Village House dh-k, Tarn,

3 Bedroom House: 283,500 (EUR)

A quiet village square is the setting for this beautifully renovated stone house, belying its proximity to a village with a small supermarket, doctor, pharmacy, post office, bakers, etc. Inside, the rooms are high-ceilinged and light with an understated elegance. Period features such as original floors and staircase, and the stone mullioned window in the hall blend with practical living in the form of oil-fired central heating. The roof has, we are told, been completely inspected and repaired where necessary, the electricity rewired and a new septic tank put in. Behind the house is a charming wisteria-covered terrace and steps down to a small, gravelled garden. There is a complete sous-sol for storage or development if so wished as well as another storey in the tower part of the house.

Stone steps lead up to the front door, with all the accommodation arranged therefore on the first and second floor of the property.

This sturdy oak door opens to a cool and spacious hallway, 2m wide. A stone mullioned window looks out into the village and, opposite, doors lead to the living/dining room, kitchen and second reception room.

The living/dining room (45m2) occupies the first floor of the tower and is light and well-proportioned with high ceilings, windows to front and back and white-painted beams. The original chestnut floor and the integral armoire, painstakingly polished and treated by the owners, are just two of the many original features that remain throughout the house. There is a fireplace on the far wall and the owners are having a wood-burning stove fitted and new chimney installed by a professional company to replace the current stove and flue which do not conform to safety requirements.

The kitchen, the central room of the first floor (19m2), has low level white-painted kitchen units with wooden worksurfaces along two walls incorporating the cooker, hob, washing machine, with space for a slimline dishwasher. The fridge will also remain. A half-glazed door opens onto a patio outside and a window has the same outlook. There are original tiles on the floor.

Across the hallway from the kitchen is a shower room with a bit of a difference – it has a vaulted ceiling! It has a WC, shower, handbasin and a window.

Next to the kitchen is a further reception room (20m2) currently used as a chapel, with those beautiful wooden floors and a door out to the terrace.

From the end of the hallway, by the mullioned window, the original oak staircase curves up to the second floor where three bedrooms and a bathroom are accessed from a wide landing running the length of the house with windows over the village square below.

Bedroom 1 (19m2) has a window with views across the village out to distant hills. There is a marble fireplace as a focal point in the room.

Bedroom 2 (22m2) has a window with the same views. This room has a broadband telephone connection.

At the end of the corridor an ante room marks your arrival into the tower part of this second floor. From here there is a trap door into the tower above which I’m told has a stone tiled floor as well as a window, and a door into the loft space above Bedrooms 1 and 2. There would be room to install a staircase and create a wonderful room in this tower apex of the same dimensions as the living room.

From this ante room two doors with original glass panels lead to a third bedroom and bathroom.

Bedroom 3 (12m2) has a cosy feel to it, with lower ceilings than Bedrooms 1 and 2. In keeping with those proportions, a small window looks out to the rear of the property.

The Bathroom (12m2) is large, light and airy with white-painted beams and a window. The white suite comprises WC, handbasin and bath. Initially the room was even larger but the owners have ingeniously put in a wall to create a large walk in wardrobe/storage area (with radiator).

Exterior

The terrace (6m x 3m) is covered with wisteria and jasmine, offering a delightfully scented and shady spot to dine al fresco. From the terrace, stone steps lead down to a small, gravelled, enclosed garden, with aromatic plants.

On the ground floor of the property is additional, undeveloped space. Under the terrace is a small storage area and a well. Double wooden doors reveal a cool, vaulted room with bread oven – a super cuisine d’ete. Beyond that room steps down lead to further caves, one of which houses the septic tank (see note in services), another the hot water boiler, another the oil tank. The furthest cave, on the ground floor of the tower, would make a natural garage with doors to the village square – but the doors are only wide enough to allow access for a very small car…

Services

Mains electricity and mains water new septic tank (but the owners are assured by the mayor that their house is scheduled to be one of the first to be put on mains drainage when the work is carried out in the village) telephone and ADSL oil-fired central heating.

Lagquepie 7km St Antonin-Noble-Val 10km Montauban 40km Toulouse 80km

Note: All information given in good faith but not contractual – Document non contractuel