This three-bedroom house in a village on the south slope of the Lubéron mountain chain - dubbed Coup de Coeur (love at first sight) by its owner because of its winning Provençal charm - is for the buyer in search of a property that does not require a single euro in renovations. The house is in perfect move-in condition, ready to decorate without spending a moment on structural changes, installing new systems or refurbishing an out-of-date bathroom or kitchen.
Coup de Coeur is situated on a small street in Grambois, a quiet 11th-century village 42 km northeast of Aix (TGV service) and 69 km from Marseille-Marignane International Airport. In 2002 the 14th-century structure was taken down to its stone shell, redesigned to accommodate three bedrooms and three bathrooms, and refitted from roof to foundation with all-new wiring, plumbing and modern electrical radiators. The stone work was carefully restored and a new terracotta roof installed. The bathrooms were tiled in marble and fitted with modern fixtures, overhead recessed lighting installed and the kitchen redesigned and fitted with top-quality appliances. A jacuzzi was installed on the top-floor deck as the ultimate in luxurious living.
All three levels are decorated in a style that blends elegant wooden beams exposed in the ceiling, hand-made terracotta tile floors, crafted stone-work and natural rock walls, bathed in natural light from southern-facing windows with rich, warm colors common to Provence and the Mediterranean.
Ground floor
On the ground floor are the entrance hall,a lounge and dining area and, in a vaulted space separated from the dining room by an arch, a spacious Provençal-style kitchen. The kitchen appliances all have stainless steel finishes : a five-burner semi-professional gas stove with oven, a large two-door side-by-side refrigerator/freezer with icemaker and a dishwasher. The pantry and wine cellar are conveniently located next to the kitchen. Both the kitchen and pantry/cellar are built into a rock wall. Also on this level there are a guest lavatory with WC, a bathroom with a stall shower, and a laundry room with American-style washing machine and separate tumble dryer. From the laundry room a door opens into the double garage, equipped with an electric door.
The kitchen appliances all have stainless steel finishes. They include a five-burner semi-professional gas stove with oven, large two-door side-by-side refrigerator with icemaker and a dishwasher.
Middle level
From the entrance hall a wrought iron stairway leads to the middle level, where there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master bedroom has an ensuite bath with bathtub and separate WC. The second and third bedrooms share a bathroom that opens off the hall and has a double vanity and bathtub, and separate WC. The guest bathroom is impressively built against a rock wall, giving the impression of being in a cave.
Upper level
The wrought iron stairway continues to the upper level of Coup de Coeur, which is designed for relaxation and enjoying the amenities of a house equipped with modern comforts. The spacious living room has a large stone fireplace originally from a Louis XIV chateau in the Loire Valley, and an outlet for satellite television. Next is a wet bar opening onto the 24 m2 (260 sq. ft.) terrace. While the terrace is covered, a buyer may take advantage of permission that has already been granted by local authorities to install two skylights.
For additional security, the custom-made front door of Coup de Coeur is made of heavy wood with an armor core, and the ground-floor windows have wrought iron bars. The house has adjoining neighbors but no other points of entry into the house.
This elegant village house blending Provençal character and modern amenities is an excellent investment as a rental property, vacation home or principal residence.
The village
Grambois is home to some 1,100 residents, and has a post office, café / newsagent, bakery and patisserie, greengrocer, hairdresser, pharmacy, nursing and medical services, and local craftsmen. The village's 11th-century church, Notre-Dame de Beauvoir, is known for its remarkable Renaissance triptych. On Sunday Grambois hosts a produce market. Open-air markets are held weekly at nearby St. Martin de la Brasque, Pertuis, Cadenet, Lauris, Cucuron, Lourmarin and Aix-en-Provence, with additional evening markets in summer. There are hypermarkets at Pertuis (12 km) and Aix-en-Provence (30 km).
Price: 385,000 € | Rental potential: Excellent
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