La Berlandière is the name of this 250 year old house in the heart of the French countryside in the department of Nouvelle Acquitaine. It is typical of the region; attractive, exposed stone walls, oak beams throughout and red-tiled roofs. The house was originally a barn housing animals, and has been lived in for about the last 100 years. It has now been fully renovated.
The property consists of four bedrooms, three upstairs and one down. Two bathrooms, a utility room with shelf space and the central heating boiler, and a room that has been used as an office or a gym. The rooms are big, especially upstairs, and have exposed oak beams and either pine or chestnut flooring. There is 250 square metres of living space.
The house has a very open-plan feel to it and this was done to allow heating to be shared from room to room. The house features oil-fired central heating throughout the ground floor and two very efficient wood-burning stoves in the lounge and the kitchen, the latter has a 6 meter exposed flue adding extra warmth. The upstairs is equipped with electric, programable radiators. The windows are double glazed. The walls and ceilings are insulated.
There is a large barn connected to the house forming an L shape, which has large plate glass windows on one side that overlook neighbouring fields. This is great place for entertaining friends, and the space has lighting, electrics and water. There is a second, separate barn used for storage, gardening equipment etc and small wine store.
The property sits on just under two thousand square meters with two fish ponds, a selection of fruit trees, cherry, damson, plum and quinze and three grape vines. Stone walls, lawns and a well. The front is a gravel courtyard and the rear is a patio. The rear garden faces south east so we get the pleasure of the sun rising across the fields at the back, it arcs it’s way over the house during the day and evening, and the end of the day rays being seen across the front lawn, which is where we sometimes sit with a digestive and coffee. There is no light pollution, so be prepared for some jaw-dropping displays of the night sky.
The house is in a hamlet of seven houses and a short walk to the village of Loubillé where you’ll find a bar/restaurant, boulangerie, post office, hairdresser and visiting butcher and fruit and veg sellers. Bio food is easy to obtain. The surrounding countryside is stunning in all seasons. Agricultural land, forestry, rivers, and wide, open spaces with plenty of wildlife to be seen.
The nearest town is Chef Boutonne, 10 kms away, and there you’ll find supermarkets, banks, DIY suppliers and a cinema. There is a market on Saturdays. Airports at Poitiers, La Rochelle and Limoges are within easy access and train stations at Ruffec, Poitiers and Niort. The west and west coast of France are popular tourist areas so there are plenty of attractions and things to do and see.
I bought this house in 1993 and moved here permanently in 2002. This house has been the perfect sanctuary for me and my son, he was born here and has been schooled locally. I have a real bond with the house, the area and the many friends I have made here, and the sale is only because I met a French woman three years ago and we have now relocated to her town of Tours. I am sure that the pleasure this house has given us will be passed on to the next owners and I am available for questions, advice and support.
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Property details:
Features:
- Air conditioning
- Apartment/Annex
- Balcony
- Barns
- Central Heating
- Double Glazed
- Electric Heating
- Fosse
- Garage
- Garden
- Gas Heating
- Geothermic
- Internet Connection
- Lake
- Land
- LPG
- Mains Drainage
- Off Street Parking
- Office
- Oil Heating
- Open Fire
- Out Building/s
- Renovation Project
- Reversible air conditioning
- Roof terrace
- Stables
- Swimming Pool
- Telephone Connection
- Tennis Court
- Terrace
- Under floor heating
- Utilities Connection
- Utility Room
- Water Connection
- Wood Burner
Floor plans:
The kitchen has always been a great place to spend time. A cup of coffee with a neighbour, preparing meals for invited guests or just sitting in a bright and cheerful room.
The room measures 5.40 x 4.40 m at its widest part, 3.90m at the other end and the room is not quite square. The ceiling is 6m high and slopes slightly towards the front, with exposed beams. The light comes from a double glazed window on ground level, another at first floor level and two Vellux windows. The large back wall is exposed limestone with spot lighting. The exterior walls are insulated plaster boarding.
The professionally fitted kitchen was made by a local company and has plenty of workspace, cupboards and draws with 'soft close.' There is a cooker made by Falcon with five ring hob and double ovens, a full-length fridge and dishwasher.
Heating comes from a single radiator connected to the central heating and a 18KW wood burning stove, again professionally installed, sits on a stone heath and has an exposed flue that gives another 7KW of heat. The rising heat warms the upstairs and can be effectively controlled with a large bladed fan that sits on the ceiling. There is a double sink with power-wash tap. Nine electric sockets over the worktops and spotlights. 
The lounge leads from the kitchen and has a door leading back out to the hallway. The room measures 6.9 x 5.0 m and has a tiled floor, exposed limestone walls and oak ceiling beams. There is a 18KW wood burning stove that sits on a stone hearth as well as two radiators from the central heating. Spotlights and wall lights give a choice of mood, six electric sockets and two sockets for the television. Typical of these properties is a stone sink and round window known as oeil-de-boeuf.
This room has been used in the past as a bedroom, as an office and as a gym. Tiled flooring, exposed beam and plasterboard ceiling with one exposed stone wall. A radiator heats the room. There is a double glazed window. A door leads into the downstairs bedroom. The room measures 4.95 x 3.02 m. 
This is a lovely room with a rear garden, therefore sunny, aspect. A double glazed window looks out through the vine leaves to one of the garden ponds that used to be an oven providing the bread for the hamlet. The walls and ceiling are insulated. One exposed stone wall and wooded ceiling beams. A large radiator, 4 electric sockets and ceiling lights. A second door leads to a short corridor and a bathroom and toilet. The room measures 6.2 x 2.9m. 
Large frosted tilt and open double glazed window. Radiator and heated toilet rack. Bathroom cabinet, sink unit, bath with shower attachment. Mirror with shaving point. Plumbing for washing machine. 
A hand-built oak staircase rises from the lounge and into this bedroom. The room measures 6.17 x 5.98m and features a large oak beam in the center of the room. Chestnut floor, 2 Velux windows and two small recessed double glazed windows give plenty of light. Ceiling and walls are insulated. Dimmer switched ceiling lights and a programable electric radiator. 
A 6 x 5.9m room with pine flooring, a Velux window and large double glazed window set in a small recess. Three built in wardrobes. Exposed oak beam. Six electric sockets and spot lighting. Walls and ceiling are insulated and roof space is boarded. Programable electric radiator. 
The room is 3.8 x 5.78m with a sloping ceiling housing two Velux windows and a large double opening window. Wall lighting and 6 electric sockets and telephone point. Exposed black beams. A pine and chestnut floor, which looks over the kitchen.
The bedroom leads to an ensuite, toilet, sink unit and large shower cubicle. This room is 2.87 x 2.45m and has a chestnut floor, electric towel rail and electric socket.
A large barn adjoins the house at ninety degrees and consists of one room housing the oil tank for the central heating and a staircase to the first floor. On the first floor is a large expanse that has been used for dining and as a games room. Oak flooring and beams, this room has lighting, electricity and water. Below this room, with a separate access is a large and workshop with power and lighting. 
A room which houses the central heating boiler and shelving for storage, electric sockets and lighting. 
