Villa Mustique

The brief

I photographed Villa Mustique in Mykonos for Von Poll Realty in Greece. The residence brings together white Cycladic architecture, natural stone and blue shutters, with a swimming pool at the centre of its outdoor spaces. Open terraces face the sea, while covered lounge and dining areas extend the living space into the landscape. My focus was to present the villa as a connected place: architecture, interiors and outdoor living considered together, with its setting in the Cyclades always present.

The photographic challenge

The sea gives the exterior photographs a strong visual presence. The challenge is to keep the villa equally clear within those views. Pool edges, columns and pergola beams need to explain the arrangement of the terraces, while furniture gives the open spaces a sense of scale and use.

The contrast between sun and shade is central to that reading. Bright water and white walls sit beside sheltered rooms furnished with woven seating and natural textures. Inside, glazed doors bring the exterior outlook into the living areas and bedrooms. I wanted to retain those connections without allowing the brighter views to dominate the quieter details of each room. Sunset and night introduce another balance, as warm interior lighting meets the blue of the illuminated pool.

My approach

The opening photograph brings the pool, villa facade and canopy daybeds into one composition. White render, exposed stone and blue shutters establish the architectural character, while the slatted canopy gives the terrace a distinct pattern of light and shadow. Aerial photographs then place these spaces within the wider grounds, showing how the buildings, gardens and stone paths relate to the hillside.

At ground level, I follow the pool towards the shaded outdoor rooms. Wicker armchairs, woven sofas and timber loungers give these photographs a warmer, more personal scale. The covered dining table introduces another way of inhabiting the terrace, with woven pendant lights and white beams framing the sea beyond. Views along the water connect the different seating areas and preserve the open outlook.

The interiors continue that relationship with the outdoors. In the main living room, open doors carry the eye towards the pool and horizon, while pale furnishings and stronger colour accents give the room its own character. The dining area and interior hall help explain the movement between rooms and terrace. I use controlled perspective and balanced light to keep those transitions readable.

The bedrooms bring variety to the sequence through blue upholstery, floral textiles, a white canopy and a painted tree motif. Rather than treating them as interchangeable rooms, I give each its own composition. The bathroom offers a closer study of materials, with its stone vanity, integrated mirror lighting and curved freestanding bathtub.

The final sequence returns outdoors as daylight softens. Sunset views draw attention to the pool terrace and loungers; later, illuminated water and candlelit tables reveal the atmosphere beneath the pergolas. Familiar architectural elements connect the evening photographs with the earlier daylight views.

The result

The 28 photographs present Villa Mustique through its architecture, interiors, pool terraces and aerial context. For Von Poll Realty in Greece, the collection offers a clear visual introduction to the residence and its Mykonos setting, combining spatial information with the warmth and atmosphere of island living.