Melissa Villas by Evi Kotsou
Melissa Villas is a hotel set among olive groves outside Chania, Greece, shaped by designer Evi Kotsou as a bright, low-slung retreat. Stone walls, timber balconies, and long terraces gather around the pools, while generous glazing pulls the Cretan light deep into the interiors. Inside, a warm neutral palette, woven textures, and tailored furniture frame an easy rhythm between shaded outdoor decks and quietly composed rooms.
Guests walk past rows of olive trees before the stone volumes of Melissa Villas step into view, their pale walls catching the high Cretan sun. A slim turquoise pool runs beside the main terrace, drawing the eye toward distant hills and the soft line of the sea.
This hotel outside Chania, Greece, by designer Evi Kotsou, leans on a calm interior palette to bridge traditional masonry and contemporary vacation living. Each villa collects long views, shaded outdoor rooms, and compact living quarters around stone walls and timber pergolas, letting finishes carry most of the character. The project treats furniture, lighting, and texture as one continuous field, so guests move through a consistent material rhythm from bedroom to balcony.
Layering Stone And Light
Inside, rough stone walls run along living and dining rooms, catching light from tall slots and broad sliding glass doors. Smooth floors and plaster ceilings keep that texture in check, so the rooms stay bright rather than busy. Long, thin windows carve vertical strips of daylight into corners, while full-height glazing slides away to turn the terrace into a natural extension of the lounge.
Warm Woods Inside
Joinery in soft-toned wood ties kitchen, dining, and sitting zones into one quiet composition. Simple cabinet fronts, open shelving, and a linear dining table anchor the ground floor, with timber frames echoing the pergolas outside. Low sofas rest on wooden bases that match the coffee tables and media benches, so the eye reads one continuous line instead of scattered pieces. The result feels relaxed and precise at the same time.
Textiles With Quiet Pattern
Color enters through textiles rather than paint, keeping surfaces restrained. In bedrooms, white bedding is edged by patterned throws and cushions in terracotta tones, a nod to the surrounding earth. Woven headboards and bedside pendants bring in a subtle coastal mood, while wall-mounted baskets over stone add depth without clutter. Bathrooms continue the approach with ribbed tile, carved basins, and a single round mirror resting against warm plaster.
Outdoor Rooms Along The Pool
Outside, narrow decks track the length of the pools, fitted with loungers and low tables for long afternoons. Timber pergolas cast linear shadows across terraces and upper balconies, giving just enough shade while keeping views open toward the groves. Sliding doors blur the threshold between sofa and sunbed, so breakfast at the dining table can drift easily to the pool edge.
From a distance, the villas read as quiet stone forms resting among ordered rows of trees. Up close, the interior palette pulls that landscape indoors through texture, tone, and filtered light. Guests move between cool masonry, soft textiles, and warm wood under the same wide Cretan sky.
Photography courtesy of Evi Kotsou
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