Book: Living in Greece, bringing the outdoors inside

'Living in Greece', part of a Taschen series of books, which includes other titles like 'Living in Bali', 'Living in Morocco' and 'Living in Mexico'. This publication is the fruit of the work of writer, Barbara Stoeltie and photographer, René Stoeltie, who take the reader island-hopping through some of Greece's most stunning landscapes and homes.

From Hydra (Saronic Islands), Patmos (Dodecanese Islands), Aegina (Saronic Islands), Serifos (the Cyclades) and many more, this journey couldn't take you further away from the commercial Greece we are all too well acquainted with. Forget your preconceptions and allow yourself to dream of a land of blue shutters, red geraniums and vivid purple bougainvilleas against a backdrop of blazing skies, warm sparkling oceans and golden sunshine from dawn till dusk.

Living in Greece features 22 beautiful homes, which left us with a bitter taste in our mouths as we flicked through the pages of vivid colours in our grey and white offices looking out onto grey roads, white buildings and dark skies threatening to rain at any moment. From the whitewashed Hollywoodesque luxury villa Cletham with its breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, with its multiple open terraces of cosy rattan sofas to the quirky Paouris Palace furnished with a carefully handpicked collection of farmhouse objects, copper pots, pans and unusually framed mirrors, this book paints a delightful picture of Greek islands that is worlds apart from the large all-inclusive resorts and buffets we are used to seeing on well-known tour operator websites. And a time when Europe is going through a severe cash drought, Living in Greece opens up doors to new possibilities by recycling our idea of what a typical summer holiday in Greece should be like. Although most of the homes featured here are not for rent, there are similar properties that can be found for rent during the summer season. Renting a villa makes for a much more satisfying break with highly underestimated room for top-notch R and R. To get a better idea of what the poung sterling can get you, have a look at websites like Home Away or Holiday Lettings.

Living in Greece is a glimpse at what a real Greek getaway could be like far from the madding crowds, and there's something for everyone. Whether you fancy feeling like a holidaying Duke in a comfortable yet cool villa flanked to the hillside with a private dirt track leading down to the turquoise waters of the sea, or whether you prefer the latest in contemporary chic with French doors opening out over the quaintest village only dreams are made of like the Kourmada villa in Hydra, there's a home away from home for everyone! Fresh and inspiring, we guarantee that after flicking through these pages, you won't be sitting on your sofa for much longer! Happy holidays!

Publisher: Taschen. Text and photography: Barbara and René Stoeltie. The text is in three languages, English, German and French.