Charming house - Page 27
Choosing a character home
What exactly is a character home ? A building with period character? A mansion? However you define it, it’s always a home you fall instantly in love with !
When do you fall under the spell of a house ? When it clearly displays a century of architectural heritage or when it has the most beautiful features (an expansive glass roof, a sculpted facade, oak parquet flooring, an infinity pool…)? Well, of course, it’s definitely both! In the property world, a character home (maison de charme) is the term used to describe a period house with something special that sets it apart from others; a house with intangible je ne sais quoi and high market value: a large maison bourgeoise, for example, or a mansion perhaps.
A character home for sale: an authentic property
A look at property listings can give you a good idea of the wide variety of properties described as character homes: a manor house on a clifftop in Normandy, a fortified bastide surrounded by vineyards or a maison bourgeoise a stone’s throw from the Château de Fontainebleau. Depending on your preferred region and budget, these homes can take many different forms, from a country mansion to a villa with a swimming pool, a prestigious fine property or a hunting estate.
But an imposing character property (demeure de charme) is inevitably a large building that is simultaneously beautiful and old, but not necessarily outstanding or prestigious !
