It's a romantic notion, packing it in and moving to the other side of the world for postcard-perfect countryside and history-soaked villages in the south of France.

While few of us actually make the leap from holiday fantasy to reality, former Sydney-based Karen Stride made good on her yearning for a new life overseas.

At the end of 2011, after deciding to go to France for a “gap year”, the former interior designer arrived in the country with a 12-month long stay visa with nothing but a desire to soak in the sights and sounds of her favourite European destination.

“I didn’t come to France with the intention to buy a home,” Ms Stride told realestate.com.au “But, while there, I did some deep thinking. My daughters were in their 20s, I was not in a relationship, and my mother had died the previous year and I just realised that life really is short.”

Aussie expat Karen Stride made the move to France to take on her own renovation. Picture: Supplied

---

Emboldened by her new ethos, Ms Stride began to travel around the country in the search for her own piece of the French good life.

“At that time, I had my successful interior design and decorating business in Sydney with ongoing projects,” she said.

“But I could continue to work on these remotely with the assistance of my office manager while I travelled around different parts of France to look for my new home.”

Ms Stride with the faded turquoise shutters that sold her on the rundown 1800s house she bought and renovated in Saint-Remy-de-Provence. Picture: Supplied

---

Testing out different regions and small towns across the country, the go-getter eventually found her perfect slice of provincial French life in the southeastern region of Provence.

“I fell in love with Provence due to its relaxed lifestyle, beautiful Medieval villages, vibrant food and antique markets, blue sky and sunshine, orchards, olive groves and vineyards,” explained Ms Stride.

“I looked at a few properties in different villages, but when I saw the faded turquoise shutters on a rundown 1800s house in the picturesque village of Saint-Remy-de-Provence, I knew I’d found what I was looking for.

"Despite it being very rundown I could see the potential, so I made an offer, which was soon accepted and I got the keys to my new home in France!”

The historic home required an extensive renovation, while the old garden shed was converted into a pool house. Picture: Supplied

---

Though buoyed by a sales contract the Aussie mum was soon brought back to reality after the dust had settled and the sheer enormity of work involved was revealed to her.

“The property had been on the market for some time because there was so much work to be done,” she said. “The house required total rewiring, two new bathrooms, a new kitchen, new ceilings, new floors on the ground floor and then painting and decorating — basically a total refurbishment.

“The old garden shed was converted into a pool house and the neglected garden was transformed into a small homage to Provence by planting olive trees, bay trees, irises, rosemary and lavender with a refreshing plunge pool surrounded by paving.”

After: The finished pool area. Picture: Supplied

---

The paved plunge pool is surrounded by a variety of trees and plants. Picture: Supplied

---

The depilated state of period property would fill even experienced renovators with dread and for Ms Stride it was even more daunting given that she had decided to take on the renovation singlehanded.  

“Yes it’s not for the faint hearted — especially in France!” she said. “Being a single woman and foreign you can be taken for a fool."

Thankfully, Karen’s background equipped her with the skills to manage the project.

“Because I am an experienced interior designer I knew what the end result would be,” she explained. “I drew up detailed plans, found the various tradesmen and suppliers and I supervised the project and monitored the work closely.”

Before: The rundown interior of the home

---

After: A character-filled kitchen with original stone. Picture: Supplied

---

Any reno has pitfalls. Add to that the unknown variables of operating in a foreign country and then the language and cultural issues and you have an extra layer of headache, as Karen can testify to.

“It certainly improved my French in a hurry!” she said. “It can be difficult to get them to work after they’ve received a deposit and, at times, it was certainly ‘pénible’ (a great word to describe renovating in Provence that means ‘hard to bear, very difficult, onerous, painful, displeasing, frustrating’!) but once they realised that I am experienced in renovations they eventually respected me and were willing to work with me.

“There were the usual delays and some tradesmen were problematic, but I managed to get it finished eventually. And, although it took longer than expected, I enjoyed seeing the transformation and my vision for the house coming to life.”

Before: Ms Stride moved onto other projects in an historic 14th century stone building which was the original presbytery for the church. Picture: Supplied

---

After: The renovated ground floor apartment. Picture: Supplied

---

A few years later Karen once again flexed her renovation prowess and purchased a 14th century three bedroom apartment in the historic centre of St Remy. And then, two years ago, she added another historic pad to her expanding French property empire with the purchase of a ground floor apartment in the same building.

“The entire building was the original presbytery for the church back in the 1300’s when the Popes were in Avignon,” she said. “There are 360 degree views over the village and across Provence from the roof terrace, which was the original stone bell tower.”

Ms Stride has taken on several major renovations in France. Picture: Supplied

---

After: The renovated short-stay apartments are located in the centre of Saint Rémy. Picture: Supplied

---

Having seen — and experienced — firsthand the excitement, but also the frustrations and difficulties that can arise purchasing a holiday home in France, the Aussie has parlayed her experience into several business ventures.

“I manage the seasonal rentals of my apartments and some other villas for their owners,” said the 64-year-old who now splits her time between Australia and Provence, where she runs a local house rental company.

“I take on some decorating projects, and I have become a real estate sales agent with Leggett Immobilier International helping other expats achieve their own dreams of a house in France.”

Having notched up three full renovations in the country, when she’s pressed for advice for other wannabe buyers looking to follow in her footsteps, the Aussie designer has some clearcut advice.

“Firstly, come and stay for a while to make sure that it’s the right location for you,” she said. “Next, find a trustworthy agent who can help you navigate the entire buying process in English and then get recommendations from them for the various services you’ll require.

“It’s not often easy — especially with a renovation — but it is very satisfying. And, ultimately, this is truly a wonderful place to live.”