Some tips from me and Elias for those of you who are planning to furnish or decorate your Greek home. Whether you went for a ready-made house or are planning to build one, it’s worth acting a bit ‘siga, siga’ as they say in Greece. That is, ‘act slowly’.
Many of our customers eagerly ‘google’ for the furniture they want to buy (can be a bit tricky with the language but smart applications translate the pages) or spend hours traveling from one furniture store to another. The challenge can be finding the right measurements, the right color or different quality. If you’re planning to build your own house, it might also be worth considering whether ‘smart’ furniture can reduce your need to build unnecessary square meters. Elias and I visited Furniture Art Kotsiras outside Pilos in mid-October 2024 for a chat with Fotis Kotsiras, owner of the furniture factory and showroom. An experienced furniture maker who took over the factory from his father.
What do you want to order?
The large showroom is 2500 m2 and here there is no rush to ‘buy’ what you see. In fact, you can’t leave with a sofa or a table. No, no… First, go through these 3 floors to see if you find the furniture model that you like.
Most importantly, don’t focus on the type of wood or the color. Here, you can design your furniture in the same way you order and design your clothes at a tailor. If you do not find the right type of wood, MDF, color or type of material or the shape of the mirror, you will be informed what other colors, shapes or materials are available.
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for, you can show an inspirational picture and discuss on site with Fotis Kotsiras how you would like it to be customized to your needs. And here you can really think about your personal customisations. Maybe a smart bunk bed will save you some extra square meters you were thinking of extending? Maybe you don’t need to fit a dining table for 10 people all year round and one for four that can be expanded when needed is enough? A sofa in a corner where standard dimensions are not suitable? A wardrobe in a narrow hallway? Sliding doors between rooms? Outdoor furniture on a poolside patio? Everything can be customized to the millimeter to match your individual needs.
How much does it cost?
The most difficult question actually… There is no price list, as the final price depends on many factors. Which table legs do you choose? What type of wood, what treatment should the piece of furniture have, what fabric should be used, what decor should be in the wardrobe, etc, etc. Of course, you can always get an approximate price, but it’s impossible to know exactly until you determine the surrounding facts.
For larger projects, for example, when Fotis Kotsiras is involved in the project from the beginning and works together with your architects or your construction company, you may be offered a staged payment. Your furniture will be assembled on site by Fotis Kotsiras and his employees. Elias and I highly recommend you to visit this showroom and personally discuss your needs with Mr Kotsiras. The GPS to the factory and showroom is here and if you want the email address you can contact Elwira here.
