The Making of Buena Vista
The story of an extraordinary transformation and the woman who brought it to life.
Nestled quietly in the peaceful hills of Alderney, Buena Vista is more than just a home. It is a testament to vision, resilience and reinvention. Over the last four years, this once-forgotten 1970s-style bungalow has been reimagined, extended and rebuilt into a stunning modern sanctuary by a woman with an eye for potential and a passion for transformation.
A New Beginning
The journey began in 2016 when she first arrived on Alderney and took on La Frette Farm, her first major project after the loss of her husband. She poured herself into the renovation, working closely with local tradesmen to breathe new life into the property, which sold almost instantly.
“But then it was like, okay, what am I going to do now?” she recalls. “I’d caught the bug – taking rundown large houses in unique locations and making them look amazing.”
Discovering Danefield
That was when she found Danefield, a tired yellow-brick bungalow once owned by the former island president George Baron. “I hadn’t even been inside,” she says, “but I just had this feeling. I came down the drive and thought, ooh, this looks interesting.”
Inside, it was uninspiring. Overgrown gardens, rotting windows and a layout that made little sense. Bathrooms were positioned where the best views should have been. But the bones of the house sparked something. “I knew if we could go up, we’d find something special.”
From Danefield to Buena Vista
She was right. The hedges came down and the view opened up: a sweeping panorama across the English Channel, stretching from Fort Tourgis in the west to Mannez Lighthouse in the east. “That’s when I knew I’d made the right decision.”
Renamed Buena Vista – “good view” in Spanish, a nod to her years of living in Spain – the home reflects both her Mediterranean influences and her meticulous design ethos. The transformation became a near-total rebuild, led and managed by her with an elite team of local specialists.
Design Without Compromise
She project managed the build with the help of an elite team, including structural engineer Mark McKenzie of CBL Consulting and acclaimed Guernsey architect Russel Torode. The house was virtually stripped back to its frame, rebuilt and extended using bespoke steel structures that allowed for expansive, frameless doors and open-plan living.
“We wanted light, we wanted space and we wanted every window to be a picture in its own right.”
Six sets of frameless glass doors, including one that stretches 9.5 metres, were handmade in Kent and shipped to Alderney with great care. “Terrifying,” she laughs. “Three panels broke on delivery. One wrong move and that’s tens of thousands gone.”
Nothing was left to chance. Every element was considered: hand-cut slate roof tiles from Spain, rare Brazilian granite worktops. Allowances have even been made for future owners to add a pool if they wish. “I design as though it’s my forever home – and everything has to be as close to perfect as possible.”
A Labour of Love
She lived on-site throughout the build with her Labrador and four cats. “We made a little apartment in the east wing. It became the site office, the meeting place, the coffee room. Every morning at 10.30am, we’d sit down as a team and talk through the plans.”
It truly was a team effort: specialist builders, carpenters, stonemasons, electricians, plumbers, decorators, garden designers and more. When the massive granite kitchen worktops arrived – weighing nearly three-quarters of a ton – everyone pitched in.
“That’s what made it special. Everyone took pride in what we were creating.”
The Result: A Masterpiece of Light and Space
Today, Buena Vista is almost unrecognisable. Walls of glass, open-plan interiors and warm modern finishes define the home. Every space is flooded with natural light.
“I don’t like small rooms,” she says. “I like big spaces, light and the feeling of opulence. But it also has to feel welcoming. When people come in, they smile and say ‘Wow’. The house has a warm, happy feeling.”
Set just 180 metres from the sea on a secluded plot, the house is perfectly positioned to capture panoramic views of Alderney’s north coast, all with complete privacy. “No one can see in – but you can see everything out. It’s your own little oasis.”
A New Chapter Awaits
So what’s next? She smiles. “I don’t know. But I think it will involve another project again…”
Whoever buys Buena Vista isn’t just acquiring a house. They are becoming part of a story. A story of vision, precision and the power of transformation. A story that proves with passion, anything is possible.
