Country House

Property Description

Country living close to all amenities
Overview
Situated on a quiet country road, where the neighbours are never seen, but there if you need them, this large stone manor house offers a hugely attractive lifestyle in a charming setting.
The main house has generously sized rooms, high ceilings and a wonderful luminosity wherever you go. There are wood-paneled door frames and parquet floors throughout the house, although in some rooms a more modern touch has been added. The property is in excellent condition, and the current owners, who have lived here since 1999, have renovated and maintained it to a high standard.
On the outside, the extensive outbuildings and large grounds ensure that a variety of projects are possible, and the large swimming pool and gardens will delight the children in any family.
Ground floor
When we enter the house through the front door, we find ourselves in a generously proportioned front hall where a second, glass door protects the house from the heat or cold of the outside.
Past this door, the house opens up into a huge living room where the owners have chosen to remove as many walls as possible. The emphasis here is on space and light. All areas of the house are accessible from this one central room, with its polished floors, high ceilings and original Art Nouveau style fireplace.
There is also a guest Wc under the staircase, and a door to the walled courtyard at the side of the house.
Next to the living room, and facing the front of the house, we find a large office which has double aspect windows, built-in bookcase, parquet flooring and an original fireplace. This is the perfect spot for a library, a quiet corner away from the bustle of family life. As it has three large windows, it would also make an excellent art studio.
Past the office, a third reception room currently serves as a Tv room and has the same elegant doors and frames as the rest of the ground floor. There are two large windows flanking a gorgeous marble fireplace and travertine flooring.
Behind the reception rooms, and running the width of the house, we find the huge kitchen/dining room which occupies a space that was formerly divided into two rooms and a hall.
There are three large windows, as well as French doors leading to the enclosed garden and terraces behind the house.
The kitchen is fully fitted and functional and even has a big island for food preparation. There is a large kitchen table which has views over the gardens and the owners have eschewed the idea of a formal dining room, instead opting for sofas where their grandchildren can relax and play while waiting for lunch or dinner. However, there is ample room here for a formal dining area.
There is a huge back kitchen behind the kitchen where the owners store the bountiful produce of their large vegetable gardens. This room also opens onto the enclosed courtyard at the side of the house, as well as the furnace room and the laundry room. This whole area is highly practical.
First floor
The beautiful Art Moderne style wooden staircase leads to the first floor, where we find an initial small landing with a door to the attic, and double glass-pained doors leading to the main landing which stretches the width of the house. This area is almost an extra room, as it is so large. It has polished wooden floors and a large window at each end.
On this floor there are four bedrooms, two of which share a bathroom.
The first bedroom we access has parquet floors and two large windows. A door on one side of the room opens to a dressing room with built-in units which in turn has a door to a large and luxurious bathroom. The generous proportions of this room, and the large double aspect windows give the impression that this was once a bedroom. Here we find a large bathtub with a lovely view over the garden, a separate shower and a sink unit. Another door in the bathroom leads to the hall, giving access to other family members.
The second bedroom is also double aspect, with the same large windows and parquet flooring. This room also has large original cupboards which add a touch of elegance and are also extremely practical.
The third bedroom has two large windows and the added plus of a private shower room with a WC.
The fourth bedroom has an original fireplace flanked by floor-to-ceiling original closets and a big window. The floor here is carpeted but probably has parquet underneath.
Also on the landing there is a family shower room with a large window, a handbasin and a Wc.
A door on the landing leads to the attics which stretch the length and width of the house and have a total of 13 windows. It would be very easy to create more living space here, if it were needed.
The gardens
There are several distinct garden areas in this property. First, we have the spacious lawn surrounding the pool area that stretches to a thick hedge at the far end of the property.
An enclosed stone courtyard at the side of the house offers access to the main house as well as the garage and the barn. The working well is also housed here and can be used to water the gardens and vegetable plot.
Behind the house there is a large terrace with a covered summer kitchen area, as well as a more formal garden with rose bushes lining a pretty path.
An extra plot of land of almost 6000 m² just across the road both protects the property and gives the option of further expansion – for grazing a horse or pony, or for agricultural pursuits (there is a well on the plot).
The pool
A wide stone staircase leads down from the terrace in front of the house to the extensive lawns below, where the large swimming pool awaits. The pool measures 10 by 5 metres and has wide Roman-style steps at one end. There is a wide patio around the pool and a shady area on one side for the really hot days.
The barn
For those who have a project that requires space, this is the perfect find. Once owned by local gentlemen farmers, this property possesses a large wine barn – where you could hold wine tastings in a thematic setting – as well as a second large barn on two storeys for storage. There is also an attached dovecote on three floors that has a recent roof.
Here at Bliss
This property is both elegant and welcoming and would make a wonderful family home. While some of the renovations are not recent, the quality of the work done is very high and everything is in very good condition.
This is a property made for large families and weekend house parties, or it could equally become a delightful bed & breakfast.
The plus – an additional 5700 m² field, separated from the house by a quiet country road, is also included in the sale price. This not only ensures control of the surrounding area, but also offers the potential to use the land, for example to create a wildflower garden or plant an orchard.
The house has been well maintained and regularly updated by the current owners, hence the excellent energy rating.