Landscape architect Spain: How they boost the value of your home

Hiring the right landscape architect in Spain when building a villa from the ground up not only leads to a beautiful outside space, but it’ll also add value to your property. Choosing to build a home in Spain’s fabulous climate means homeowners can spend time outside most of the year, making the exterior of yourContinue reading
Buy a house in Spain? Or build your own?: The pros and cons

The decision to buy a house in Spain is an exciting step towards transforming your lifestyle, but it’s not the only option for a new home in the sun. Buying a house in Spain is certainly very appealing, but you may be able to save money over the long-term and get a home that’s everythingContinue reading
How to build a house in Spain: the definitive guide for 2022

So you’re ready to start the process of realising your dreams of a villa by the sea, but the question of how to build a house in Spain only leads to more questions… How much is it going to cost? Do I need an architect in Spain? Can you find English-speaking help? What are theContinue reading
Planning permission Spain: How to get a building licence for your new home

This is a summary of the basic information and questions that many foreigners ask when they first encounter planning permission in Spain. In this article, I discuss planning permission in Spain (referred to as a “building licence” locally, but the phrases are essentially interchangeable) for a new build (or obra mayor in Spanish). Planning permissionContinue reading
Do you need a project manager when you are building a house in Spain?

The short answer is no you don’t. What you need is an architectural practice that offers a wrap-around service. Let me explain………. When I say you don’t need a project manager what I mean is you don’t need someone who sits above the architect and the professional team coordinating and communicating. This is because inContinue reading
Eco Vida Homes Ethical Code of Practice

Eco Vida Homes is a “company of Chartered Surveyors” by way of the fact the John Wolfendale is a qualified RICS member. We are also architects, technical architects, and a contractor. John still carries out valuations and building surveys to RICS standards as an independent professional. Eco Vida Homes is therefore regulated ethically by theContinue reading
A Guide to Renovating a Home in Spain

There are three areas that you should research and be happy about before you buy your renovation project: legal constraints, financial constraints, and physical constraints. If you contact us before you buy we will go with you to inspect your project and produce a written report so you are making an informed decision before youContinue reading
Colour in Your Home: What You See Is NOT What You Get

Few things are as important as the colours you choose for your home. It’s the first thing people see. It creates the atmosphere. It creates the mood and feel of the different spaces in your home. Colour is about as important as it gets.
Atmosphere: Think about the atmosphere you want to create. Reds and yellow are often thought to be warm colours while green and blue are relaxing and tranquil. The degree of saturation is important.
Culture: different cultures see colour in different ways for example you wear white to a funeral in China. I wont even begin a discussion on what red means in Spain (the flag is red and yellow) but to me it means, stop, danger…..blood! (In fact red is considered lucky in China).
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