SPECIAL EDITION: Two of Our Best Paris Apartments for Sale
Le Coeur de la Cour Le Mabillon Studio |
You may not realize that we are not the usual real estate agency. Our mission is to benefit the buyer of French property, not the seller.
For this reason, our listings are very special because we will not list a property that we wouldn’t recommend our clients buy. That’s a huge difference between us and the 99.99% of the other agencies that will list just about any property, as long as there’s an opportunity for a sale and a chance to line their pockets. That means that they don’t really care what the buyer buys, as long as he buys something from their listings. And it means they won’t want to share their commissions, particularly on good properties they know they can easily sell without help from other agents.
Most of our listings are properties that were found by us to begin with, bought by our clients with our help, who are now selling years later, for one reason or another. They rarely like to let go easily as there are so many emotional ties to their French properties, but they like to know that the apartment or home will go to someone who will love it as much as they have.
We have two such apartments that just came on to our roster. One is a two-bedroom, two-bath in Le Marais with commercial usage designation, making it legal to rent short term (!!). The other is a large studio in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Both come fully furnished and are move-in ready. Both are in locations that North American tourists dream of staying. Both make great investment properties, as well as perfect Paris “pied-à-terres” for short or long-term living.
Let’s start with the two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in Le Marais:
We call it “Le Coeur de la Cour.” True to its name, being in “The Heart of the Courtyard,” opens onto a stately courtyard in a historic building in the heart of Le Marais on rue des Francs Bourgeois. The 88 square-meter apartment is in a portion of the building that was once the carriage-house of a 17th-century “Hôtel Particulier.” The interior was re-designed and decorated by our illustrious interior architect, Martine di Mattéo. (Her website features the master bedroom as the first photo you see!)
The apartment is situated on three levels: 1) a ground level living room/dining room/kitchen, 2) a master suite on the upper level and 3) a second bedroom and bath on the lower level, all which provide its occupants with a real sense of privacy.
The ground floor is home to the living room, dining room and spacious kitchen. The kitchen has all of the appliances that you would expect from a luxury apartment, including a full-size refrigerator with freezer, four-burner electric stove, oven, dishwasher, coffee maker, and toaster.
On this side of the apartment the two large windows facing the street are mirrored such that it provides complete privacy from the street, even with the curtains open. Off to one side, in a small space separated by a curtain, are the separate washer and dryer and utility area.
Meals prepared in this well-equipped kitchen can be served at the large oak dining table, which seats at least six. Everything is being sold with the apartment, including the plates, glasses and cutlery, as is all cookware.
The living room portion of this level has a double sofabed, flat-screen TV with DVD player, iPod dock, large coffee table, bookshelves and serving table and portable air conditioner. The large arched windows on the courtyard side allow plenty of light to enter through the sheer curtains but can easily be closed off with the second silk curtain.
An ancient oak stairway leads up from the living room to the sumptuous master bedroom suite including a powder room with toilet and full bathroom with claw-foot tub, shower and sink. The bathroom is bright, with “Métro-style” white beveled tiles, an oval window overlooking the courtyard and antique Venetian mirrors.
The master bedroom is spacious, with plenty of closet space behind antique louvre doors. The bed is crowned by a hand-made iron canopy. There is a large oak desk in one corner from which you can write your great novel, email your friends or just send postcards. Above the desk is a flat-screen television with DVD player. The room is bathed in light thanks to the windows on both sides, including an arched window that spans the entire length of one wall. A traditional boudoir-inspired “chaise longue” near the windows is for relaxing, reading, dreaming…or romantic moments. The space is both heated for cozy comfort or in warmer times, air-conditioned for ultimate pleasure.
From the living room take the spiral staircase down to the second bedroom with its queen-size bed that can be separated into twins, as you like. There is plenty of storage in the mirrored antique armoire and the room is equipped with a small television beside the bed including a DVD player.
There is a full bathroom with large tub ensuite to this room under an arched ceiling, once a wine cellar, hence a lower-scaled entry portal. The bathtub, under the arched ceiling and surrounded by the same beautiful white Métro tiles, is rather unique and quite delightful in which to soak and relax.
Le Coeur de la Cour is filled with charm and romance and has everything an owner or visitor needs for a perfect stay in the City of Light. What’s most important is that because the property is designated as “commercial,” it is a legal short-term rental and that means a certain revenue is possible for the owner. It’s one of our very best rental apartments and was featured in a House Hunters International! (Episode 4807H-“Every Little Girl’s Dream Comes True in Paris“)
Asking Price: 1,390,000€
Includes Agency Fee and Furnishings (Valued at 35,000€)
For more information, email Carsten Sprotte.
The Studio
The studio apartment for sale is on the other side of the Seine, on the Left Bank in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés…and I mean IN THE HEART!
The location of this sexy 28 square-meter studio apartment is as drop-dead perfect as it gets. Located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, where rue de Buci meets with boulevard Saint-Germain and rue de l’Echaudé, the apartment we have called “Le Mabillon” on our rental apartment sites is in the perfect location to enjoy one of Paris’ most sought after locations. It is on the third floor (with elevator) of an old building completely restored to modernity. The Left Bank, or “La Rive Gauche”…is the chicest of the chic.
Upon entering the building it is immediately clear that this one is special. Completely renovated in 2009, the common areas boast of exposed stone walls and centuries old beams, all beautifully illuminated with modern lighting. The anachronistic, modern glass elevator juxtaposes rather well with older parts of the building and waits to take you up to your Paris home.
The apartment is every bit as stylish as its surroundings. From the entranceway, a hallway leads first to a bathroom with combined tub with a rainfall shower, sink and toilet. Modern and elegant fixtures, a stone counter and a large mirror, make this room shine.
Continuing down the hallway one comes to the main part of the apartment. To the immediate left is a large closet with hanging space. Just past this is the kitchen area with refrigerator, two burner ceramic stove, full sized oven, microwave and several other small appliances that will allow you to be self-sustaining for as long as you need to be. The apartment is well equipped with dishes and glassware as well as utensils and cooking implements. (The apartment is sold with all of the furnishings.)
Opposite the kitchen is the sleeping area, with its inviting king-sized bed which can be converted to twins. The bed is adorned with luxury fabrics and ample pillows. Surrounding the head of the bed is built in cabinetry, which will mean that you will never have storage issues.
The entertainment center with flat-screen TV and DVD player can be enjoyed from the bed or from the comfortable sofa on the opposite wall from the bed. For your dining pleasure, there is a table for two in the corner of the apartment beside an antique mirrored divider. The plush Louis XV chairs will allow you to comfortably linger over meals.
The apartment has two large windows through which the sun shines, overlooking the very quiet rue de l’Echaudé, but is equipped with blackout curtains to allow you and your guests a very dark sleeping environment (if so desired).
Asking Price 555,000€
Includes Agency Fee and Furnishings (Valued at 7,500€)
For more information, visit our Properties for Sale site or email Carsten Sprotte.
Special Note: The value of the furnishings reduces the price on the deed and therefore reduces the Notarial taxes and fees of approximately 7%, paid by the buyer.
A la prochaine…
Adrian Leeds
Adrian Leeds Group
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