It’s the very definition of a first-world problem: if you had £3.5m spare, would you splash the cash on a château in Provence or an apartment in London? We’ll let you decide…
The Provençal château: Château de la Roque, Luberon
A restored 11th-century château built into the rock — hence its name — in the coveted Golden Triangle of Provence, famed for pale rosé wine such as Whispering Angel.
It’s got five bedrooms and the same number of bathrooms, a swimming pool, a landscaped garden, private vineyards and a stone terrace with an outdoor kitchen for long, boozy lunches. Views for days helps, too.
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Typical Provençal materials and style run throughout the property, from the grand stone exterior to the tiled, wood and painted interior, which includes a central living and dining space with grand fireplace, a fully-equipped kitchen with chef-style oven, an orangery and a separate wing for visiting guests (of which you’ll have many), amongst many other spaces.
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While the renovation means there aren’t immediate costs for a potential buyer – unless, of course, the décor isn’t to one’s taste – there’s an unfinished outbuilding that would require some cash if you wanted to convert it, perhaps for guests or caretakers?
“Upkeep sits at around €30,000 per year, including gardeners and pool maintenance, but excluding concierge staff,” explains Simon Richards, founder of Provence Holidays, with which the property is listed.
“But owners could expect an estimated income of around €185k per annum through our company, depending on the number of weeks that it’s available for rent, of course.”
Simon explains that it’s likely the property will be purchased as an investment in French market, while those who enjoyed luxury hotels prior to Covid are now more likely to look for fine homes with five-star services in which to stay.
The Maida Vale apartment: Sutherland Avenue, Little Venice
In stark contrast to our château, quite literally, is this slick and sophisticated duplex flat in Little Venice, arguably the most covetable location in Maida Vale with its cafés, restaurants, shops and, of course, canal.
Two floors and four bedrooms in the heart of north London make this quite the catch, while a private garden with its own BBQ station wraps up a desirable little package for well-heeled urbanites.
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A period conversion, ‘flat’ doesn’t really do this property justice, original features such as cornicing and ceiling roses having been sympathetically incorporated into a meticulous refurbishment.
Highlights in the high-ceilinged, white-washed wonder include an open kitchen installed with cheffy Miele appliances, an enormous living and dining area with two modern fireplaces and bay window, a study, an en-suite principal bedroom and three bathrooms.
As well as having your own green space, prospective buyers will also be able to access the communal garden.
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According to Steve Kadi, associate director of sales at Hamptons in Maida Vale, which has listed the property, Sutherland Avenue is most likely to be sold to a professional couple or family drawn by the location and privilege of being in London, as well as the potential uplift in value in the coming years.
He estimates upkeep costs to be around £6,499 per year, while those renting it out could expect to receive approximately £9,500 per month.