The traditional medieval dwelling that South Africa-based entrepreneur Demi Tsouroulis returns to each year is situated just below the ancient church of Agios Constantinos on the island of Serifos in Greece – on the ruins of a 16th-century Venetian castle. Accessed via a maze of cobbled streets, the whitewashed homes of Chora, the hilltop town, seem to cascade precariously down the rocky mountain peak on which it is built, offering up staggering 360-degree views of the inky Aegean sea that lies below. Demi bought the simple three-storey home (a collection of three traditional dwellings) in the mid ’90s as a place where she, and her two then teenage daughters could immerse themselves in their Greek roots.
‘I was born in Epirus on the mainland of northern Greece, but my late husband came from Serifos, so I knew the island well,’ explains Demi. ‘I chose Serifos because it is almost hidden in plain sight. Being just two hours by ferry from Athens, it has managed to retain an authenticity and a feeling of being off the beaten track that is becoming a rarity in Greece.’ Ever the pioneer, Demi’s own life story that took her from Epirus to Serifos is fascinating – not least because of her decision to stay on in South Africa when she was widowed at the age of 28 (with her daughters just toddlers). It was a decision that may have been wholly unorthodox for a ‘Greek girl’ at the time, but stay Demi did, going on to pioneer a hugely successful woman-owned industrial bakery business while making an incredible life for herself and her daughters in the cosmopolitan city of Johannesburg.
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SNACKS ON THE TERRACE with sisters Vicky Crease and Maira Koutsoudakis
The traditional Cycladic home of dynamic sisters Vicky Crease and Maira Koutsoudakis on the island of Serifos is a reminder of what it means to be a part of a close-knit family
BREAKING BREAD
The pendulum has swung back for this nutritious, crusty staple of flour, yeast, water and time – the much-beloved artisanal loaf
SUPPER IN THE BARN with the Thatenhorst family
Munich-based interior designer Stephanie Thatenhorst transformed the barn at her parents’ farm in Bavaria into an eclectic family retreat
THE MODULAR KITCHEN
DECOR TIP Modular elements like these USM Haller systems are a great way to create interesting, non-permanent storage that can be customised to your needs.
DRINKS AT THE TABLE with David Cope and Donné Bullivant
A dream kitchen renovation meant wine lovers Dave Cope and Donné Bullivant could finally settle down in their wondrously moody City Bowl apartment
IN THE FRAME
'The history of architecture is the history of the struggle for light.’
THE TRADITIONAL KITCHEN
The perfect piece to pull together a country-style kitchen is a beautiful wooden table that will age with time and hold its place in the memories made around it.
IN THE KITCHEN with Karen Dudley and family
For Karen Dudley, food informs the family dynamic and her home is as multilayered and as delicious a delight as her colourful personality and cooking style
LUNCH IN THE GARDEN with siblings Bronwyn and Jonathan Cane
Alfresco gatherings are the order of the day at this updated century-old semi – the home of a design-centric sister and brother in Brixton, Joburg
At The Breakfast Table With Jonty Rhodes And Family
Recently renovated, the historic Cape Town home of Jonty and Melanie Rhodes is an adaptable base for an active, clean-eating clan of six
BRUCE PUSHES DEMI INTO TRAVOLTA'S ARMS!
Old crushes reignite for celeb singles
THE HEDONIST'S GUIDE TO MY KONOS
Seize the Endless Aegean Summer in style on Greece’s posh island escape for the jet set
TYPHOON PROJECT
The Typhoon is the only vessel in the Mediterranean with the sole purpose to clean up the most inaccessible Greek coastlines, which has become, unfortunately, in some places a waste concentration.
GREECE - ATHENS
Athens, the capital of modern-day Greece, also stood at the heart of Ancient Greece. Fifth-century B.C. landmarks still dominate this city, which historians generally consider the birthplace of Western civilization. Make sure to explore the many historic sites and breathtaking views.
The Golden Ticket
Companies and countries that depend on travel or large gatherings are counting on the unproven concept of vaccine passports
DEMI LOVATO: DRUGS SAVED MY LIFE!
DESPITE a near-fatal overdose in 2018, songbird Demi Lovato still insists drugs also saved her life! The former Disney darling said drug abuse prevented her from turning to suicide.
The Gourmand Before Time
A book on prehistoric culinary evolution attributes a rare trait to Paleo man: taste By Howard Chua-Eoan
DEMI'S HIGH-FASHION MOMENT
THE ACTRESS HITS THE RUNWAY AT PARIS FASHION WEEK, BUT ALL EYES ARE ON HER FACE, NOT HER ENSEMBLE.
Live & Learn in Lockdown
Just because you’re quarantining doesn’t necessarily mean your brain stops. On a screen near you, there’s a world beyond
Assassin's Creed Valhalla (for PC): Another Winner
The Assassin’s Creed series has taken us to numerous historical settings since its 2007 debut, including Ancient Greece, Renaissance Italy, and Revolutionary War-era America. The newest installment, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, details the Viking invasion of 9th Century England from the perspective of history’s most notorious raiders. Though Valhalla doesn’t introduce anything wholly new to the series, it’s an excellent PC game that follows in the footsteps of its equally exceptional predecessors, Origins and Odyssey.