HG Openhouse Blog

Bright white buildings, blue trim and deep blue sea.

The Greek Islands are legendary for their beauty, their sun kissed weather, their relaxed lifestyle. Whether you journey to Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Mykonos or any of the other isles, you will certainly discover a way of life in the slow lane. Everything is dominated by the vast Mediterranean–so blue that it seems unreal. And of course, it is just these seacoast colors that are central to any Greek Isle decorating plans. Rich, deep blue is paired with crisp white–the two must-haves of Mykonos style. We’ve added some citrus colors for accent–lemon yellow and apricot. Having some Greek Isle style at home is easy to accomplish.

The fabric and paint chip board, as we’ve noted, uses blue and white in virtually every piece. A variety of blues are in evidence, though a deep marine blue is the most important. Whites and creams vary based on the fabrication and weave of each element. The yellow of the strong Mediterranean sun can be seen in these fabrics as well–the whimsical embroidered sheeting on the upper right corner of the board is especially telling.

Blue and whites are central to the fabric and paint board.

The outdoor lifestyle goes on in the Greek Isles from dawn to dusk. When that bright sun is shining, who wants to stay inside? There are many options for outdoor furniture, as a result. Simple cafes in the center of every town feature small wooden tables with benches and wooden chairs, often whitewashed. But in addition, white metal and wire outdoor furniture is a natural way to showcase the brilliant white in so many Greek Isle edifices. We’ve created a small outdoor space with white metal chair (complete with blue and white cushion, of course!) and white wire tables to hold a bottle of wine (with blue glass flutes) and a simple potted palm. If you don’t have any sandy beaches nearby, you can place this simple setting on your deck, right on your lawn, or commandeer part of your driveway!

White metal and white wire for a Greek outdoor mood.

Moving inside, bedrooms can easily adapt to Greek style. The blue and white color scheme is so fresh and bright that bedcoverings in this palette make your room seem brighter instantly–as if the Mediterranean sun is poking through your curtains. We’ve used a simple quilt in a blue and white pattern with matching shams. To add some variety, dark blue embroidered pillows, simple quilted stripe accent pillows, and a lightweight cotton textural blanket in tan are all utilized. On the bed-side table, earthy ceramics in off-white add a hand-crafted feeling, balanced by the rich blue glassware bowl.

Bed coverings instantly create Mykonos style.

It might be hard to pull yourself away from the relaxed lifestyle in the Greek Isles, but it’s time to move on. Next, we head to England to visit the Cotswold district.