THE VIEW FROM WITHIN: A GENTLE PAUSE

In a world of fast clicks and crowded aisles, it can feel increasingly rare to stumble upon a space that invites you to slow down. To soften your pace. To feel something.

Istorja was never meant to be just a shop.

From the very beginning, it was imagined as a quiet rebellion against mass culture—a living, breathing space where design meets meaning, where community feels real, and where everything has been chosen with care.

Before we fully dive into the season ahead, we wanted to take a moment to look back. As the city slows and many of us take a breath during the summer break, it feels like the right time to pause—to reflect on everything we’ve created, shared, and held space for this past year at Istorja House.

We’re not here to count milestones, but to honour the moments that shaped us. The quiet kind. The meaningful kind. The ones that reminded us why we built this house in the first place.

A Table to Gather Around

Some of our most treasured moments this year unfolded around a table. Through our supperclubs, we explored the rituals of dining as a deeper expression of culture and connection—sharing not just food, but stories, memories, and perspectives.

Guest chefs brought in flavours from around the world. Music played softly in the background. Strangers became friends. These evenings were more than events; they were gentle reminders of how the simple act of gathering can transform a space, a mood, a community.

A Living, Breathing Space

More than a store. More than a café. More than a venue.

Istorja became what it was always meant to be: a space that adapts to the people within it. Some of you came to sip coffee in stillness. Others joined a workshop, a private dinner, or a mindful experience. Whether it was a Japanese tea ceremony, a ceramics session, or a conversation around menopause, each gathering left a quiet imprint.

From yoga mornings and fashion styling to cacao ceremonies and discussions on self-discovery, this was a year of connection through intention.

Craft, curated with care

In a country often swayed by imitation and overconsumption, we stood by something different.

At Istorja, we believe in soulfully made things. In objects with texture, with story, with presence. Every shelf and surface in our space was shaped by thoughtful curation—from local crafts and sustainable design to wellness brands and slow fashion. We continued to build our relationship with the Greek Foundation, becoming the first space in Cyprus to carry their objects in store. A considered selection of books and design pieces now live within Istorja’s walls, available for those who live with intention.

Not Like Big Retail

There were no flash sales. No loud branding. No cluttered displays. Just timeless pieces, meaningful textures, and space to breathe. This past year, Istorja proved that retail can feel different. It can be rooted in connection. It can be spacious. It can feel like home.

Looking Ahead

As we enter the new season, we carry with us the quiet power of everything we’ve lived so far. We have new supperclubs coming—more immersive, more story-driven. Creative residencies are on the horizon. And yes, perhaps, a new location too.

But no matter what takes shape, our intention remains the same: to offer a space where people feel seen, where beauty is quiet, and where everything is done with care.

Thank you for walking alongside us.

Here’s to what we’ve built. And to what comes next.