Two typically Norman houses with a 7,000m² garden, nestled near beaches and the River Seine estuary in France's Calvados department in Normandy - ref
Two typically Norman houses with a 7,000m² garden, nestled near beaches and the River Seine estuary in France's Calvados department in Normandy.
France's Calvados department in Normandy stands out for its undulating landscape, historic beaches and picturesque villages. Honfleur, a coastal town that is emblematic of the local region, embodies elegance and has a rich past. An estuary port town on the River Seine, it draws visitors to its old harbour, half-timbered houses, paved alleys and art galleries, including the Musée Eugène Boudin. The property lies just outside Honfleur, in a calm, lush backd-rop that is typical of Normandy's countryside of hedge-lined meadows. The peaceful environment here is made up of fields and woods. The local economy is based on tourism, craftsmanship and gastronomy. You can quickly get to shops and amenities. The D580 road and the A29 and A13 motorways take you to the property. Trouville-Deauville train station and Deauville-Normandie Airport are nearby. And Paris is roughly two hours away.
The property is around two kilometres from the sea. Its lush garden covers almost 7,000m². It neighbours other characterful properties. The vast lawn, enclosed with hedges, is well maintained and dotted with apple trees. You enter the property from the south-west, from a discreet lane lined with tall trees that give the site privacy. The plot is entirely enclosed with hedges. It resembles a giant clearing. On its south-west side, it edges an extensive wooded area listed as a remarkable natural zone. The two dwellings stand around a central terrace on the south-east side. They have been positioned to offer a good view of the garden, while enjoying privacy. Their architectural design is plain and elegant. The elevations, with a variety of natural materials, combine traditional timber framing with cob filler and flint stonework, brought out by brick window surrounds. These elevations are punctuated with wooden window frames. The gable roofs are covered with slate tiles. Both houses have the same design. Their sections are modestly sized but well proportioned and their arrangement around the terrace is conducive to shared activities, with the private rooms separate.
The first houseThe first house stands on the south side of the terrace. It has a facade of timber framing and flint stonework. It has three successive sections with different heights and materials. A closed entrance porch protrudes from the facade. The slate roof is dotted with roof windows. Old materials combine harmoniously with contemporary touches. All the rooms are dual-aspect spaces with windows that face south-east and north-west, except for the utility rooms. On the garden-level floor, there is an entrance hall, a living room, a lounge, a kitchen, a pantry, two bathrooms, two lavatories and a secondary entrance hall. The first floor has two landings, three bedrooms, a shower room and a lavatory.
The garden-level floor
The garden-level floor has contemporary touches. The floors are adorned with cement tiles, laid in a blue-and-white checked pattern that goes well with the bluish-grey tone of the exposed beams. The connecting rooms are bathed in natural light. Their grey and white beamed ceilings accentuate the impression of spaciousness inside. The layout is simple and coherent. The kitchen, where a staircase leads upstairs, is separated from the living room by an openwork partition of beams. A fireplace with a golden-tone limestone mantel stands against one of the walls of the living room, which is separated from the lounge by a flint wall. At both ends of the series of main rooms there are utility rooms, a pantry, a bathroom and a lavatory.
The upstairs
The first floor lies in the roof space. It is bathed in natural light from roof windows. It is divided into two sections, which you reach via two ...
