In the News Papers ….

The French Provincial style of private residence is more popular than ever and is taking Melbourne Eastern suburbs by storm. No wonder then that local media got interested as well, and have tried to understand this phenomenon a bit more.
Therefore The Good House was a logical source of information for journalist Charlotte Durut.
 Click here to read her article in the Leader Newspapers.

And see for yourself below an example of simple and symmetrical classical French design..!
If you are in the process of designing your next French chateau... give us a ring ..!

Versailles panels the floor of choice for French Provincial design

The French Provincial or French inspired style is taking some of Melbourne leafy suburbs by storm. To be honest, as a grumpy old Frenchman I feel often ashamed of the final look. Enter now Trevor Mitchell and Ivan Pantovic from MARQUE Property Group into the high end segment of the market and everything changes for the best! The Good House is proud of being part of this success, having supplied the solid French oak Versailles parquet for this luxury display home.

The Good House also supplied the farmhouse limestone fireplace.

Our panels are made of genuine solid French oak, precision machined to ensure installation is a breeze. All components are connected to each others by tongues and grooves, the traditional manufacturing process that allows for these panels to be installed on any sub-floor, including joists or battens.

Camembert soon to be on the cheese board and,..

... the Boeuf Bourguignon is in the pot !

Factory standard finish is fine sanded with bevel. Custom finishes include wire brushing, smoking (light or heavy), heat treatment (for a very dark result), and stain + oil coating.

Note the installation with shuttle blocks between panels.

The "Petit Versailles" panel is 600 x 600 mm, and the "Grand Versailles" is 866 x 866 mm. The Good House can also supply custom sizes up to 980 x 980 mm, as well as the equally stunning Chantilly and a string of made-to-order designs.

Double glazed windows: The French Farmhouse, Trentham

          There is no doubt most clients of The Good House are very special people. If anyone need be convinced, just follow this link to read the full story of the Trentham French Farmhouse,  a work of faith and passion, proudly achieved by Andrew and Narelle Glynn.

          For this project The Good House supplied the double glazed windows, custom made in France to perfectly match a symmetrical and simple design, a true sign of genuine French houses, particularly in the Southern half of France.

Yes ! This is in country Victoria ! (Did you notice the Eucalyptus foliage ?)

From inside the illusion is even more striking !

          For those more interested in the technical side of things, below are more photos at an early stage of the project. Installing double glazed windows goes hand in hand with very good thermal insulation, and there is no shortage of it at the French Farmhouse!
          The timber windows we supplied are fully painted (primer + 3 coat low sheen lacker) and they also come with handle and a fully recessed, multi-point locking mechanism, to guarantee full weatherproofing and security.  Cross bars can be exposed as pictured, or recessed within the thickness of the double glazing, in a bronze or silver, thinner look.
          For more installation details,  please call Bernard on 0408 90 40 10.

                         Or come and spend an unforgettable weekend at The French Farmhouse !

Note the thickness of the walls and insulation…

… and the standard handle and separable European hinges.

                        

Herringbone parquetry floor in genuine French oak

It is quite reassuring every now and again to deal with clients for whom only the best could do. This herringbone parquet floor was sourced from a French parquetry set in the heart of Burgundy, and quite simply, the quality and beauty of the product are obvious. 

The client wanted long and narrow blades, just like those installed 40 years ago in my family home in the outskirts of Beaune, the Burgundy vineyard capital. Therefore the choice was very easy: The Good House is the only company in Australia able to source such a quality product at a reasonable price, thanks to its long lasting network of French suppliers.

One might think this luxurious timber floor was installed in Toorak or another top end Melbourne suburb but no, it simply is part of a thorough renovation in Thornbury, and as it is 22mm thick, it will truly "support" a happy family for many decades !

See more photos below taken prior to finishing. They demonstrate a strong advantage of  "Tongue & Groove" parquetry resides in the near perfect levelling between each blades, therefore requiring only a light sanding for an impeccable finish.

French leached grey parquetry finish

When a piece of timber is left exposed to the weather for several months, it gets that inimitable driftwood colour that is usually seen on well seasoned outdoor furniture.

At the Good House this is no longer an inimitable finish, thanks to a new dual coating process that is both durable and simple to apply on site. It is all the rage at the moment in France, and it's easy to understand why when looking at this Versailles panel:

Versailles panel in our new driftwood finish

 Unlike most similar finishes that are quite opaque, our leached grey finish is fully transparent and leaves the striking features and grain of French oak exposed and even enhanced. It is not a thin surface coating that will wear off quickly, but a deeply ingrained finish that can be re-done when required on a heavy traffic area.

A light grey driftwood colour suits most types of design, from traditional country look (reminiscent of Provence benchmark lime wash) to contemporary Scandinavian or minimalist style. Talk to us in regards to installation and possible combinations.

Dormer windows a touch of style in French Provincial Design

          A French Provincial gem, located just off the Golden Mile, Mount Albert Road in Surrey Hill, and built by renown boutique artisan Chris Hardy (www.frenchprovincialhomes.com.au) recently sold at a significant price tag.

          This is what you can expect when you get it right from scratch, and at The Good House we've been promoting and supporting good design, complemented with the right choice of materials, for more than 16 years. If you are unsure where to start, feel free to seek advice for your next project, this is what our Consultancy Service is all about !

         This project features our dormer windows, a simple item that proves there is no need to spend big money to achieve balance and style, but a genuine product is the key. These dormer windows are the exact reproduction of a traditional French roof window, only a lot easier to install than the original ones that were made of cast iron !
          Also featured but somehow hidden in the greenery are our genuine Anduze garden vases, in their ever popular weathered finish.

          At The Good House we try hard to make your life easier !

The most beautiful door in Melbourne ?

                      If you ever wondered where is the most beautiful entrance door installed in Melbourne in recent years,  you might as well travel to Malvern. With so many leafy streets and hidden gems concealed within lush gardens, Malvern is a place of past and present wonders.

                    Our featured door is impressive in more ways than just the look.

• Facing North, it was made out of European walnut, a species known for its resilience to sun exposure. 
• Measuring 2.7m in height, and 1.8m in width, weighing approximately 400 kilos all together, this is not a flimsy door ! The frame is 54mm thick, and with the mouldings it goes up to 70mm !
• It's all traditional workmanship, mortice and tenons assembled with pins.
• It's fitted with a recessed, multipoint safety locking mechanism (top / middle / bottom) 
• A full peripheral rubber seal ensures complete air and water tightness.

               I guess when the owner comes home after a tough business day, the silky touch of the walnut timber, the quiet thud of the heavy leaf closing, and the clear click of the brass locks, all contribute to  leaving the worries outside, and feeling the strong sense of well deserved ownership softly rushing in his veins.

   

          All our doors are custom made in France by renown French cabinet making and wood carving company Bruno BERTOLI - Follow this link to their website: http://www.bertoli.fr