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» Sharing the Dream!! |
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| Sharing the Dream!! |
An exciting building project is nearing completion close to a unspoilt beach
in North Corfu. The project has transformed close-to-derelict studios into
four spacious luxury maisonnettes, sharing a heated pool. This pioneering
project shows how redevelopment of existing constructions can be achieved to
provide top-quality homes without building from new on virgin land.
Sharing the Dream
They were once a row of pokey one-bedroom apartments, dark, dreary and
approaching point-of-no-return dereliction. Built in the heyday of mass
tourism, their layout was designed to accommodate the maximum number of
bodies in the smallest possible space.
Similar buildings stand empty all over Corfu, abandoned by the tour
operators who have been there, done it and moved on. Yet locals prefer to
build from scratch rather than renovate and redevelop these existing
properties.
Mike and Barbara Williams thought differently. Frequent visitors to Corfu,
they share the philosophy promoted by Luvcorfu Properties: Why build new
houses - consigning another piece of virgin land to concrete, bricks and
mortar - when so many properties can be resurrected? Like the one in Agnos,
they can be transformed so that they no longer stand out as a blot on the
landscape.
So Mike and Barbara took on the Spring Meadow redevelopment project. Now, their four
maisonnette-style homes are nearing completion, with just some internal
details and landscaping of the gardens remaining. The original one-storey
apartments, with only 43 sq.m. of floorspace, have sprouted a second floor
and now extend over 96 sq.m., accommodating the same number of people in
double the space. The end property, nearest the pool, incorporates what
previously was a storeroom, and extends to 125 sq.m.
The three maisonnettes have an identical floorplan. Two steps lead from the
driveway onto an entry veranda. The door opens into a large open-plan
kitchen and living area, opening on the other side to a walled patio. There
is a bathroom with shower at this level.
Timber stairs lead up to a landing, opening into two double bedrooms and a
bathroom with shower. Both bedrooms have their own balcony. The timber
ceilings are pitched with rafters and dormer-style french windows, giving
the rooms a very cozy atmosphere. Fitted wardrobes are included.
The larger end maisonnette has a hallway with bathroom , leading through to
a kitchen and living area. Part of the living area can be walled off to
provide a third bedroom, whilst still offering a very large living space.
The room arrangement upstairs is similar to the others with the addition of
huge sun terrace with distant sea view. This maisonnette has a very
extensive patio area at ground level, leading directly to the pool.
The refurbishment process has been achieved using top quality building
techniques and luxury fittings, such as granite kitchen work surfaces, and
granite washbasin surrounds in the bathroom. Many extras are included in the
price, like built-in fridge and freezer, electric hob, stainless steel oven
and extractor.
Throughout, the windows are double glazed timber. Both external and internal
doors are solid timber. The ground floors are beautifully tiled.
The houses have full central heating, with independent control accessible
from the Internet as well as manually. When sunlight is adequate (which it
is even much of the winter), the central heating is powered by solar panels.
The complex boasts the only outdoor heated pool in Corfu, also powered from
the solar panels. Water is supplied from a borehole beside the pool
(disguised as a traditional well), so utility costs are kept low. The pool
is large and fully tiled, with a separate children’s area. Non-slip
surrounds incorporate a groove for easy grip. The pool is for the exclusive
use of residents and their guests, and will not be open to the public.
Landscaping of the grounds is currently underway, with paving and walls
under construction, a parking area planned, and an automatic security gate
to be installed.
The complex is located a few minutes walk from the lovely sandy beach at
Agnos, one of the last unspoiled coastlines in Corfu, and famous for its
fish restaurants. Owners or visitors with a boat will be able to moor in the
new Astrakeri Marina, at the end of the beach. The excellent facilities at
Roda and Acharavi are a few minutes drive, while the nearby village of
Karoussades offers traditional lifestyle and atmosphere. The maisonnettes
enjoy unobstructed countryside and mountain views.
Mike and Barbara’s dream is coming to fruition, and they gain added
satisfaction from having brought back some beauty to a corner of Corfu. Now,
new buyers can gain a lovely home, which can also be easily rented to give a
return on investment.
The three 96 sq.m. maisonnettes are for sale at 175,000 euros, whilst the
large end one is on the market at 230,000 euros.
View this property on video |
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