Property pick: new-build house in Limousin

This week Eve Middleton has fallen in love with this new-build house in Haute-Vienne in Limousin

When I dream of owning a house in France, the picture-perfect property I tend to conjur up is always a variation on a theme. In my world, a stone cottage in the countryside, complete with rambling roses and age-old trees in the garden would be just the ticket. However, the reality is that with old buildings come old problems – and given that I’m no dab hand at DIY or construction, this new-build house in Haute-Vienne marries the charm of the old with the convenience of the new, for the princely sum of €292,250.

Although only built two years ago, the three-bedroom property looks much like a traditional old-fashioned French house from the outside, and sits in its own grounds with oak, pine, silver birch trees – not to mention fragrant lavender bushes and colourful beds of wild flowers.

Inside, the ground floor living area has a vaulted ceiling, with doors leading out onto a terrace area fringed by chestnut trees. With the advent of autumn, there’s also a wood burner inside to keep the property cosy and warm. The conveniences of modern life have all been catered for – discretely of course, in keeping with the traditional look and feel of the property. There’s broadband connection and Wi-Fi throughout, as well as underfloor heating, not forgetting the water system heated by solar tubes, which will help reduce water heating bills.

In terms of location, the property is five minutes’ drive from a pretty village with restaurants, schools and shops, in the Parc Naturel Régional Périgord-Limousin. The quiet calm waters of the Lac de Saint-Mathieu are close by for a waterside picnic spot, and Limoges airport is a mere 40-minute drive away for an easy-to-reach transport hub.

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