Magnificent 19th century property

Hidden in the heart of Mont de Marsan

Overview

In the heart of Mont de Marsan, tucked away behind mature parkland and tall gates, this turn-of-the-last-century property has retained all its attractive architectural appeal despite the passing of time.

In the heart of a built-up urban area (restaurants, appartment blocks and other suburban properties) the house sits in tranquility behind a leafy canopy of mature trees, far back from the road, forgotten by time.

The original front door opens onto the interior of what was once an elegant house. The floors are laid with attractive 19th century floor tiles. The walls are lined with wooden panels. The ceilings decorative with intricate panels and plasterwork. The double staircase with its split-level landing and the high ceilings throughout are a fantastic opportunity for a restoration project for buyers whose love of authentic period detail inspires them to undergo a complete renovation project.

There is much to conserve, but it should be noted that the property will need complete modernization. The bathrooms and kitchen although in working use are dated. Some of the wooden panels need replacing and some of the lovely old original Versailles floorboards repairing in one or two spots, but it is possible to create a fabulous central town house and to recuperate many of the original features.

The ground floor house

The main entrance hall leads to a study area overlooking the front garden on one side and a spacious dining room on the other side. The dining-room has a remarkably ornate ceiling indicative that this property was the home of a wealthy person in the early 1900s.

At the far end of the hallway there is a fantastic double-sized reception room with a marble fireplace and where an internal wall has been removed an open-plan to open up a space that was once the original kitchen. There is a downstairs WC in this section of the property.

The last owners to live in the property created a compact kitchen in a room to the rear of the original kitchen that opens out nicely to the garden area, where there is a vast amount of useful space in the outbuildings (storage, outdoor kitchen, garage, barn, studio).

Both the original kitchen and the « new » kitchen  require modernisation.

The first floor

The first floor landing, half way up, has a glorious decorative window worthy of a church or cathedral which is a lovely feature one would want to keep.

The first double bedroom at the top of the half-landing has a shower room and a second adjacent room (which could be used as a dressing-room or a baby’s room).

The top of the stairs open out to a spacious main landing. Once again the ceilings here are adorned with decorative plasterwork.

On this level there are three good-sized double bedrooms, an old-fashioned bathroom with an original enamel bathtub, an area with a separate vintage toilet and wash-basin set on a lovely cabinet.

Many bathrooms today are reworked today with claw-footed bath-tubs, and sinks set into impressive cabinets. In this house all the features are original and the tiles in the toilet are rather beautiful for their age. Some fun details could be kept here, whilst clearly needing to add an element of 21st comfort and modernity to the home.

On the top floor there is an area in a poor state of repair where the servants used to live. The « chambres de bonnes ». This useful surface area could be developed with relevant planning permissions.

What would I do if the property were mine?

The electrics, plumbing, kitchen and bathrooms will need attention.

The property needs painting throughout and a carpenter to repair some area where the wooden floor or panels are rotten or show signs of insect infestation.