Lots of progress, but key delays.
We were hoping to move in last week, but this is France, and things often don’t go according to schedule. There is a lot happening at the house. One day last week, there were 11 people working there. A few big things, however, have been delayed. We thought the power company, EDF, was ignoring our request, submitted months ago, to update and move our main power box. It seems everybody is using
Meanwhile, the house we are renting has been committed to a new tenant, so we have agreed to vacate by November 1. No pressure.
The floors are almost done.
On the ground floor, the travertine is all in and it looks great.
Upstairs, the bathroom floor tile has a very faint stripe in the background, which the installer hadn’t noticed. Fortunately, I was able to point that out before the grouting was done. This is why I am at the house every day.
It looks much better now. The wall tile is finished, and the first of our wall-mounted toilets
In the attic, not much left to do.
The tomettes have been acid-washed and now just need to be sealed. The painting is almost done in there.
The stairs to the attic are in pretty bad shape so will have to be replaced. The stair man said they would install the new stairs “probably” this week, which really means next week, or in two months.
Back downstairs, plastering and painting are happening.
In the new bedroom addition, the ceilings are 12 ft so the plasterer needed some vertical help.
And now that room is painted and ready for light fixtures.
Our Ikea closet modules have been assembled. This is a huge closet by French standards, and it is much appreciated by us happy Americans.
The kitchen is starting to look like a kitchen.
We decided not to have any upper cabinets,
And we’ll leave the pretty stone walls unencumbered on this side. (And yes, those outlets are too high, but that seems to be the way it’s
Focus on the fireplaces.
The original house had four fireplaces. Over the years, all but one, in the upstairs bedroom, had been covered by plasterboard. It’s a pretty fireplace and will remain as a feature, but will not be used. (Who wants to carry firewood up the stairs in winter? Not us.) The rest of the fireplaces were uncovered and considered for use, but two of them weren’t worth keeping: the kitchen fireplace has now been completely removed, and the one in the upstairs lounge has been recovered with plasterboard. The best of them all was the living room fireplace. It has gone through quite a transformation.
A fireplace was hiding under that wallpaper. 
Now it can breathe again. 
Giant stone corbels were ordered. 
The corbels are being inserted. 
Corbels in, and the oak mantel too. A woodburner will be installed soon.
The outside area will soon be underway.
This area along the front of the house will be tiled. 
The courtyard will be full of flowerbeds. 
And the backyard will be grass and a few planting areas.
Almost there.
We’ve managed to endure 17 months of full-time renovations without too many ouches. The work is almost done, although no area is completely finished. The end is in sight and we are so ready to begin life in this grand house.
Lucretia Meece | 5th Oct 20
So exciting! Well done, you, on spotting those tiles running the wrong way. Eagle eye, indeed.
Much joy to you as you approach move-in day. Blessings. Lucretia
Lorri | 5th Oct 20
Looks & sounds GREAT! SO EXCITED FOR YOU!
Roger L Koopmann | 5th Oct 20
Alison and Bob,
WOW, the transformation is AMAZING. It is looking beautiful and almost ready. OK, yes, it might be nice to have final electricity…but details. I wish you a bit more strength for this final push and hope you are moved in by November 1.
Susan Walter | 6th Oct 20
That fireplace looks great! My advice (probably too late) is to install a wood burning stove that you can cook on top of ie set out a little from the fireplace recess and with a cast iron top. You can do stuff like warm crossants and slow cook. Ours is our only form of heating so runs day and night in the winter. It means I have an essentially free source of energy for cooking. Who needs an Instant Pot?
Jana Zanetto | 11th Oct 20
These photos are drool-worthy. it is so impressive how you have managed to transform this home, rendering it so much more livable while respecting its age and its character. So hidden behind modest closet doors are those fabulous Ikea closet modules–I’ve got closet envy! And the stone walls that remain anchor the more modern touches, like the travertine and the gorgeous counters in the kitchen. It has been such a pleasure to watch this whole process from demo day to now–and I look forward to seeing how your beautiful home furnishings that crossed the ocean to you will further transform the house to your Home Sweet Home. May EDF speed its system for you and may your move-in be smooth! Merci beaucoup for the updates!