The French Files

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The French Files

Experience French-provincial living at this custom-built country home in the heart of Victoria's spa country. We were tired and it was time for a holiday.

The French House represents a long-held dream I share with my husband Andy to bring a taste of French lifestyle to our hometown of Melbourne. Since the dawn of time, our families have shared an inexplicable connection with France. There is absolutely no credible lineage that either family can trace to this gorgeous nation but we have – most all of us it seems- been born with a love for all things

French. I also thinks it helps that the country produces some of the most amazing wines and cheeses known on earth! So when the chance came up to move to Toulouse in 2006 for work and study, we jumped at it. During the year we travelled often and stayed in many chambre d’hôtes. The old French farmhouses we visited both fascinated and enamoured us: the casement windows with their cremone bolts; the large stone fireplaces; the crunch of gravel underfoot. The sheer history of the homes (if only walls could talk!)! We shared many a glass of wine with their owners as we enquired about their construction, interiors and gardens. Fast forward to 2014 and France was calling us back like a magnetic force. It had been six long years and we had celebrated our wedding, survived two home renovations and welcomed two energetic kids. Despite being petrified at the very prospect of travelling with our two “angels”, we couldn’t wait any longer. It took 36 hours of transit until we felt the crunch of gravel pulling into the driveway of our gîte in Bordeaux. Bless our dear host who greeted us with a chilled bottle of rosé. It took little more than the sound of that cork popping and the sight of the kids going troppo in the garden to know that our hectic city lifestyle needed to change. We needed more time for the simple pleasures we cherish:
1) quality time with family and friends where no one has to be anywhere in a hurry (nor worry about drinking and driving)
2) space for our cityslicker kids and their pals to go just a little feral

And the question was posed: could we create a little piece of France back home? How many other busy families were there, just like ours, who were desperate for the type of holiday when time stands still and one drinks wine on the terrace until the sun goes down and the mozzies start to bite? Plenty, we reckoned! And so it was decided. For the rest of the holiday, we trawled websites looking for land in Trentham. Within a week of returning home we had put a deposit on an acre block at the edge of town. It felt right in our gut, so we just went for it! So, why Trentham, you ask? Why not Daylesford? That is a really good question. Well, price, for one thing! The size of the town was another. Trentham is a budding little hamlet and, having spent a gorgeous day trip there – sans enfants – the year prior, we had already discovered that there was already a little hint of France in the air (see Annie Smithers’ Du Fermier) and a growing foodie following. Trentham being just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne's CBD (45 mins from the airport) was the clincher. That was 9 months ago and this page picks up our story just weeks before we turn soil and lay foundations on our plot. Countless hours have been spent poring over the house plans with our talented architects at Project12Architecture and we look forward to handing the site over to our builder Dean from ReelHomes who also shares our love for all things rustic, old or recycled. The French House will feature exposed timber beams, and shuttered French doors that spill open onto a vine-shaded terrace. Sleeping accommodation includes four bedrooms and two bathrooms, divided into two equal wings allowing two families to share the house in comfort and privacy. The garden landscape features a heated pool, synthetic grass tennis court and pétanque piste (bien sur!). I invite you to join in the journey and get excited with us as we progress through the build and make preparations to launch this unique property on the market. We value your support and your feedback dearly - so thank you in advance! Bien amicalement,
Narelle

07/04/2023

Unlikely the architects of our rental house ever envisaged their very striking steel staircase screening would double as a hanging rack but just keepin’ it real 😜

02/04/2023

The glorious Jervis Bay in Booderee Country 🙌🏼

02/04/2023

I’ll never tire of frangipanis!

10/03/2023

Welcome home !

Happy to see some old favourite recipes and try some new ones too!

❤️

06/03/2023

Happy birthday to this total s***k!

I truly consider myself the luckiest girl on the planet to call him mine and love to celebrate the day the universe sent him earthside.

26 years of birthdays together and I’m counting on tripling that at least!

05/03/2023

Kitchen inspiration for the Tamarama reno. Thinking soft grey with oak accent.
The goal: relaxed and inviting while looking timeless and chic.

05/03/2023

Dawn running in centennial parklands 🙌🏼

04/03/2023

Fire knocked on the doorstep of our beloved this week and we are so very grateful for the efforts of the amazing fire crews who brought it under control before any property was lost.

Andrew’s grandfather built the cabin in 1976 from cedar logs shipped from Canada and it’s been a special place for the family ever since.

We scrambled the funds to buy it from the family estate in 2019 so it could be enjoyed for more generations to come and we were terrified we might lose it this week.

The universe was so kind to spare us!

28/02/2023

Ownership of The French House passed to its new custodians today.

It’s a mix of happy and sad emotions.

We will always be immensely proud of the little slice of France we created in the amazing township of Trentham and hold the memories of precious time spent there with family and friends dear.

But we’re also excited to turn our creative energies to our next two projects.

Watch this space!

27/02/2023

When it comes to chasing your dreams, a favourite quote of mine is:

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase.
You just need to take the first step”

Sometimes the first step is just a phone call to find out more information.

The point is: Never die wondering.

26/02/2023

FAQ: Is linen included when you stay at Gable House?

Answer: Heck, yes!

I have a particular peeve for BYO linen scenarios at holiday rentals.

For starters, my bed sizes are rarely the same as the holiday house so I don’t actually own the right linen to begin with!

Plus it’s meant to be a holiday, remember??!

There’s absolutely nothing relaxing about remembering to pack the linen, finding room in the car (taking up precious wine box and esky real estate), then making beds when you arrive.

Plus bare, unmade beds just look yuck and the first impression for me is ruined.

So not only is linen included, but gorgeous linen at that.

(Rant over.)

25/02/2023

Gable House’s towering gum draws your eye sky bound to appreciate its glorious canopy against the blue.

Wraparound gardens offer the perfect tonic to busy city lives.

🌿

24/02/2023

Soak away the day.

Because my sister loves a bath, there was no question whether the master ensuite at Gable House would have one. It was a must!

I know guests will love it too!

And how cute is the porthole window?

You can see out across Point Leo to Phillip Island!

I love how the mid height subway tiles balance the angles of the roof and the exposed rafters.

This was one of those rooms that came out even better than I could ever have imagined!

23/02/2023

Painstaking and precision work from to transform a daggy* 1970s spiral staircase into this vic ash masterpiece.

“Quelle triomphe!”, I declare!

*it had apricot carpet treads 🤢and a glass plate in the floor for storing pot plants 🤷🏻‍♀️

📷Joel.Noon

22/02/2023

This deck was purpose built for sunset drinks.

We called it the Sunset Deck.

I don’t know how we do it, , but genius clearly runs in the family 😂🤣

21/02/2023

A 3-window cheminée fireplace amps up the cosy factor for those wintry nights at Gable House.

The peninsula weather gods love to keep you guessing so I suspect this beauty will get an almost year ‘round workout.

Plus, you’ve got to be fireside to truly enjoy a peninsula Pinot, right?

⏳
A reminder the Earlybird special of 15% off the nightly rate will close in 8 days. Send me a message for more info.

20/02/2023

The owner of Gable House (my sister) refused to step in to the original bathroom when she bought the house.

I’ll admit it was pretty hard to love with dark brown 1970s tiles and a shower curtain of unknown vintage. Ew!

I promised her it could be transformed it into a light-filled delight - what a result!

19/02/2023

Get lost in the lush gardens at Gable House.
🌿
Don’t forget to get in touch if you want earlybird access to the bookings calendar and 15% off stays before 30 June 2023.

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A little peek-a-boo into the brocante cache that lives in the living room hutch✨

Coucou! We’ve got the most GLORIOUS weather here so we’re pruning the vines. Time lapse highlighting Monsieur engineer’s anal-ytical precision versus Madame’s get-sh*t-done efficiency 👊🏼

Sadly, our guest group this weekend is from different households so is unable to stay. 🥺 We are already booked in for the following weekend so I I’ll leave this weekend free until Thursday night. 😁 I know there are lots of families dying to get away….so if that’s you, don’t delay! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 If you don’t book, we will! You’ll have to suffer my Insta spam two weekends in a row! #sorrynotsorry

Mornings at The French House ✨

🍸What’s say we just take a seat and sip at something refreshing? #alfrescoatthefrenchhouse

😍absolutely stunning @laurabeemason

⛲️Hypnotic ripples and lillypads

(Sound on) I deliberately left the window shutters open so the dawn light would wake me. What a treat! Gratitude overflowing ☺️

Call me delusional or an eternal optimist but I’ve booked the French House on the 1% chance of a miraculous lifting of the restrictions on Monday. If it happens, I’ll make like Coco and be outta here like a flash 😂

« Bon appétit to me! » I hope your Friday night was as gourmand as Sophie’s 😂

Sound on and drink in this serenity for your morning tonic 🙏🏻

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