#exterior: the bonfamille manor

[lou-bonfightme]

The Bonfamille Manor

This is the third in a series that one day may be complete but also may never be complete. As most of you know I’m like a huge #spatial person in my writing, so all my character’s houses/apartments/living spaces are really well mapped out in my brain? And I thought it’d be fun for people to see. (And a good reference for those who may RP in those spaces at some point.)

Overview:

The Bonfamille Manor is a 7 bedroom, 5 1/2 bath house in the richest neighborhood in Swynlake. Newly renovated before the Bonfamilles moved in, it was built originally in the 1920s, when there was an expansion of the neighborhood. It boasts a lovely manicure property of one acre and views of the forest of Enchantra from its northern side. The driveway is rather large with a manicured lawn and horseshoe driveway, the house settled back slightly from the main road. Complete with marble and polished wood, three floors, a basement and attic space, it is a fabulous home, built for large families, guests, and throwing lavish parties.

**note: pictures in the aesthetic are to give an overall #feel of the house, but don’t necessarily indicate the exact furniture/decorations/floorplan. the floorplan, on the otherhand is not quite to scale but i did the best i could.

@ber-bonfamille-lyons, @marie-a-bonfamille

1. The Grand Foyer

The Bonfamille home is impressive from the moment you walk in. The marble floors are always sparkling, the walls are painted a lovely pale taupe that is neutral enough to compliment the whirligig decor which flits in and out of the manor as the seasons change, following the latest Parisian fashions. There is always a fresh bouquet on a table between the two staircases, so you are greeted with the lovely scent of whichever flowers are in season--often imported from around the world, and in the spring and summer, occasionally the flowers are from the Bonfamille’s very own garden, which is surely to be remarked upon when guests arrive for tea. The staircase which leads to the second floor has an imposing, regal presence. To the left of the entrance is a door which leads to the kitchen, this is almost always closed, except in rare circumstance. Guests are funneled to the side of the left staircase and into the sitting room before rounding into the dining room if they are coming over for a meal. However, it has a practical application of allowing the residents of the manor (usually the housekeeper) to answer the door swiftly.

2. Music Room

To the right of the front entrance is the music room. It is plainly decorated, with a cushioned window seat and an 1800th century Erard piano in sparkling, mint condition. The doors to this room are double paned windows, though they are usually left open, except in the evenings when they are closed as the residents retire for bed. In the springtime, the window which looks out towards the street is often left open and occasionally music can be heard down the street. It is a small room, but still has the tasteful Bonfamille touch, with a beautiful watercolor portrait of the Siene in summer hanging along the wall one would first observe upon entering, painted, as Adelaide will delightfully boast, by her eldest son.

3. Library

The library is a private space which usually remains closed, with the exception being during parties, where guests are free to roam the bottom floor of the manor. It is next door to the music room, though tucked slightly behind the stairs and across the foyer from the sitting room. Inside, the room is a delicious wine colour, with cherry bookshelves set into the wall, customized to the room. One wall boasts a framed family tree of the LaBlancs, tracing their lineage back to Parisian aristoc(r)ats. Around this frame are three plaques, which establish the fairy gifts of the Bonfamille children: extra cones in the eye, pitch perfect tune, and a crystal clear singing voice. These are used as talking points during parties. The collection of books is mostly in French, though English, German, and Latin can also be found. Many are family heirlooms, passed down through the generations.

4. Downstairs Restroom

Located at the back of the house on the right side, the downstairs restroom is always immaculate, with embroidered hand towels and imported luxurious hand soaps and lotion. This bathroom is used almost exclusively by guests. It is the only bathroom in the house that is not a full. It has a sign, in French, designating it as the restroom.

5. Washroom

A door kept strictly closed at all times, it has a sign on the door designating it as the washroom, so guests do not accidentally wander into it in search of the restroom. Tucked into the back of the house, next to the restroom, this room is out of the way, though if the door opens, it always smells like fresh linen and one can spot that even this room is clean and tidy, despite the constant flow of laundry. 

6. Sitting Room

It is a rare guest who visits the Bonfamille manor sitting room frequently enough to grow familiar with the furniture and decor. Changing once every few months, it is constantly in flux. The only constants are the photos that line the hearth. However, as new accomplishments are performed by the talented Bonfamilles, the photos may be rearranged to display the newest editions. Artwork decorates the walls here as well, both by the eldest Bonfamille alongside other modern works, all from France. Otherwise, the couches and chairs and table and carpet are often changed in both layout and composition. (But, nothing is really that comfortable, as the sitting room is not for lounging, but for socializing with guests.) 

There is a sliding glass door which looks out over the back patio and down into the picturesque garden, often tended to by the housekeeper, occasionally with the help of the mistress of the house and the Bonfamille children. There is a practical element to the garden, where vegetables and fruits suitable to the English climate are grown, as well as a more aesthetic element which boasts beautiful and often exotic flowers. The patio is large, but rarely used.

7. Dining Room

Another room in the manor that is constantly in flux, the dining room boasts a table of fine mahogany that seats twelve comfortably, though extra chairs are stored elsewhere for use in the event of a larger dinner party. While the living room furniture often changes, the dining room table is a family hierloom that was a wedding gift from the mistress of the house’s family. However, the upholstery does frequently change to compliment the living room. It is painted a similar colour to the foyer. Artwork decorates the walls here as well, both by the eldest Bonfamille alongside other modern works, all from France. It also houses a large cabinet of porcelian serving dishes, used for only the most special of occasions, such as births, engagements, weddings, and graduations, or when important visitors arrive for dinner. Notable guests include members of the British royal family, the British ambassador to France, the French ambassador to England, other political figures from both France and England, as well as several other prominent high society members.

8. Kitchen

The kitchen is large and state of the art, with a much different aesthetic than the rest of the house. It is very modern in appearance, both sleek and more monochrome. The kitchen is rarely seen by guests. There is no decor on the walls such that characterizes the rest of the manor. It is the domaine of the housekeeper. It has a door that exists to the grand foyer, as well as one on the opposite wall that opens into the dining room. The door to the basement is also here. 

9. Berlioz’s Studio

The basement has been converted to a studio for the middle Bonfamille, who is a musician, composer, and producer. Although he has, within recent years, moved in with his long-time partner, the vestibules of his studio remain. A fold out couch and a few chairs are scattered about the middle of the room. In one corner is a customized recording booth with velvet maroon interior that matches the throw pillows on the couch and chairs. There is also a mixing station, computer table, and state of the art sound. The room is mostly soundproof, however, there is a sliding glass door along the side of the house that opens out to the backyard. 

10. Berlioz’s Bedroom

Berlioz’s room has been emptied out considerably since he moved in with Simba. His bed is still there with simple gray comforter/sheets. The walls are all white. There is a pretty large stair-step bookcase on the opposite wall, where most of his records and books are stored. There used to be guitars and posters on the walls, but he’s moved those to Simba’s place. But impressively, his desk still manages to have lots of old papers from secondary, including notebooks full of very old lyrics. They’re hidden away though since Nounou keeps the desk clear and the room tidy.

11. Toulouse’s Bedroom

The eldest Bonfamille’s room is on the right from the top of the stairs and to the left. It has one window that faces out towards the main street and one that faces towards the neighbor’s, though with enough room between houses to provide privacy. Filled with two amply stocked bookshelves and a large wardrobe, which betrays the eldest son’s affinity for fashion (some of the overflow is housed in the middle Bonfamille’s closet, which was the case before the middle Bonfamille moved out, but has become even more true in the years following.) The bedsheets are a simple stone-grey, with ample amounts of throw pillows. A tidy desk sits near the door and a book normally graces the nightsand, obviously in the process of being read. The room is filled with exotic plants, that both sit atop the wardrobe, bookshelves, desk, and nightstands, but also hang from the ceiling, giving the impression the room is much smaller than in actuality.    

12. Berlioz and Toulouse’s Restroom

The Bonfamille brothers share a bathroom that can be seen from the top of the stairs if you stand to the left and look up. It is next to the eldest Bonfamille’s room and diagonally across the hall from the middle Bonfamille’s room. Despite being owned by two young men, it is more or less always spotless, with grooming utensils housed beneath the cabinet. It boasts a full tub and shower, and is spacious in design. 

13. Billiards Room

If you didn’t need enough of a reminder that the Bonfamilles were rich and posh as fuck, they have a billiards room. 

14. Marie’s Room

The youngest Bonfamille’s room, situated opposite her mother’s, is a room that any young woman would envy. The room is outfitted in white and shades of pink, everything made to look delicate and, of course, expensive. The bed, pushed against the right hand wall, is layered in blankets and cushions to give it a cozy feel, with a few stuffed animals tucked in next to the pillows. Next to the bed, a desk for working and assignments stands against the wall, whilst a dressing table, completed by an illuminated mirror, sits at the foot of the bed against the left-most wall. Both desks are kept well organised and neatly set out so that everything is to hand when she needs it, and above the work desk are various past designs and photographs from her childhood, and occasionally, flowers are left in a vase on the corner of the desk (though now flowers tend to be a rarity thanks to the arrival of the cat). Dauphine, of course, is not forgotten; she has her own cat bed next to Marie’s, and by the window, so she can watch the birds.

15. Adelaide’s Room

The Bonfamille matriarch, of course, enhabits the master (or in this case, mistress) bedroom. The largest of the four second floor bedrooms, it is located to the left of the staircase and along the left wall, across from the singular Bonfamille daughter’s room. Inside is a lavish four-poster bed with fresh flowers always on the nightstand. There is also a sitting area, with a settee, chairs, and a table. This room is ornately decorated. It also features a large bathroom, complete with a roomy tub, separate shower, and large walk-in closet.

16. Guest Bedroom #1

This room was most recently used as a nursery for Claude and is one of the smaller rooms in the house. It is currently still outfitted as a nursery, but will one day be converted back into a guest room.

17. Guest Restroom

The guest rooms are Jack-and-Jill style, with a full bathroom between. A shower is available here, though if a guest prefers a bath, they are welcome to the roomy tub across the hall in the guest restroom. The door closes between the toilet/shower and the sinks, allowing for private access to these facilities, allowing for continued access to the sinks whilst the bathroom is in use.

18. Guest Bedroom #2

The Bonfamilles do not skimp when it comes to decorating their guest rooms. Complete with goose-feathered pillows, down comforters, and delightfully comfortable (and expensive mattresses), the care the Bonfamilles have for their guests is immediately clear. Decorated with fine art, the room also is provided with fresh flowers when occupied. These rooms are located up a staircase at the left side of the second floor corridor, and then to the right, along the right wall. 

19. Children’s Playroom

Envisioned as a third bedroom on the third floor, perhaps even the original Master bedroom, this room is the largest in the house. The Bonfamilles converted it into a playroom for when the three children were very young. Here, there were play tables, comfortable mats for napping, a chest full of toys, as well as easels for painting, a keyboard for playing music, and a shelf full of books. However, now that all the children are young adults, the room has been packed up and is mostly used as storage. 

20. Third Floor Restroom

Originally used, perhaps, as the Master bath, this restroom is now off the playroom. It is available for use by guests, who so choose, as it has a wonderful jacuzzi tub. It is occasionally used as a dark room by the eldest Bonfamille, in order to develop photographs. The door to this bathroom which leads to the hall was the one of the only major layout feature that the Bonfamilles added after buying the house, otherwise, most of the plan is congruent with the original 1920s plan. The other exceptions exist in the basement and attic.

21. Toulouse’s Studio

Directly at the top of the stairs on the third floor is a door that leads up into the attic space, converted for the eldest Bonfamille son as an art studio. This is the only part of the house with exposed wood, instead of drywall and paint. The floor, also, is unfinished and now covered in a layer of paint splatters. The walls have a shelf at working-height that spans the perimeter of the studio, for someone to stand or sit at a tall stool and comfortably use them as workspace. The north wall and the east wall boast beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows which are cleaned by professional cleaners once a month. This allows for a view of both the garden below and the forest beyond. The room is crowded with half-finished, finished, and blank canvases, as well as other art projects in various mediums (most frequently wood working), in stages of completion.