Townhouse - Page 9
Life in a townhouse
Urban living doesn’t necessarily mean apartment living. It’s perfectly possible to stay close to schools and local shops while enjoying life in your own house!
In France, houses are more likely to prompt thoughts of a rural or coastal home, rather than a home in the heart of the city and just a short walk from the nearest metro station. But many of France’s largest cities – including Lille, Nantes, Lyon, Strasbourg, Rennes, and even Paris – have single family houses that are well worth a closer look. Perfect for family life, townhouses are urban terraced houses on two or more floors, and some even have gardens. So a townhouse shares one or more walls with neighbouring homes.
It is possible to find detached houses in some urban areas, although these are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive.
So what are the advantages of a townhouse ?
There are so many! More affordable than a standard single family house, terraced townhouses use less energy, because they tend to heat each other in the winter, which should help save on heating bills. Although they may be overlooked by other properties, there is less indoor noise disturbance from neighbours’ footsteps or domestic appliances.
With some renovation work and a little creativity, your townhouse can be transformed into a loft-style or designer home. Depending on the layout, it may be possible for the kitchen or dining room to open into a small inner courtyard or conservatory.
