We are Hugo and Carianne Vonk and we dreamed of starting a chambre d’hôtes. During vacations in our beloved France, we often sat in the evenings by the tent musing about how we would tackle that. At home, you hold on to those thoughts for a while, after which you return to your old rhythm.
That went well until Hugo contracted a complicated pneumonia in autumn 2013. A twelve days hospitalisation followed. After this, we also initially picked up the rhythm and life as before. But there was also a thought set in motion. Will we continue like this for another 20 years and will the dream remain a dream? Or do we change course now?
The summer of 2014 was all about searching for a suitable house in an equally suitable location. Together with estate agent Jan Kuik, we found the long farmhouse (longère) we instantly fell in love with. Not only is it a beautiful farmhouse with characteristic arched doors, its location with a view of the Puy-de-Dôme is fantastic.
In October 2015, we moved out. We set to work energetically, especially emptying the house that was leaning and groaning under the amount of stuff stored from many generations. While living, plans changed more than once. We had the luxury of Hugo still being in demand for programming jobs. The ideal combination of working (to generate an income) and renovating came about in this way.
Engaging with French craftsmen was a challenge. Explaining what you want in another language was not easy and it sometimes took patience on both sides. But this ultimately resulted in well-executed work and new friendships were formed as well. By trial and error, we learned how to brick, plaster, tile and grout. Our first project, mini-loft Lafayette, was created almost entirely by the two of us. In the 2019 summer season, it went up for rent. This was followed by room Le Petit Prince in 2020 and room Astérix in 2023.