Downstairs there's a large open plan living/eating/cooking area finished with natural paints and washes, made in-house using ochres and other earth pigments.

A sitting area with squashy sofa and armchairs and a dining area with table and four chairs both seat four people in comfort. The open kitchen has oak units and worktops, a four ring gas hob, full size electric oven, fridge with freezer, washing machine and dishwasher. It's been designed by cooks for cooks, so you'll find plenty of good pans and utensils, sharp knives, gadgets, kettle, espresso machine, hand blender, toaster, cook books plus simple but stylish white crockery and decent glasses. 

You can buy food, including local produce, in Rimont (3 kilometres), in various other shops and farm outlets within 5km or so, at local markets, or at the large supermarkets in Foix or St Girons. The kitchen is stocked for your arrival with a supply of basic foodstuffs, dishwasher tablets, and all sorts of environment friendly cleaning materials. 

Large French doors lead directly out into the gardens; there's a gravelled terrace with small table and chairs right outside, and a larger, private dining terrace with table, four chairs and parasol a few steps away. A barbecue is available, and there are sun loungers and more chairs and tables in various other parts of the grounds plus a (shared) covered dining space.

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Upstairs there's a huge, triple aspect, cathedral ceilinged space for sleeping and sitting, plus a bathroom. This floor has the original ferme (triangular roof truss) plus huge sliding glass windows that have been made to measure to fit the original barn openings, which not only maintains the original 'sense' of the building but gives great views over the surrounding hillsides and woodland, and allows a phenomenal amount of light into the space. The sitting area has a sofa, a mini-TV with French plus some English, Spanish, German and Dutch channels, and a combined hi-fi/DVD player/iPod dock. The sleeping area has a king size (160cm wide by 200cm long) double bed and the usual storage for clothes and incidentals. All the walls have been rendered with fine hemp and lime; woodwork is largely of reclaimed chestnut.

The adjacent bathroom was created from the former grenier (grain store) and has a tiled 180cm x 120cm shower which can decently hold two people, a glass bowl sink on an acacia slab, a wall hung WC, and enough space to lounge around and relax. The room is finished in a mixture of hemp and lime render, plaster, tadelakt and reclaimed chestnut. There are lots of toiletries, and a hair dryer.

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The minimum stay in L’Atelier d’Artiste is 3 nights, with arrivals and departures possible on any day of the week. Bookings generally run from 16.00 on arrival day to 11.00 on departure day, but we can often be flexible about this – just ask. L'Atelier, like the rest of Grillou, is wholly non-smoking.

Prices start at 80 euros per night. All prices are inclusive – there are no hidden extras for sheets, towels, electricity, bottled gas or final cleaning, and no damage deposit. Breakfast is included, and dinner is available three evenings a week.

Although completely self contained, L’Atelier can be linked with La P’ite Maison to form superb accommodation (open plan kitchen-dining-sitting room, separate sitting room, two bedrooms each with their own shower room and loo) for two couples booking together.