Renovated Provençal Mas for Sale

There are plenty of beautiful homes for sale in Provence but you rarely find a traditional mas (farmhouse) that's been fully renovated...and yet unlived in. Here's one and it's a beaut.

Sandra Peskin first came to St. Remy in 1977, while studying at Montpellier University. ''It was love at first sight,'' she says, ''and thereafter I dreamt about one day owning a home here.'' Once her kids, now 23 and 25, were done with school, the dream became a reality. In 2006, she and her husband Andrew bought a vacation home in the region and did a full one-year renovation. In 2009, they made the move down from London permanent and full time. But with her background in property sales, relocation and interior design--and one stunning Provence renovation under her belt--Sandra found herself itching to tackle another. So when this 19th-century house became available not far from their own, the couple snapped it up. Sandra spent close to a year gutting and renovating it for resale. Final landscaping touches are happening this month.

On the ground floor are a reception room, dining room, TV room/office/playroom, guest bathroom with walk-in shower and double bedroom with fitted wardrobes and en suite bathroom. The kitchen is fully equipped with Neff appliances, including three ovens (two traditional, one steam), a stove, American fridge/freezer, dishwasher and a breakfast bar that seats three. The utility room is equipped with another American fridge/freezer, a dishwasher and a large-capacity washer and dryer. Floor tiles are stone throughout the  ground floor.

The first floor has a master bedroom with en suite (tub and walk-in shower) and a dressing room; a double bedroom with fitted wardrobes and en suite; two additional bedrooms and a family bathroom. The floors upstairs are a mixture of stone and wood.

The house retains all the architectural features of a traditional Provencal mas: a south-facing entry, wood shutters, thick stone walls, tile roof, wood beams, large fireplace, etc.

The property comprises 328 square meters (3,530 square feet) of living space and is set in a mature garden of 3,800 square meters (just under one acre), with a newly renovated swimming pool with surrounding terraced areas.

Called Mas La Belugo, it's located ten minutes west of St. Remy, on a quiet, wooded lane between the villages of Mas Blanc des Alpilles and St. Etienne du Gres, where you'll find a high-quality butcher, boulangerie, florist, tea salon, restaurants, cafes and small shops. A few top-rated wineries are nearby. The price is €1.89 million. 

Plus, now that Sandra knows all the best design and decor shops in Provence, she says she'd be delighted to help the new owners find their way around and get set up.

So why am I writing about this house? First, because it's beautifully done and an ideal set-up for a family without the time, know-how or inclination to tackle a major renovation. Second, because I like Sandra and Andrew a lot and would love to help them find a buyer. Third, because you, my precious readers, tell me you're interested in real estate. Fourth: Le Finders Fee!

For more info, contact Sandra: sandrapeskin@googlemail.com, 

+33/4 90 96 46 41 or +33/6 06 66 68 45.