Save Our Souls – A Restorer’s Plea

Renovation, Restoration, Restraint.

I have just seen another 100 year old tiled floor and a panel of beautiful wall tiles (reminiscent of those in Monet’s kitchen at Giverny) hacked out and thrown in a skip.

I understand all too well that initial urge to update, uprate & improve when presented with an old French house in dire need of functional, accessable toilets, modern plumbing, efficient heating, hazard free electrics with sensibly sited sockets and walls that don’t crumble when you lean on them.

To make such a house welcoming, warm, safe and beautiful takes a lot of work. I know. But if you want to replace original features you don’t love, remember someone else will always want them.

I am not advocating that we give up heating or insulation or dry rooms, but I am asking you to think long and hard before you jump in with that hammer.

If you don’t want the hassle of taking up those tiles or knocking out that built in cupboard, then put it out there and someone will be more than happy to come along and spirit it away.  In fact you’ll probably be inundated with nutters like me. After all one (wo)man’s tat is another’s treasure and could well be that one piece of character they need to put their particular project back together with style.

It has taken us almost ten years to find the architectural features and pieces we need for our French house.

Think twice before you level that slightly sloping floor or plaster that bumpy wall. Doesn’t it have it’s own charm and character? Couldn’t you live with it?

Practice Mindful Intervention…….please.