Stylish luxe pied-à-terre in a medieval village in the French countryside
Welcome to La Maison de Wakefield!
I fell in love with the house years ago after seeing a magazine article about how the the previous owner, who was from New Zealand, bought it while on holiday and spent a number of years restoring it. I live in Australia and love to travel, especially to France! After numerous trips and nearing a major milestone birthday, I decided I wanted my own piece of French real estate. I had read many books about France, especially biographies of expats finding their ‘la bonne vie’ (the good life) in rural France and those I really connected with were based in the south west, in the department called the Lot.
I purchased the house on my third viewing trip in May 2017. On my second last day in the area I had finished my viewings and I didn't think I was going to find my maison on this trip. That night I took one last look at a French property website and saw my house. The next day I visited the Immobilier (real estate) to arrange a viewing. As soon as I walked in I knew I would buy it even though it was way over my budget! I had already visited Martel the week before and had walked past the house, not realising it was for sale and I took the photo that is on this website because it was so lovely. The house had only just gone on the market the week before I arrived in France, so it wasn’t even on my viewing list. Originally, I was going to be in France three weeks earlier and had a last-minute change to my departure date. So it was meant to be!
It took numerous trips to France to furnish and decorate the house. Many hours have been spent browsing brocante markets and second hand shops and, with a limited budget, creating soft furnishings, painting furniture, upcycling etc to turn the house into a chic and stylish maison!
I enjoy sharing my house with other like minded people who love France as much as I do.
Debra
