This article is supplied by Living Tenerife Magazine
Reclining in their jacuzzi Paul Murray and Adrienne Stead have one of the best views in the south of Tenerife. With a glass of wine at hand they can overlook the Bahia Del Duque Hotel and the new one being constructed next to it, which is going to be one of the best in the world, and bask in the setting sun as it dips below the horizon.
As the dusk turns to night the lights of the hotel below come on giving an altogether different view but one just as spectacular as nature, so while Adrienne can enjoy the stars twinkling above Paul can marvel at the vista sprawled beneath them.
On entering the complex the first thing that springs to mind is luxury. The foyer is immaculate, with spotless marble tiled floors gleaming from a recent polish, cane furniture lined tastefully against the walls and modern paintings to complete the setting.
It is a prelude of what’s to come as you ascend the two lifts required to reach the penthouse perched on the top of the building.
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There are only three penthouses on the roof and Paul wanted the middle one so much that he approached the constructors directly. But there was a catch. They were originally intended for the constructors, saving the best for themselves, but Paul gave them an offer they just couldn’t refuse. He told them he would buy all three. They accepted and he moved in immediately.
Not having a lot of spare time as it is- Paul is the director of Actual Properties, Del Duque Properties.com and Property Info and Adrienne works in one of the offices– they weren’t able to devote their efforts into decorating their new home. So they brought in the talents of interior designer Cheryl Spenceley who is responsible for designing the interior of the El Mirador Hotel.
The first thing normally noticed upon entering a new place is the décor and the furnishings and Cheryl has outdone herself in creating a perfect environment for Paul and Adrienne. But what supersedes that feeling is that she has created a home, a haven where you can relax in beautiful surroundings and simply close out the rest of the world.
As the door opens you are greeted by paintings of Roman vases, aged to appear as if they were unearthed from an archaeological site centuries ago, and a gentle breeze sighing throughout, keeping every room cool even on the hottest of days.
“We had to order these paintings from America,” Paul says, “and it took three months for them to arrive. It was important that if we wanted to achieve the right look we had to be patient in order to get what we wanted. But it was more than worth the wait.”
Adrienne agrees. “Most of the furniture we have has been commissioned for us. We couldn’t find the type and style that we wanted here no matter how hard we looked so decided at the end of the day to get it created by craftsmen. We couldn’t be happier with the result.”
That is not to say that there are no personal touches. The living room is functional, comfortable and straight out of House and Country. Adrienne’s input is evident in the way the curtains drape around the patio, in the artwork suspended over the couch and the way the little things complete the overall look. It reflects her personality. Stylish. Paul’s input comes in the form of the plasma screen, but even though it seems to be from another era it more than compliments the rest of the room.
Striking is perhaps the only way to describe the bedroom and you get the feeling that Paul has definitely made his mark here. The mural at the head of the bed is fantastic. It is like having a splash of red on a black and white photo, automatically capturing the attention and making it the centrepiece of the room.
One of the special features of the penthouse is the double high ceiling, which makes the rooms more airy but at the same time gives the scope to add another bedroom or extend the gym upstairs.
In the kitchen they have opted for stainless steel appliances and a charcoal marble surround, combining functionality with the accompanying style throughout the penthouse. Care, patience and an eye for detail has gone into making every room individual and eye-catching but still Paul and Adrienne are selling this amazing property.
Why?
“The bottom line is that we want to buy one of the new villas being constructed just beneath us. We will miss the fantastic views from here and the home we have made but this is an opportunity not to be missed. These villas are going to be outstanding.”
Paul, originally from Bournemouth, has been on the island for 17 years, starting out running the first jet skis from Las Americas, and realises that he has come a long way since those early days. He feels he has travelled from the seas to the skies and has cherished the four and a half years he has been in the penthouse.
Adrienne has only been here for 6 years, hailing from Surrey, and echoes Paul’s sentiments. Her background in the UK is as a professional squash player, competing internationally for England for many years and then becoming a coach. It was the birth of her daughter, Ashley, which engineered her retirement from a sport she loves to working in radio promotions and sponsorships. Too many long hours and stress saw her move to Tenerife where she met Paul through friends and she hasn’t regretted one single minute since she arrived here. Until now.
They say that moving is one of the most stressful things one can do in a lifetime, because it involves upheaval, packing up and leaving behind memories gathered over many years. The one consolation is that the next owners will have a great home to make their own dreams and form their own history.
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Article Theme : Through the keyhole
Property Owner : Paul Murray and Adrienne Stead
Property Locality : Del Duque
Magazine issue : August 2005
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