Wednesday, January 18, 2012

dreaming of a house in Normandy?



Have you ever dreamt of changing lifestyle and heading out to the deepest French countryside to do up an old house and run your own B&B ?    I may have the place for you......






This beautiful house is 250 years old , it was originally a Fuller's mill.  Its 2.5 acre garden  backs onto a nature reserve, and has its own spring supplying fresh water to the whole property;



The house is to be found down a tiny lane in a beautiful little valley.  Among the numerous outbuildings, is this stunning old barn that could be converted into further living space.




The main house is not enormous but has an open plan living area with a huge fireplace, a cellar and five bedrooms.  There is a tiny maison d'amis with a bedroom and a bathroom plus another barn with 5 more bedrooms and a large work studio upstairs.  The property has been run as a seminar centre for several years. The structure and layout are fantastic but there is still scope for improvement and embellishment.




These pictures show the back of the main house, overlooking the grassy slope leading down to the stream.  It would be great to add a raised wrap around porch to this side of the building and enjoy the views and sunlight.





This is the side of the house that people arrive to.  The garden is well planted and very attractive.  The terrace is a great place to eat alfresco.






The extensive grounds are as quiet as they are beautiful.  The soil is rich, the garden grows well.





The large barn close to the house was built with five bedrooms on the ground floor and two huge studios above.  The property can sleep over 20 people so this space is useful when welcoming groups.  With its wooden beams and wood clad walls it is warm and welcoming.  Again the potential is enormous.







Back in the main house, the living area with its large wood burning stove feels relaxed and inviting.  The windows on the left look out towards the stream.







This long corridor in the main house  upstairs serving the bedrooms and bathrooms gives a feel for the overall size of the property.  I love the use of the oriental rugs, and the way that antique furniture and paintings can be displayed so effectively.



The bedrooms upstairs are charming, they feel warm and cosy






The sweet little maison d'amis lies directly opposite the entrance to the main house.



vaulted ceilings in the cellar



Today the kitchen is compact and functional, with a walk in larder and storage area behind.









The property is a couple of hours drive from Paris, in the heart of the cheese country.  Camembert, Livarot, and Le Pont l'Eveque are just a couple of the famous cheeses made locally.   The university town of Caen and the pretty seaside town of Deauville are an hour away, the landing beaches too.


I know this property well.  It is up for sale furnished and equipped at around 450,000 euros, I believe there is some room for negotiation.   If you would like any other details don't hesitate to get in touch, I'll happily answer your questions or put you in touch directly with the owner.



0 comments:

Post a Comment

My Ping in TotalPing.com
submitgooglesitemap.com Sitemap Generator