded plastic armchairs echo the simple canvas cover on the sofa. The materials of the house are simple and consistent: stucco walls, concrete floors, and whitewashed beamed ceilings.

Above: A traditional Greek wooden desk is paired with a molded clear plastic chair on a metal base that takes its cues from the midcentury Bertoia Wire Chair.

Above: Three metal pendants with the silhouettes of photographers’ lights hang above the built-in stucco kitchen.

Above: A professional-style gooseneck faucet is paired with a sink carved from gray Aliveri, a marble native to Greece.

Above: The Greek version of the Tulip arm chair by Eero Saarinen provides seating around a rough-hewn wood dining table. Throughout the house, narrow windows with interior shutters allow in the right amount of light (while keeping the rooms cool).

Above: Just off the dining area, built-in daybeds offer convenient postprandial relaxation.

Above: A cousin of the DIY Cinder Block Coffee Table, the house’s daybeds couldn’t be simpler–and are ideal for sea gazing and reading.

Above: Vintage tools decorate a wall. For more examples of tools as sculpture, see 10 Easy Pieces.

Above: In the master bedroom, stucco is used for the headboard, shelving, and base for the bed.

Above: A stucco partition acts as a headboard on one side and a backsplash to the sink on the other.

Above: A bed is built into a cozy nook.

Above: A galvanized metal basin on a stone slab serves as the bathroom sink.

Above: A concrete platform with cushions and pillows becomes an exterior daybed with a perfect view of the Mediterranean.

Bring a little of the Greek Isles into your life with Palette & Paints: Greek Inspired Cerulean and Aegean Blues. Like the look of the concrete floors in this house? Learn the lowdown in Remodeling 101: Polished Concrete Floors. On Gardenista, visit the island of Antiparos with Landscape Architect Thomas Doxiadis.