SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHY / PROJECT

The Olive Retreat

Stone architecture, expressive interiors and a pool framed by olive trees near Pylos, photographed for the owner of The Olive Retreat.

Near Pylos, Peloponnese, Greece

Architecture · Interiors · Aerial

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Illuminated stone facade with pergolas, broad curved steps and a covered dining terrace beside the swimming pool and planted garden at night at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.

The Olive Retreat

— Near Pylos, Peloponnese, Greece

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Sections

Gravel entrance drive lined with mature olive trees and stone edging, with a wooden sign reading The Olive Retreat beside the gate at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Elevated view of the stone retreat, curved swimming pool, sun loungers and terraces surrounded by an extensive olive grove at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Stone retreat facade, shade canopies and upper terrace overlooking a curved swimming pool, with sun loungers and olive trees in daylight at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
White cushioned sun loungers with blue towels beside the swimming pool, with olive trees and flowering garden planting beyond at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Swimming pool reflecting a cloud-filled sky, with olive trees and garden planting beyond in warm afternoon light at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Outdoor hot tub with flowing water jets among mature olive trees and dense garden planting beside a stone path at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Sitting room with an orange sofa, geometric metal shelves displaying colourful glass bottles and artwork, and terrace doors overlooking the landscape at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Yellow abstract painting above a timber console with patterned ceramic vases, beside a butterfly chair and bands of sunlight on the wall at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
White bed with a purple patterned runner and timber wall lamps beside glass terrace doors overlooking olive trees at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
White bed with a purple patterned runner beside tall windows and sliding doors overlooking the terrace and surrounding landscape at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
White bed with a purple patterned runner and a freestanding bath beside sliding glass doors framing terrace chairs and the landscape beyond at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Freestanding white bath beside a landscape-view window, with a sculptural timber floor lamp and a figurative painting at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Bedroom with blue cushions, white wardrobes and a dark armchair beside sliding glass doors opening towards the terrace and olive trees at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Bedroom with yellow cushions, a green patterned runner and abstract artwork, with a mature olive tree framed by tall glass doors at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
White bed with yellow cushions beside sliding glass doors overlooking the swimming pool, circular outdoor seating and olive trees at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Guest room with twin beds, a tan leather sofa, red cushions, colourful wall-mounted wooden oars and an orange television console at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Illuminated bedroom with yellow cushions and abstract artwork, with olive trees silhouetted through the glass doors at blue hour at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Open-plan living room with grey seating, striped armchairs, a suspended black fireplace and a geometric steel staircase beside the kitchen and dining area at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Grey corner sofa with patterned cushions and a striped rug beside a geometric steel staircase, with a ceramic lamp on a timber stump table at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Glass dining table and leather chairs beneath black pendant lights beside a stone wall, with a suspended fireplace and living room beyond at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Setting sun above olive trees reflected in a curved swimming pool, with sun loungers and a sculptural timber feature on the terrace at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Stone facade and shaded terrace beside a curved swimming pool at dusk, with white sun loungers, olive trees and flowering garden planting at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Turquoise illuminated swimming pool with curved underwater steps, a terrace lantern and sculptural timber feature beside the stone facade at night at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Outdoor dining table set with plates, glasses and blue placemats beneath glowing woven pendant lights, beside the illuminated pool at night at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Illuminated swimming pool and stone facade beside a dining terrace with woven pendant lights, sun loungers and broad curved steps at night at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.
Overhead drone view of a turquoise illuminated swimming pool, curved steps, sun loungers and a covered dining terrace at night at The Olive Retreat near Pylos.

PROJECT STORY

A retreat shaped by olive trees, natural light and individual interiors.

The brief

I photographed The Olive Retreat for its owner, near Pylos in the Peloponnese, Greece. The olive trees surrounding the property are central to its identity and the inspiration for its name. They shape the outlook from the bedrooms, frame the pool terrace and give the garden its intimate atmosphere. My aim was to bring this connection with the landscape into the photographs while presenting the retreat’s stone architecture, individual interiors and outdoor spaces as a coherent whole.

The photographic challenge

The landscape needed to remain part of the interior photographs. Large areas of glazing bring the olive trees and wider views into the rooms, but also create a considerable difference between indoor and outdoor light. Balancing these conditions was essential to preserve both the details of the interiors and the setting beyond the windows.

The property also has a distinct architectural rhythm: curved pool edges and broad steps sit alongside straight pergola lines, stone walls and geometric metalwork. I needed compositions that made these relationships easy to read, with controlled perspective and a clear sense of scale. Across daylight, sunset and evening photographs, the materials and colours had to feel consistent while retaining the character of each moment.

My approach

The collection opens with the illuminated stone facade and pool. The broad steps lead towards the terrace, while the pergolas and upper level describe the building’s proportions. An olive-lined entrance drive and an elevated view establish the retreat within the surrounding grove. Daylight views then show the architecture in relation to the olive trees, garden and curved water’s edge. A closer photograph of the sun loungers gives the terrace a more relaxed scale, and the garden hot tub places the viewer among the trees themselves.

Inside, I followed the connection between the rooms and their outlook. The bedrooms are photographed with the terraces and greenery visible through the glass, so their setting remains part of the experience. White bedding and curtains provide a quiet background for patterned textiles, colourful cushions, artwork and natural timber lighting. A freestanding bath and sculptural floor lamp introduce another expression of the retreat’s interior character.

The living spaces call for a broader view. Geometric metal shelves, a steel staircase and a suspended fireplace organise the rooms, while stonework, ceramics and warm upholstery give them texture. I combined wider compositions that explain the spaces with a closer study of artwork, ceramic vessels and sunlight falling across a timber console. These details add individuality without interrupting the architectural sequence.

As the light changes, the photographs return to the pool and terrace. Sunset catches the olive trees and reflects across the water; later, pool lighting, lanterns and woven pendants define the outdoor spaces. The dining table presents the terrace as a place to gather. An overhead drone photograph closes the collection, revealing the pool’s shape and its relationship with the surrounding terrace and steps.

The result

The 27-photograph collection gives the owner a considered visual presentation of The Olive Retreat, bringing together its architecture, interiors and outdoor atmosphere. The olive trees remain the connecting element, giving context to the rooms and terraces and making the property’s distinctive setting near Pylos visible throughout the story.

AT A GLANCE

The project in detail.

Location

Near Pylos, Peloponnese, Greece

Property

Retreat

Photography

Architecture · Interiors · Aerial

Collection

Selected photographs

Client

Owner of The Olive Retreat

Photographer

Stavros Marmaras

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