However, in 1994 personal circumstances forced them to return reluctantly to England, together with their dogs and a Lusitano horse in tow. But they weren’t back in England for long before they began to harbour a longing to return to the Algarve’s pleasant climate and relaxed lifestyle.
So in 1999 Almancil was once again the area they returned to, where for several years Gina worked for Guy Johnson (one of the founder members of Carphone Warehouse), project managing the construction of villas in the local area. She gained many valuable insights into ways of dealing with the planning problems of the local Camaras (councils) - but most of all realised that patience is an essential part of the process! “Learning the intricacies of Portuguese building techniques was an integral part of the job” she says, “but choosing finishes and watching the whole project come together was the fun part!” |
|
During this time, Gina designed and built a quinta-style property in a beautiful valley close to Loulé, offering a rural environment and enough space to house her menagerie of animals - dogs, donkeys and horses. The newest resident is a four-year old Lusitano gelding who enjoys the English standard of equine accommodation: spacious post-and-rail paddocks to gallop around in during the day, with a nice comfortable stable at night.
Having completed her own home, her interest was fuelled in developing projects on her own behalf and she decided to concentrate on building one off villas in the picturesque countryside, within easy access to the airport and coast. “I offer a very high standard of construction and excellent quality finishes, but at an end-cost to the buyer that has no equal on the coast”, she proudly claims.
Currently, Gina has for sale a detached three-bedroom villa within five minutes’ drive of Loulé and Sta. Barbara de Nexe in the Central Algarve region, overlooking the lovely valley of Goldra and with panoramic views towards the hills of the Serra do Caldeirão. |
 |
The first floor offers a master bedroom suite with en-suite bathroom, an extensive range of fitted wardrobes and a large sun terrace overlooking the garden and valley beyond. On the ground floor, the lounge/dining room is dual aspect and has a beamed and vaulted ceiling. One wall is stone clad and there is a freestanding wood burning fire. There are two double bedrooms, both with fitted wardrobes, a bathroom that also has a shower cubicle, a separate cloakroom, a fully fitted kitchen including an American style fridge/freezer, a utility room and a study/office.
Features of the villa include gas-fired central heating with radiators, solar panels for hot water plus pre-installation for air-conditioning. The fully landscaped garden offers terraces, pergolas, a water feature and an ‘infinity’ swimming pool with saltwater filter system, a borehole and an electrically operated entrance gate. The entire plot of about 2000 sq. metres is walled and fenced.
The property is on the market with Manorpark Properties at #650,000. Gina’s next intended project is a traditional-style quinta property in the Goldra area. The property will offer an idyllic blend of quality modern build and finishes with a traditional rustic ambience of the rural Algarve that she herself found so impossible to resist - twice! |