Full Description
Elegance & privacy near Gimont
Overview
This property offers an exquisite combination of original features and contemporary renovation works.
As soon as we turn onto the driveway and enter the property, we enter an entirely private world. We pass a charming lily pond encircled by tall trees and catch a glimpse of the house on our right. As we proceed up the drive, the stunning extent of the stone outbuildings on the left, with their central archway and tower, are revealed. The house is equally lovely, and presents a smooth attractive façade framed by two towers.
House
The first thing one notices when stepping through the front door of this house is the sense of spaciousness and light. Huge windows feature in all the rooms, with the travertine floors amplifying their light in all directions.
The generous proportions of the main reception rooms and bedrooms, and the elegantly minimalist décor add to the sense of weightlessness throughout the property. The rooms flow into each other harmoniously and most of them offer large south-facing windows.
The house immediately feels warm and welcoming, in part thanks to the large fireplaces in the main rooms, supported by the excellent central heating system. In the summer, the thick stone walls keep the interior cool and fresh.
Ground floor
Once in the house, a wide, elegant stone staircase stands in front of us, offering a tantalising preview of the extent of the house.
From here, we access the first of the reception rooms on the right. This is a spacious double aspect dining room offering views over the park, with a wood burner in the large stone fireplace and windows on two sides.
This is a fantastic space for candlelit dinner parties and opens into an equally spacious, beautifully renovated kitchen with ample space for an additional large table. The kitchen is large enough to accommodate multiple cooks working in tandem, and the huge, open stone fireplace serves as a focal point for the room. The kitchen has been entirely refitted with attractive wooden units and black stone counters.
Behind the kitchen is a passageway to a large and practical laundry room which also serves as a boiler room. Plenty of storage space is available here, and a small door in the back leads to a large cloakroom under the stairs. This space can also be accessed through a second door behind the main staircase.
Back in the hall, a door leads down to the sizeable basement and the oh-so essential wine cellar, whilst another door leads out to the garden.
On the other side of the main entrance, we find the living room which has a more contemporary feel, with another large open fireplace and spot lighting.
Past the living room, there is a further generous sized reception room that has an ensuite bathroom and separate toilet. This room is effectively a fifth bedroom, and thanks to the door opening onto the garden, would make an excellent guest accommodation.
This is the only part of the house that has not been fully renovated. It also benefits from an attractive original fireplace and high ceilings, and the huge advantage of having an ensuite bathroom.
Half landing
The upstairs of this property is cleverly divided into two sections, so that if you host guests, they can easily enjoy their own private area. Halfway up the staircase on the left there is a small, beautifully decorated landing which gives access to this guest area. On the right of this, we find a large main guest bedroom which has been renovated to incorporate a well-appointed shower room. This room has attractive wooden flooring and high ceilings.
The second, slightly smaller bedroom can also be accessed from the landing, as is a separate toilet with handbasin to be shared by both rooms.
First floor
On the first floor of the house, we find the main bedrooms as well as a beautiful study – which could equally be used as a full-sized library or Tv room.
Echoing the ground floor layout, on the right-hand side as you go up the stairs, we find the study, which has a large fireplace, parquet flooring and tall windows. This really is an attractive feature of the property as it offers many possibilities for additional living space.
A door at the far side of the study leads to the first of the main bedrooms. This room has high ceilings with exposed beams and double aspect windows and it feels spacious. There is parquet flooring, complemented by the original tiling around the fireplace, and smooth white walls. While the furnishings are modern, the cornicing above the fireplace is original and adds an elegant touch to the room.
An attached bathroom offers twin sinks, a toilet, and a bathtub facing the window. The owners decided to keep the tiled terracotta flooring and white wall tiles, and the large window adds brightness.
On the other side of the landing, we find the last bedroom this is really the master suite of the property. The bedroom is painted in an soothing shade of aubergine, and here again we have high ceilings and attractive parquet flooring. The fireplace in this room is quite modern but still serves a decorative purpose and overall this room is
On one side of the room there is a walk-in closet that runs the length of the room and is hugely practical. On the other side we find a large newly renovated bathroom with a tiled walk-in shower and a big bathtub. Once again there is a large window and double sinks.
Outbuildings & gardens
The house is surrounded by well-kept lawns, and there are two wells in the immediate area, both of which are in water. Behind the house a large lily pond offers its shade, and a further two large ponds and another well can also be found on the property. Such an abundance of water on a property is a rarity.
The view from the front of the house is of endless rolling hills and forest, most of which form part of the property. There are shady spots in the grounds where the owners have often enjoyed al fresco meals on warm summer evenings, and the abundance of grazing land around would be ideal for horses.
The outbuildings present endless possibilities. Stables, a huge hay barn, workshops, garages, a pretty tower, a wine barn have been built in a U-shape across approximately 900 m². They are all built in stone and with sturdy roofing.
The outbuildings really do represent an enormous advantage for this property, as they are in very good condition and could be used for any number of purposes.
Here at Bliss
We were impressed by the elegance of this property. It is spacious, filled with light, beautifully renovated to a high standard, including all the windows and the beautiful, fitted kitchen.
There are still opportunities to improve, as the heating system could be updated to a more energy efficient option, and the septic tank could also be updated.
There is ample room to add a swimming pool (subject to local planning permission).
The barns present huge potential, and any number of creative uses or projects could be devised for them.
Who would enjoy this house?
If you love high ceilings and open fireplaces, are attracted to a mix of contemporary and traditional features, if you are drawn to the idea of having your own private world of trees, water, hills and beautiful stonework, this is the property for you!
This property is entirely private, but within easy distance of shops and only an hour from the airport at Toulouse.
Lovers of nature, there are infinite possibilities with this property as there is so much land and an abundance of water – an important aspect of any country property – wonderful privacy, all the wood one could ever need.
Read more