It all started in Sept 2002, we found a small plot of land in the centre of Elounda in northeastern Crete just big enough to build a modest 2 bedroomed house. The plan was to hold on to the land until my wife and I retired and then we would build our place in the sun.
However my financial advisor in England told us there is no time like the present, remortgage and build your house. We had met a local architect, Vangelis Mavrikakis, in Elounda who in fact found the plot originally. We asked him to draw up a set of plans for us, the brief being 'make it traditional' We had no further input, planning permission was granted and the licence to build was approved. We viewed the plans, everything was just perfect, just what we wanted.

In September 2005 the builders started, the ground was prepared and the foundations went in, by November we had a two storey concrete skeleton by March of 2006 all of the brickwork was complete and the house wired and plumbed.

June 2006 the house is now painted inside and out and all of the plumbing and wiring is finished and double glazed aluminium windows with shutters and fly screens have been fitted. The flat roof has been tiled with terracotta tiles and is just crying out for a table and chairs, a BBQ and a fridge.

All credit to Vangelis, he arranged everything from the original plot of land to making the plans, employing the builders and keeping the build on schedule, we have not had to make phone calls or chase anybody up. Because we wanted the house to be traditional we left everything to Vangelis, he chose the colour of the tiles on the floors and also in the bathroom and also the outside painting, we couldn't be happier with the results.

Will & Lynne Newbert