From Ruin to Retreat

‬How One‭ ‬British Couple Transformed a Crumbling Spanish Finca into a Dream Summer Home

In the almond-dotted hills of Murcia’s Costa Cálida‭, ‬far from the tourist beaches and noisy bars‭, ‬sits a stone finca once forgotten by time‭. ‬Built in the 1870s‭, ‬it had long been abandoned‮—‬its walls crumbling‭, ‬roof caved in‭, ‬and not a single sign of modern life‭. ‬No water‭. ‬No electricity‭. ‬No promise‭.‬

But in 2019‭, ‬British couple Andy and Sharon saw not a ruin‮—‬but a future‭.‬

A‭ ‬€30,000‭ ‬Leap of Faith

While many homebuyers fret over interest rates and mortgages‭, ‬Andy and Sharon took a different path‭. ‬They bought the entire property‮—‬land‭, ‬stone walls‭, ‬collapsing barns‭, ‬and all‮—‬for just‭ ‬€30,000‭ (‬around‭ ‬£25,000‭ ‬at the time‭). ‬It wasn’t a‭ ‬“move-in ready”‭ ‬holiday home by any stretch‭. ‬It was a barebones challenge‭. ‬But it was theirs‭.‬

“Everyone thought we were mad‭,‬”‭ ‬said Sharon in one of their video diaries‭. ‬“We couldn’t even turn on a tap‭, ‬but we just knew we’d make it work‭.‬”

And they did‮—‬armed with determination‭, ‬YouTube tutorials‭, ‬and a never-ending supply of builder’s tea‭.‬

Starting with Shelter

Their first mission‭? ‬Create a liveable space on the property‭. ‬They converted the old hayloft into a cosy‭, ‬self-contained flat‮—‬no‭ ‬small feat considering the original roof was more hole than cover‭.‬

Reclaimed pine boards became flooring‭, ‬a second-hand wood burner kept them warm in winter‭, ‬and old Spanish tiles gave it charm‭. ‬The space was small‭, ‬but it had everything they needed‭: ‬a bed‭, ‬a place to cook‭, ‬and a roof over their heads while the larger renovation began‭.‬

Stone‭, ‬Sweat and Surprises

Restoring the main finca was less a renovation and more a resurrection‭. ‬They chipped away layers of old gypsum plaster to reveal‭ ‬beautiful stone walls‭. ‬They hand-sifted rubble‭, ‬rebuilt doorways‭, ‬and repointed stonework‮—‬all in searing Spanish heat‭.‬

Along the way‭, ‬the house revealed its secrets‭: ‬a hidden cave beneath the kitchen‭, ‬timber beams still standing strong‭, ‬and floors‭ ‬so uneven they had to be lifted entirely‭. ‬Nothing was easy‭, ‬but every breakthrough made it feel worthwhile‭.‬

Andy‭, ‬a former engineer‭, ‬led the structural work‭. ‬Sharon took charge of design‭, ‬bringing warmth and personality into every space‭. ‬Together‭, ‬they balanced rustic charm with clever modernisation‮—‬lime-plastered walls‭, ‬hand-built cabinets‭, ‬and locally sourced‭ ‬materials‭.‬

Living Off-Grid and Loving It

From the outset‭, ‬the couple committed to an off-grid lifestyle‭. ‬They installed solar panels with a generator backup and built a‭ ‬4,400-gallon water tank‭, ‬filled by lorry until they could harvest rainwater‭.‬

They learned how to make do‮—‬and make it beautiful‭. ‬An old animal trough became a sink‭. ‬A rusted doorframe became a garden gate‭. ‬Their entire life became a lesson in resourcefulness‭, ‬and it’s what makes their finca so unique‭.‬

In the evenings‭, ‬they sit under a handmade shade structure on their stone-paved terrace‭, ‬sipping wine‭, ‬surrounded by the scent of lavender and rosemary‭. ‬“It’s not luxury in the typical sense‭,‬”‭ ‬Sharon smiles‭, ‬“but it’s everything we ever wanted‭.‬”

From Goats to Guests

Over time‭, ‬the couple added more than just bricks and mortar to the finca‮—‬they added life‭. ‬Rescue cats and chickens came first‭, ‬followed by goats and even a donkey‭. ‬They grow olives‭, ‬capers‭, ‬and vegetables in bathtub planters‭, ‬and dream of opening a small‭ ‬eco-retreat one day‭.‬

They’ve documented the entire journey on YouTube‭, ‬where their unfiltered‭, ‬often hilarious videos have built a devoted following‭. ‬Fans‭ ‬love the balance of grit and gratitude‭. ‬There’s no pretence‮—‬just two people chasing a dream‭, ‬one dusty stone at a time‭.‬

The Cost of Character

In a world where renovation budgets spiral into six figures‭, ‬Andy and Sharon’s story is refreshingly honest‭. ‬Their total costs‭? ‬Modest‭. ‬Their philosophy‭? ‬Do it slowly‭, ‬do it right‭, ‬and enjoy the process‭.‬

“There were plenty of moments we wanted to pack it all in‭,‬”‭ ‬Andy admits‭, ‬“but now we walk into the house and it feels like home‮—‬because we built every bit of it ourselves‭.‬”

A Life Reimagined

Andy and Sharon didn’t just restore a house‮—‬they built a new way of life‭. ‬Slower‭, ‬sunnier‭, ‬simpler‭. ‬No commute‭. ‬No clutter‭. ‬Just honest work and long‭ ‬evenings watching the sun set over the hills‭.‬

Their finca is more than a summer home‮—‬it’s a story of second chances‭. ‬For a building that was nearly lost‭. ‬For a couple who dared to dream differently‭. ‬And for anyone who’s ever thought‭, ‬“Could we do that too‭?‬”

If you’re thinking of buying in Spain‭, ‬don’t just look for perfection‭. ‬Look for potential‭. ‬The magic‭, ‬it turns out‭, ‬is in the making‭.‬