Have you ever driven by a home, stopped to look at it and wondered…is it as elegant on the inside as it is on the outside? That is the Versailles- elegance with extras (a guest apartment). Let me explain. This house plan by Living Concepts, Versailles, has the amenities you might be looking for. A French Country home with about 5100 square feet, a three-car garage, master suite on the main floor, well-planned outdoor spaces, a theater and yes, a guest apartment or suite over the garage. Plus three more bedroom suites, three full baths and a powder room.
Versailles: Elegance with Extras (a Guest Apartment)
The Front of the Home
I have not been to Versailles (France) but I can tell you it is on my bucket list. While my feet are on solid ground, however, I’ll pore over this photo instead. The front of the home exudes a fairy tale luminescence. The three-car garage is on the right, with a breezeway connecting it to the home. The exterior is stone, which adds to the old-world charm of the house. It also has three round-topped dormers on the front.
Versailles: Elegance with Extras (a Guest Apartment)
First Floor: Garage, Breezeway and Utility Room
Timbered brackets divide the front of the three bays of the garage. Stairs at the rear lead up to the guest apartment. Stepping from the garage using the door on the left, however, will lead you into the breezeway and then to the main body of the home. Once inside, a reach-in closet is on your right and the utility (laundry) room is on your left. You will have plenty of room to wash, dry and fold clothes, plus store your washing supplies. A few steps further and a door on the left brings you to a small porch, giving you another way to enter the front of the home.
Versailles: Elegance with Extras (a Guest Apartment)
First Floor: Foyer, Dining Room and Study
A third way to enter the home is through the front door. I know, a novel idea- however, entrance ways often form the first impression upon your guests. This one-the foyer- is extraordinary. The curving staircase is the focal point. A great home interior designer? An imperative- because the “extras” will complete the look you desire, from the color of the paint to the furniture you select. A reach-in closet is tucked under the stairs.
Curved entrances again add to the appeal. One leads into the dining room, which is to the right of the foyer. A fireplace, which is flanked by built-in cabinets on either side, will warm chilly mornings or evenings. The photo below tells its own story, of meals shared in a room that invites others to share their stories, too.
Then, to the left of the foyer, you will find the study. And another fireplace, complete with built-in shelves on either side. Finally, a place to store those books you’ve had in boxes, or to display treasures from afar. A countertop with a sink is just a door away, where you can prepare your tea or coffee when using the study.
Versailles: Elegance with Extras (a Guest Apartment)
First Floor: Kitchen, Gathering Room and Morning Bay
Next, on the right side of the house and you are in the kitchen. To your right is a place for your refrigerator and a walk-in pantry that will keep your baking/cooking goods organized and easy to reach. Need flour? Baking soda? There should be a spot for that. Canned goods? Rice? Indeed! An expansive kitchen island is centered here. Directly ahead is the double sink on a peninsula with your dishwasher on the left. Then, left of the island, you will find a recessed area for your stove, with ovens on either (or both!) sides. The photo below demonstrates this placement and the sophistication of the kitchen.
The morning bay (breakfast room) and gathering room are open to the kitchen. The bay window (one which projects from the outside wall) allows light to pore in. How much light is at your discretion, with the use of preferred window treatments.
The gathering room has a fireplace on the far wall, shelves on either side and a door that leads out to the terrace. Elegance with extras? Vraiment! That’s Versailles.
Versailles: Elegance with Extras (a Guest Apartment)
First Floor: Terrace, Grand Room and Master Suite
Outside on the terrace, you will have room for entertaining a few or many. A well-placed umbrella will keep you on the shady side when the sun is bearing down. Add a few comfortable chairs, and you might want to stay a while. Steps lead down into the yard, where you can extend your leisure.
Heading back inside, you will notice the stairs going up to the second floor in the grand room. A reach-in closet is tucked under the stairs. But let’s stay here for a moment and look. A fireplace is centered against the far wall. That makes four fireplaces. Four. The ceiling extends up to the second floor. Simple elegance.
Around the corner is a powder room. Then, the master suite. Remember that coffee bar in the study? It also opens up to the master suite. There are more than 350 square feet here for your bedroom furniture, including the sitting room, which faces the backyard.
Two walk-in closets are provided, one at either end of the suite. In the master bath, you will find a toilet (enclosed), then two sinks, separated by counter space. Room for his and her necessities. An island adds even more organization here. Finally, a shelf or garden tub, and a large walk-in shower complete this room.
Versailles: Elegance with Extras (a Guest Apartment)
Second Floor: Finally! The Apartment
Apart from the main house and above the garage- that’s where you will find the apartment. This may be the perfect place for a college-aged young adult, or an adult child who is in between jobs and housing. Stairs at the rear of the garage bring you into the main living area, where a reach-in closet is in the corner. The kitchen (sink, dishwasher, stove) and bathroom (shower/tub, toilet, sink) make this room invaluable.
Versailles: Elegance with Extras (a Guest Apartment)
Second Floor: A Theater and Three Bedroom Suites
The stairs in the grand room are closest to the theater upstairs. The room is deliberately designed to be long (and at 24 feet, it is) to give you maximum viewing of your favorite shows. It includes a countertop with a sink, allowing you to clean up easily after a night of popcorn and something fizzy to drink.
The bedroom suite on the left side of the home has a walk-in closet and full bath (shower/tub, toilet, single sink). Adjacent to this is attic storage. The third and fourth bedroom suites each have their own sink, and they share a shower/tub and toilet. They also have their own walk-in closets.
Versailles: Elegance with Extras (a Guest Apartment)- Conclusion
When you are looking for a home plan with elegance and extras, the Versailles plan by Living Concepts may be the one that fits you perfectly. French country, terrace, guest apartment, theater, fireplaces-there is much to enjoy. Be sure to click on the link above to purchase the plan! Prendre plaisir!