One of Stavanger’s most unique villas is for sale, with a very special interior.
See the photos of the home in the video below:
The spectacular villa property is located in a quiet residential area on the Western Plateau, just outside Stavanger city center. It is, among other things, a short way to Breiavatnet, Byparken and Stavanger University Hospital.
The distinctive villa was completed sometime around 1900. The house was once designed by Hartvig Sverdrup Eckhoff, according to the sale advertisement one of the most renowned architects of the time.
Wenche Darby and her English husband bought the villa in 2011 for NOK 6.75 million. They have lived there themselves and at the same time run the bed and breakfast hotel «Darby Inn». When asked where the couple is selling now, Wenche Darby answers:
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Even older
– We have another house that needs some attention. It is even older and from before 1880, but a farmhouse located outside Stavanger.
In addition, the children have grown up and moved out. Darby says that it has invested “quite a lot of money” since they took over the villa in 2011.
– Is it sad to sell?
– Yes, it’s a little sad.
The villa is thus used as a small bed and breakfast hotel, where the couple themselves have prepared breakfast for the guests. They saw a small niche in the Norwegian market, but the corona pandemic has, as is well known, hit the hotel market hard.
– We have had a few guests throughout this year and are starting to get orders for the summer. I do not think we will be sold before the summer, so there will definitely be guests this summer as well, says Darby.
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Kielland
The first owners of the house were good friends of the author Alexander Kielland, who was a frequent guest in the house. Broker Erlend Haglund in Privatmegleren highlights history in the villa as the unique.
– And then in 2016 it was named the country’s best bed and breakfast hotel by Tripadvisor. It is a historically beautiful building that has received praise from local politicians. With that square meter price, you get “sick a lot” for the money, Haglund says to Nettavisen.
– It’s an insanely nice house to be inside. I can only imagine what it is like to celebrate Christmas there, with the mirror hall.
Haglund says that the owners have collected objects and antiques throughout their lives, after working in the oil industry in Singapore.
Over the years, the home has been used for a number of different businesses. It includes mineral water factory, dry cleaner, dairy, hat factory, fruit and tobacco shop, tailor, antique shop, business school and boarding house etc.
Appreciates the original
– But it costs a lot to redo if you do not like the style?
– You can rib the house and bring in new, modern furniture. If you think it looks very dark, you can lighten it and get it super modern. Some may think it’s a bit gaudy, but it’s important to see the potential. Over the years as a broker, I have been away in many such houses.
– Buyers put an insane price that all original parts are retained. Most people who are looking for similar houses are very concerned about preserving. But there is room for an interior designer to play around a bit.
Haglund believes the villa is suitable both for those who want to live there themselves, for those who want to rent out long-term, or as a representative home for companies, associations, etc.
– And if you have cash and are interested in cars, you get a fantastic garage with space for two cars. It’s not that easy to get.
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Not protected
When asked if the couple has any wishes for the villa, Wenche Darby answers:
– No, not really, just that the new owners preserve the place and keep all original parts. But it is not a protected house, Darby answers.
If the villa goes for the price estimate of 15 million, we are talking about a square meter price of low 25,000 kroner. That is less than a third of what you have to take out in Oslo.
– I have been to a number of easterners who think it has become so expensive in Oslo, and think a home for 12 million in Stavanger is “pig cheap”. Registrations are ticking in for the show next week, but I have told the owners that this is not an A4 family house.
– I am very excited about the interest and have prepared them that we may have to cancel the show. This may take a long time or a short time, but so far there has been a very good response, Haglund answers.
Stopped demolition
In 1973, the housing was so bad that Stavanger municipality wanted to demolish it. However, the demolition was stopped and the house returned.
When the new owners took over in 2011, the modernization accelerated. The same year they restored the two lower floors, with the exception of the office, main entrance, stairs and stalls on the first floor.
Between 2013-2014, the owners changed a total of 74 glass panes and had the house painted on the outside in 2020. The new owner will also take over a terrace of 78 square meters with three balconies, with morning and morning sun.
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