A late-19th-century property with two houses, a pool and over one hectare
of grounds in the town of Jouy-en-Josas in France’s Yvelines department
of grounds in the town of Jouy-en-Josas in France’s Yvelines department
Jouy-en-Josas,
YVELINES
paris
78350
FR
Location
Jouy-en-Josas is a town in the east of France’s Yvelines department. It stretches along the discreet River Bièvre. From the 18th century, the town became lastingly well known for its famous Toile de Jouy fabric, developed by Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf. In the following century, with the advent of rail and the town's closeness to Paris, Jouy-en-Josas became a highly sought-after holiday town. The property is nestled in the heart of the town’s Les Metz residential district, a prized neighbourhood. In around 10 minutes on foot, you can reach a train station on the regional rail network, as well as the town centre, shops and schools. By car, you can get to Paris in around 30 minutes via the N118 trunk road or the A86 motorway. Jouy-en-Josas is also home to the prestigious business school HEC Paris, which adds to the town’s reputation.
Description
The property lies in the Les Metz neighbourhood of Jouy-en-Josas. It includes two houses, which offer a total floor area of 450m². The whole plot, with its landscaped grounds, covers more than one hectare. The two houses were built in the late 19th century, in around 1880, but were transformed in the 20th century, which explains their pared-down character. Yet their original decorative features were not altered. The architecture is unpretentious and evokes the decorative arts. Its lines, rooms and materials bear witness to a time when edifices were built to last. The grounds have been masterfully landscaped. They offer a series of vistas and atmospheres among majestic cedars and sequoias. More surprising varieties of shrubs and trees punctuate the garden too, adding discreet touches of exoticism. The main house looks out widely at the garden. Inside, there is a vast entrance hall that connects to the reception rooms. On the left, a lounge leads out to a terrace, garden and swimming pool at the same level as it. This lounge is bathed in an abundance of natural light. A stone fireplace and old wooden touches combine with understated elegance. Next to the lounge, there is a dining room. A spacious, welcoming kitchen completes the reception spaces, which have been designed both for hosting guests and for everyday life. Upstairs, a landing connects to an office, which could serve as a bedroom, and to a master bedroom that looks out at the beautiful garden. This master bedroom has its own terrace and two bathrooms. In the roof space, there are two bedrooms with sloping attic ceilings and a considerable ceiling height. One of these bedrooms has a bathroom. Down in the basement, there are two technical installations rooms – a workshop and a boiler room – that meet practical needs. There is a second house on the plot too. Set back, it was also built in the late 19th century. It has a lounge with a fireplace, a spacious kitchen, a master bedroom with a mezzanine, three other bedrooms, shower rooms and a self-contained apartment upstairs. Further out in the garden, there is a series of annexes for storage and DIY.
The main house
The main house was built in the late 19th century. It displays the eclectic style of upper-middle-class holiday homes. Its modern appearance is the result of redesigns at the start of the 21st century, particularly noticeable in the large windows on the ground floor and the plainly designed balcony. The whole architecture, pared down more than in typical 1880s buildings, harmoniously balances old character with stylistic redevelopment.
The garden-level floor
The connecting lounge and dining room form a vast reception space. That look out widely at the garden and are filled with an abundance of soft natural light that floods in through tall French windows with plain lines. Your gaze is drawn freely around the interior by room volumes amplified by a considerable ceiling height. On both sides, arched windows punctuate the walls and underline the tasteful architecture, which is steeped in a certain idea of upper-middle-class comfort of past centuries. Large pale slabs cover the floor and reinforce the sense of spaciousness. A discreetly fitted fireplace evokes cosier moments here too. Everything inside seems to have been designed for a life in perfect harmony with the garden outside. Indeed, from season to season, the garden blends seamlessly into the house like a familiar presence. The whole interior forms a warm haven where the simplicity of its lines combines well with the place’s authentic character. The kitchen, with its bright, fluid spaces, also leads out into the garden. In the entrance hall, there is a mahogany spiral staircase with a stainless-steel balustrade made by expert craftsmen from a craftsmanship foundation – Fondation de Coubertin – in the nearby town of Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse. These stairs form a remarkable piece of craftsmanship.
The first floor
Up on the first floor, a vast, open mezzanine forms a multi-purpose living space. An office, which could easily serve as a bedroom, adds to the space up here. The master bedroom looks westwards and leads out onto a terrace with a clear view of the swimming pool and garden. It has a bathroom whose stained-glass windows and vast built-in changing room give it unique character. A comfortable walk-in shower forms an integral part of this bathroom.
The attic
In the roof space, there are two bedrooms with sloping attic ceilings. They face each other. They have considerable ceiling heights. One of them has an old-style bathtub, placed upon a platform, in a nook that is well integrated into the bedroom. This adds a touch of elegance to the space.
The basement
Down in the basement, there are two technical installations rooms – a workshop and a boiler room – that are part of a practical space beneath the house.
The secondary house
The secondary house was built with an architectural style inspired by early-20th-century holiday homes. It combines tradition with the promise of a laid-back lifestyle. Its elevations are rendered in a pale tone and punctuated with windows and doors set in stone surrounds. Some of the windows are fitted with discreet guardrails. The house’s gently sloping roofs of tiles are punctuated with chimney stacks that evoke family homes of yesteryear. A finely crafted wooden canopy marks the main entrance door and underlines the house’s character. The rooms are spread out harmoniously and many openings, including French windows on the ground floor, create a continuous link with the outside and bring in an abundance of natural light.
The garden-level floor
The garden-level ground floor has a lounge with a fireplace, which is extended with an open-plan kitchen with a dining area. The whole space has a travertine-tiled floor. There are two neighbouring bedrooms on this floor too. And a separate third bedroom with its own private shower room and mezzanine completes the floor.
The upstairs
An apartment lies upstairs. This apartment is completely self-contained as it has a separate outdoor flight of steps, as well as a lounge, a dining room with a small kitchen, and three bedrooms, including a main bedroom with its own private bathroom with a shower. The whole self-contained dwelling is bathed in an abundance of natural light from its many windows.
The grounds
The grounds cover around 1.5 hectares. They are striking and majestic. This beautiful outdoor space is dotted with trees, including six imperial sequoias that are truly remarkable. The whole garden forms a unique haven of greenery. Time stands still in this lush refuge, enveloped in carefully chosen vegetation. A rectangular swimming pool lies perfectly in line with the house, drawing your gaze across the vista. A round stone structure with an oven invites you to savour open-air summer meals in a friendly, timeless atmosphere. At the bottom of the garden, there is a DIY workshop. It stands beside a greenhouse and a horse shelter. Two ponds complete the grounds, adding an extra touch of harmony to this landscaped haven.
Our opinion
There are some homes that seem to have been shaped silently and harmoniously by time itself. This haven is one of those gems. Here, a pair of delightful dwellings stand in landscaped grounds that cover more than one hectare. They seem to have been delicately placed in this enchanting, lush backdrop. The property evokes holiday homes of yesteryear where people would come to enjoy shady trees, relaxing calm and a gentle lifestyle – far from bustle, yet not isolated. The remarkable garden is the refuge’s centrepiece. It envelops the buildings with its peaceful presence. The secondary house, set back, extends this harmony and opens up possibilities for new purposes and fresh projects. Everything here is perfectly balanced and bathed in natural light, forming a unique home built to last.
2 950 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 659101
| Total floor area | 450 m² |
| Number of rooms | 13 |
| Number of bedrooms | 8 |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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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.
