A typical Brie country house and its old forge
in a small, quiet, unspoilt village in the Seine-et-Marne region
in a small, quiet, unspoilt village in the Seine-et-Marne region
,
SEINE-ET-MARNE
ile-de-france
FR
Location
70 km from the French capital and 10 km from Coulommiers, with an hourly train service to Paris-Est, the property is surrounded by woodlands and fields. The nearest local shops are 5 km away in Choisy-en-Brie.
Description
Set between a street and a landscaped garden, the residence spans three storeys above ground. A former forge adjoins the house and extends it on one side. The grounds surround the house at the back, with an outdoor dining area and a vegetable patch along one side. The garden has been carefully designed to include jasmine, wisteria, roses, lilac and Indian lilac, as well as a variety of aromatic plants. There are also plenty of trees, shrubs and fruit trees, including pear, arbutus, laurel, acacia, maple, magnolia, two apple trees, walnut and hazelnut. The property is entirely enclosed; a solid iron fencing with railings has recently been installed.
There are two entrances on the street side: one leading to the house, the other to the garden.
There are two entrances on the street side: one leading to the house, the other to the garden.
The dwelling and its adjoining forge
This is the former home of a blacksmith and farrier, handed down from father to son for four generations. A stone basin in the garden bears witness to this past, it used to cool the hardened steel irons before they were fitted. The forge adjoining the house, with its single storey and considerable ridge height, is no longer in use and has been converted into an artist's studio.
This 19th century building spans three storeys over cellars, as most houses in the Brie region. The outer walls are of jointed millstone and the gable roof is laid with flat tiles and has roof windows. The rectangular windows with guardrails are fitted with wooden shutters. A canopy protects the main entrance.
It would be possible to create an opening between the house and the forge to enlarge the living area.
The ground floor
The entrance door opens into the dining room, which features an insert fireplace that provides heating for the entire ground floor. The flooring is of terracotta tiles with floral motifs. Continuing through is a sitting room with old hexagonal terracotta floor tiles and a working black marble fireplace with an overmantel mirror. The dual-aspect room is light and airy, with two French windows opening onto the garden and a window overlooking the street. A storeroom, formerly a shower room, could be reconverted as such. There is also a lavatory. The fully-equipped kitchen has floor tiles with floral motifs.
The first floor
The staircase leads to a landing with pine flooring and storage cupboards. It serves two bedrooms: one with a view of the street, the other overlooking the garden. A third, larger full-width bedroom is located between the other two. There are also a secondary living room and an adjoining study. A corridor leads to a room used as a laundry, a bathroom, a fourth bedroom with a window overlooking the street, a shower room and a lavatory. The floors are of straight strip hardwood.
The second floor
In the converted and insulated roofspace, there is a room with exposed beams that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as a games room or bedroom. The wooden floor is painted and illuminated by two large skylights. Another room is used as a spare bedroom.
Our opinion
The forge is a wonderful space bathed in light, which has remained in its original state. Between the street and the garden, this is an ideal location for an artist, an antiques dealer or any other activity that will preserve its authenticity.
Tastefully and soberly renovated, with its blooming garden and vegetable patch, its clever internal layout allowing for easy circulation, this harmonious country house combines comfort, light and space.
With the added bonus of including a section zoned for building, this property lies in a village with a family spirit, where smiling and helping one another is a tradition.
450 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 929853
| Land registry surface area | 1190 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 200 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 5 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 47 m2 |
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
