Just finished our first stay at this wonderful place! A beautiful location, stunning rooms and in a curated setting with excellent hosts who made a special occasion a lifetime memory! Just go!
Coulonges · Charente · France
About Maison des Ifs
A 17th-century estate in the heart of the Charente — restored with care and passion, furnished with intention, and open to guests seeking their home away from home
Our story
A house steeped in history
Maison des Ifs takes its name from the ancient and spiritual yew tree – les Ifs – standing proudly within the main courtyard of the estate and planted with care by the family that made this estate their home for over 400 years.
The main house, an elegant Maison de Maître, dates from the 17th century. Its bones are exceptional, proportions that feel both grand yet intimate, windows that frame the Charente countryside like paintings. When Jason and Tim found it, it had been allowed to grow quiet. Two years of careful, considered restoration followed.
The brief was always the same: preserve what was worth keeping, add only what was genuinely needed. The result is a house that feels entirely itself — not a renovation project that has been photographed and staged, but a home that has been loved back into life. Every room tells a slightly different story. All of them are true.
Jason & Tim
Jason & Tim · Maison des Ifs
Meet Your Hosts
Jason & Tim
Jason and Tim live on-site. Close enough to be genuinely useful — they will leave a welcome hamper of champagne and local Pineau, arrange the yoga teacher, arrange a massage, recommend the restaurant you haven’t heard of yet — and discreet enough to leave you entirely to yourselves.
They came to the Charente as visitors, fell hopelessly in love with the region, and eventually stopped leaving. Their knowledge of the area is deep and practical: the best brocantes, the cognac domaine that still lets you taste from the barrel, the river walk that nobody seems to know about.
There is no guest manual or guide. They are your welcome guide. Most of it is memorised so ask away at your own leisure or make plans in advance when booking your stay.
Their philosophy of hosting is a simple one. Prepare everything carefully. Anticipate what’s needed. And then get out of the way. Guests tell us, consistently, that Maison des Ifs is the kind of place that is impossible to leave without planning the return. We understand completely.
Dining room, Le Manoir
Curated Interiors
Fall in Love. Take It Home.
Every room at Maison des Ifs has been furnished with obsessive care — a combination of antiques sourced from brocantes, emporiums, auctions across the Charente and beyond, upcycled mid-century finds, ornate mirrors, good clocks, and a genuinely interesting art collection built over years of looking. Nothing here is generic. Nothing is from a catalogue.
If you fall in love with something during your stay — a clock, a mirror, a piece of art, a chair, a set of vintage glasses — you can buy it. Jason and Tim have always operated this way, and it has led to some remarkable conversations and some furniture travelling to some surprising corners of Europe.
Simply ask. If it can be arranged, it will be. A price will be agreed, the piece carefully packaged, and it will find its way to you. Consider it a very slow form of souvenir shopping, with considerably better taste.
Where to Stay
One Estate . Three unique properties · Idyllic French Countryside
What our guests say
A handful of reflections from those who have stayed with us.
What a beautiful place! The house and gardens are exquisite and the hosts perfectly attentive. It feels like you are in the lap of luxury, with a completey relaxed atmosphere. It’s a special area of France, still a bit of a secret, but so worth getting to know!
My 2nd visit to this amazing place. This time we stayed in the larger cottage, which was beautifully and thoughtfully equipped. The terrace was perfect for breakfasts in the Spring sunshine ☀️. Jason and Tim were as helpful as before and suggested lovely places to visit.
Maison des Ifs is such an amazing place, full of amazing details, vintage, nostalgia and modern comfort and design. The hosts are so warm and welcoming and their eye for detail is second to none. It was like knowing them already for years.
Can’t recommend them enough. Thank you so much!
We just spent 10 days here and wow what a place! Maison Des Ifs is a true hidden gem. Jason & Tim have created an amazing space comprising of a manoir (the main house) & gite (2 bedroom cottage) in beautiful grounds with elegant touches all around. The main house is truly magnificent with a kitchen to die for with enough cutlery, crockery, glasswear & cooking equipment for a large amount of people & a dream to cook in. The snug is the perfect retreat after a long walk or quiet evening in. With the temperatures a little lower we spent a lot of time exploring the local areas and visited Cognac, Angouleme & many of the smaller villages close by including our favourite Saint-Amant-de-Boixe (10 mins drive) which has the most incredible restaurant, patisserie, intermarche, tennis club (which guests can use) and even it's own stunning Abbey.
All I can say is wow! The house is beautiful, it has been renovated with amazing attention to detail and caters to every want. It had plenty of space for the whole family and the snug felt so homely. The pool and tranquility garden allowed for plenty of space to relax outside.
Hosts Tim and Jason could not be nicer and were always on hand to help and give recommendations.
I’m already looking to go again next year.
Reviews from Google