Finca la Fiaca

The relaxed atmosphere of Spain convinced Nikki and Mike Farnan it was time to make the break and move from leafy Cheshire to the picturesque town of Monda in Andalucia. Originally designed by an Argentinian architect for Swiss-Italian clients, their house Finca la Fiaca blends a mix of styles to create a laid back elegance entirely compatible with Nikki's new found appreciation for the spanish attitude of manana.

Home for Farnan and her husband Mike was a former stable block in Cheshire. “The house was huge, with a snooker room and large pool, but we could never use the pool because of the weather. The children had ponies and we generally had a lovely time but we couldn’t get Spain out of our minds,” she says.

El Castillo De Monda, once a Moorish fort and now a chic hotel, is visible in the distance, on the hilltop overlooking the picturesque little white town of Monda. Farnan Farnan is relaxing on the shady terrace of her villa on the outskirts of the Andalucian town with Wibley and Fluff, the family pets. “We decided we wanted to get out of the rat race,” explains Farnan. “We love the lifestyle this part of the world has to offer and the decision was made.

“We had a holiday home in nearby Coin for four years which we visited on a monthly basis. We would often join our English neighbours on their terrace for evening drinks under the stars, which convinced us to move to Spain.”

Home for Farnan and her husband Mike was a former stable block in Cheshire. “The house was huge, with a snooker room and large pool, but we could never use the pool because of the weather. The children had ponies and we generally had a lovely time but we couldn’t get Spain out of our minds,” she says.

Mike was managing director of Manchester United International at the time, which made moving away from Cheshire difficult, but when he joined a leading sports marketing and communications agency he was able to make full use of the internet and frequent flights between Malaga and the rest of Europe, enabling the family to finally make their big move.

“We all loved our holiday home in Coin but it wasn’t really big enough to occupy full time,” says Farnan. “We started the search and I was looking through one of the Marbella glossy magazines when I spotted Finca La Fiaca. It was featured as the property of the month and I honestly didn’t think it was in our price range.”

Despite their reservations, however, a viewing appointment was made and as soon as she saw the house there was no turning back. “I was smitten and had to have it,” she laughs.

“Finca La Fiaca was designed and built by an Argentinean architect and the previous owners were Swiss Italians,” she explains. “I think it has a wonderful cultural mix, with the Italian-style inner courtyard and the Argentinean ranch-style sitting room.”

A strong Andalucían feel has been retained, however, with the floor tiles throughout the house. They were crafted by a local tile maker, and are individually signed. On close inspection, some even feature the paw prints of the maker’s dog.

The kitchen is an exception however. Says Farnan: “Mike and I love the tiles from Fired Earth in England and chose a range from them for the kitchen. Mike ended up bringing them back over many trips from England in his luggage.”

The gardens are truly stunning, extending over 14,000m2, complete with manicured lawns, flowerbeds and an ancient olive grove – some of the trees are thought to be 800 years old. Opposite the pool is the barbecue house, which has an eastern influence. Farnan explains: “It reminds me of a Thai sala. Mike and I got married in Thailand in a sala overlooking the sea. I’ve made the barbecue house into a little temple so that we can pray to the god of barbecues. Everyone who visits loves it.”

The shady terrace, which can be accessed through both the kitchen and sitting room, has a colonial feel and Farnan has decorated it with a selection of rattan furniture found locally. She has also recently redecorated the sitting room and hall, creating a lighter, fresher look in contrast with the rest of the house. This is particularly true of the abstract painting by French artist Christian DuMetton over the fireplace. Farnan laughs as she explains its history: “It was here when we bought the house and we were told that there are nine different female bodies in the painting. I love the painting but I’ve never been able to work that out.”

The furniture in the hall comprises a mix of antiques found locally in Elveria and favourite pieces shipped over from their home in England, including a 16th-century oak chest below the stairs. The walls are decorated with Mike’s gallery of photographs featuring Manchester United’s celebrations after they won the treble in 1999.

In the master bedroom, a light, airy atmosphere has been created, reminiscent of the Caribbean. Farnan had some hand-painted cushions made by an artist on the coast and was so pleased with the results she commissioned her to paint a trio of tulip pictures for the walls. The antique chest was found on one of Farnan’s numerous visits to antique shops in the area.
Farnan stops by the olive grove and looks out towards Monda and the mountains in the distance. “I can’t really think of any negatives about living in Spain,” she says. “When we first arrived I found it hard to get used to the manana attitude, but now I go with the flow. If you can’t beat them join them.”

She continues, laughing: “I thought I would miss our holiday home in Coin but we solved that problem. We sold it to my sister.”