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Residence
12 Rooms
•
430 m²
Valence-sur-Baïse
1 155 000 €
Beautifully crafted renovation and curated gardens Overview We arrive at this property by driving up and up until we reach the top of a high hill with sweeping views over the surrounding countryside on three sides. Here we find a large stone 18th century property framed in gorgeous gardens and mature oak and cedar trees. The previous owners of this house only lived in a couple of rooms and left the rest, so there was work to be done when the current owners bought it. This house was their dream property; they have put their heart and soul into the renovations and are only leaving due to unforeseen circumstances. It comprises a main house, an attached guest cottage, large barns and garages and over 6 hectares of parkland, fields and kitchen gardens, as well as a large pond. Ground floor This house hides its secrets well; from the outside it presents as a classic substantial farmhouse, but as soon as we walk through the front door, we can see that the present owners have stamped their own personality and their esthetic on every aspect of the property. It is on the one hand sleek and modern, while at the same time retaining much of the original charm and character of bygone days. The combination of practical functionality and timeless elegance works very well, and the overall impression is of comfort and elegance. On the right-hand side when you walk into the house, there is a first large bedroom with a red-tiled floor, a large window, and an attached shower room & separate WC. This room would be ideal for guests who value their privacy, as it is separate from the rest of the house, or for a chambre d'hôte, as the glass door that connects the hall with the rest of the house can be locked. Past this bedroom, a clear glass door leads to the house itself, where the owners invite us into the spacious living room for a chat and a cup of coffee. With windows on two sides overlooking the gardens and beautiful parquet floors, this room sets the tone for the combination of classic and modern that we will find throughout the property. Behind the living room there is a second ground floor bedroom and a wide hall that curves round and opens to the dining room and adjacent kitchen. Here we really see the personality of the owners on display; the dining room has light oak flooring and one stunning wall of mustard yellow. However, what really stands out is the huge mural of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earing on the back wall. It is surprising but works well and adds an unusual layer to the area. It must definitely be a talking point for dinner party guests! Behind the dining room, and visible through large glass & iron windows, we find a modern, elegant and practical kitchen that would be a delight for any serious cook. It is filled with light, as there are floor to ceiling glass & iron doors on the garden side that echo the windows facing the dining room. A central island includes a stainless-steel sink, a wide counter for food preparation and extensive storage space. It faces the garden too, which makes washing up much less arduous. The owners have installed a big traditional gas range for cooking and there is a large open plan pantry on one side with room for just about everything you need in a kitchen. A door on the side of the dining room opens to a large, covered summer dining area; behind it there is access to the laundry room, which also has a big ceramic sink and lovely view of the covered dining area and the garden. There is a large practical storage closet which also houses three hot water tanks. A door at the far end of this room leads to the back entrance to the guest cottage and provides access to the covered parking area at the back of the house. Next to the laundry room there is a good-sized shower room that serves the ground floor bedroom. It has a custom-made sink & vanity unit and a shower, and there is a separate WC next door. First floor A traditional winding wooden staircase – with a wine cellar tucked underneath - leads to the first-floor landing, which is wide and extends to a window at the far end. Originally a classic configuration of two bedrooms on each side of the landing, this floor has been remodeled and now comprises two separate suites. On the right-hand side we find the parents' domain which comprises a large bedroom with two windows to catch the light at different times of the day. Chestnut floors and an original stone fireplace combine with contemporary colourways to make this a vibrant and attractive space. Behind the bedroom, what was once a separate bedroom with a wooden fireplace is now a dressing room, with an open-plan shower room and WC. A large window overlooks the garden and here again there is a bespoke sink and vanity unit. On the other side of the landing is the second suite, comprising a large bedroom with lovely parquet floors, a dressing room, a shower room with three sinks and a separate WC, all beautifully renovated and in perfect condition. Guest cottage The guest cottage is attached to the house but has a separate front door which opens onto a pretty hall painted in shades of dark grey and featuring a modern staircase and tiled flooring. It is a two-bedroom, one bathroom cottage, in pristine condition. On one side of the hall, we find an attractive and functional kitchen. There are fitted units, including an oven, microwave and electric cooker, as well as a dishwasher and washing machine. The units are all new and have been painted in an attractive cobalt blue. There is plenty of room here for a large kitchen table and chairs. On the other side of the front hall is the living room. This may originally have been the kitchen, as there is a stone sink in one corner and a large stone fireplace that is no longer functional but has been restored and fitted with lighting. The white walls and exposed beams give this room an air of more southern climes and the sofas echo the blues of the kitchen units. Upstairs, the floors have all been replaced and there is a large window facing the front courtyard. There are two good sized bedrooms; in the bedroom on the right, the ceiling has been raised to expose the original wooden beams and there is a pretty iron rail on the windowsill. Next to the bedroom we find the shared shower room, with a shower, a sink and a WC, with subway tiles on the walls. On the other side of the landing is the second bedroom, which also features high ceilings with exposed beams and a feature wall in soft grey. Here too, there is a pretty iron railing on the windowsill. It is possible to access the cottage from the laundry room of the main house, but this door can be closed and locked if needed. This is a totally separate property and can be used in a variety of ways. It would of course be ideal for those wishing to create some supplementary income by renting it out, but it would also be ideal for a large family who want to be ‘together but separate'. Gardens There are attractive ‘curated' garden areas on all sides of this property, featuring little stone walls, curling paths, and rambling roses and other flowers. There are flowering trees everywhere, as well as wide expanses of lawns and well tended paths. From almost everywhere in the gardens, there are far-reaching panoramic views across the countryside. Barns For anyone who is looking for large outbuildings in good condition, this is the house for you. There is a huge stable block at the back of the house, a large wine barn, an open hangar for storing tractors and cars, and a little building that must once have housed farm labourers and still boasts a big stone chimney. Behind the house a long private lane winds down the hill and through the fields of the property to a large pond where the owners enjoy alfresco picnics on lazy summer days. You can imagine hunting for mushrooms in the wooded areas or lighting bonfires on crisp autumn days, and this is the perfect place for a couple of horses or even sheep. Kitchen garden As a bonus to the already extensive grounds, the sale of this property also includes a well-laid out kitchen garden of over 4000 m², including a variety of grape vines, an orchard and a sturdy hen house with a fenced pen. In total, there are more than 200 fruit trees on the property, and two wells. Ideal for anyone who enjoys growing their own seasonal produce! With a sturdy stone wall along the back, built by the owners, and another 4000 m² of woodland, this is a definite advantage. Here at Bliss The owners have chosen bright modern colours and clean lines – there are no hidden spaces filled with spider webs here, everything has been carefully restored and is in wonderfully good condition. We love the juxtaposition of modern colours, exposed stone walls and original beams inside the property. On the outside, this is all about country living; the gardens are gorgeous and extensive, there is plenty of room for horses and the kitchen gardens are enough to delight anyone who loves cooking authentic, organic food. Situated on a small country road, with only a local farmer in the vicinity, this property is totally private. We were very impressed with the sweeping views and loved the feeling of being on top of the world.
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