Location

Mondesir occupies a beautiful elevated rural position with outstanding open views over the Firth of Clyde and surrounding countryside. The house is close to the amenities of the village of Langbank and to Langbank train station which provides high speed commuting links
to Glasgow and the Clyde Estuary. It is also within easy commuting distance of Glasgow International Airport. The M8 provides links to the commercial centres of Glasgow, Greenock and Paisley and the property is about 7 miles from the Erskine Bridge which gives access to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Langbank primary school is nearby, while Glasgow offers a selection of private schools including Glasgow Academy and Kelvinside Academy, The High School of Glasgow, Hutchesons' Grammar School and St Aloysius. St Columba's, the private co-educational school in Kilmacolm, is only some
4 miles from the property. The house is situated near the Gleddoch House Hotel and its fine 18 hole golf course and is about 2 miles from the Ingliston Equestrian Centre and Country Club.

Description

Mondesir is a very attractive and well presented detached Edwardian four bedroom villa designed in the Arts and Crafts style which stands in circa 1.6 acres of mature grounds, lawn and bluebell woods. Architect-designed and completed in 1910, the property was built for a French-Canadian woman who won the Irish Sweepstake – hence the name "Mondesir". The house was designed to benefit from the superb views over the Firth of Clyde to the mountains of Argyll, with Ben Lomond a prominent feature in the distance. The property is tucked away at the end of a private lane, with a sweeping driveway providing privacy while having all the convenience of being located at the centre of Langbank village.

The stunning house is formed over two levels and has white rendered walls with charming Arts and Crafts features. Entrance to the property is via storm doors with leaded glass detailing, opening into the reception hallway complete with original oak herringbone flooring with double mahogany borders, copper wall lights and decorative arch and dentile cornicing. The original Arts and Crafts staircase has capped, tapered posts, carved hearts and wooden spindles, and is fitted with a Buchanan tartan runner with whipped edges and brass stair rods. The characterful herringbone oak flooring design from the main hall is continued upstairs to the half landing and full landing. Two large tall leaded glass windows on the half landing give a view to the west and the setting sun. The bay windowed sitting room has superb views across the garden and further afield, complete with feature fireplace surround and lead glass display cabinet. The dining room has parquet flooring and an open fireplace with original Arts and Crafts surround and ornate ceiling. There is a large dining family kitchen with built in kitchen cupboards and granite worktops, log burning fire, and double patio doors leading out to a paved patio looking onto the immaculately kept grounds. The downstairs bathroom includes the original cast iron bath with claw feet, teak and holly flooring and has a specially-commissioned stained glass window depicting the view over the Clyde to Dumbarton Rock and Ben Lomond. Completing the bathroom is a modern WC and wash basin and chrome shower over the original bath. A cosy snug is a south facing room with views over the garden to the south. The fireplace has a period surround and there are two built in tall Art Nouveau style cupboards with double doors of Douglas fir and glass inserts.

Upstairs there are four spacious bedrooms, the principal with contemporary stainless steel and glass balcony from where the spectacular views over the Clyde, to Dumbarton Rock, Ben Lomond and beyond can be enjoyed. The bedroom has two built in cupboards with doors to match the original snug doors. There is a stunning modern family bathroom on this level with separate walk in shower, wall hanging units and sink plus WC from Porcelanosa along with a freestanding bath and heated tiled floor. There are the two very handy large cellars, one currently used as a workshop & wine cellar and the other used as storage.

Externally the substantial garden grounds have been impeccably maintained and include a parking area for at least three cars with granite stone chips and decorative red sandstone fish pond. The expanse of flat lawn includes the former tennis court still with the original tennis posts, mature flower and shrub beds with magnolia, rhododendron, camellia, heather, and azalea. A lovely feature of the grounds is the half acre of bluebell wood with mature oak, beech and pine trees with various paths throughout the grounds laid with red whin chips. There is handy private access through the woods to Langbank railway station, the village playing field and a footpath to the primary school and village centre.