Monthly Archives: September 2014

Episode 90- The Pipework of Doom-The Return ( down the drain)

Posted on September 26, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Renovation , restoration, evacuation… Regular readers may recall that we had a plethora of pipework down the front wall of the salon already, dropping from the room above which had a basin and shower ( but no toilet, naturally) Short … Continue reading →

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The day after Thursday Three

Posted on September 26, 2014 by coteetcampagne

What are these little gems? Left & Right- Crochet wool with silk linings, at about 9″ x 6.5″ way too small to be nightdress cases. Maybe made for handkerchiefs  or funky clutch bags? I have to find a use as … Continue reading →

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Episode 89- A Surreal September in the South of France

Posted on September 21, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Renovation, restoration, hallucination…September 2014 French country vide-greniers & brocantes are very civilised. 1) There is no requirement to get up at the crack of dawn to get the bargains and… 2) I have yet to witness mass hordes of dealers … Continue reading →

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Featured blog on InterNations.org

Posted on September 19, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Hi guys I have been lucky enough to have my blog selected by InterNations.org for their French section. They have members in many countries and offer a good support network and social events etc, so if you like their philosophy … Continue reading →

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The Thursday Three- “Any old iron?” some scrap it, some give it house room……

Posted on September 19, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Three French wrought iron pieces today- tat or treasure? you decide Left- dinner bell for dining room- My daughter will have fun with that, she has a thing about bells ever since she was “number ten bell”  in the sonic … Continue reading →

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It takes two days to put up a pelmet in France?

Posted on September 13, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Renovation, restoration, frustration   It has taken two days to put my antique wood pelmet up. First there was my announcement that it must have a pole for voiles and a track for curtains (curved at the ends of course) … Continue reading →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Thursday Three

Posted on September 11, 2014 by coteetcampagne

I am having a bit of a ‘mare getting camera on my phone to use flash, so I hope these photos aren’t too dark. Top- linen mix kitchen/diner curtains.New, although they certainly look authentically vintage! Middle- heavy linen with  folk … Continue reading →

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Episode 88- in which I go a bit GaGa and entertain the natives

Posted on September 9, 2014 by coteetcampagne

renovation, restoration, mortification……………….July 2014 Yes this is a “morning after the night before photo”, and no, I don’t normally look this rough….(she lied)   I know, I should know better at my age, but there are a few things that … Continue reading →

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Episode 87- French street names in a little village in the Languedoc

Posted on September 6, 2014 by coteetcampagne

renovation, restoration, appellation We have a number of ancient street names here in Campagne-sur-Aude. Perhaps because this is a backwater frozen in time, we seem to have avoided the mass renaming of streets that occurred following the French Revolution. The … Continue reading →

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The Thursday Three – antique crochet, vintage embroidery, perfect finds

Posted on September 4, 2014 by coteetcampagne

A late post today, it has been a crazy couple of weeks. I finally found a perfect shower curtain for the French village house –left, Sainsbury’s home collection- http://www.sainsburys.co.uk . It picks up the pale fig ground colour on the … Continue reading →

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Episode 86-Some thoughts on dust, squalor, chaos & the psychological phenomenon that is “project syndrome”

Posted on September 1, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Renovation, restoration, indoctrination I am recognising a syndrome that may affect those of us undertaking major builds, renovation and restoration property projects. We have been living in our “every room a half finished building site ” French hovel for so … Continue reading →

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