About Our Mill, Our Home
We bought this mill because it made us feel very good, very special, from the moment we first saw it
on a gorgeous sunny November afternoon. We immediately knew this place was extraordinary. We
knew we wanted to make it our home. The immediate down stream acreage surrounding the mill has
stunning natural beauty which was readily apparent to us. What we didn’t appreciate at the time, is
the exquisite four season personality this mill and this area of France provides. The lifestyle and local
culture is far richer than we could have ever imagined. We hope we can convey some of that feeling
in this missive and with our photos.
That was the beginning. Let us try to describe our mill & the life on this property located in an
extraordinarily beautiful area of old South West France, called Dordogne.
My wife and I live full time in this cozy landmark watermill nestled alongside a bubbling stream that
runs down and through our 3.28 hectare organic farm situated below the mill. It’s our home. It’s our
refuge. Above all, it’s peace and tranquility. It’s privacy without isolation. It’s sophistication without
pretense. We know this to be true. We were once deeply rooted Californians who have lived on
three continents, in the northern and southern hemisphere, in more than a dozen homes, in a myriad
of different situations, over the past sixty years. From that perspective, we can say, this property is
very special. It’s one of a kind.
This mill has its own unique personality. They all do. Every mill in France is unique in many different
ways: the strength, the timing and the direction of sunlight on the property, how the walls and
stones and timbers feel inside the home, the out-views from the windows and doors, and balconies,
the visual relationship and communication of the water to the mill, all make up the personality of
each property. The river or pond or stream source and how it is situated, are all unique and different
to each mill. Mills are near water of some kind. That’s what mills were all about. Water and work.
Mills were built to last. They were an enterprise that used to make money for the owners. Mills were
built solid and enduring.
Our mill is the second one on this site in the past 600 years. The current mill, our home, is over 200
years old and will probably last another 200 years. Built upon solid bedrock with massive hand cut
granite mortared corner stones, it’s a piece of exquisite architectural history.
Mills were built before the advent of the steam engine. Wind and water power drove all of second
millennia life sustenance before coal and steam driven productivity arrived. Water mills were built in
another era of relative social simplicity. Back in those early days there were over 35,000 water mills
operating in France. Only a relatively few are in existence today. Most have been long ago
demolished and their stones carted off to far away places. Hand cut stones were never wasted, only
reborn in a new building. Even fewer mills are restored and livable. Pristine cozy restored mills like
ours are rarely found anywhere in the world.
Some mills were like giant industrial factories astride huge rivers that once provided employment for
hundreds of workers.
Other petite mills were tucked away in the forested rolling hills and quiet rural open farmland,
situated on bubbling streams that employed the miller and his wife and their offspring for
uncountable generations. Ours was one of them.
We are very proud of the complete restoration and modernization we accomplished on this entire
property. The mill exterior, the mill pond, the stone retaining walls, the grazing meadows, the forest
land, the fences, the gardens, and of course the mill interior itself.
This mill looks ancient because it is ancient. But it's very easy and comfortable to live in because it’s
been completely modernized beneath the surface. Our Parisian friends call it “California French”. The
entire restoration has been done throughout by local French artisans in the old French tradition of
hand crafted quality. But the daily livability is equivalent to the high standards we were accustomed
to in California estate living.
We have a personal philosophy about ownership. We believe that we are simply custodians and
caretakers of everything that comes into our life. We feel this way about our mill….. We’ve been its
custodians and caretakers for a period of time, and are very proud to have had the privilege.
We hope you enjoy the selected photos of our mill, and through them are able to feel some of the
incredible beauty and serenity this property embodies. Everyone who visits our place remarks how
special they feel here. We hope that you too, come to visit, one day.
DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS:
DOWNSTAIRS (114 m2)
Includes Great Room, Open Concept Dining Room, Farm House Country Cottage Style
Kitchen and Nook, Laundry Room and Solarium.
GREAT ROOM includes 2 separate, comfortable, cozy and distinct living spaces:
Fireplace Room (27 m2) with window paned double front entry doors and 1 window, tile
floor, and fireplace with Dovre Insert. A place to cozy up, relax and entertain, or connect
with high speed internet in the high tech computer corner.
Multi-Media Room (24 m2) with 2 windows and hardwood floor. A place to relax and
entertain, watch your favorite movies or satellite TV, listen to your favorite music, or
read a good book in the library corner.
OPEN CONCEPT DINING ROOM AND FARM HOUSE COUNTRY COTTAGE STYLE KITCHEN &
NOOK includes 3 separate, comfortable, cozy and distinct living spaces:
Dining Room (12.5 m2) with 2 windows and hardwood floor, and now features our
sideboard and massive dining table that seats 10. A warm, cozy and friendly place for
dining and entertaining.
Kitchen Nook (23 m2) with window paned back entry door, tile floor and pantry cabinets,
that accommodates for a refrigerator. The Kitchen Nook now features our New Zealand
Kauri Wood prep table as a center island beneath a heavy Iron Pot Rack. A perfect place
for additional kitchen working zone and stand up entertaining.
Cook’s Kitchen (8 m2) with 2 windows, tile floor, hood exhaust fan and cabinets that
accommodates a stove top oven and dishwasher. Butcher Block counter tops, tile
surround, deep set double porcelain sink and top of the line faucet. An incredibly
functional kitchen with cottage charm great for cooking, baking and creating your
favorite foods, and for stand up entertaining too.
LAUNDRY ROOM (2.5 m2)
Laundry Room with 1 window, painted concrete floor, plenty of wire storage baskets for
laundry necessities and space that accommodates a stackable washer and dryer.
SOLARIUM (17 m2)
Solarium with 2 window paned double doors, stone floor, and stairways that leads to the
upstairs of the Mill House. This Solarium now serves as our organic vegetable gardening
conservation and supply room.
STAIRWAY & LANDING
Stairway & Landing with hardwood floors, and solid oak post and spindle handrail.
UPSTAIRS (93 m2)
Includes 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms and Hallway.
BEDROOM 1 - MASTER BEDROOM ENSUITE
Master Bedroom (20 m2) with 2 windows, 2 Velux Skylights, hardwood floor, vaulted
ceiling and built-in clothes closet.
Master Bathroom (7 m2) (Bathroom 1) with 1 window, hardwood floor, vaulted ceiling,
linen cabinets, 2 porcelain sinks set in cabinets with tile counter and tile surround, 2 wall
mirrors with antique silver wash frames, acrylic claw foot slipper tub with tile surround
and 1 porcelain toilet.
BEDROOM 2 (12 m2)
Bedroom 2 – Bedroom with 1 window, hardwood floor and vaulted ceiling and built-in
clothes closet. This Bedroom now serves as our incredible dressing room.
BEDROOM 3 – GUEST BEDROOM ENSUITE
Bedroom 3 – Guest Bedroom (9.5 m2) with 1 window, 2 Velux Skylights, hardwood floor
and vaulted ceiling This Bedroom now serves as our art studio loft and guest bedroom.
Bedroom 3 – Guest Bathroom (5.5 m2) (Bathroom 2) with 1 window, hardwood floor,
vaulted ceiling, 1 porcelain sink top set on cabinet with tile counter and tile surround, 1
shower and 1 porcelain toilet.
BEDROOM 4 (11 m2)
Bedroom 4 - Bedroom with 1 window, 1 Velux Skylight, hardwood floor and vaulted
ceiling. This Bedroom now serves as our interior utility and storage space.
BEDROOM 5 (13 m2)
Bedroom 5 – Bedroom with 2 windows, hardwood floor and classic porch lumber style
ceiling with direct access from stairway upper landing. This Bedroom now serves as our
study and family office.
BATHROOM 3 (5 m2)
Bathroom 3 – Bathroom with 1 window, 1 Velux Skylight, hardwood floor, vaulted ceiling,
linen cabinets, 1 porcelain pedestal sink with tile surround trim, 1 wall mirror with
antique gold wash frame, 1 shower and 1 porcelain toilet.
HALLWAY (10 m2)
Hallway with hardwood floor and vaulted ceiling, and provides access to bedrooms and
hallway bathroom. The Hallway also serves as our feature walled art gallery.
INDOOR MILL FEATURES:
Exposed Ancient Hand Crafted Timberwork Beams and Rafters
Spectacular Views from every Window and Door
Light and Airy interior
Tryba Double Glazed PVC Windows and Doors with Sandwiched Muntin Bars
Tryba Retractable Window Screens
Velux Skylights
Custom Crafted Solid Wood Double Glazed Window Paned Front and Back Entry Doors
with Sandwiched Muntin Bars
Traditional Solid Wood Shutters with Iron Hinges and Storm Keeper Latches
Persienne Solid Wood Shutters with Storm Keeper Latches
Custom Crafted Built-In Country Cottage Style Cabinetry
Solid Chestnut Hardwood, Tile and Stone Flooring
Solid Oak Wood Pass Through Interior Doors
Fuel & Boiler Central Heating and Hot Water Heating
Hydronic Wall Radiators with Thermostatic Radiator Control Valves Throughout
Hydronic and Electric Towel Radiators with Thermostatic Radiator Control Valves in
Bathrooms
Dovre Energy Efficient Fireplace Insert with Circulating Fan
New Roof on Mill House and Garage
OTHER:
High Speed Internet
Satellite Dish
Municipal Water Supply
Septic System