house for sale in a pretty normandy village

Now here, I think, is a little house that will get you dreaming - again - about moving to France.

This pretty home is in a picturesque village, just an hour from Paris yet well in the country.  It has been entirely redecorated and renovated to a high standard and comprises four bedrooms and two bathrooms in the main house, with further  space in a guest cottage.

The garden is very manageable, while still being large enough for a potager, and for dining al fresco ...  besides the guest house, there is also a garage, a wine cellar and another building useful for a workshop or studio.

I love the bedrooms in this home, their soft neutral palette makes them chic but still welcoming ...

The house was built in 1928, and lays on a quiet road, just a short distance from this lovely view.  If you'd like to have any further information or be put into touch with the owners, just drop me a line

In answer to the question you may be asking yourselves - no!  I am not in real estate, not do I stand to earn any commission on the homes I show for sale.  It is simply that folks around here sometimes hear about the blog, and ask if I would like to mention a house they are trying to sell.

a dreamy french riverside home for sale

If you have ever dreamt of finding a cute little house in Normandy, tucked away in deep green countryside, then this one is for you!

This charming property belongs to a friend who has to move for professional reasons.  It lays on the banks of the river that runs through our valley, just a couple of minutes from our village. 

The house is quite small, which makes it ideal as a country pied-à-terre, or a weekend hideaway from a busy life in Paris.  Downstairs there is a large sitting room, a dining room and a small kitchen.

I love the beams and the beautiful floor tiles.   There are many windows to make the house bright and airy.

Below is the view from the dining room through and across the hallway into the sitting room.

The kitchen is small but very well put together and very functional.

Upstairs there are three bedrooms, this is the one I prefer, for the view of course, a long uninterrupted vista across fields.

The bathroom is also bright and airy with its big window that lets the sunshine pour in.

Sitting outside on a summer evening here, is quite wonderful.  The river running by and the birdsong is about the only sound to be heard.  Today there are some great trees and  a good basis in the garden, and with a little TLC it could become quite spectacular.

The house measures about 120 square meters or 1300 square feet, and the overall property around 7000 square meters, or 1.7 acres.  It was built in the 50's, and a lot of old materials were used, which is why it has such an authentic air.  I particularly appreciate the old roof tiles, typical of traditional houses in Normandy.

And if perchance you wish to keep  horses, there is already a paddock fenced off, with a couple of stables ready to go!

If you would like any further information on this property, you are very welcome to send me a mail, or if you prefer to contact the owner directly.  

Happy dreaming!

a French farmhouse to restore

If you read my blog now and again you know how I like to encourage you to daydream.

 Here is today's muse.  Just imagine: .....

you have 187,000 spare euros and

a truck load of energy and ideas;

you like to ski;

you like to surf;

you like to live in the country;

you would enjoy life near a small rural French town;

you like good wine...

How are you doing?   OK, if you have ticked more than half of the above then maybe you should take a look at this place.  It's just a shell I know, but at just 1400 square feet it isn't too big and,  most importantly,  it has good bones.  Indoors it will be a very symmetrical lay out, rooms leading off a central hallway and central landing upstairs.

This is an abandoned farmhouse, probably around 150 years old.  It has four main rooms and a lovely sweeping staircase.  Looks like more rooms could be created in the eaves of the roof.

You have to ignore the horrible green walls and think of the same space in a different colourway.

The farm comes with 3 hectares (or over 7 acres) of land, and a view over to the Pyrenees  mountains.

It's within 90 minutes of the surf beaches in Biarritz, and close to the region
producing the delicious Jurançon wine

  and its closest  little town is Nay.

I have never been here, and the house doesn't even belong to anyone I know, I just found something I thought you'd enjoy restoring virtually while you go around your chores today!

If you really wanted to take a look at the place, I suggest you contact the agency directly.

Hope I have helped your week  get off to a good start, I'll be back with something different tomorrow.

a house to fall for

It's the weekend, a nice moment in the week to dream a little.  Just look at this pretty presbytery up for sale near the coast in Normandy.

18th century,  wisteria around the window, box bushes outside the door, brick walls and white shutters.  Perfect.

The property is not very big.  With just three bedrooms and two bathrooms it is just right for a small family, although there is the top floor to be renovated where more rooms could be created.  

I love this light airy sitting room.

You can just tell from the light streaming in through the windows that the house is probably facing south.

The grounds are only 1400 square meters, so easy to maintain and there is a small outbuilding.   How much do you need for this little bijoux to be yours?  The asking price is 660,000 euros and it is advertised here .

Just one request, if you do go ahead and pull out your cheque book - please can I come to tea?

dreaming of the smaller french house for sale

A couple of readers have kindly written to me explaining  that while you enjoy seeing the properties I show for sale, many would prefer some smaller less expensive houses to dream over. 

So today let's pretend that we have maximum 200,000 euros to spend on a property in Normandy.  We prefer an old house with character, and we don't mind if it needs a little restoration, and total redecorating!  Do you agree with these criteria?  Good, then here is my selection for you to carry around in your mind this weekend    .......

I am showing you one of my favourites first of all, comes complete with a stable, chicken house, pond, large garden, wine cellar and huge attic to renovate

These properties are mostly further west in Normandy than us, often in the traditional Normandy style, that is long and narrow, rooms leading from one into another, usually with several fireplaces.

The beams showing through the structure is also typical of the region, on this house I love the exterior staircase

From the so sweet to the more imposing!

 Voila!  I have to add that I am not an estate agent, and the agencies have not paid me to show these properties, it's just my pleasure for an in-between-season weekend.  If however you want more details on any of the houses, just drop me a line and I'll give you  the link.

Happy dreaming!