Pathfinder’s website tells us that La Belle Maison lodge “mixes a typical French home with the class of a luxury holiday chateau in the South of France” so we were eager to discover how this was achieved.
Prepare to be impressed… As we step in through the patio doors of this luxury holiday lodge, we discover a log-burner stove in one corner.
There’s a huge sofa and armchair, in classic style, upholstered in fawn velvet. Cosiness box ticked.
Cushions mix fluffy velvet and traditional ornate print fabrics. Shelves abound, with a large unit of nine shelves facing the settee and three more in an illuminated recess.
Here’s our walkthrough video of the Pathfinder La Belle Maison holiday lodge:
The six-seater dining suite blends traditional and modern style – and definitely has a French farmhouse feel. Chairs are artistically created to look as if they are made from off-cuts of wood, painted to expose some of the wood grain. And two roof lights make this area especially light and airy.
Alongside the dining area (and separated by a part-wall) is the side entrance, with a cabinet containing the heating system and an area for shoes.
The Pathfinder La Belle Maison’s kitchen is a completely separate entity from the dining-lounge area.
It forms an L-shape with a large island unit centre-stage.
Two wooden-topped, metal-base stools mix old-French style with industrial influence.
Appliances include a wine cooler, a four-zone induction hob, an oven-grill and a microwave, plus a washing machine. Matt grey injects modern styling and a suspended utensil rack over the breakfast bar, with S-shaped hooks, switches the style back to French chateau.
Walking through to the twin bedroom and it’s generous in size and has a bath en-suite; it’s of a traditional roll-top design with chrome claw feet. This bathroom also has a door leading into the kitchen.
The master bedroom is very French chateau-style, with an ornately carved bedhead and foot, plus a bedhead wall finished in what looks at first glance to be white tiles.
It’s actually wall panelling; each square has an elaborate design in deep relief. This room, especially, shows the French chateau inspiration of the Pathfinder La Belle Maison holiday lodge.
The bedside tables and dressing room, with curved and carved legs and traditional style lift-up handles, also exudes classic French styling.
The design switches to super-modern, though, in the en-suite like no other!
The twin washbasins, both huge, sit on a white marble-effect surface that stylishly curves downwards at one end. The shower is double-sized and completely tiled in gloss rock effect.
The door to the toilet is glass, the central section being obscure. The floor is made up of gloss tiles, in a herringbone pattern. The whole effect is top luxury.
Verdict: Pathfinder is good at invention and this La Belle Maison holiday lodge is a great example.
We love the bathroom with traditional styling, the large kitchen and the two skylights over the dining area. Most of all, we love the French chateau design influence. This home has been in existence for around 10 years and has always proved popular, through several design changes. It has a cosy, comfortable feel, at the same time as mixing super-modern and French country styling.
Plus points: The clever mix of styling genres. The large kitchen with breakfast bar. The traditional roll-top bath
Minus points: Some people would prefer a solid door for the toilet rather than one that is clear glass above and obscure glass below
In a nutshell: A super-luxury holiday lodge that brings together traditional French chateau styling and smart modern design elements
Size: 45ft x 20ft
Build standard: BS 3632
Sleeps: Four
Bedrooms: Two
Other sizes available: None
Ex-works price: £204,000*
Spotted in the classifieds: A 2024 Pathfinder La Belle Maison holiday lodge for sale in Shropshire. (WV16). Sited costs £280,000
Cost to insure this sited holiday lodge would be £722**
**Leisuredays holiday lodge insurance quote based on Pathfinder La Belle Maison two-bedroomed holiday lodge insured for £285,000 (£280,000 for structure and £5,000 contents). Owners are a 68-year-old retired couple with previous holiday lodge insurance and three years no claim discount. £5,000 contents included. £75 excess applies. Insurance premium includes insurance premium tax at the current rate and is correct as of 05/12/2023.
To find out more about insuring a Pathfinder La Belle Maison or your current lodge visit our holiday lodge insurance page.
For more information about Pathfinder Homes visit: www.pathfinderhomes.co.uk
* Extra charges will be made by park operators and/or distributors for transport and siting and annual maintenance. Please check the price carefully before you commit to buy as prices vary considerably dependant amongst other factors, on the geographical location of your chosen park
