The prospect of waking up to views of a beautiful ancient Dionysos forest every morning instantly sold this stunning location to businesswoman Gina Senduka when she was looking for the perfect site on which to build her new home.
Understandably, the forest inspired the entire design. Together with architect Nikos Pervanides, Gina decided to install huge glass doors throughout the house, so that all of its four levels could have a view of one of Attica’s last “green lungs”. The result is an open, airy expanse of space that feels calming and inspiring.
In addition to being at the helm of a political communications company, Gina is co-owner of a branding agency in Athens and therefore has an acute sense of style. Red Design Consultancy is one of the leading branding companies in Greece and created the Athens 2004 Olympic Games logo (along with British company Wolff Olins) and the corporate identity of Olympiacos FC.
“The house’s interior design and decoration constitutes an extension of Red’s philosophy, in the sense that we aspire to make everyday life somewhat prettier,” she explains.
Everything in the house can be described as ‘haute design’ – most furniture has been purchased from Yiannis Deloudis shops and Moda Bagno. The Mademoiselle chairs by Gina’s favourite designer, Philippe Starck, take centre stage, while the orange stools by Sawaya & Moroni light up the free space in front of the piano. Gina points to the Gaetano Pesce armchair by the fireplace, saying it’s her favourite corner in the whole house for relaxing and reading.
The home is filled with the works of various contemporary Greek artists – sculptures by Theodore Papagiannis, portraits by Alexandra Kollaros, designs by Gina’s sister, Rhonda, paintings by Georgia Damopoulou and others. Red’s designs for Olympiacos FC stand out in the bedrooms of Gina’s two sons, Konstantinos and Yiannis.
The living room also features American oak and Pietra Serena flooring, all by Moda Bagno. As the feel-good atmosphere is created first and foremost by the amazing view of the forest and Gina’s breathtaking garden, hiding the panoramas behind drapes and curtains was never an option, so the gorgeous view is enhanced by Fab by Stamatopoulos curtains.
Due to her professional obligations, Gina spends her time shuttling between Kifisia, Dubai, various Balkan capitals, New York and London. Therefore, she wants her home – the place where she can spend some quality time with her children – to relax and inspire her.
She uses her travels as a source of inspiration, even designing soft furnishings herself based on places she has visited – sofa cushions made from laundry bags from the Bab Al Shams hotel in Dubai nestle happily alongside cushions she has created from Gucci and Louis Vuitton accessory packaging.
“I admire Dubai,” Gina says, “for having a daring architectural style and for constantly updating itself, while still managing to have the flair of its Arabian heritage. It reminds me of my own house – unconventional, modern and never boring!”
