Two views of the back of the kitchen
The countryside, picturesque towns and beautiful light of the South of France has inspired artists for centuries and now one Bristol-based artist is selling her French studios.
Artist Keebee, is hoping the 17th century
village house in the Languedoc
region will prove an inspiration for another artist as it did for her –
she has produced new designs for fabrics and silks while visiting the
house as her French retreat.
When KeeBee saw the property in the attractive traditional village of St
Hippolyte du Fort near historic Nimes it was love at first sight.
“The house was previously the local alimentation and coffee grinders, and the setting is beautiful with a surrounding landscape of hills and valleys,” she said.
“The special quality of the light is also an extra attraction for artists and the area is steeped in silk history with the Silk Museum
just down the road from me, while nearby is the house where Dr Louise Pasteur came to study and treat the diseases in the silk trade.”
The village also has a Vaubin Fort and a rich collection of noble architecture as well as the usual mixture of shops, cafes and
restaurants all within a couple of hundred yards.
The light and the setting inspired KeeBee in her work and the designs produced in France will soon be launched on her website
She is now planning to create a new
purpose built gallery and design studio to present her work and to finance the new move has decided
reluctantly to sell her 12-room house which has been structurally
restored in recent years by local craftsmen.
The four-bedroom property covers 5,500 sq ft, half of which is living accommodation with the rest comprising a huge attic, studios, storage
space and garages for two to three cars.
The three-storey property has garages and workshops on the ground floor and gas heating. The kitchen is on the first floor kitchen along with a studio, bedroom and bathroom, and spectacular mountain views.
The second floor features a large lounge with a large traditional fireplace, three bedrooms and shower room with w.c. The third floor offers a huge storage attic and large studio/workshop attic.
The property also has a terraced garden, a garden studio with fireplace, and an L-shaped two-storey stable totaling 220 sq ft which is currently used for painting.
The quarter-acre garden on the edge of the village is reached by a donkey track and offers superb views of the picturesque countryside.
“I will be sorry to leave the house with its open fires, beamed ceilings
and beautiful location,” said KeeBee.
“It is a spacious and easy-living home which is big enough to accommodate visiting friends, family and fellow artists.
“We have two markets every week in the village square throughout the year, and as well as local schools, churches and a supermarket, they are
developing a new 30 acre business park on the far side of the town which will provide new opportunities for the 3,500 people who live here.”
The property could be a developer’s dream with its semi-urban situation which could permit commercial activity on the ground floor and the
possibility of living accommodation being divided into apartments or gites, or run as a B&B.
The property is priced at around £180,000 with the option of purchasing the partly restored stable of 400 sq ft for around £30,000.
The main towns of Nimes, Avignon and Montpelier are some 30 miles away
with good road connections, cheap flights to local airports and access to the high-speed TGV trains and motorways.
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An artistic impression of the house
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View of the village from the hill garden, with the house pointed out at 'maison' (red roof)
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The rocky ruins up on the hill garden terraces |
<<< View from the South Window
Looking down the street towards 'town'.
The living room shows the stone fireplace, stone sink and alcove, stone wall and has a window to the south.
The same room showing one of the corners where we relax and paint.
This view shows neighbouring houses in the street with the bridge and viaduct in the background, plus the wooded hillside beyond.
The Kitchen looking South.
The units and cooking area.
The staircase to the upper two attic levels.
Hippolyte du Fort is steeped in history.
L'arlesienne, a historic owner of the past.
The downstairs living room showing the entrance to the "Tardis
Zone". 
Right: The little doorway to the independent studio/bed/bath and w.c.
Left: Another living room picture showing real rustic wood and old terracotta tiles feature with the stone in the kitchen.
Right: Stairs and hall and one front door.
Stone sink to studio.
This is the garden room with it's own fire place and sink,an ideal studio or solarium.
Left: Bedroom with open fireplace (the office!).
Right: A Bedroom for sleeping.
These pictures show a well established Virginia Creeper
shading the garden terrace
2nd floor- huge living room then 3 bedrooms and shower room with w.c.
3rd floor storage attic and huge attic workshop(450+sq.ft).
To make enquiries about this property, please telephone 01761 462722 in the first instant. This is a UK number.