Issue No. 21

The house needed little structural
renovation, the authentic chestnut wood
floors, plasterwork, fixtures and fireplaces
are beautiful. It meant that Robynne could
concentrate on getting the house
decorated and furnished. She was
fascinated by the history of her home but
found it hard to find out details since most
of the documents were lost almost a
century ago, though in its location next to
the Chateau Arzaas, it was likely built by
nobility.
Local artisans have transformed the house
into a gorgeous, comfortable and stylish
home, though it took a lot longer than
estimated. “It takes time to understand a
property” she says, “and I wanted to make
sure that the restoration was authentic and
the best it could be”. In fact what she
thought would take a year or two, took 12
years in total. There was a lot to consider,
for instance the 300-year-old wooden
staircase which is heritage listed for its
unique construction as it is entirely free
standing without vertical support beams
and needed to be completely preserved.
During this time she made friends with her
neighbours and the families of the French
mountain guides and got to know the area
well. It’s a village with a rich natural
heritage, and thanks to its mountain
environment it has preserved its authentic
pastoral character.
Perfect for nature lovers, the beautiful
landscape is stunning, wild and totally
unspoiled. “It’s a place where foraging for
mushrooms such as girolles and cèpes,
and wild berries is the norm” she says, “it is
an absolutely joy to experience a way of life
that most of us think simply doesn’t exist
anymore”.