Upon entering this traditional farmhouse, you will be charmed by its 260-year history. Even as you drive up to the house, its beautiful location, typical wooden fence, blue shutters, and majestic farm buildings radiate warmth and a welcoming atmosphere. Only a few steps into the house (the floor is covered with old Kolbingen tiles, acquired from the Beuron monastery), is the middle of the old smokehouse kitchen (called 'Rauchküche'). This means that, for the longest time, it functioned with an open fire place. It is now the hallway. Some foods, like bacon, were hung above the fireplace to be smoked, in order to be more easily preserved. The house's original rafters, which were hidden under several layers of insulation, wood, and particle board, as well as its walls, have been blackened with soot. You can still smell it! Now, let's go into the living room. Here we found the original stone wall from 1747 under old lime plaster - very exciting!
The tiled stove, from approx. 1790, has been renovated and radiates the sense of comfort and shelter of a house that has been through a lot. Nevertheless: full-HD TV, and an impressive Bose sound system with iPod dock. Naturally, 3D glasses are available. Even rainy days are fun! A fine collection of Blu-Rays, DVDs, and CDs is also available. Even your pet will feel pampered in the nice, roofed animal sleeping area. In the romantic, roomy country kitchen, which used to be the workshop (added in approx. 1900), you can enjoy cosy candle-lit dinners at the long, 8-person wooden table, telling stories late into the night. Sure to please our gourmet guests, our kitchen is fully-equipped: crockery for 12 people, coffee tableware for 12 people, rustic coffee ceramic, wooden platters, lots of pots and pans, various mixers, etc. Cutlery for 24 people and an induction stove (you won't miss out on new technology) are also on hand. The microwave is also handy for quick meals.
Next to the kitchen is the loggia, i.e. a covered passage to the former farm buildings, equipped with a BBQ grill and a cosy table with chairs for at least 6 people, and boasting a view of the greenery behind the free-standing house, the garden, and the outdoor barrel-shaped Jacuzzi. The Jacuzzi is great for warm summer evenings or cold snowy winters (great fun, whether in hot or cold water) and guests have complete privacy when sitting in the Whirlpool.
Take a break and relax: surrounded by rose petals or candle light, a glass of champagne is a must! All day long, the sun travels around the house from room to room, keeping it nice and bright. Spend the evenings sat in front of the house, or in the Loggia on a sheepskin, wrapped in a warm blanket, finishing off the day with regional wine and cheese.
Another surprise to the right of the main entrance: the stable bathroom! A small sauna, sitting on what used to be a sow stall, a large and luxurious stone-tiled shower (formerly a calf stall), and a free-standing cast-iron bathtub from nearby Alsace! These amenities are here, waiting for you to use them! Along the long side of the house you will see the unaltered, traditional barn, which houses the trough, the wooden shutters through which hay was given to the animals, as well as the drinking troughs for the cows and goats that once lived here. Even the wood planks are unchanged; but cleaned, of course! The bedrooms are reached by a well-trodden staircase, which is illuminated at night with LED lamps for security. Here you will find a bathroom with shower and toilet on the old threshing floor, as well as a romantic reading area, where you can withdraw to take in the last rays of sunlight shining between the old beams. Hung above the staircase, the 'horns,' i.e. a collection of antlers, are illuminated with warm light. In bedroom 1 you will find a double bed with extra-thick mattresses for heavenly sleep, a designer armchair, a mirror and a painting equipped with infra-red heating created by a young artist, a delicate, antique wardrobe, and a cosy atmosphere. If necessary, a white cast-iron children's cot is available. Bedroom 2 has room for three guests. Likewise, specially-designed wooden beds, just like in bedroom 1, are ready to give you a good night's sleep. An old wooden chest, floor lamp, etc. complete the refreshing flair. You will find all the necessary comforts in the small bath- and shower room.
The garage is connected to the very back of the house.
Please note: Ceiling height in the house is 6'5'!
Nice, friendly neighbours live in the surrounding houses.
We recently had guests from Israel who were so delighted, that they immediately photographed the house and its inventory. The lady was a writer for Busyboo, the world famous architecture and design blog, and gave us a nice review on the site - go check it out!
We are also the topic of a big story with great photos in the July edition of Servusmagazin (#7, 2014)!
