Makis Askotis: “Living in a house that you’ve built from the ground up brings a special kind of satisfaction”

Settled among the attractive residences that pepper the Engomi suburb of Nicosia, the modern home of Makis Askotis, CEO of C. Askotis Retails Ltd, is an oasis of beauty and calm, inside and out. With designer furnishings that reflect both Askotis’ business and his natural good taste, the house was designed with the highest levels of comfort and functionality in mind.

When designer furniture is your business, it is only natural that your own home will also be furnished with beautiful, high-quality objects. This is, indeed, the case with Makis Askotis, CEO of C. Askotis Retail Ltd.

As he welcomes us from the sizzling summer heat into the cool interior of his house in Engomi, Nicosia, Askotis’ love of art is immediately evident, with eye-catching pieces greeting us the moment we enter the modern structure.

Passing the intricate entrance to the state-of-the-art kitchen, we enter the main living room. Beyond the sliding glass doors, that take up an entire wall of the space, lies the garden, swimming pool and a comfortably chic seating area. While enticing, it is testament to the room’s furnishings that even this superb view does not detract from the beauty of the furniture inside.

While totally uncluttered, this house is one of those where you are likely to see something intriguingly charming wherever you look. However, it is clearly not just a living space but a real home, in which equal attention has been paid to comfort and functionality, whether that means where the family settles down to watch TV together or the main bedroom’s custom closet, which keeps everything well-organised and beautifully presented.

“Living in a house that you’ve built from the ground up brings a special kind of satisfaction,” Askotis confides, adding, “We moved in five years ago. Construction lasted about a year and a half and even that was a great experience.”

Given his line of business, Askotis is perhaps better placed than most when it comes to considering the look the family wanted for their abode. “When considering the aesthetic of a home, people tend to follow one of two paths,” he suggests. “They either have a specific vision from the start or they let the design evolve organically over time. Both approaches have their merits and can result in a beautiful and personal living space. In my case, I always had a clear vision of what I wanted my home to look and feel like from the very beginning, and we then worked closely with the architect for the result.”

He also acknowledges the impact of his career experience, saying, “Guided by my professional choices and cooperation with the best furniture manufacturers that use the most prestigious designers, with whom my company collaborates, I was led to go for a clear balance between ergonomics and an aesthetic vision, which helped maintain a consistent look and feel throughout the home, both indoors and outdoors.”

This know-how also meant that decisions about materials, furniture, colours and décor could be taken more quickly and with greater confidence to create a space that reflects his family’s lifestyle. “Over the years, I’ve learned that the key to a great living space is making it comfortable, functional and, above all, reflective of the owner’s personality and lifestyle,” Askotis notes.

Elaborating on his sources of inspiration and choosing or creating the various elements that make up his home and its décor, he says, “For over 25 years, our company has built strong relationships with top furniture manufacturers like Minotti and Rimadesio, among others. They, in turn, collaborate with renowned designers and architects such as Rodolfo Dordoni, Marcio Kogan and Vincent Van Duysen. This creative network has been a source of inspiration and innovation, helping me design my personal space and make choices based on my family’s lifestyle and what makes us feel comfortable.”

Askotis also admits that “When curating my living environment, I took great care to ensure that the choices made were not only aesthetically pleasing but also aligned with the lifestyle and preferences of my family. Each piece of furniture and every design element was selected with thoughtful consideration for comfort, functionality and practicality. By integrating the expertise of these renowned designers and architects into the design process, I was able to create a space that not only reflects my personal taste but also enhances our daily lives.”

From selecting the right sofa for cosy family movie nights to optimising storage solutions that seamlessly blend form and function, Askotis says that every decision was guided by a commitment to creating a home environment that fosters comfort and relaxation. “The choices made by top manufacturers and visionary designers have shaped our living space, creating a harmonious blend of style and comfort that truly feels like home,” he adds.

Being in surroundings that are so attractive, choosing one particular spot over others may be difficult but Askotis reveals that his favourite space is the one encompassing the living areas, both indoor and outdoor.

“I love these adjoining spaces because it’s where friends and family gather and we spend the most time together. Both spaces are filled with natural light and designed around the pool area and garden. They contain comfortable seating and dining furniture that reflects our lifestyle and temperament and feature personal touches that make them feel uniquely ours,” he explains.

It is, however, more difficult for him to choose a particular favourite when it comes to individual objects within the home.

“It is hard to select favourites among all the items I have chosen. What is important to me is that they all combine nicely, creating a harmonious, peaceful interior that relaxes me,” Askotis says.

He goes on to explain the process of choosing objects for his home, noting how, “Selecting specific pieces involves a combination of aesthetic appeal, functionality and personal significance. Being in constant contact with beautiful furnishings and accessories has allowed me to develop a keen eye for quality and design, which greatly influences my choices, based of course, on style cohesion that gives an aesthetic harmony to the space. Likewise, the colour palette and choice of high-quality, durable materials that promise longevity and appeal follow a matching or complementing scheme to create a cohesive look,” he continues, adding, “This also secures the functional role of the piece in the space, whether it is for seating, storage, decoration or something else and, of course, it ensures that all the pieces’ dimensions fit well without overwhelming the space.”

As Askotis also underlines, “Complementing the interior are the artworks – paintings and sculptures – that resonate with me on an emotional level. They inspire me and uplift my spirits every time I look at them, as do various family items passed down to me that have sentimental value. These pieces not only enhance the beauty of my home but also create a space filled with stories, memories and emotions, making it truly special and reflective of my personal journey and tastes.”

So, what advice would Makis Askotis give to someone interested in choosing pieces for their own home?

“When choosing pieces for your own residence, there are several important criteria to consider, so as to ensure that they enhance its overall aesthetic, functionality and comfort,” he notes. “Some key factors are your own personal style and preferences, functionality, quality and durability, comfort and ergonomics and, of course, aesthetic cohesion. And,” he concludes, “don’t forget that professionals – architects, interior decorators, lighting designers, landscapers and others – can always help you choose carefully, based on these criteria. In this way, you can create a residence that is not only stylish and cohesive but also functional, comfortable and reflective of your personal tastes.”

(Photos by TASPHO)

(This article first appeared in the 2024 edition of The Cyprus Journal of Wealth Management, commissioned by Eurobank Cyprus and published by IMH. Click here to view the article. Click here to view the entire magazine online.)