7 Weeks in Malaga: What a Spanish Mountain Home Renovation Really Looks Like
When I first walked into our mountain house in Malaga, I saw sunshine flooding through dusty windows and imagined slow mornings with coffee and the smell of pine in the air.
What I didn’t imagine was spending seven weeks living out of Airbnbs, juggling builders, and learning more Spanish construction terms than I ever thought possible. However, it was fun, exciting, exhausting and exhilarating all the same time.
The Dream vs. The Reality
The plan was simple:
Two weeks of renovation
New floors, new lighting, fresh paint
Move in and start living our sunny Spanish dream
Reality had other ideas.
The house sat tucked in the hills, which felt like a dream for privacy — and a nightmare for logistics. The drive alone was an adventure: tight curves, steep climbs, and a driveway that builders described politely as “complicated.” As soon as the builder started talking about how difficult it is to get there, those people were not the right people to work with. Some, complained about they cannot work without internet connection, well what do you expect, you are in the mountains…wifi or telephone coverage does not come easy. This was part of the deal, the house is in a stunning location Malaga mountains, only a few who know, truly understand what that means and Malaga centro is super close if we miss hustle and bustle.
Me sitting with Malaga mountains view, with a laptop writing my book
Finding the Right Builders (After Firing the Wrong Ones)
In Spain, renovating isn’t like back home.
Town hall approvals? A maze of paperwork.
Builders? Some don’t show up… or show up and disappear mid‑week or complain about everything and those that do complain are the worst kind.
Materials? We, my husband and I went to every shop possible to find marble sinks, marble kitchen tops and marble flooring not to mention many other materials and that time it takes to do so that most do not get it back.
Our first builders… well, let’s just say they weren’t a match. Deadlines slipped, and one day I arrived to find tools abandoned and no one in sight. We had to fire them.
The second team worked hard — but between the flooring installation, painting walls, and rewiring for new lights, the project stretched far beyond our two‑week dream.
Seven weeks later, we finally walked into a house that felt like a home. However, if you have ever done any renovating work you will know that the hardest job of renovating is finding trustworthy builders that actually do the work.
Kitchen before when we bought the house
The photo of a living room before, with not stylish sofas, overcrowded and not pretty
A bedroom before, make note the flooring and beds
Living in Limbo
Those seven weeks taught me patience.
We bounced between Airbnbs, living out of suitcases, always one step behind the dust and the paint fumes. There’s something humbling about walking into your dream home and realizing it’s unlivable for now — concrete floors, bare bulbs, tools everywhere.
But each day, little changes transformed it:
Fresh white paint replacing the dull yellow walls
Warm wood floors finally covering the cold tiles
Soft lighting where there used to be a single flickering bulb
I wish I could show you the before and after photos side by side — the difference is night and day.
Updated kitchen with marble island top, brand new kitchen, stunning wooden table
Kitchen with marble top, new appliances and stunning lighting
Living room with a fireplace and a view of Malaga mountains
Kitchen close up
Marble bathroom with stunning golden taps
Marble shower with stunning floor tiles
Marble sink we sourced in Malaga in one of the shops we found and, of course, a fabulous golden tap
Bedroom with Malaga mountain views
Another bedroom with stunning Malaga mountain views, wooden table
An entrance to a bedroom with wooden table and olive tree branch and wooden door with a handle
Another bedroom with marble flooring wooden windows and door
Lessons from a Mountain House Renovation
Renovating in Spain taught me a few truths:
Double your timeline (at least)
Have backup builders in mind — and don’t be afraid to let the wrong ones go or hire the good ones and never let them go. Ask for recommendations if you are doing it alone, do not trust Facebook it can be hit and miss, but might just get lucky.
Learn key Spanish words for materials, finishes, and town hall visits
Budget for temporary living — Airbnbs and unexpected weeks will happen
And most importantly: what feels impossible in the middle is magical in the end. Everything is possible you just have to know you can do it and you can. We did it with determination, huge amount of time and effort. This type of work is not for everyone it is for those who have vision, have patience and determination.
Why I Share This Story
Because this is the part nobody talks about when they buy property in Spain.
The Instagram version is the after photo — the sunlit living room with fresh paint and wine glasses on the counter.
The reality is the before — dust in your hair, endless paperwork, and chasing builders up a mountain road.
At Destination Home Spain, I help people avoid the expensive, stressful surprises I faced.
If you’re dreaming of buying and renovating here, don’t do it alone:
📩 Download my free PDF guide: 5 Things to Check Before Leaving a Deposit
📞 Book a 1‑to‑1 call with me — I’ll walk you through what to expect so your dream doesn’t turn into 7 weeks of Airbnb living
Because Spain is magical.
But the magic feels better when you have a plan.
— Erika
