Meet the Designer

The multi-million-euro renovation underway at Almyra realises the vision for the property curated by noted French interior designer Joelle Pleot. Pleot began her career in the fashion industry as a stylist and shoe designer. In the late 1990s, she moved into the field of interior decoration as both a designer for Christian Liaigre and director of his two Paris show rooms. In 2001, she established her own interior design practice, taking on both residential and commercial projects for Karl Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel, among others. Pleot first worked at the property in 2003, when she collaborated with Tristan Auer on the renovation that transformed the former Paphos Beach Hotel into Almyra. They kept the mid-century modern bones of the buildings while fashioning a look that is ‘simple, elegant, with handsome materials—creating the atmosphere of the modern Mediterranean seaside’, she said at the time. In 2007, Pleot collaborated with Karim Caballos on the addition of the Almyraspa complex. She is regularly consulted on updates, including the 2017 addition of an infinity pool with terraces, a pool house, and a firepit. For the current renovation, she prepared designs for the complete redo of all guest rooms and suites as well as updates to the Lobby. All furnishings are designed by her and crafted by local artisans from oak and olive wood. With its design bona fides set firmly in the mid-century modern aesthetic, Almyra is the only member of the Design Hotels consortium in Cyprus. The refreshed Almyra opens on 1 March 2020.