Behind the Blue Shutters: The Story of a Remarkable Corfu Retreat

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At Quealy & Co, we’re proud to showcase standout homes that inspire us, whether they are here in Kent or, occasionally, a little further afield.

And as the summer holidays begin to draw to a close, this month’s property gives us the perfect excuse to hold onto that holiday feeling for just a little longer.

Set on Corfu’s sought-after north-east coast, in the pretty village of Kokkini, Alamanda is far more than a beautifully restored Greek island retreat.

This is a home many people may already recognise.

Featured on the BBC One series Amanda & Alan’s Greek Job, Alamanda has been sensitively transformed from a traditional Corfiot property into a relaxed two-bedroom home where original character, thoughtful design and modern comforts sit comfortably side by side.

It also comes with something very few holiday homes can offer: a story that began long before its next owner arrives.

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From Television Project to Island Retreat

Alamanda became the focus of one of Amanda Holden and Alan Carr’s latest renovation projects, with the transformation documented for BBC One.

Rather than erase the building’s past, the restoration celebrates it.

Traditional stone, timber beams and the character of the original building remain very much part of the house, while carefully chosen contemporary touches make it suited to modern island living.

The result feels authentic rather than overly polished. This is a home that still belongs unmistakably to Corfu.

And thanks to its television appearance, it arrives on the market with a level of recognition most properties spend years trying to achieve. Its story has already been shared with a wide audience through the BBC, press coverage and online interest, giving any future owner an unusual head start should they wish to explore its potential as a holiday rental.

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Step Inside the Story

A pretty landscaped and fenced garden surrounds the property, creating an inviting introduction before you even reach the front door.

The main living accommodation begins on the ground floor, where the country-style kitchen immediately sets the tone.

A high, beamed ceiling gives the room a wonderful sense of space, while custom-built cabinetry and marble worktops provide plenty of practical workspace. Natural light streams through the windows and, underfoot, the original stone-flagged floor has been carefully restored and relaid.

It is precisely the sort of room that makes you imagine slow mornings.

Coffee brewing, windows open, nowhere in particular to rush to.

A couple of stone steps lead down into the spacious living room, where a large dining table occupies one end and comfortable seating the other.

Again, exposed beams and a light, natural palette allow the building itself to do much of the talking. There is an easy, unforced quality to the space that feels entirely right for a home on a Greek island.

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A Very Corfiot Way of Living

Perhaps one of Alamanda’s most charming features is the way you reach the bedrooms.

Rather than an internal staircase, the first floor is accessed from outside, leading onto a traditional bodzo, an external covered landing commonly found in Corfiot architecture.

It is one of those details that could easily have been lost in a modern renovation, but here it has been embraced.

Beyond it, a spacious hallway includes a mezzanine level offering additional flexible accommodation, while two generous double bedrooms each enjoy their own sea view.

Then there is the bathroom.

Colourful tiles bring personality to the room, while a large custom-built circular bath creates a suitably memorable centrepiece. Like the rest of the house, it feels playful and individual without losing sight of the property’s traditional roots.

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Village Life, With the Coast Close By

Kokkini sits slightly inland from some of north-east Corfu’s best-known coastal destinations, offering a quieter base while keeping the sea reassuringly close.

The popular waterfront village of Agios Stefanos is only a short drive away, while the well-known harbour town of Kassiopi is also within easy reach.

It means Alamanda offers two sides of Corfu living.

There are days to be spent by the water, discovering beaches, tavernas and harbour towns, followed by evenings returning to the relative calm of a traditional village setting.

For a family holiday home, it is an enticing combination.

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A Property With an Audience Already Waiting

There is another element to Alamanda that makes this property particularly interesting.

Holiday rental properties usually begin with a blank page. An owner needs to establish their identity, build recognition, create photography and marketing, attract reviews and slowly grow awareness among potential visitors.

Alamanda begins its next chapter from a very different position.

Its television story has already introduced the property to a large audience, with further media and online exposure adding to that recognition. The home therefore comes with an established narrative and a distinctive identity before a future owner has even collected the keys.

That does not guarantee rental success, of course, but it provides a rare foundation from which to build.

For someone looking for a Corfu retreat that could combine personal holidays with potential rental income, there is an undeniable appeal in owning somewhere guests may already feel they know.

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A Home That Does Some Good, Too

There is one final chapter to this particular property story, and arguably one of the loveliest.

Proceeds from the sale of Alamanda are to be split equally between Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need.

So while one buyer will ultimately become the next custodian of this characterful island home, its sale will also help support the work of two major charities.

Not a bad legacy for a renovation that began life on our television screens.

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More Than a Holiday Home

As with the most memorable properties, Alamanda’s appeal cannot really be reduced to bedrooms, bathrooms or square metres.

It is the blue shutters against the Corfu sunshine. The restored stone floor beneath your feet. The walk outside and up to the traditional bodzo. The sea glimpsed from the bedrooms.

It is morning coffee in a country kitchen, days spent exploring the north-east coast and returning to a home with a story all of its own.

And perhaps that is why properties like this stay with us.

They offer somewhere to live, certainly, but they also offer an experience, a lifestyle and the opportunity to become part of the next chapter of an already remarkable story.

You can view Alamanda, Kokkini, Corfu, including the full property details and current asking price, on the Corfu Home Finders website.

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Every Standout Home Has a Story

You don’t need a BBC television series or a home overlooking the Ionian Sea to have a property worth talking about.

At Quealy & Co, we believe the best property marketing goes beyond listing rooms and measurements. It discovers what makes a home different and gives potential buyers a reason to imagine themselves there.

If you are considering selling your home in Kent, we would love to help tell its story.

Book your free property valuation in Kent, call 01795 429836 or email hello@quealy.co.uk for a friendly, no-obligation conversation.

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