For many of us the thought of proudly owning a stately house is the stuff of full fiction.
A fairytale fantasy that can without end be confined to the pages of a storybook, or the skinny plot of a Hallmark vacation film. Nevertheless, Julia Fulford-Kirby has managed to show her lifelong dream of proudly owning a citadel right into a actuality.
After a childhood stint dwelling within the UK — throughout which she developed a love of heritage homes — the Sydney-born artist determined to make it her mission to have certainly one of her personal,
“I at all times dreamed of sooner or later proudly owning a phenomenal outdated mansion — that dream grew to a chateau in France,” Ms Fulford-Kirby stated.
From Cairns to a French Chateau
After calling Cairns residence for greater than 15 years, and debating her subsequent actual property journey, Julia determined to look abroad to get extra bang for her buck.
“I had been fortunate to profit from property developments on a small scale, which I bought so I may make my transfer to France,” stated Ms Fulford-Kirby.
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Chateau Mas de Pradie was constructed within the mid-1700s. Image: Equipped
Initially fascinated with buying a small farmhouse, the artist and inside designer quickly realised that her Aussie greenback would go a lot additional than she initially thought.
“I quickly realised that I may buy the kind of property I had at all times dreamt of proudly owning — the sort of home I may by no means have the ability to afford in Australia, however in France I may.”
Identical to a fairytale citadel. Image: Instagram @escapetochateau_mas_de_pradie
Starting her search in 2017, she spent greater than a 12 months scouring the web for her dream chateau, earlier than compiling a shortlist of properties and travelling to France, together with her two sisters, to view them in September 2018.
“We considered about seventeen,” recalled Ms Fulford-Kirby. “They had been all around the nation and ultimately we discovered Chateau Mas de Pradie.”
Proprietor Julia Fulford-Kirby (left) together with her two sisters, Melissa and Sarah. Image: Fb @thechateausisters
Wow-worthy options
Positioned within the stunning Aveyron area of the Midi Pyrenees, Chateau Mas de Pradie was constructed within the mid-1700s on a lot older foundations. And regardless of being one of many smallest chateaus she inspected, the wealth of money-can’t-buy options gained Julia over.
“What actually caught my curiosity immediately was the potential of the gardens,” stated Ms Fulford-Kirby.
“There’s a phenomenal walled backyard, which was planted way back, and is full of quite a lot of fruit and nut bushes — it was like strolling right into a fairy story discovering this secret, uncared for backyard!
The walled backyard is an ideal location for a protracted lunch. Image: Equipped
“The home additionally had all its unique options, similar to thick oak flooring all through, marble fireplaces in each room, and unique kitchen with stone slab flooring.
“The chateau additionally got here with a beautiful massive barn, with 12-metre-high roof, an unique guardian cottage and one other smaller barn, a chapel with a vaulted ceiling and a properly home.”
The barn has been transformed right into a perform house with oak timber flooring. Image: Fb
Bricks and mortar apart, one other priceless characteristic inside the grounds of the chateau was the large standing stones — stones erected hundreds of years in the past — alongside historical burial chambers and a cave system below the woods, which incorporates a number of the world’s oldest cave work.
In more moderen instances the chateau was residence to famed French painter, Bernard Dufour, who’s famend for his summary post-World Battle II work.
Eight months after first viewing Chateau Mas de Pradie, Julia settled on the palatial pad for lower than the value of a one-bedroom unit in Sydney.
A renovation journey
Now the only proprietor of her very personal citadel, the Aussie confronted the mammoth job of renovating the interval property single-handedly.
“I attempted to do as a lot as I can, primarily as a result of I get pleasure from it, but additionally to save cash as trades are very costly in France,” defined Ms Fulford-Kirby.
“I can now plaster cracked partitions, apply wallpaper, and paint and oil flooring. I do all of the backyard work myself, which is lots of work however I do love being within the gardens.”
The renovation was featured on the tv present ‘Chateau DIY’. Image: Instagram
Flexing her renovation prowess, Julia was steadily capable of renovate and produce the rundown constructing again to life. And within the course of, her journey was documented by hit TV present, ‘Chateau DIY’ — a by-product of the Channel 4 ‘Escape to the Chateau’ sequence.
Now, Chateau Mas de Pradie has develop into not simply Julia’s residence, but additionally a full-time enterprise too — one which includes vacation leases, B&B rooms, weddings, and quite a lot of different occasions.
There’s even studio house for artists and month-to-month showings of the artists-in-residence works’, along with photograph festivals and connoisseur al fresco dinners.
“My hope from right here is to see the enterprise aspect develop additional, to proceed growing the property and its gardens and to create a popularity as a magical wedding ceremony and occasions venue,” Ms Fulford-Kirby stated.
The realities of a tree change
For cash-strapped Aussies who’re setting their sights abroad with the hope of a extra wallet-friendly tree change, Julia has some phrases of knowledge:
“Sure you can purchase superb properties in France for what looks as if very little cash, however you will have to spend a lot of cash on them too.
“As an illustration, you will have to make your septic system compliant inside a 12 months of buy, and meaning the acquisition of a complete new system. The identical will apply to your electrical and plumbing system.
These grand properties could also be low cost, however getting them as much as code isn’t. Image: Equipped
“Materials prices, dwelling prices and taxes are very excessive in France, our TVA tax — which is just like the Australian GST — is 20%, and the social taxes are additionally very excessive,” she stated.
“The property market traditionally doesn’t rise in France prefer it does in Australia, so shifting to France is a life-style selection, not a industrial one.”
Julia utilizing her centuries outdated pizza oven in Aveyron, southern France. Image: Equipped
Working out of the country with overseas tradespeople will at all times be difficult and, when your own home can be your bread and butter, there’s by no means any time to slack off on the subject of cleansing and upkeep.
“There’s at all times the stress to have the property trying its greatest, lawns mown and neat, pool clear,” defined Ms Fulford-Kirby. “Plus, chateaus being outdated means there’s at all times sudden prices and repairs, so that you at all times want wholesome financial savings for the sudden.”
Dwelling actually is her citadel
Nevertheless, the truth that Julia is the only proprietor of a powerful property, an property worthy of any king or queen, is enough compensation for the final 4 years of onerous work and sleepless nights.
“It has been robust, however I’d do it once more,” stated the 59-year-old. “Actually, I want I did this 20 years in the past.
The property additionally features a 20m properly topped with an owl home, plus a ‘gite’ and luxurious stables. Image: Instagram
“I like the home, the gardens, creating stunning areas and seeing visitors benefit from the place. It has been probably the most worthwhile achievement in my life To stay on this stunning, outdated constructing is a each day privilege. I really feel so fortunate.”
