Château du Plessis

Description: Salon d’été

The Salon d’Été (sunroom) is a 21st century addition to Le Plessis.  The design was quite a challenge. In the late 19th century, Monsieur de Maisonrouge decided to fill in the moat surrounding the 15th century Châteauy. He built two perfectly symmetrical wings.  The Château’s East West orientation provided ideal ventilation. However, there were no windows and no doors on the south side. There was a lack of convenient connection to the outside.  The design of the new Salon d’Été solves both issues simultaneously.  Modern life styles assign a high value to indoor outdoor living.

The architect’s challenge was to design a room that provided southern exposure and access but did not look not like an appendix tacked at the end of the house.  Various concepts were studied. The chosen design is faithful to the original building incorporating the existing building materials such as the white Tuffeau stone. At the same time, it provides a contemporary open environment.  The end result is stunning. Abundant sunlight and vistas of the park bask the sunroom from sunrise to sunset.

The sunroom is approximately nine meters (27 feet) by eight meters (24 feet) with ceiling of four meters (12 feet). Handsome Pierre de Bourgogne (limestone) flooring blends with the surrounding terrace. Accessing the Salon d’Été from the kitchen is through two glass pocket doors. 

The light pours in through nine windows and French doors (three on the East, three on the South, and three on the West).  A comfortable modern sofa and four XVIII century chairs (two with ottomans) define the main sitting area. A 50” plasma TV screen (with DVD/CD players and surround sound) are connected to an international satellite dish.  When not watching a movie or the TV, the screen is hidden behind a decorative screen.

For reading or conversation two Louis XV bergères and a huge ottoman are facing the south side and provide vistas of the lawn and adjacent woods. 

In one corner a 19th century game table is available for card or backgammon players.  Below the tall windows comfortable benches hide the supplemental radiators (primary heat is distributed below the stone floor).

On cooler days, when dining outside on the spacious terrace isn’t desirable and the dining room deemed too formal, a dining table is set in the south east corner and sits six guests comfortably.

On bright sunny days, shades are drawn around the room as the sun rotates from the east side to the west side.  On really hot days when visiting the sights of Touraine, wooden shutters can be closed inside the room preventing the hot sun from baking the room.  Two large ceiling fans provide plenty of ventilation.  All operating windows and French doors are equipped with hidden rolling screens to prevent occasional insects from invading the room.

The terrace surrounding the sunroom on two sides, is accessed through French doors on the south and west sides.  Three oversized umbrellas and the centennial chestnut trees provide all the necessary shading on the terrace. 

Depending on the time of day, one can sit on the terrace and enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner, on either the large marble topped table seating ten guests or on the smaller round marbled topped table sitting four. A large stainless steel Webber barbecue is located conveniently near the kitchen French doors.  Small round tables are scattered around the terrace to enjoy cocktails or after dinner drinks.