Exceptional house - Page 7

Buying an exceptional house
When it comes to property, everyone is excited and intrigued by homes that are out of the ordinary: a converted mill, a single-storey loft-style home or perhaps a restored farmhouse. An exceptional house is one that makes your most extravagant dreams come true.

‘Exceptional’ is sometimes taken to mean strange or bizarre. But the truth is that buying an exceptional house doesn’t necessarily mean living in a circular home, a lighthouse or a cave. Especially since there is not just one, but many, exceptional houses. Large homes that have been created in non-mainstream spaces (churches, mills, farms, etc.) or which, for example, require us to change the way we live (a loft in a former factory, a cave house or a wine estate). But before you can search for such an unconventional home, you have to narrow down what it is you’re looking for: is your dream a large stone house surrounded by meadows as far as the eye can see? Perhaps you’d rather opt for a Provençal mas ? Are you prepared to carry out major building works ? Maybe you’d consider renovating a stable yard or farmhouse ?

An exceptional house is a property with character
You can also narrow down your search on the basis of more pragmatic needs: the importance of having enough rooms to accommodate a large family, or the need to be in the city centre, or at least close to it.

But when what you want is an exceptional home, perhaps the most important thing is to get as close as possible to the ultimate ideal, and choose a space that will reflect your character, the way you live, and whatever it is that makes you special. But be careful, because not all exceptional homes are necessarily one-offs: some are distinctive not for their exterior appearance, but rather because their interior is arranged differently from that of a traditional home. Room sizes, layout and uses can also influence your choice. A house with a home cinema or games room would be something new and different !

And the bottom line is that an exceptional house can prove to be an extremely profitable investment, especially if you convert a farmhouse to an architect-designed home, or a barn to a contemporary loft-style space.