Tag Archives: project

Refocus

Posted on May 6, 2019 by coteetcampagne

The house project has been allowed to drift. This is due to a number of factors, not least a creative/business project  that I started last September and a second project here in our village. Also, Trevor’s blood thinning drugs had … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Restore, recycle, reuse, relook it, relove it

Posted on January 30, 2017 by coteetcampagne

I have been blog-chatting with JP at https://husifrankrike.com/ where he and his wife have been musing on restoring features at their medieval village house ( also in the Aude) and perhaps commissioning replacement features. JP has what looks like a … Continue reading →

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Qui n’avance pas, recule

Posted on November 15, 2016 by coteetcampagne

I think we have bitten off more than we can chew. Photo by permission of The Grandson Is that a proverb? an idiom? an adage? weigh it up right here- http://www.smart-words.org/quotes-sayings/aphorism-proverb-idiom-saying-pun.html Anyway, my French neighbour V has decided that she … Continue reading →

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

I want, I need

Posted on July 27, 2016 by coteetcampagne

Trevor has been boxing in the radiator/pipes as we finish off the kitchen floor. As I said to him yesterday, we now have several spaces that are looking dangerously close to the finishing line, can we cope ?(haha!) This house, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

We adore chaos because we love to produce order

Posted on July 11, 2016 by coteetcampagne

Thus spake M.C. Escher. Speaking for myself, he was right. To create order from a state of chaos, both architecturally and aesthetically, is why we took on this French house. I have been overhelmed and undermined; Poor Old Trevor has … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

A post script

Posted on June 28, 2016 by coteetcampagne

Thank you all for your support, but I’m not at all sure where to go post wise next. Certainly I cannot go back to posts about antiques or pretty features or decorating or new kitchens. I can’t just use this … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

What next for the French project?

Posted on June 27, 2016 by coteetcampagne

OK, it’s Monday. How do I feel today? Well, as one of my kind and empathetic blog buddies reminded me on Saturday, during a few stern pep talks, this is the “warts and all” blog so I will tell true. … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Project B- Argeles again

Posted on May 9, 2016 by coteetcampagne

Long term followers will know that our  Project B was, after  buying the village house in Campagne- sur- Aude, to find a second seaside bolthole. We had considered buying in UK, but that made no sense if we are relocating … Continue reading →

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More paint finishes revealed

Posted on April 4, 2016 by coteetcampagne

The Electrician and the EDF guys revealed some more old paint colours in what will be the atelier. Originally our electric supply came into the cave ; not very practical or pretty in what will be a guest bedroom. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Episode 132- Adding Architectural Antiques

Posted on March 2, 2016 by coteetcampagne

I see absolutely no good reason not to add in old pieces where they merit it. If they are the appropriate style and period for your project, then go for it. I just found these carved wood panels in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Episode 131- In which technological breakdown leads to everything becoming clear(er)

Posted on February 25, 2016 by coteetcampagne

Now, I don’t intend to go all philosophical and profound on you; though having said that, you have all been subject to my frustration rants, my angst at unforseeable events I can’t control, and shared a taste of my despair … Continue reading →

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

The Thursday Three- and why do I put myself through this?

Posted on December 16, 2015 by coteetcampagne

So, this week a series of incidents have reminded me that I skate close to the border of being a nutcase. Not least, the Renovation Stress-Witch control freakery. Trev has time on his hands, he suggests going over to France … Continue reading →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Flipping French Floors #2 – floor envy

Posted on November 22, 2015 by coteetcampagne

I have had floor envy for a while now. Investigations have not turned up any charming original tiled floors in the French house which we could have lovingly restored. There is a small area of tomettes on the first floor … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Decorating a French house

Posted on August 9, 2015 by coteetcampagne

The time has come. We can no longer procrastinate and put off decisions about the detail. Clear plans must be made now as we move forward with the last of the hidden work that will underpin the final look. Although … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Episode 115- The end of an era

Posted on June 14, 2015 by coteetcampagne

My old Kia Sportage ( 18 years old so virtually vintage) was used as a workhorse in the early days of our French renovation project. Every spring we would load her up, see earlier posts, and bring her over to … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Episode 105 – Quelle couleurs?

Posted on March 21, 2015 by coteetcampagne

The question of colours and finishes has bugged me right from the start of our extended project. How do you bring one sad village house in the lovely Languedoc back to life without spoiling it’s character, particularly as much of … Continue reading →

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Episode 100- UK v France renovation materials costs comparison#1

Posted on March 1, 2015 by coteetcampagne

OK , I can’t speak for other countries but I can certainly give a bit of guidance on what to buy in France  and what you might want to bring over from the UK for your renovation/restoration project. Let’s start … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Episode 99 – Project mis-management

Posted on February 19, 2015 by coteetcampagne

Renovation, restoration, prevarication If you are thinking of trying to mastermind a property project from another country, which you can only visit to oversee about six times a year (for a few days) using guys who don’t speak your native … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Old Guys Rule- La règle de vieux mecs

Posted on December 31, 2014 by coteetcampagne

My old guy has just gone off to his last computer trouble shoot of 2014. On his way home tonight he will pick up some logs (it’s very, very cold here) and try and track down a bottle of Blanquette … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and wine, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Episode 91- In which I wrestle with renovation & restoration related guilt

Posted on October 1, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Renovation, restoration, reflection…. So,  I found this old photo of Trev with signs of his original brown hair colour  still evident and realised that, in just seven years of double property renovation & restoration projects  in the south of France, … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments