Tag Archives: South

Faïence in France – Tile Style- Getting it just right

Posted on June 18, 2016 by coteetcampagne

http://www.faience-ponchon.com/ http://www.homeceramics.com.tn/Content/Pages/Faience-gres.html   There are some gorgeous kitchen tiles available right now, and I was very tempted by these mixed designs- above- for a while, and they may well have worked Chez Nous, but as ever I am drawn back to … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Compati-pillow-bility

Posted on June 6, 2016 by coteetcampagne

  Here’s a debate..pick a side. After far too many years of property restoration in the South of France, Trev has announced that he hates French (i.e square) pillows. What took him so long? Well, partly because he is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Stone Love – A little village in the South of France

Posted on January 18, 2015 by coteetcampagne

Renovation, Restoration, Triangulation Ok, so here we have the village of Campagne-sur-Aude. Unique in it’s central 11th century fort, housing the church, the Templar Knights’ quarters, Masters House, smithy, armoury and stables. Around this circular structure, what is now the … Continue reading →

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Episode 93- Hidden historic details #1-Terrazzo finishes

Posted on November 10, 2014 by coteetcampagne

OK, our Maison  may not be as grand and glamourous as this one on  http://www.thisoldhouse.com , but  we have old terrazzo staircases and we have discovered that under layers of dust, dirt and caked on cement, we do have some … Continue reading →

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Why buy in the Languedoc Roussillon?- Part two,living by the sea

Posted on October 25, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Ten true reasons why we bought a little piece of seaside life in the Pyrenées Orientales in Southern France. 1) Because the dramatic mix of snow topped mountains, lush greenery, turquoise sea and sunshine  never fails to make us smile. … Continue reading →

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Why buy in the Languedoc Roussillon? Part one-country village life?

Posted on October 12, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Ten true reasons why we bought a village house here in the Aude region of Southern France 1) For a small price we can live in an ancient village steeped in history and local culture 2) We can live simply … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Episode 81- Food for thought

Posted on August 5, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Renovation, restoration, alimentation….Fresh trout from the river, vegetables that taste of something, cherries, peaches and naughty patisserie, home made ice cream, cuts of meat that you would not normally touch even with a robot arm, a drop of violet or … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and wine, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Episode 78- “Always live in the ugliest house on the street”…

Posted on July 12, 2014 by coteetcampagne

….”then you don’t have to look at it”. Apparently the artist David Hockney  said this. I can vouch for the veracity of this sentiment as our French village house is unspeakably ugly outside by anyone’s criteria. For the sake of … Continue reading →

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Episode 76- Panic in the Pissoir!

Posted on June 30, 2014 by coteetcampagne

renovation, restoration, vegetation-September 2013 The trees are coming in!!! Let me explain- the big house behind Maison Priest was owned by an English lady who  has decided to sell and had been unable to visit as often as she would … Continue reading →

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The Thursday three- carved wood furniture

Posted on May 29, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Today’s three are two furniture treasures unearthed in the Languedoc region in the South of France and one little gem from my most frequented hunting grounds, Black Country charity shops. Left-my only photo showing most of my “buffet de cuisine”or … Continue reading →

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Episode 68- While we are waiting…..

Posted on May 19, 2014 by coteetcampagne

renovation, restoration, positive contemplation…. Whilst we await the results of a battery of tests (see Episode 66-Stop everything..) and news as to whether we can actually progress our project (i.e.can Trevor manage the stairs in the French village house or … Continue reading →

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

Episode 62- A wake up call…………..

Posted on April 20, 2014 by coteetcampagne

renovation, restoration, much trepidation…………….2013 The old part of the village is wired, via a set of loudspeakers, to the Mayor’s office. This is common, apparently. We hadn’t even noticed this until our second season at Maison Priest when I was … Continue reading →

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Episode 60- Tall Tales.. A journey toward terrace chic

Posted on April 11, 2014 by coteetcampagne

Renovation, restoration, elevation The most dramatic change, to date, in our ongoing project to renovate and restore a village house in the far south of France  has been the genius addition of the roof terrace. We started (see episode 2 … Continue reading →

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Episode 46- South of France, colour inspiration

Posted on February 16, 2014 by coteetcampagne

renovation,restoration, colours and  inspiration-May 2012 I am beginning to understand why artists who have spent time in the South of France have rhapsodised about the quality of light and the way it creates the unique colours here. left- Snow topped … Continue reading →

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Episode 39- Village life and soul!

Posted on January 21, 2014 by coteetcampagne

renovation, restoration, location….. The Tour de France came through the village in summer 2007. Not the twiddly little medieval bit, thank goodness! ( that WOULD have been a challenge) but along the D118 route on the newer outskirts as the … Continue reading →

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Episode 3: Dream Villa with Pool

Posted on June 24, 2010 by coteetcampagne

renovation, restoration, ramifications! April 2006…………………S**t! What have we done? As you may now know, we had flown out in April 2005 to look at property in the Aude region of Southern France. During our mad six-day viewing trip, we saw … Continue reading →

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Episode 1: Haunted Hovel funds French Folly

Posted on June 1, 2010 by coteetcampagne

renovation, restoration, recollection May 2005…………… Aftermath When  we first embarked on our adventures in French property renovation we were living a relatively “normal” life (well, as normal as I, who have always danced to a different drum , could sustain..) … Continue reading →

Posted in "Once upon a time in France" how our story began, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments