La Cour, Livarot, Normandy
Set among the patchwork pastures and orchards of the Pays D’Auge, this 200-year-old converted fromagerie has been a family home for 18 years, combining history and charm with the mellow beauty of traditional colombage.
In the heart of rural Normandy, with it’s own spring-fed lake for swimming and frog-hunting, La Cour offers a year-round idyllic retreat from care-worn lives.
In spring, the apple blossom falls from the gnarled branches into wild oregano and mint as you breakfast on coffee and almond croissants beneath the huge olive; when summer sun takes over, laze with a book and let the boat float through evening clouds of dragon-flies. Crisp autumn walks foraging for berries and mushrooms end with full collecting bags and a warming glass of something French, while in winter the huge stone fireplace presides over conversation with friends and family, as the snow settles outside and the fragance of a bubbling cassoulet drifts through the house…
The house itself, set in three acres of land and dotted with the occasional picturesque colombage barn, is surrounded by daisy-strewn lawn and pasture, with weathered decking at the back of the house overlooking the lake and orchards and leading to the raised swimming pool.
Mature olive and magnolia trees offer shade at the front of the house and established vines and roses cover the timbered walls, while the garden beds are a mix of lavender, herbs and roses, with a little bit of whatever the children planted last year.
Inside, the house is an adventure in visual pleasure - old encaustic-tiled ceramic floors, worn walnut, art deco glass and countless beams, polished wooden floors, ceiling fans and an eclectic, tasteful mix of contemporary and vintage furniture and decoration. It’s gorgeous but comfortable, with enough space for a little privacy and enough room for a little togetherness.