18th century forge · Kokkari, Samos
Το Σιδεράδικο · the old forge
Where iron was worked for two hundred years there is now a garden with a shared pool. At the edge of Kokkari, with the mountains and the olive groves in view and the sea five minutes away. One party at a time, adults only.
The story
This is not a holiday rental out of a catalogue. This is an old forge, and it is our family's house.
In the eighteenth century the village blacksmith's anvil stood here. Nothing of his tools survives. That is exactly why we brought the trade back in our own way: in copper, in iron, in wood that is allowed to weather. The stone walls stayed up, repaired in traditional Greek style, with a garden around them that runs into the blue of the pool.
The house sits at the edge of Kokkari, where the village turns into olive groves and the mountains behind them. No resort: a courtyard with a lemon tree, and the view beyond it. We deliberately let to one party at a time, adults only, never through the large platforms, and always with a conversation first.
"People who come once come back. That is not a slogan, that is our guest list."
Manuela, owner
Arrival
A narrow street at the edge of the village, a stone facade, and a door that opens onto the courtyard. From that moment on the only thing you hear is the garden.
Living outside
On Samos life happens outdoors. The garden is built for that: flagstone paths that lead you past ornamental grasses, lavender and ferns, a lemon tree that shades the courtyard, and everywhere a place to disappear with a book.
A covered terrace out of the sun and out of the meltemi wind, with a fridge of its own, so a cold drink does not send you back inside every time.
A long pool in green stone, and beside it a pagoda of rough timber with linen curtains and a wide daybed. The best place in the house for an afternoon sleep.
A 65 inch LG Nano Cell outside, under the canopy. A film as the sun drops behind the mountains, with a glass of Samos muscat.
A copper rain shower on a weathered beam, right among the ornamental grasses. Rinsing the salt off under an open sky: the best possible end to a day at the beach.
Inside
Thirty degrees outside, and inside it stays comfortable. Thick walls do what air conditioning never quite manages.
The details
Not an anvil nor a pair of tongs survives from the original forge. Rather than hide that, we brought the craft back into the house through materials instead of display cases. Nothing has been made to look old; it is simply allowed to grow old.
The electrical wiring runs through visible copper pipes along the walls. Not hidden away, but metalwork you are meant to see, exactly as it once left this building. It carries on outside: the lamps on the facade graze the stones rather than flooding the street with light.
Warm, copper coloured light in every room. In the evening the house takes on the glow of a smith's fire. Precisely the light these walls were built for two hundred years ago.
Stone, wood and copper, left in their own colour. Nothing has been aged artificially: it is simply allowed to grow old, season after season.
Once the sun is gone
Wall lamps sweep down across the masonry. Every stone gets its own shadow and the facade turns copper, as though a fire were still burning inside. By day this is a quiet house on a village street. In the evening it is the only thing you see.
What is here
Two bedrooms, one party, adults only. Exactly big enough for one or two couples looking for space, privacy and character.
The island
Kokkari is an old fishing village on the north coast: white houses, a small harbour, pebble beaches. You can walk there. So no tourist list, but our own addresses: the taverna where they know our name, the beach that is still empty at nine in the morning. Guests get our personal island guide on arrival.
The pebble beaches of Kokkari are five minutes away. Further along the coast are Lemonakia, Tsamadou and Tsabou, including our favourite beach for the early morning.
Fishermen's tavernas on the harbour of Kokkari, and in the mountains above it the villages of Manolates and Vourliotes among the olive groves. We are glad to book a table for you.
The island of the famous sweet muscat wine. A bottle is chilling when you arrive. Tastings on request.
Rates & availability
Including final cleaning, linen, welcome package and our personal island guide. The minimum number of nights varies by season and appears with your selection in the calendar.
€ [XXX]
per night · May, June, Sept, Oct€ [XXX]
per night · July & AugustOn request
long stays · working remotelyAvailability & requests
Select your arrival and departure date. The price per night is shown under each date. This sends a request rather than a booking: we always confirm personally first.
The house has two bedrooms, for up to four guests.
We do not work with an anonymous booking button. Tell us who you are and when you would like to come. We reply personally, usually within 24 hours.
Rather get in touch directly?
[email protected]