My Lottery Dream Home: Picking the Perfect Pied-à-Terre in France

On HGTV’s My Lottery Dream Home, host David Bromstad has helped hundreds of lucky lottery winners find homes that suit their newly minted lifestyles, but never has he been tasked with finding that perfect place internationally … until now!

In Season 17’s "Madame Marjorie," David says au revoir to domestic real estate and sets his sights on helping retired military veterans Marjorie and her husband, Ismael, find their dream home on the outskirts of Paris.

After battling cancer, Marjorie, who is thankfully now in remission, was granted early retirement after serving her country for 18 years. “The military took care of me. They realized the risks that my career posed to my health,” says a grateful Marjorie, who is thrilled to have the gift of being cancer-free as well as the gift of financial freedom so she can purchase a second home in France with her husband.

Their budget is fairly modest at €220,000, or the equivalent of $200,000, but David is confident that he can find the couple the perfect place to call leur propre (that’s “their own” in French!) and so off they go to explore properties that fit the couples’ wish list.

Marjorie’s Dream Home Wish List

• location in the Champagne region
• open to apartment or free-standing home
• minimum 2 bedrooms
• ideally 2 bathrooms
• dedicated parking

Local real estate agent Nicolas Colnat feels confident that the couple can find what it wants in its price range and sends a wide array of options for David to present. David narrows it down to three unique properties that fit Marjorie’s wish list: Voie Foxy, La Maison Blanche and Gorges de la Vigne.

House #1: Voie Foxy

• urban apartment
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms
• 1,100 square feet
• large living room
• newly renovated kitchen

Price: Under budget at €156,000/$169,000

Marjorie and Ismael are shocked at how spacious the first property, an urban apartment, is once they open the door. The classic clawfoot tub in the first of the two bathrooms takes Marjorie’s breath away and it’s clear that Ismael approves of the kitchen. “I do all of the cooking at home,” he says as he nods approvingly at the space.

The apartment continues to surprise them with how generously sized the rooms are. Marjorie takes the European closet systems in stride. “I know they don’t do closets, they do wardrobes,” she explains, referring to the full wall of storage in the largest of the three bedrooms. Around the corner, a second bathroom has some serious wow factor. “Stop with this rock sink right now!” Marjorie jokes as she checks out the contemporary finishes, which include a luxurious jetted tub and a brand-new shower. So far, this home has checked every box, but they’ll need to decide if urban living is what they want. With that, it’s off to the next property located farther from the village center.

House #2: La Maison Blanche

• stand-alone cottage
• parking for 2 cars
• 990 square feet
• 3 bedrooms
• 1 bathroom
• private garden

Price: €229,000/$253,000

The next house is located a little farther north in the city of Reims, which is known as the unofficial capital of the Champagne region. Here, David wants to show them an adorable cottage that was built in the 1930s. Marjorie is immediately charmed by the private vegetable garden: “Oh my gosh, can you imagine the garden I could grow here!”

Outside, the house continues to exude charm with a stone facade and wrought-iron detailing, but once they step inside, they are stunned to see that the cottage has a completely modern aesthetic. “This was remodeled from floor to ceiling!” Marjorie gasps. The open kitchen looks out over the garden and features a sleek island with a walnut countertop and ample storage. Large windows and a skylight flood the space with natural light, making it feel even bigger and brighter than expected. The sole bathroom has been completely renovated to include a double vanity and a laundry space, both rare luxuries in a European home of this era. However, the layout is unconventional with the bathroom on the terrace level, so Marjorie and Ismael are hoping to see one more option. David knows just where to take them …

House #3: Gorges de la Vigne

• single-family home
• 3 bedrooms
• 1 bathroom
• 1,200 square feet
• serene, country setting

Price: €235,000/$259,000

Gorges de la Vigne is a single-family home located in the countryside with breathtaking views of the vineyards in every direction. This quintessential setting is what one might picture when imagining a dream home in the heart of wine country.

As with the last home, Gorges de la Vigne is also surprisingly modern inside. Sunlight streams into the space and the bright, white tile floors give the home a clean, contemporary feel. The kitchen, while compact, has all of the modern amenities you could need. “This is cute, and it’s big enough just for you babe!” Marjorie jokes.

But an odd bathroom setup with the toilet in one room and the sink and oversized shower in another leaves a little to be desired despite David’s cheery attempt to make it make sense. “You could do your business in the hallway instead!” he offers. Luckily, the beautiful outdoor space more than makes up for this, leaving Marjorie and Ismael with a really tough decision between three completely different choices.

The Big Decision

After sitting down (with glasses of Champagne, of course), Marjorie is ready to reveal their decision. Choosing between an urban apartment, a suburban cottage and a country home was not easy, but ultimately they choose Voie Foxy for its proximity to the city center and easy, turnkey lifestyle. “To have no yard work, to have that freedom of being able to just show up, it’s a huge thing,” David agrees. “It’s everything we’ve ever dreamed of,” Marjorie says with a huge grin on her face. “This moment represents so much more than just buying a home in another country. God has given me good health and I’m so grateful, so blessed.”