A mum from North Yorkshire built a 16-person holiday home by hand with the help of her daughter and now it turns over £150k a year.
Alexandra Abbott, 65, decided to learn the construction skills needed to convert an Edwardian barn sitting derelict on her family farm in order to put it to some use.
From brick laying to the reconstruction of the barn’s original features, she mastered the art of DIY renovation, only enlisting the help of professionals for jobs such as the plumbing and electrics.
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Alexandra also worked closely with the local building controls to make sure the property met all the necessary standards.
Two and a half years of consistent hard work later, and Sykes Lodge was born – a beautifully restored single level property sleeping 16 and sitting amidst 10 acres of parkland.
Complete with its own library, a jacuzzi spa, large garden area with outdoor seating and impressive fireplaces.
The property even accommodates helicopter arrivals and boasts many original features, including 800-year-old wooden beams that Alexandra carefully restored by hand.
The property opened in 2019 and is available to let via Sykes Holiday Cottages, with an average of 45 bookings each year and generating an average income of £150,000 per year.
Skyes Lodge stands at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds, a stone’s throw from Castle Howard and only 16.3 miles from the historic City of York, the property sits in a parkland setting in some of Yorkshire’s most outstanding and peaceful countryside, only 3.3 miles from the vibrant market town of Malton.
Commenting on the project, Alexandra Abbott said: “To think that Sykes Lodge started out as just four walls and no roof is crazy when I look at the property now – I’m so proud of how far it has come.
“Learning construction skills from scratch is no mean feat and I worked on the project tirelessly for over two years.
Luckily it has been a success since the day it went live with Sykes so you could say that all the hard work paid off!
“The property is so full of character, with heritage features like the fireplaces running throughout, and it’s a delight to be able to share it with all those that come to visit.”
To view Sykes Lodge, click here.
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