Reviews
What clients have said about their experience.
“It is a great pleasure to recommend Katerina Sirouni to anyone who lives abroad and needs architectural/engineering/interior design services in Greece. Katerina’s native level knowledge of English and of the Greek building laws makes her the ideal Greece-based architectural firm for overseas customers who acquired property in Greece for either pleasure or permanent residence.
I was lucky to find and hire Katerina after I had just purchased, in early 2023, an apartment in Athens that needed extensive renovation. Despite of my not living in Greece (I am a Greek-American), Katerina diligently collaborated with me (via the telephone, emails, videos, etc.) on the details of the work - from the design to the budget, and time/other constrains unique to Greece. Katerina made the process efficient and fun!
The first thing she did was to learn what I expected from my home in Athens. From the onset of my working with Katerina on the project, it became clear that she was creating a dream home to me, not hers, as she not only offered her professional advice/recommendations for the design, but she was also fully open and accommodating to my preferences for the overall design.
To my great relief, she took care of all the required by Greek law documents to allow the permitting and construction process to run smoothly. She offered innovative insights for the design, paid attention to the details, and made herself always available throughout the remodeling process via either virtual communications or by in situ visits to ensure that the work was being done by building codes and agreed upon expectations.
In addition to providing architectural/engineering services, Katerina also provided creative ideas regarding the interior design of my home in Athens. She offered valuable advice on furniture, lighting, decorative elements, and other related items. She went as far as helping me with the selection and purchases of items such as furniture, light fixtures, and art pieces. In addition, she was always a good source to go to for finding information regarding aspects of the renovation outside of her purview but important to customers such as property insurance and security systems.
Katerina delivered a product that I can only describe as a dream come true. It is everything I expected and more-- especially the very innovative and functional kitchen. The home has truly become a family treasure! A place for family and friends to gather, spend time and build memories. Katerina’s vision, passion for her work and skills made this project a reality for me and my family whether they live in Greece or abroad. I wholeheartedly recommend Katerina without reservation and thank her for all the work she has done for me in creating my amazing new space!”
MM, Virginia, U.S.A.
“After the finalization of the sale of our apartment in Glyfada and the long-awaited signing of the contracts, we would like to thank you for everything you've done to achieve this outcome. With your methodical approach and patience, you managed to clarify a very complex (in our eyes) matter and guide us unscathed through the completion of the sale. Without your intervention, we would still be tangled in the gears of Greek bureaucracy.
Thank you again for impeccably way you handled our case as well as for the kind way you guided us as we were anxiously waiting for updates and progress reports. We wish you every success in your professional career and every happiness in your personal life.”
E & F, Canada
“We decided to buy a property right before the pandemics started. Not only did Katerina helped us before buying it (she came with us to inspection the property, gave us loads of advice, checked it all during the process...) but also managed a COMPLETE RENOVATION of it during lockdowns, quarantines and literally no human way to travel to Greece. And a little detail I haven´t mentioned yet: we were in Germany. The whole time.
The result was absolutely amazing and everything looked exactly the way we pictured. In addition, Katerina helped us to visualize our ideas and she upgraded them with her magical and professional touch. Communication was fluid and transparent, the work flawless, everything within budget and, most importantly, without headaches for us: for every inconvenience, Katerina had already several solutions. She managed to make a sweet dream from an always-terrifying renovation and she gave us peace of mind, which in our view is what one looks for in these situations.
We can't recommend her enough. Both from her professionalism and her human factor. We never felt alone and there is no money in the world to pay that.
THANK YOU Katerina for helping us make our dream come true!!”
C & F, Germany
“Katerina was referred to us by a mutual friend. She has worked on 2 apartments for us. She took on both projects from start to finish. She came up with the layout and design that best fit the spaces and our budgets.
It was a Godsend having someone trustworthy in Greece since we could not be there. She has a keen eye for design, and came up with small details that really made the spaces standout. She made the whole process stress free for us. In the end, she even found realtors that helped rent out the apartments.
In the one apartment she relocated the kitchen, thus adding an extra bedroom, and rehabbed the bathrooms. She updated all the plumbing and electrical to today’s standards.
In the second apartment she took on a gut rehab. The only thing left where the exterior walls, we added new plumbing, electrical, windows, doors etc. This was a one bedroom, 70sqm apartment, that I wanted to make into a 2 bedroom. She was able to come up with the perfect layout.
She has crews that work efficiently and to her high standards. She sent pictures throughout the process, and took care of all our concerns. She puts her heart into her work. She treated both projects as if they were her own apartments.
These rehabs where not something I could have done myself, from here in Chicago if Katerina was not there handling everything from planning to completion.”
Tasos, Chicago, U.S.A.
“Katerina Sirouni came well recommended and the services of her entire team as first class. After our first meeting, we were impressed. We selected Katerina to work in conjunction with a local builder.
Katerina's ability to coordinate, manage and oversee the renovation of our home was nothing short of outstanding. Throughout the process Katerina kept in constant communication and collaborated with us through various means while we were in the United States.
Katerina's architectural and engineering expertise transformed our rough conceptualization of expanding and enhancing our home. The plans laid out were simple, yet elegant. She was open to our wishes and diplomatic with the real constraints as presented. Her use of her different team members combined as a force that assisted us immeasurably. They managed to provide premier design services and impeccable construction coordination - all while keeping our budget constraints as top priority.
Renovating and designing an apartment from across the world could have easily been a very stressful and unpleasant experience; however with Katerina and her team we had peace of mind all along.
We were always in good hands. Katerina and team’s flexibility, creative thinking and problem solving helped us achieve our goal and timeline. Katerina and team of talented architects/engineers have been a pleasure to work with during the process of renovating our apartment in Marousi, Athens.
We highly recommend her services without hesitation to anyone and everyone living abroad.”
Basil and Despina, New Jersey, U.S.A.
“I was first introduced to Katerina upon reading her excellent, English-written internet articles on Greek property ownership. Her information on the property laws in Greece and her checklist of the important documents that every owner should have, made me appreciate her vast knowledge. In fact, I have often referred to her checklist as my “Bible” because it allowed me to understand where to start on legalizing our “illegal” property. Over the last several years, Katerina has been invaluable in helping me accomplish this task.
In addition, Katerina’s fluency in both Greek and English was critical for me. Many times, in the past, concepts would get lost in translation when I spoke with other Greek professionals in either language. Katerina on the other hand, wrote detailed email explanations as to what I should expect with the legalization process. This was extremely helpful since I had to also relay the information to my family and other English-speaking co-owners of our property. All of us were new to the everchanging property laws of Greece and so, having Katerina as our “coach” along the way made the journey very manageable.
Katerina’s bilingualism is just one of her many assets. As I grew to know Katerina more, I gained great respect for her professionalism and diplomacy when seeing her deal with other engineers, lawyers, trades, and even other co-owners. Even more importantly, she’s a great gal to work with! I would not hesitate to recommend Kat to anyone who needs help in legalizing their Greek properties for future sale, transfer or simply, for peace of mind.
Thank you, Kat, for all you do!”
PS. I also look forward to completing a renovation project with Katerina soon. Although we are in a preliminary stage, she has quickly shown me her detailed attention to the design layout… where others have lacked in this regard.
Kelly, Toronto, Canada
“K.Sirouni_Architects provides turnkey service. Katerina Sirouni and her team exceeded all my expectations!
They were very professional with a focus on client satisfaction. The renovation and design work were perfect and within budget.”
S.N., U.S.A.
“We had a fantastic experience working with Katerina Sirouni! She absolutely transformed the house we bought in Kalymnos, and her advice was always perfect.
She took care of the project start to finish from plans to design to contractors etc. Furthermore, she eased the anxiety of being thousands of miles away while working on the remodel! She was very responsive if any difficulties arose.
I often tell my friends that it was easier to do a complete home remodel in Greece working with Katerina than to just fix one or two rooms in the USA!”
Chris, U.S.A.
“Seeing Katerina in action is like watching a musical choreography: Having a task to work on, coming up with ideas and working on them, getting pumped up, refining those ideas and applying them in the most inspiring way.
Thank you for your wonderful work!”
Elena, Glyfada, Greece
“I purchased a home in Voula Greece in 2017 which needed extensive renovations. As Greek Americans we were not well versed in the intricacies of buying a home in Greece and were very fortunate to be connected with Katerina. Not only did she take the time to visit a number of properties we were interested in and provide insight, she also patiently explained the overall buying process and stepped in when needed personally to assist.
Once we had purchased the property, Katerina consulted with us to capture our overall vision for the home, ensure that we would be in compliance with all engineering and building codes and provided a realistic budget and timeline. Not only did she identify vendors to use for materials for the project she also personally escorted us as we made all of the needed selections – providing her input and expertise.
Once the project began Katerina provided us regular updates via video and photos which enabled us to provide feedback as construction progressed. The end result completely exceeded our expectations. We hope to engage in more projects with Katerina in the future.”
Irene, Michigan, U.S.A.
“Recently, my wife and I had the opportunity to purchase a property right on the Mediterranean. However, while I am an attorney in the U.S., I know nothing about Greek property rights. As such, I was a bit apprehensive as I had heard numerous horror stories of Greek property entangled in family disputes or laden with hidden debt.
However, my initial bout of apprehension was quickly alleviated because of Katerina Sirouni, who has a thorough understanding of all the issues involved with buying property in Greece. Importantly, she also understands the nuanced issues involved when the buyer is from America.
I found her insight invaluable, her guidance practical and her professionalism beyond reproach. As a bonus, not only has Katerina guided us through the purchase process, but can also help us when we are ready to build. Helping us through all phases of realizing our dream.”
George, Chicago, U.S.A.
“My parents have a house in Corfu and as part of estate planning, wanted to pass the home down to my sister and I. We soon realized that the house was deemed "illegal" with numerous significant deviations from the original permitted building plans.
Katerina helped us navigate the maze of violations, permits, penalties, and application processes to solve our issues. We ultimately were able to have the home deemed legal and finalize the transfer of ownership. The process took approximately 2 years.
Without Katerina we would not have been able to do this. She is very courteous and thorough and answered my endless questions in a timely manner. We are thankful to know her and are about to use her services again in another matter. Thank you very much Katerina.”
Chris, Canada
"Katerina Sirouni was unsurpassed as an architect / engineer in the sale of my apartment in Athens. She performed her job with utmost integrity, efficiency and immediate communication.
Her knowledge of Greek regulations is perfect , as well as both her English and Greek language skills. She helped me navigate a tightwire of a deal with the utmost care and skill.
As a Greek-American, I would never use anyone other than Katerina for any future dealings I may have in Greece."
Danae, California, U.S.A.
"Katerina applied for our EOT License and issued the Energy Performance Certificate for our property in Mykonos. She is extremely professional and is competent at what she does.
Katerina is very responsive to emails which are important since I live in Singapore and need somebody on the ground to keep on top of things and get the job done.
I highly recommend her."
Sharona of Villa Hurmuses - Singapore
“Recently, a complex family property/inheritance issue arose in Greece. We had no idea how to handle it, so we contacted Katerina.
WIth her knowledge and experience at work, the matter was settled within days.”
M.F., Chicago, U.S.A.
"During this period of rapidly changing governance in Greece, having a working relationship with Ms. Sirouni makes me more confident that I am meeting all my financial and legal obligations in Greece.
She is constantly keeping me abreast of new laws and regulations as they develop. Possibly her biggest asset is that she is fluent in both Greek and English and visits the United States regularly making meeting with her in person more of a possibility."
Hellena, Chicago, U.S.A.
"When I purchased my apartment in Athens, I was concerned about managing the extensive renovation from so far away. A friend then suggested I call Katerina.
We meet, worked out a renovation plan, selected materials and I returned home confident the work would be done correctly. I was not disappointed. Katerina kept me informed on the progress or the project and when I returned to Greece I found my apartment completed, on time and on budget.
The quality of the work was superb and the apartment had been left perfectly clean and ready for my family and me to enjoy. Katerina not only provided a turn-key solution but since 2006 she has always been available for maintenance issues and repairs, providing timely, expert service. I highly recommend her".
Spiro, Chicago, U.S.A.
"As a Greek-American with two properties in Greece I have been frustrated for years with the confusion of government tax regulations and laws relating to foreign citizens.
Ms Sirouni's lecture on the subject of the Greek tax laws helped me understand many issues. In Greece the rules constantly change and it is impossible to find out what tax you owe and how the amounts are calculated.
It is imperative to have a knowledgeable individual guide you through the labyrinth of tax regulations. I have been using a Greek tax accountant for some time to file returns and check the validity of the annual tax statements produced by the tax authorities, but unfortunately he is also often perplexed".
John, New York, U.S.A.
“Katerina Sirouni and I have had a professional affiliation since August of 2012. As such, she has assumed a pivotal role as a member of a team of tenacious and proactive legal advisors. Indeed, I feel privileged to avail myself of the extensive professional services she continues to provide. Fully bilingual, Katerina’s fluency in both Greek and English and her knowledge of the multiplicity of ongoing changes in the Greek Property Related Law have been vital. As a meticulous researcher whose attention to detail is impeccable, Katerina has been able to ferret out irregularities of building contractors who have not abided by the Greek building code.
Undaunted by what others would consider insurmountable challenges ranging from strikes, closures, misplaced property documents, Katerina has never waivered or forsaken her mission. Her honest, direct, and positive approach to even the most disconcerting of issues inspires trust and respect in her clients.
Most importantly, Katerina is capable of patiently explaining in English every aspect of matters in terms of properties in a clear, direct, and understandable fashion. Thus, I highly recommend the professional services and invaluable advice provided by Katerina Sirouni especially to Greek – American property owners who reside in Greece or abroad.”
Elizabeth, Athens, Greece
"I found Ms. Sirouni's Greek Property Workshop presentation at the Holy Trinity Cathedral NYC most helpful and informative. In a time of so many changes happening in Greece and so many questions to be answered, we are fortunate to have such an eloquent and astute professional as Katerina update and guide us."
Steve, New York
"Katerina Sirouni offers significant and current up to date knowledge of all the changes in requirements that pertain to property ownership in Greece. I would highly recommend any consultations with her as you will be informed about what you did not know before it becomes what you should have known!"
Greer, New Jersey
“It is with deep respect and gratitude that I offer this recommendation on behalf of Katerina Sirouni. I came across Katerina while surfing social media sites in search of information on real estate in Greece. I came across an article on the Greek housing market where Katerina was featured and I was immediately impressed by Katerina's deep knowledge of the Greek real estate market. As someone who came to own a home in Athens at that time, I really needed native guidance and direction.
At that point, I reached out to Katerina over email and to my surprise, she responded almost immediately. Navigating through Greece's sea of rules and regulations can be extremely cumbersome. Katerina clearly has her finger on the pulse and offered very sound advice causing me to avoid rabbit holes and chasing my tail. The guidance and knowledge that I received from Katerina were priceless!
Impressed with Katerina's wealth of knowledge, I decided to utilize her architectural design services to renovate my home in Athens. Katerina and her team were committed, detail-oriented, and NEVER wavered from my requests. We had a few follow up's after the renovation and Katerina's team was spot on! They were on time, meticulous in their work ethic, and paid close attention to detail. I would also point out, that as a Greek-American, we can be somewhat demanding. Katerina and her team answered that call, EVERY TIME!
Without hesitation, I would call on Katerina and her team, again, for any job calling for true professionals in every sense of the word! Further, I STILL call on Katerina for real estate advice. She is literally a walking, up-to-date, wealth of information that you simply CANNOT obtain ANYWHERE else!
Thank you, Katerina, for your dedication to realizing my vision, and for the infinite amount of sound advice that you offer!”
Michael, Rhode Island, U.S.A.
