Page 166 - ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL 2022

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
architecture
Makers

of Dreams

Precision and creativity

are not easy to combine

in furniture design, yet

Furniture Gallery CEO

Vasilis Karafotias seems

to have found just the

right balance.

Interview by DESPOINA SAMPSON

A t the helm of a tight-knit of furniture: A traditional piece – maybe and our made-to-measure constructions
team of creative craftspeo-
included long plush couches, comfortable
an armchair or table – that has been given
a new, very trendy and luxurious twist, in
beds and many more pieces. Of course, all
ple, Vasilis Karafotias does
the same way that the island combines the
not hide his passion for the
of these designs had references to the Cy-
best of both worlds.
clades landscape that we made sure were
world of furniture and interi-
or design, taking on the chal-
lenges of designing and manufacturing cus- You’ve already completed projects on the free from clichés. Instead, we chose to
mirror and pay tribute to the silhouettes
island. What can you tell us about them?
tom-made pieces for commercial and private It was very exciting to work alongside the of church domes and buildings, and the
spaces. Furniture Gallery was established in director, set designer and interior designer textures found inside traditional homes.
2004 and, in these 18 years, Vasilis has led Antonis Kalogridis on several of the Myco- Our colors were both inspired by and com-
it to a well-deserved prominence powered nian Collection Hotels & Resorts at Elia plementary to the famous Mykonos land-
by out-of-the-box thinking, teamwork and Beach. You wouldn’t believe the amount scape and architecture.
dedication. He spoke to us about his close of thought, inspiration and planning that What is Mykonos to you?
ties to Mykonos in a short but insightful went into each of these spaces. In the case Mykonos is iconic, but creating for it is a
interview. of the Myconian Avaton resort, we com- challenge. There is such a high level of hos-
Design-wise, what befits Mykonos? bined classic with contemporary high-end pitality and services in general at properties
For us, every new project is a story waiting to aesthetics, adding country and indie ac- such as those of the Myconian Collection,
be told. In the case of Mykonos, of course, cents to the interiors for that extra effect. A and since it’s such a popular destination,
the island is already full of interesting stories, challenge we faced was combining timber the expectations are very high. We always
so when we are invited to take on a project with fabric and LED in couches, armchairs, give it our best – all our energy, attention
based here, we will take into consideration chairs, and other items, but everyone was to detail and motivation. This is how we
not just the typical Cyclades architecture, elated with the result. At the Myconian tackle challenges and bring new designs to
CHRISTOS DRAZOS, GIORGOS BOLBASIS that of the owner. One type of project more the sun and the elements of the sky and means getting to visit this breathtaking is-
but the functionality of the space we are
Imperial, the goal was to exalt the Greek
life. This is how we shape stories. Fortu-
summer, placing the focus on the light of
designing for, as well as its personality and
nately, working on Mykonos projects also
and more clients entrust to the Furniture
the sea. The brief here asked for luxurious
land, which is a blessing. 
Furniture Gallery
minimalism with references to nature. I’ll
Gallery in recent years involves upholstering,
adapting and generally updating well-loved
Eleftherias 11 & Parnithos, Ag. Ioannis
also mention the work we did for the My-
Rentis, Athens
older pieces of furniture, often antiques
conian Villa Collection because it was so
fulfilling despite its challenges. This pro-
Tel: +30 2105776745
with a lot of sentimental value. That is what
The Myconian Villa Collection project revolved around the art of hospitality, and Furniture Gallery’s made-to- Mykonos would be to me if it were a piece ject revolved around the art of hospitality, furnituregallery.gr
measure constructions included long plush couches, comfortable beds and many more pieces. 167