Inspiration of the Week: this Gloucestershire gem is the crème de la crème

Is there anything the French don’t do well? From cheese to trains, by way of buttery baked goods, wine and haute couture, our neighbours across the Channel get things right. But joining baguettes and bottles at the top of the list, the buildings of France are extraordinary, with the beauties of the baroque period (17^th-18^th century) among our favourites.

Why the sudden burst of Francophilia, you may be wondering? In answer, we encourage you to look at this house in Stroud, the Gloucestershire market town, which is now on the market. Constructed in the middle of the 19^th century, it’s a French fancy of fantastic style: think oeil-de-boeuf windows, a slate mansard roof and arched dormers, all of which bring the grand boulevards of Paris to mind.

Inside, things get a little more recognisable to us rosbif, with handsome Victorian panelling and cornicing bringing depth and texture to the rooms, decorated smartly and simply. In the kitchen and dining room, converted from what was an old billiard hall when the house was a cloth merchant’s villa, the tone shifts. Here, a generous mezzanine overlooks a double-height dining area, which is illuminated by both skylights and factory-style lamps that remind us of the vintage industrial designs of French firms such as Jielde.

While this airy space is ready-made for entertaining, might we draw your attention to the – wait for it – folly in the garden? Hand-carved from the same limestone as was used in the restoration of Gloucester cathedral, this columned portico is inspired by the villa’s west façade and has been fitted with reclaimed stained-glass windows. Champagne, anyone? Merci beaucoup.