As the only member of the Design Hotels consortium in Cyprus, Almyra sets high standards for aesthetics. The current, multi-million-euro renovation seeks to preserve the mid-century modern bones of the property and refresh the look curated over the years by French interior designer Joelle Pleot. Almyra partners with local artisans, such as Mandina Carpentry, to achieve its aims. Mandina is a family business overseen by Yiannakis Athanasiou (with 34 years in the trade) and his son. When the hotel closed for renovations, Mandina’s crew brought the original wooden doors from the 1970s buildings to their headquarters for refinishing. Over successive renovations, Pleot has designed sleek, elegant furniture specifically for Almyra. Her bespoke designs came to life at the hands of Cypriot carpenters, who crafted the fine furniture from olive and oak wood. As part of the current renovation of the guest rooms and Lobby, these pieces are being lovingly restored by Yiannakis and his team. In addition, new items have been designed by Pleot and built from scratch. Over the past three months, Mandina’s carpenters have been at work on bed frames, cabinets, tables, sofas, stools—and even wooden trays. Their facility includes spaces for cutting and joining wood, sanding and patching formed pieces, and finishing the furniture with paint or stain. Soon, the doors and furnishings will be put into place in the guest rooms, complementing fresh light fixtures, smart TVs, and new shower stalls lined with Italian Carrara marble. The refreshed Almyra opens for guests on 1 March 2020.
