Tag Archives: plaster

Another old French village house

In my self appointed ongoing mission to bang the drum for Small Village Houses, here is another from Lost In Arles- see here I note the many common features shared with our place, inset cupboards, terrazzo stairs and modest dimensions … Continue reading

Posted in Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The Romance of the Raw – mixing it up in the salon

If you have been following this blog you will know that I have been doing my best to preserve the old lime plaster walls and ceilings we still have at the French house .We have to accept that some walls … Continue reading

Posted in Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Episode 147 – in which we finally blow the b****y doors off!

I hate these sapele sixties doors. They were everywhere in the house when we acquired it. They are no use for repurposing any place and we can’t chop them up and throw them in the wood burner, so they’ll have … Continue reading

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Can you stucco stencil it? Yes you can!

              Yes sir, we can stencil. And we can handpaint motifs on our French Country Walls and Ceilings etc . Above are two fine examples and some more here https://husifrankrike.com/2016/06/08/dag-5-sondagen-aterigen-en-vilodag/     Thank you JP! I … Continue reading

Posted in Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Episode 137 – Moody hues

So, Trev’s light finished floor , off white ceiling, and pale putty panelling have changed the way the light moves around this long room dramatically. The kitchen cabinetry , corner cupboard, chairs and bench will all be enrobed in off … Continue reading

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Episode 129- “Les murs” to be sung to the same tune as “La mer”

This is what medieval stone walls look like. Before the restoration purists start screaming at me they should note that we had no option but to widen the doorway  from the cave to the courtyard as the existing one was … Continue reading

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It’s salon..g way home

Trust me this is progress. French salon all painted now, including skirtings; apart from front wall (undercoated only) Trevor hates rollers so both parts of ceiling done with brush. Don’t think he will be waving his arms in the air … Continue reading

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Episode 94- Hidden historic details #2- Beams and roof timbers

Regular readers  will recall that half our house (the bit that isn’t the barn) is supported by three huge beams,which clearly received only the most cursory attention between being trees and holding our hybrid hovel up. 1) The rather beautiful … Continue reading

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

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

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

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments