The former sheepfold, located in the middle of the village, reflects Fontenay-le-Vicomte’s agricultural past, while, featuring pointed stone and a recently renovated flat tile roof, it was completely restored and expanded by its current owners in order to be transformed into a two-storey dwelling, of approximately 175 m². Shaped like an L, it includes several rooms on the ground floor, as well as three bedrooms and a study upstairs, whereas the property extends over walled and wooded grounds of more than 525 m².
In addition, the property is accessible via a gate that opens on to a cobblestone drive, which first provides access to a carport for two vehicles, followed by a large wooden patio, surrounded by various plants and a small, ornamental pond, while, towards the back, the house’s entrance is guarded by a stately lime tree. Skirting the building, a grassy path communicates, behind the dwelling, with a vegetable garden and a second wooden patio, whereas the garden abuts the courtyard of a primary school and the village’s town hall, from which it is separated by a small lane.

The Dwelling

Renovated in accordance with the building’s history, the dwelling’s many original elements were preserved, while a number of contemporary comforts were also added during the process, such as double-glazed windows, rolling shutters and a home automation system.

The ground floor
The white wooden front door opens on to a small entryway with cupboards and a lavatory, while the living area, of approximately 50 m², has been designed with an open kitchen and its central island, which communicate with a sitting room, articulated around an immense stone hearth. Nestled within the fireplace, a bright red wood-burning stove, having replaced the former chimney crook, contrasts nicely – as do the white and honey-colour wooden kitchen cupboards and pale cement floor tiles – with the dwelling's visible ceiling beams and vertical posts, some of which are used to separate the kitchen from the sitting room.
With a glass door providing plenty of natural light, as well as access to the garden behind the dwelling, to one side, a door conceals a large shower room with a jacuzzi, whose glass door opens on to a private patio, an ideal place to relax come summer. Past the kitchen, a hallway with curved wooden walls, painted red, connects the dwelling with a fully renovated, former barn, the latter of which includes a reading or TV room that could easily become a ground-floor bedroom. Featuring terracotta floor tiles, placed in a chequerboard pattern, its windows on either side, one of which is a glass door giving on to the main patio, supply this dual-aspect room with abundant natural light.

The upstairs
The staircase, whose risers have been decorated with cement tiles, ascends to an immense landing that provides access to three bedrooms – the main one and two others – topped with sloping ceilings. Illuminated with skylights, one of them includes a small mezzanine, which could be used as an additional sleeping area or for storage, while a study could also be turned into a children’s bedroom. In addition, a separate lavatory, a bathroom with a shower and a bathtub, as well as a storage space round out the rooms on this floor.

The Garden

Private and sheltered from view, it includes a patio in front of the dwelling, surrounded by limes, hazelnuts, a birch and mock oranges, which provide a verdant screen and plenty of cool shade in the summer, while, in the back, a vegetable garden abuts a second patio, which has been converted into an outdoor living area, festooned with wisteria. Between the two, a grassy path provides access to a lean-to used to store bicycles or wood, as well as a vaulted cellar in the basement, which contains a well fed by an underground spring.