description 
Villa Bernice and Villa Hilltop are in the tiny village of Pecoulari, hidden away in a forest a short drive from the exquisite Venetian port of Fiscardo in Kefalonia. Both villas have panoramic sea views and a forest in their back gardens. In colonial times when the British ran Kefalonia, the governor of the island had a home in Pecoulari, enjoying the same spectacular views as the two modern villas. The remnants of an old donkey path that once was a thoroughfare for the busy village, lies next to Villa Bernice.
There is only one other house in the village that is inhabited; and only in the summer. Perched on the highest point in the area, both villas face into the sunset. Among the many charms of the villas is the quiet tranquility of the nights when the only sounds are those of the occasional owl in the forest.
Villa Bernice and Villa Hilltop were designed by Christo Koutsandreou who made his reputation restoring some of Fiscardo's traditional houses to their former glory. Villa Bernice has three bedrooms, Villa Hilltop, two. Christo retained a traditional Kefalonian look for both villas with wooden shutters on all the doors and windows and a traditional-style balcony upstairs. All the downstairs rooms open on to large patios.
Inside, the houses are a triumph of relaxed modernity with every comfort and furnished to a very high standard. South African interior designer Lesley Barritt brought her love of quality and space to both villas, refusing to compromise on the quality of the kitchens, bedrooms and living areas and importing many of the furnishings
Lesley believes that a Greek holiday must be about relaxation and comfort. Air-conditioned throughout, both villas have satellite television, DVD and CD players, books, lounges designed to be sprawled in and armchairs to support the sun weary. She retained traditional touches, rescuing old-fashioned taverna chairs and refurbishing them as dining room chairs. All the bedrooms have en suite bathrooms and cupboard space enough for a long visit. The kitchens imported from Italy, incorporate a dishwasher and washing machine. The crockery comes from South Africa as do some of the paintings on the walls.
One of the delights of a Greek holiday is swimming so both villas have private swimming pools that overlook the ocean. As life in Greece is lived outdoors in the summer, both villas have large patios with tables, sun-beds with umbrellas and gas-fired barbecues.
The villas are ideally situated within a ten minute drive of all the best beaches and tavernas. A hidden plus is the nearby village of Maganos which has the area's finest fruit and vegetable store and two restaurants, both of which offer inexpensive, traditional cuisine.
While the villas have been designed for privacy, they are close enough to each other so groups of friends renting them can socialise easily when they wish to and have their privacy at other times. The villas face the sunset and one can easily imagine colonial evenings when the British governor enjoyed a sundowner watching the sun sink into the sea. Among the many charms of the villas is the quiet tranquility of the nights when the only sounds are those of the occasional owl in the forest.
There is only one other house in the village that is inhabited; and only in the summer. Perched on the highest point in the area, both villas face into the sunset. Among the many charms of the villas is the quiet tranquility of the nights when the only sounds are those of the occasional owl in the forest.
Villa Bernice and Villa Hilltop were designed by Christo Koutsandreou who made his reputation restoring some of Fiscardo's traditional houses to their former glory. Villa Bernice has three bedrooms, Villa Hilltop, two. Christo retained a traditional Kefalonian look for both villas with wooden shutters on all the doors and windows and a traditional-style balcony upstairs. All the downstairs rooms open on to large patios.
Inside, the houses are a triumph of relaxed modernity with every comfort and furnished to a very high standard. South African interior designer Lesley Barritt brought her love of quality and space to both villas, refusing to compromise on the quality of the kitchens, bedrooms and living areas and importing many of the furnishings
Lesley believes that a Greek holiday must be about relaxation and comfort. Air-conditioned throughout, both villas have satellite television, DVD and CD players, books, lounges designed to be sprawled in and armchairs to support the sun weary. She retained traditional touches, rescuing old-fashioned taverna chairs and refurbishing them as dining room chairs. All the bedrooms have en suite bathrooms and cupboard space enough for a long visit. The kitchens imported from Italy, incorporate a dishwasher and washing machine. The crockery comes from South Africa as do some of the paintings on the walls.
One of the delights of a Greek holiday is swimming so both villas have private swimming pools that overlook the ocean. As life in Greece is lived outdoors in the summer, both villas have large patios with tables, sun-beds with umbrellas and gas-fired barbecues.
The villas are ideally situated within a ten minute drive of all the best beaches and tavernas. A hidden plus is the nearby village of Maganos which has the area's finest fruit and vegetable store and two restaurants, both of which offer inexpensive, traditional cuisine.
While the villas have been designed for privacy, they are close enough to each other so groups of friends renting them can socialise easily when they wish to and have their privacy at other times. The villas face the sunset and one can easily imagine colonial evenings when the British governor enjoyed a sundowner watching the sun sink into the sea. Among the many charms of the villas is the quiet tranquility of the nights when the only sounds are those of the occasional owl in the forest.
