Episkopi, Iraklion, Crete, Greece

120 m2 detached house at Aitania (Episkopi), Crete

This comfortable-living detached house, 1998 built in a ''rustic town-house'' style in the middle of a Cretan village in the interior of the island, but with still easy access to the beaches of the northern Crete, has been recently renovated to a very easy to clean standard.

The house is rising on its own elevation, upon which the (in reality) upper ground floor and first floor are built. This is a very wise precaution, in an era where climate change can produce sudden floods. Effectively, this upper ground floor is organically connected to the garden and patio area, creating an al fresco living area. The garden itself includes olive trees (the entire village being built in an olive trees' grove, laid partly as a patio and including a traditional Cretan wood-oven for perfect traditional baking and BBQ-ing. When the new owners fill it with flower bushes and flower-pots, all blooming almost the entire Cretan year, it would be a private paradise on earth.     

The upper ground floor offers ample kitchen, dining and living space, with large double glazed windows, while the large side verand overlooking the garden space, is enclosed with opening large double glazed window panels, to take all the winters sun, one may wish for, while serving as a second dining space. Additionally the entrance to the house proper, forms an open, but covered portico area to be used as life in a Cretan countryside village should be used. Private, but ''open'' to the Cretan village life.

The floor in the upper ground floor open-living space of the house, is covered by large granitised ceramic Italian tiles, modern-luxurious to look at, pet-friendly and so easy to clean. There is an impressive Cretan natural stone covered modern energy efficient wood or wood-pellets burning fireplace, which effectively worms the entire house, during the autumn-like Cretan winters. There is proper oil-burning central heating all-over the house, as well as solar heater on the roof.

The polished oak-wooden staircase leads to the first floor, all laid in polished real oak wood, a theme which is repeated in the sallet-type ceiling of the tilled roof, extenuating this ''rustic-in-town'' traditional Cretan feeling. There are four bedrooms, all accessed by the open landing, itself looking to the living space down bellow. All bedrooms are served by two shower-room bathrooms, with the polished oak wooden element always present.