Unlike the tourist-tainted landscapes of neighbouring of Cancun and other Caribbean resorts; Santorini, Greece provides a seemingly untouched backdrop of white hills, red beaches and blue seas.
A gem of Santorini, the Ikies Traditional Houses, sits high atop the archipelago of islands in the village of Oia (pronounced E-ah). Ikies houses are divided into studios (one bedroom), maisonettes (loft bedroom), and suites. Each lodging has its own intriguing name — presumably derived from local occupations — such as artisan, boatman, collector and antiquarian.
The eleven luxury dwellings are carved out of pumice and designed to blend in with the surrounding architecture — hence ‘traditional houses’. The theme of bright white with a highlight of blue windows, roofs and shutters create a mesmerizing effect when pared with the Aegean’s cerulean waters and red clay cliffs.
Ikies makes brilliant use of their surroundings by perching their apartments on these cliffs, and expanding the space even further with private patios, Jacuzzis and pools, all of which are carefully crafted for viewing of Oia’s famous sunsets.
Beyond the intricately detailed infrastructure, Ikies has become renowned for its obsession with service. One satisfied review read, ‘Their staff lives for nothing more than to refill your cocktail.’ Continental breakfast, light fare and cocktails are all served to your room (or terrace or pool area). For the romantically-inclined, Ikies also offers a full service honeymoon package, with champagne breakfasts, flowers, satin sheets and the works.
With its full-service amentities and incomparable landscape, Ikies is a prime example of what this region has to offer. Stay tuned to Coolhunter to learn the ins and outs of the best places to vacation in Santorini, Mykonos, and Athens as we will be reporting live in September. By L. Harper
Recent posts
-
June 30, 2024
Summer Residence Renovation – Sagaponack, NY
New York-based interior designer Tamara Magel is well-known for her luxury residential design work in the United States, especially in the Hamptons, Palm Beach, New York...
-
June 6, 2024
Nightingale Restaurant – Mayfair, London
Many restaurants in London have the word nightingale in their name but the latest addition to the offering in Mayfair, called simply Nightingale, is not...
-
June 5, 2024
Malibu Beach House Overhaul – California
A chance meeting at the exclusive beach resort of Costa Careyes, Mexico, led to a young family engaging interior designer Sophie Goineau to updating their Malibu...
-
May 7, 2024
Van Stapele Bakery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
In 2013, after several months of experimenting in her small kitchen, Vera Van Stapele decided that she had created a cookie that was special. The...
-
May 6, 2024
Murmurations, Sculptures by Jake Michael Singer, South Africa
Jake Michael Singer is a transdisciplinary artist born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1991. He works in sculpture, photography, drawing and painting, and describes his artistic...
-
April 17, 2024
GIGI Studios Eyewear Head Office – Barcelona, Spain
Spanish eyewear brand Gigi Studios – formerly known as GIGI Barcelona – is a family-owned business established by Fulgencio Ramo in 1962 in Poble Sec, Barcelona....
-
April 8, 2024
Trattoria del Ciumbia, Milan, Italy
Those heading to the Milan Design Week and Salone del Mobile Milano will experience Milanese abundance when pondering their dinner options as Milan claims to...
-
March 25, 2024
Modern Farmhouse, Mandeville Canyon – Los Angeles
Mandeville Canyon is located in the Santa Monica Mountains about a one-hour drive from Los Angeles. It is known for its gorgeous nature, demanding hiking...
-
March 22, 2024
Meat the Fish – London
Located on Cadogan Gardens in Chelsea, Meat the Fish is a restaurant that surprises with its refreshing combination of ideas and influences. Meat the Fish is a...
-
March 12, 2024
Renovation of Pacific Palisades Residence – Los Angeles
The designers at Venice, California-based Electric Bowery have toned-down the opulent and slightly heavy Tuscan influences of a large colonial-style villa and turned the house into an...
-
March 7, 2024
Pabellón de la Reserva, Reserva Santa Fe, Mexico
Pabellón de la Reserva is an award-winning recreational pavilion by Mexico City-based architecture studio Hemaa. The Pavilion is a part of Reserva Santa Fe an ambitious,...
-
March 6, 2024
Home Renovation – Taipei, Taiwan
What might initially appear too stark and brutally minimalist, turns into a peaceful calm in this sensitive renovation of a decades-old house in Taipei. Now ,the...