The original farmhouse was initially referred to as the 'bread oven' (maison du pain) because somewhere in it was housed a brick built, wood-fired 'four à pain'. It transpired, however, that this was located behind what was then a large open fireplace with a substantial iron plate sealing the entrance, which was removed to reveal a still-intact domed oven dating back at least a century. Sadly, the fireplace and chimney was needed to house the new wood burner so a new entrance was excavated via the adjoining terrace and is now a feature of the building.
The original part of the building needed a new roof so we removed the old hand-made tiles and put in new timbers / insulation before putting back the original characterful tiles. A large velux was added to the rear roof to let in more light and the tiny windows to the rear - built against harsh Dordogne winters - were excavated and old oak window frames from elsewhere on site installed. So whilst many of the original features were preserved, where possible, it benefitted from a complete makeover to insulate and bring it up to modern standards.
After demolishing an old attached building a large new extension was added to create four additional bedrooms, but again with an eye towards the local vernacular. With a traditional Perigordine hipped roof and recuperated hand-made tiles the extension comfortably sits alongside the old farmhouse but being newly built to exacting modern standards it is comfortable in both winter and summer climes.
Sadly, due to their proximity to the building the copse of fir trees needed to be felled in 2018 but this opened up the rear terrace and saved the job of emptying the gutters from pine needles!
