Expats Kathy Fortescue and Chris Roach bought a slice of paradise and then became award-winning hosts.
The moment Kathy Fortescue and Chris Roach arrived at the gates of the Logis de Bresdon, they knew it would be their French home. Built in 1853 and once the home of a wealthy Cognac producer, the property was in beautiful rolling countryside not far from Cognac and the pretty town of St-Jeand’Angély in Charente-Maritime.
The perfect project
“We’d been looking for the perfect property for some time,” Kathy explains. “Our dream was to find a spacious home set within its own grounds. We wanted a complete life change, to be completely private but at the same time not too remote. We’d been over on yet another househunting expedition and, by chance, heard about Bresdon the morning we were leaving, so we drove up, looked through the gates and knew immediately this was it!”
For Kathy, who had been educated at university in Lausanne and worked as a private caterer, the vision was clear – to create the perfect chambres d’hôte in a property flexible enough to be used just as their own home. For Chris, a film cameraman by profession who’d worked on everything from The Full Monty through to Foyle’s War, this was a totally new adventure – and one to relish!
Golden limestone
Denne historien er fra May 2017-utgaven av French Property News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 2017-utgaven av French Property News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Bond With France
With a licence to thrill James Bond fans, Chloe Govan goes househunting in the film locations immortalised by the spy who loved France
Sarlat stardust
Just 20 minutes from Sarlat-la-Caneda, this tastefully restored home reflects the glory of the Périgord Noir capital, says Ruth Wood
The money column
The ‘B’ word is back! Laura Parsons explains how to protect your money as we near the end of Brexit transition
Nature's harmony
A renovated farmhouse in Lot-et-Garonne could be perfect for those hearing the call of the wild, discovers Brigitte Nicolas
Main event
Buying a holiday home near a popular annual event could guarantee you a beautiful setting and some extra cash, finds Hannah Evans
Hauss style
Joanna Leggett learns all about Georges-Eugène Haussmann – the man who designed the Paris that we know and love
Architect's diary
It’s all in a week’s work for France-based Neil Vesma
Write on the edge
When it comes to life in west Brittany, author Wendy Mewes has been there, done that, written the guidebook
A year like no other
So much for spring cleaning — property manager Mary Hall explains how 2020 has thrown a spanner in the works for second home owners
A law unto themselves
Why is French law so different to the law in England and Wales? It all goes back to William, Henry and Napoleon, explains Alan Field
