Origin: The Cyclades, Greece, whitewashed houses built over many centuries, best known on Santorini
Traditional houses in the Cyclades are whitewashed to reflect the sun, with rounded volumes stacked up the hillside. They have flat or gently domed roofs, sea-blue doors and shutters, thick walls that keep cool, and small windows. Interiors are minimal, with built-in furniture such as benches, shelves and beds, in white with deep blue and a touch of terracotta.
In Vietnam, white and blue suit seaside homes such as those in Hải Phòng, Đồ Sơn and Cát Bà. Use waterproof white paint, rounded wall corners, arched gateways, blue shutters and built-in furniture. Humidity makes white walls prone to moss streaks, so choose an anti-mould paint, and flat roofs need solid waterproofing because of heavy rain. Salt and wind on the coast call for stainless fittings and powder-coated aluminium.
