Pared-back and beautiful is the simple philosophy behind designer Themis Zouganeli’s converted villa in the Mykonos hills. Blue-sky backdrop essential.
Interior and fashion designer Themis Zouganeli lives in a seven-bedroom villa in Mykonos with her husband, the founder of a global cement company, and their children, Mary Anne, 11, and Amalia, eight.
Themis’s villa is perched on a hilltop with views that arc across the iconic blue-and-white painted architecture of Mykonos town to the glistening Aegean Sea.
Natural light is in abundance in this region and hits every nook and cranny in the predominantly white space, which is punctuated with warm woods and dove greys. ‘I wanted to create a palette that was soothing to the eye, yet functional and decorative,’ Themis says.
A love of design was instilled in her from a young age: her father pioneered the entertainment and nightclub scene in Athens and Mykonos during the 1960s, while her mother worked as a senior stylist at Harper’s Bazaar and an interior designer for the clubs. ‘Twice a year, my sister and I would wake up one morning and our mother would have rearranged the whole house!’ she laughs.
a trip to Africa. Image: Julia Klimi
Themis’s eponymous lifestyle and concept brand ‘all started with a cushion,’ she says. ‘I had always dabbled in interiors, having dressed villas for my holiday properties. The catalyst came when I tried to find cushions and accessories that had more depth to them; I wanted things to be simple but well-made.’ Following a trip to Morocco, Themis added hand-crafted porcelain plates to the cushion range, designs that were soon snapped up by the likes of Dior Maison and the Belvedere Hotel on Mykonos.
‘People need to fully experience a brand to get to know it,’ Themis explains, an idea illustrated in her new Mykonos store, a calm, relaxed space that showcases her exquisite but unfussy style.
The designs are authentically Greek, inspired by the relaxed beauty of her Athens birthplace. The ‘8’ symbol printed on cushions symbolises ‘mindfulness and happiness’ while the circular prints on the fashion collections represent infinity and serenity.
‘These are not just products, they are a lifestyle,’ says Themis. The Mykonos ethos is all about relaxation and enjoying time with loved ones, a philosophy that Themis wholeheartedly supports. ‘I want my products to reflect that tranquil feeling of living beside the sea.’
For further information on Themis’s new collections and upcoming collaborations, visit themisz.com
Report by Nicole Gray
