The basic type of Karpathian home is the "stavlos", usually located on the outskirts of the village or near the fields where the people worked. The construction of this house is very simplistic but practical. Zits arrangement, however, is a complex series of well thought out uses of spatial elements which give it a very interesting character.

During the nineteenth century many Karpathians began to immigrate to various countries in the east and Asia Minor, which brought about many changes in the socioeconomic structure of Karpathos. Thus when the man of the family had to leave Karpathos to go to other lands to work, the woman had to maintain the leadership role in the family. As time went by it was inevitable that the primary residence was moved back into the village.

The village home slowly evolved into the present type as a result of a series of changes dictated by the needs of the family within the village. Full use of the property was usually made to utilize the space as much as possible. The interiors of these houses were elegantly decorated with items made by the members of the household.