An Art Deco dwelling with meticulous Haussmannian-style interior décor and its garden of nearly 900 m², near Nantes - ref 961627
An Art Deco dwelling with meticulous Haussmannian-style interior décor and its garden of nearly 900 m², near Nantes.
In a city next to Nantes, on the southern bank of the Loire River, the property is located in a reputable neighbourhood, comprised of elegant bourgeois homes with rooftop terraces erected by ship-owners from Nantes. Today both lively and metropolitan, the neighbourhood is easily accessible via public transportation, making it possible to reach downtown Nantes in 20 minutes. In addition, the closest beaches on the Atlantic Coast are 45 minutes away, while, all around, local vineyards provide plenty of opportunities for wine tourism-based excursions.
Located on a one-way street, the property is accessible via a wrought-iron gate, framed by square pillars, as well as a second gate, which leads to the garage, while a tall stone wall and dense hedges shelter the property from view. Built in 1931, the completely detached villa of approximately 240 m² embodies a period marked by the transition between the Art Deco movement and the first signs of modernism, which results in a two-storey building topped with a roof terrace. In addition, the dwelling faces an ornamental, grassy garden of nearly 900 m², which is completely sheltered from view thanks to dense landscaped copses and tall stone walls, while a garden shed is located to the west of the edifice.
The DwellingWith masonry exteriors coated in white plaster, the house's eastern, street-side façade is cadenced by a flight of ten stone front steps, while its northern and western sides are flat and punctuated by windows in variety of sizes. In addition, its southern side, exemplary of the Art Deco style, is composed of three rows of vertical windows as well as a porch forepart supported by two columns. Safeguarded by wooden, partly louvred shutters, glass double doors on the top floor open onto balconies with artisanal wrought-iron guardrails.
This house with approximately 240 m² is spread out over a garden level and a raised ground floor. With the popularisation of the automobile, the overall plan for houses from this architectural period was shaken up with the unprecedented inclusion of garages, resulting, in this case, for the living area to be moved to the upper floor in order to leave room for vehicles on the lower level.
The ground floor
Designed in the Haussmannian style, the villa's builder clearly intended to pay homage to his Parisian flat by reproducing it here. The large, arched front door, made out of iron and glass, opens onto a foyer with a travertine stone floor, which then leads to a hallway with a narrow plank oak floor and brown ochre painted walls that gracefully contrast with its white rectangular-moulded wainscoting. On one side, the living area include a dining room and an adjacent sitting room for a total of almost 40 m², the décor of which has been carefully conserved, such as mitred herringbone hardwood floors, wainscoting or floor-to-ceiling wood panelling, a white marble fireplace topped with a mirrored chimneybreast as well as finely-crafted friezes, crown moulding, cornices and ceiling roses. With white walls and ceilings that highlight the rooms' overall luminosity, the sculpted plasterworks in this space create a décor composed of geometrical motifs, fruit garlands and flowers as well as mythological scenes, while wide, large-paned glass doors face south and provide exceptional views of the ornamental garden. On the other side of the hallway, a fitted kitchen communicates with another eating area with laminate flooring meant to resemble light oak hardwood and a skylight that provides overhead light, while two large picture windows look out onto the street. Behind this room, are two richly decorated bedrooms, the Haussmannian cachet of which is once again visible: original wood panelling, decorative ...
