The appeal of easy dwelling in a house by the ocean

On the quiet Greek island of Serifos, a modest stone residence by the ocean stands as a logo of household, childhood recollections, and lasting love.

Situated within the outdated mining village of Megalo Livadi, the two-room home as soon as belonged to Giannis, a retired naval engineer, who grew up there together with his 4 siblings.

Although small, the house by the ocean was filled with pleasure. One room was for his or her dad and mom, whereas the opposite served as a kitchen, dwelling space, and sleeping area for all 5 youngsters.

Giannis remembers laughter within the village, video games with neighborhood children, and the heat of returning residence by the ocean every night time.

Now in his seventies, Giannis has restored the tiny stone residence together with his spouse, Popi.

Painted shiny white just like the close by church, the home nonetheless overlooks the calm bay as soon as busy with ore ships.

The renovation is greater than a venture for the couple — it’s a heartfelt return to a easy life constructed on sturdy household bonds.

An island of rugged magnificence and quietude: A house by the ocean

The Greek Isles is a fascinating assortment of over 6,000 islands scattered throughout the Aegean and Ionian Seas, every with distinct attract.

Nevertheless, the draw of Serifos for some lies not within the typical picture of sun-drenched seashores however in its uncooked, untamed magnificence and a way of profound seclusion.

Because the narrative unfolds, Serifos, a modest island spanning 29 sq. miles, provides a sanctuary far faraway from the bustling vacationer hubs.

Remarkably, the island had no accommodations simply three many years prior, underscoring its distant and untouched character.

Whereas 36 villages now dot its panorama, the inhabitants stays small, a close-knit neighborhood of roughly 1,200 residents, a lot of whom carry the knowledge of their lengthy years.

This tranquil ambiance and the sturdy sense of neighborhood are key parts that outline life on this distinctive Greek island.

A conventional residence by means of generations of island life

The house by the ocean holds a deep and private historical past for Giannis, a tangible hyperlink to his household’s enduring presence on Serifos.

This residence has been handed down by means of the generations, a silent witness to the island’s ebb and stream of household life.

Born inside these very partitions, Giannis skilled a childhood formed by Serifos’s traditions and close-knit neighborhood.

He remembers when massive households typically shared small dwelling areas, a typical apply in older, conventional island properties.

“You see the very outdated uh individuals, they like just one room, one household.”

The center of this cherished residence by the ocean is undoubtedly the kitchen, the place the aromas of home-cooked meals mingled with the heat of familial bonds.

Even the fixtures inside this area carry the burden of historical past.

An outdated marble sink, a gorgeous and purposeful piece handed down from Giannis’s grandfather, is a testomony to the house’s enduring legacy.

Whereas considerate, trendy updates have been built-in into the encompassing space, the sink stays a tangible connection to the previous.

“That is outdated, that is from grandfather. I put right here I modified one thing as a result of I have to make extra trendy.”

Two rooms, a house by the ocean of shared recollections

The format of the normal house is characterised by its simplicity and performance, a mirrored image of the practicalities of island dwelling.

It includes two major rooms, every holding a wealth of shared recollections.

The tiny stone residence had solely two rooms—one for the dad and mom and one other shared by the youngsters.

Giannis stated this easy format was typical on the island up to now when households typically lived in small areas and made do with what they’d.

The second room served because the central hub for the 5 youngsters, remodeling all through the day from a sleeping space to a dwelling and taking part in area.

The toilet, whereas now geared up with trendy plumbing, was a later addition, a testomony to the evolving wants of the house by the ocean.

Giannis up to date the tiny stone residence by constructing a rest room, which wasn’t a part of the unique design.

He took on the powerful job of putting in the plumbing utilizing his engineering background.

The venture was difficult however crucial, permitting him to modernize the area whereas preserving its authentic character.

His engineering experience proved invaluable in modernizing the stone residence whereas fastidiously preserving its authentic character.

Even the development of the house’s partitions speaks to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of conventional island-building strategies.

Giannis describes how his grandfather utilized native supplies to create sturdy and enduring constructions.

Giannis defined that the house’s partitions by the ocean have been made out of a mixture of easy, domestically obtainable supplies.

Some components used stone and earth, whereas others mixed stone, sand, and cement.

This technique mirrored how islanders as soon as constructed properties utilizing no matter they’d available, mixing custom with practicality.

The beds inside their childhood residence have been small and purposeful, designed to accommodate a big household in a restricted area.

“You might have the beds, however uh a small beds,” Giani stated, explaining that two children have to share a small mattress.

Notably, the home options distinctive built-in beds with rounded corners and air flow holes, showcasing a considerate and space-saving design.

These ingenious items of furnishings additionally served as seating throughout the day, highlighting the adaptability of the normal design throughout the residence by the ocean.

A peaceable life at residence by the ocean

Life by the ocean on Serifos provides a peaceable escape for many who name it residence.

The house stands in concord with nature, surrounded by rugged hills and views of the Aegean.

Giannis summed it up, saying the realm brings a way of calm, with the soothing sound of waves, time for fishing, and area to breathe.

Historical past, nature, and custom come collectively on this nook of Greece. Gianni and his household’s is greater than only a place to reside—it reminds us of Serifos’s wealthy previous and the enduring fantastic thing about a life formed by the land and the water.

See How a household of seven resides merely in a tiny stone residence by the ocean in Greece:



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