Interior & Grounds

On entering this symmetrical Louis XVI chateau, the first thing you notice is the woodwork – the walls have retained their original wooden panelling, delicately picked out in paint; the floors are uniquely elaborate, geometric mosaics of different coloured woods. Elsewhere is patinated parquet, beautifully polished and easy on the feet. Throughout, the house is furnished with appropriate antiques, the walls decked with family portraits, the ceilings supporting crystal chandeliers. The atmosphere is grand but not intimidating, and the owner does her best to make you feel at home.

Ground Floor

The Yellow Salon: With tall windows facing both east and west getting the best of the sunshine, this large room contains a television, and is comfortably furnished with red plush seats and sofas.

The Grey Salon: A formal and rather grand withdrawing room, again having dual east/west aspect, with exceptionally elegant panelling, a large fireplace surrounded by easy chairs and a beautiful rug on the polished floor.

The Dining Room: Large paintings and panelling picked out in red, chic black and white tiles on the floor, this room seats up to 20 round an antique table.

The Kitchen: This is the informal heart of the house, with weathered terracotta tiles on the floor and French doors straight out to the garden. With a charmingly countrified air, there is a large table for family meals, a sonorous grandfather clock, and polished copper pans on the walls. This casual dining area leads through an archway to the well-designed and compact working kitchen area, which has a five-burner gas stove, microwave and fridge/freezer.

The Studio flat: This accessible flat has a kitchen, a small sofa bed and bathroom.

The First Floor

There are four large double bedrooms on this floor, two with en suite bathrooms, and two adjoining family rooms with a shared bathroom. From their tall windows they have glorious views of the park and its stately trees. The rooms have old hardwood parquet floors, flowered chintz textiles, fine panelling, and a plethora of carpets and rugs.

The Second Floor

On this floor there is one large double bedroom with an en suite bathroom and toilet, plus smaller twin bedrooms sharing a bathroom, shower room and toilet. Though these once housed the lowly governesses and smaller children, they still enjoy the careful details and fine woodwork of the rest of the house.

The Chapel

Once a rather grand dovecote, this sweet building with finely tuned acoustics was converted to its present use in the late 19th century - it contains a white stone altar, and is lit by stained glass windows made by an expert from Orleans. Just one hour from Paris, it would be the ideal romantic location for a wedding.

The Grounds

Amid great expanses of parkland in the Capability Brown style, there are areas of formal French parterres – enclosures of crisply clipped box, hedges and topiary, wide gravel paths, with a strong geometry guiding and shaping the ensemble.