A FAMILY living in France has revealed how they transformed a crumbling house into a five-star bed and breakfast.
Lucy Bayet and her husband Oliver Walker purchased a 16th-century stone cottage, along with its own annexe, just outside of Turenne in the Dordogne Valley, France.
Lucy BayetLucy Bayet and her husband Oliver Walker purchased a pair of stone cottages in the French Countryside[/caption]
Lucy BayetThe couple purchased the neighbouring properties in 2019 for £35,000[/caption]
Lucy BayetThe spent some time transforming the derelict houses into a luxury holiday home[/caption]
The couple purchased the crumbling cottage, which had been uninhabited for 120 years, in 2019 for just €35,000 (£30,000).
When they bought, they were looking for somewhere to call home.
Lucy told Sun Online Travel: “We signed for the house in 2019. We were ready to settle and find somewhere to put down some roots.”
Before moving to France, Lucy worked as a model for brands like Next and M&S, while Oliver was a DJ in Ibiza.
The duo then began running retreats together and became accredited Deep Tissue Massage therapists and qualified Yoga teachers.
After running retreats in Ibiza, Lucy and Oliver tied the knot in the French countryside and had two children together.
While they were building their family and running their Retreat Experiences at the Retreat People, the pair were also working hard to transform their property in Turenne into a home.
Lucy added: “When we found the house, there were cows living inside the building.”
Despite the farm animals squatting in the ancient ruin, Lucy and Oliver fell in love with its romantic charm, including the scraps of leather that were left behind by the town’s former cobbler.
Lucy said: “We had to put some roots down somewhere, and we had the opportunity to by something that was affordable. At the time that was all we could afford.”
Even though the couple purchased the house for next-to-nothing, they pumped between €150,000 (£128,000) and €200,000 (£170,000) into the building’s transformation.
They also got to work on the annexe, which was in a similar condition, to turn it into a B&B holiday home for guests.
They employed British builders and tradesman to help carry out their vision.
Lucy added: “We couldn’t have done the transformation without the support of our family, they gave us the nudge to lead us to where we are now.”
While there were a few renovation challenges along the way, Lucy and Oliver took them in their stride.
Inside the main French cottage, which has been named the House of the Fig Trees (Maison Des Figuiers), Lucy has some favourite features, including a huge fireplace and a yoga deck.
Other amenities include a kitchen with large windows, an al fresco dining area with hilltop views, a space for BBQs and high-speed fibre optic internet.
The annexe is its own quaint two-bedroom home, and hosts Lucy and Oliver provide guests with things like yoga classes, massages, wood for the fire and baby accessories.
Lucy BayetThe fireplace in the main house is one of Lucy’s favourite features[/caption]
Lucy BayetThey also spent a lot of time renovating the annexe that came with the property[/caption]
Lucy BayetThe B&B annexe has two bedrooms[/caption]
Lucy BayetLucy loves the farmhouse-style kitchen with large windows[/caption]
Located in the Valley of Turenne, nearby attractions include nature parks, caves and water sports.
Brive La Gaillarde Airport is the closest airport to the countryside escape, with direct flights operating from Paris.
Meanwhile, Toulouse Airport is a two-hour drive from Turenne, with airlines like Ryanair and easyJet operating direct flights from the UK, with fares starting from £15 for a one-way ticket.
The holiday home has been praised by holidaymakers on Airbnb.
One person wrote: “We had a wonderful stay at Oliver’s and Lucy’s beautiful, historical, lovingly restored stone cottage. It was peaceful, charming, comfortable and a great base for exploring the region.”
While another added: “This place is pure heaven. Lucy and Oliver are wonderful hosts.
“They gave us plenty of recommendations for things to do and places to eat. We did almost everything they recommended and we loved every single thing.”
Sun Online Travel have found a three-night stay at the the House of the Fig Trees for £377 for two people in April.
Following their success, Lucy and Oliver are ready for their next challenge.
Lucy said: “It’s come to the point where we have completed the project and our ready for our next challenge.”
The duo are looking to sell their heritage-listed property for €396,000 (£339,490).
But until they’ve found a buyer, they’re still encouraging holidaymakers to book overnight stays via Airbnb, here.
A boutique retreat in Spain
Lucy and Oliver aren’t the only people who’ve opened a holiday home in Europe.
Sarah and Johnny Robinson left the UK 20 years ago, and have been living in Spain since May 2003.
The couple moved from London to the Jalón Valley in Alicante with their three children who were six, three and one at the time.
After they purchased their new home in the Spanish countryside, they converted it into a hotel called Caserío del Mirador.
For the last two decades, Sarah and Johnny have been welcoming young British families to their Boutique retreat in the Spanish hills.
Previously, the couple revealed the big mistakes that make Brits stand out on holiday in Spain.
The yoga deck is one of Lucy’s favourite features
Lucy BayetThe duo are looking to sell their heritage-listed property for €396,000 (£339,490)[/caption]
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