Turkish property restoration business

Lorna Acikalin and her Turkish husband Sadi spent a lot of time traveling in southern Turkey, before returning in 2006. They had the intention of finding a home they would renovate and eventually move into

The couple was so smitten with the beautiful location and the friendly people in Side, Antalya. So much so that they bought several plots and have completed the first couple of their ’boutique’ Turkish property developments.

“About 15 years ago, Sadi and I came across a beautiful, old farmhouse in the countryside near Side. On a return visit in 2006, we decided to try and find it once again to see what had become of it,” says Lorna. “I remember Side standing out because it was so green – not at all how you imagine Turkey. It reminded me of rural England in some ways.

“We were shocked not only by how little the countryside had changed in 15 years, but also by exactly how many old farm buildings there were in the region – many just left derelict.

“Instead of buying just one house for ourselves, we fell in love with the area so much that we decided to start developing some of the old, rural dwellings. The old buildings were very strong, with two-foot thick dry stone walls.

The couple’s first Turkish property project was Olive Farm – now completed – which they transformed from an overgrown field with a derelict building on it to a traditional family home with modern fixtures and fittings.

“With Olive Farm we kept as much original material as we could. All the upstairs floors are wooden and we added a roof with open beams and high ceilings. We’ve also added a pool,” says Lorna.

As far as possible Lorna and Sadi source all their materials and labour locally – from the building stone used to the black granite work surfaces in the kitchen. Labourers are from local villages so the developments directly benefit the local community.

“We manage all our own builds and have the potential to build people their dream home here in one of the most beautiful locations in Turkey. We put our heart and soul into our projects. I think this is important as we’re enriching the local environment by keeping some of the tradition and history of the area alive in our builds.”

Due to Side’s rich archaeological history, it has a lot of restrictions on new buildings and limited development opportunities. Lorna and Sadi’s developments suit this landscape, as they are sympathetic to the environment. In addition to this, Side borders thousands of acres of National Park. Whilst this presents a fantastic playground for hikers and mountain bikers, it also prevents any building development in this region.

“I think the major advantage of buying in rural Antalya is the quality of life here. It’s stress-free compared to the UK with little traffic, friendly locals and old-fashioned values. For example villagers will bring you fruit and vegetables from their land, or offer to help if they see you labouring, and expect nothing in return.

“With regard to the market, Turkey is becoming increasingly buoyant. I think many people who might have considered Spain in the past are now opting for Turkey as it offers excellent value for money and a sunny climate without any of Spain’s detractions. A million-pound Spanish home would only cost about a quarter of that in Turkish property.”

For more information on these restored homes or new builds in Side, Antalya contact the UK agent, Susan Pelekanou at Islands Blue on 0870 063 7484.

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Turkish property restoration business

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