The quirks of the seriously rich

Abba weren’t too far wrong when they said it ‘must be funny in the rich man’s world’. Step into the shoes of Hadleigh Bolt, Proprietor of Bolt Property Group, constructors of a dozen multi-million euro villas in Spain’s elite La Zagaleta, and you’ll have an insight into just how ‘funny’ some of the requests from the rich are.

Hadleigh comments, “Bolt Property Group self-styles as offering bespoke solutions for discerning clients so to a certain extent we invite and expect clients to tweak the plans, amend the brief, make their mark and, when asking prices carry seven figures, why shouldn’t they? But even after ten years in the business I couldn’t foretell the script for some requests. Being flush with money can bring out the bizarre.”

Take the purchaser who owned a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Such was his car vanity that he requested the garage be lengthened by two metres so that he had ample room to circle and admire the £250,000 masterpiece. And, whilst some garages could have a cold water tap, he also asked for hot so the car could be kept squeaky clean with ease. Incidentally this is the same chap who considered buying the adjacent villa plot at La Zagaleta for a cool one million euros just to build a four car garage.

Or how about the gentleman who had spent such idyllic times at the sumptuous Singita Lodge safari accommodation in South Africa that he flew the MD over to La Zagaleta in order to recreate a replica lodge-style interior for his summer house. Yes, the same gentleman who asked Bolt Property Group to alter the plans for his property to suit a hand-made library flown specially from the UK to accommodate his collection of first edition books and Turner paintings.

Meet the owners who needed a regular supply of natural gas to their villa. They’d commissioned a custom-made 45,000 euro range cooker from France which ran on gas. If that sounds extravagant, they only plan to use their La Zagaleta home for around four weeks each year and they don’t even cook. Their cooker back home in The Netherlands still has the plastic wraps on the shelves. The gas will however come in handy for the log fire sitting at the end of their 15 metre-long indoor pool, to make them ‘feel cosy if it rains’ – a rare eventuality to cater for in Andalucia. With no piped gas in La Zagaleta, or the Marbella area for that matter, special storage tanks had to be installed underground.

To prove that money can’t buy everything, one Bolt Property Group client wanted to overhaul the existing 60 or 70 metre driveway into a 600 metre hand-laid granite road weaving through the woodland and throwing atmospheric light up into the branches as it went. To complete the scene they fancied making an enchanted forest out of the countryside in front of the property by installing uplighters throughout. Sadly the green zone at La Zagaleta isn’t up for grabs and besides who would explain to the wild deer and mouflon that their habitat had become a sideshow?

On the Market - If money’s no object you too can join Bolt Property Group’s house buying elite and consider Villa P18. Villa P18 is an imposing four bedroom contemporary villa with self-contained guest apartment set on a generous 3,650m² west-facing plot overlooking the fairways of Los Barrancos golf. Crafted for modern living with double-height ceilings, an integrated entertainment system, illuminated infinity swimming pool and indoor Spa with sauna and heated pool topped by a glass ceiling.

Price 6 million euros.

Prices start from 4.95 million euros for a superior villa built to exacting standards within Spain’s most exclusive address – La Zagaleta.

For more information, visit contemporary-villas.com