Nikolaou Residence: A Former Painter’s Atelier on the Isle of Aegina

One of our all-time favorite posts from the Remodelista archive? A Greek Architect’s Ode to Minimalism, architect Theodore Zoumboulakis’s own kitchen in his family’s retreat on the isle of Hydra. So we weren’t too surprised that another project we’ve been admiring recently is by the same hand: Zoumboulakis himself.

Nikolaou Residence, on the Greek island of Aegina—just one hour from Athens—was formerly the home and studio of the painter Nikos Nikolaou. According to the Residence: “Nikolaou and his wife Angela settled in Aegina in 1964, and their home became a regular haunt for art lovers and intellectuals. Renovation work began in 2019, with the refurbishment of the house and grounds and the creation of five guesthouses,” overseen by Zoumboulakis Architects. “Starting from the front room—originally the painter’s first studio and later his sitting room—and based on the photographic records and the family’s memories, the idea was to restore the various objects and artworks in their original place and thus reconstruct the atmosphere in which Nikolaou lived.”

Now, the Residence and its guest houses are available for stays among the olive groves. “Guesthouse residents can enjoy the sunset sitting on the stone benches where the Aegina ‘gang’ used to meet every afternoon,” including Nikolaou and the Greek artists and poets Yannis Moralis, Christos Kapralos, and Odysseas Elytis, according to the Residence. Also available? Visits to Nikolaou’s preserved Atelier—and to the Temple of Aphaea nearby.

Join us for a look around.

Photography via Nikolaou Residence.

Above: “The surrounding space is instrumental in the feeling of serenity that visitors get from the very first moment,” according to the Nikolaou Residence. The main residence and guest houses are surrounded by pistachio, fig and olive trees, and rosemary bushes.

Above: The five studio guest houses are tucked within the garden; each has a secluded outdoor sitting area.

Above: The Louisa studio features a sitting area with built-in desk, a kitchenette, and a private terrace. Nightly rates start at €90.

Above: The art throughout the property belongs to the Nikolaou and Zoumboulakis families. Shown is a 1972 sketch by Nikolaou.

Above: The Rhodi suite offers two terraces, a rooftop view, and subtle nods to Greek design.

Above: Each suite includes an efficient kitchenette, like this petite cook space in Rhodi.

Above: Fistiki overlooks the pistachio grove. (The name means “pistachio” in Greek.)

Above: In the Fistiki suite, have breakfast at a small built-in table with a view, just off of the kitchen.

Above: Inside Fistiki. The studio is “the ultimate romantic nest.”

Above: Nikolaou’s original monastery table is still there. “It was almost always set and ready to welcome dear friends,” according to the Residence. “Almost every afternoon we gathered at Nikolaou’s home,” the artist Yannis Moralis said of Nikolaou’s frequent gatherings. “We stayed until very late, talking and laughing for hours.”

Above: “The sculpture ‘Aegina’ by Moralis (donated by Peggy Zoumboulaki) was placed across the way from the Nikolaou estate, as a reflection of the close friendship between the two men but also as a landmark of a neighborhood with the houses of several major artists,” according to the Residence.

Above: The Residence is secluded and surrounded by olive trees, despite being only an hour’s distance from Athens.

Above: The Atelier is open for visits on Saturdays as well as on Wednesdays during the high season—or take a virtual tour here.

Above: The painter Nikos Nikolaou in his atelier.

For more info and to book, head to Nikolaou Residence. (Nightly rates start at €80.)

And for more in Greece, see:

• A Rustic Idyll for Four in Mykonos, Greece
• Steal This Look: A Wedding Suite on Mykonos
• A Greek Taverna on the Beach, Breeze Included