know-how
THREE GREAT HOMES ABROAD
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‘We love our romantic beachhut bolthole’ Trish and Matthew Kelvie, both 47, own a luxury beach hut in Shaldon, South Devon. They have two teenage daughters and live in West Hythe, Kent. Matthew and I had our first date in Shaldon 27 years ago and I also have happy memories of holidaying here as a child. When we saw the beach hut pop up on the TV show George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces four years ago, we immediately wanted to find out more. It was an emotional response but also a practical one. Matthew had recently sold a business so we had money to invest. I was a full-time mum at the time and looking for a way to earn an income to build up a pension. The hut seemed the perfect solution, and since you can also sleep there – not the case in most beach huts – it would give us a place 66 woman&home IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!
to escape to at the weekends. Although it’s only small, our hut is a luxury build, with granite work surfaces in the kitchen, a stonetiled shower and bifold doors leading on to the terrace and the sandy beach. It cost us £207,000 and we paid in cash, as we wouldn’t have been able to get a mortgage on it. We haven’t recouped that cost yet, but it is rented out for around 320 nights a year, so the investment is making more than if the money was just sitting in the bank. It’s a four-hour drive away, so we rely on a local cleaner and caretaker to maintain it for us. We’ve learnt the best times of day to travel, so even if we’re here for a night, it feels like a holiday. I love sitting on the terrace watching the waves and the lights twinkling across the bay. As our girls grow up – they’re 19 and 16 now – I’m looking forward to the time when Matthew and I can stay longer and really make the most of this place. It’s romantic; a place for the two of us to enjoy together. shaldonbeachhut.co.uk
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BUILT-TO-ORDER VILLA IN SPAIN, €281,672 This detached villa in Guardamar, Alicante, has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a shared pool, with a Blue Flag beach just a 10-minute drive away. See propertyandspain.co.uk
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HOUSE AND BARN IN WESTERN FRANCE, €149,330 Tucked down a quiet lane in the village of Nere in Poitou-Charentes on the Atlantic coast, this threebedroom house is within walking distance of a bar/restaurant. See frenchestateagents.com w&h
PHOTOGRAPH SUE VAUGHTON/DISCOVERY HOLIDAY HOMES ALL THESE PROPERTIES WERE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRESS
Matthew and Trish often rent out their hut
STONE HOUSE WITH SEA VIEWS IN GREECE, €270,000 This two-story villa on the island of Thasos has sea and mountain views, a swimming pool and a private garden including a barbecue area. See tranio.com