OUR LIFE IN CHALABRE: An American Expat in the South of France

THE RENOVATION OF OUR HOUSE (MAY-SEPTEMBER 2005) A ROUGH SCHEMATIC OF OUR HOUSE DOWNSTAIRS (DINING-ROOM / KITCHEN) In December '04, the room looked like this: Towards the Front Towards the Back Fireplace wall Hidden Beams We undertook the restoration of the stone walls in the dining room downstairs. This involved removing the outer plaster walls, using a jackhammer to bring out the original stones beneath, then doing the same to the ceiling's wooden beams (oak and poplar), then using a powerful electric sander to polish them. The artisans responsible for the work were: Emmanuel "Manu" Montoro, mason extraordinaire and jackhammer artist; Arnaud Molini, electrician and local rugby champion; (& partner-in-electricity Stephane Montoro, Manu's cousin) THE DINING ROOM: Manu (left, white t-shirt) explains something to JM (rather clueless) while Arnaud looks on skeptically JM (left), Manu and Arnaud fixing the phone connection Arnaud looking at the Cours Colbert outside the front door. Towards the Front (left) (Manu center, Arnaud right) Under the Window Sill of the Dining Room 1 Towards the Front (right) Plaster wall - no stones behind it, since that was once a coal chute for the cellar beneath. Under the Window Sill of the Dining Room 2 Now, a new stone wall built by Manu to match the other walls. Manu wearing a mask while doing the beams Ceiling Beams (poplar in front oak in back, above the front door) Another Poplar Beam before Sanding Close-Up of Poplar Beam after Sanding Close-Up of Oak Beam after Sanding Wall opposite the Fireplace (towards Front) (Note future floor-to-ceiling vaulted Niche where cupboard was) Same Wall opposite direction (Towards the Back) a floor-to-ceiling vaulted niche where a cupboard stood. (Note electric cable to be hidden between stones for future spotlights) Manu has now built the arching vault. Shelves have been installed by local artisan Charlie; the wood will eventually be tinted to match the beams. KITCHEN: After the restauration of the dining room walls had begun, the kitchen, however, was still closet-sized. (with Arnaud) Towards the Back (left) (with Arnaud front, Manu back; Also note Small Niche in the Wall) The walls to the right and left of the door (you can still see the door frame standing) have been knocked down; now Manu needs to find a way to support the wall above, as well as the large beam to the right that now rests on nothing. A closer view: Manu is putting the temporary supports in place; you can see that the plaster ceiling has been removed, restoring the beams beneath; the space to the right (with the hole at the end) is where the sink and appliances will go. Closer view of the restored ceiling, with its apparent beams. Success: the door frame is gone. New beams (made of ancient oak) now stand on the left side of the opening and on top (lintel); to the right, two new diagonal supports have been erected. A counter (also made of ancient oak) links the two diagonal beams; the open space at the bottom will be filled-in with stones and masonry to match the wall. Stone steps will be built to access the now-opened up kitchen space. BEFORE AFTER Side facing the Cours Colbert   new tiled floors, restored stone walls Side facing the kitchen   new waxed plaster walls, new kitchen opening, painted buffet (right) Fireplace   new wood mantelpiece Ceiling   Restored stone walls and exposed beam Kitchen   new kitchen, enlarged opening, exposed beams, waxed plater walls, painted buffet (right) THE STAIRS (LEADING UP) BEFORE AFTER   THE LIVING/TV ROOM BEFORE AFTER From Inside, towards the Door   "waxed plaster" walls, fireplace redone, floors restored, flatscreen TV   NO PHOTO   reverse angle: couch, bookshelves THE LIBRARY/RANDY'S OFFICE BEFORE AFTER Fireplace (view right)   new paint (lavender), restored floors, Randy's chair/workstation, new shelves Opposite Wall (view left)   couch and mystery bookshelf  NO PHOTO reverse view: towards the antechamber, library corner (right) THE GUEST BATHROOM BEFORE, clockwise, left to right from door. You can't see the (low) ceiling on the photo, but it was boards + plaster, painted whitish. As was the case in the kitchen, the boards and plaster were removed to expose the beams underneath, thereby also raising the headroom. Towards the (low) door; raising its lintel would have meant raising the entire room, floor above, beams, etc; in the end, we decided not to do that, as our experience with the kitchen shows that you never know WHAT you will find once you start demolishing ceilings and walls. Reverse view. The big tube (previously ventilation for the kitchen) will be removed.     AFTER: shower/bathtub along opposite wall; new sink now facing the door THE MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE Former Room #1 (entering)   No new paint yet, nor carpet, but the separating wall (right) is gone   New paint, new curtains.   BEFORE Former Room #2 (towards master bathroom)   Ditto AFTER MASTER BATHROOM EN SUITE BEFORE AFTER AFTER Toilet, bidet and sink, but no shower, all in black linoleum and pink walls.   Cream-colored walls with new insulation, sea grass floor and new appliances.   Brand new shower next to the door from the bedroom. TOP OF THE STAIRS BEFORE AFTER Towards the attic (right) & JM's offices (left)   fresh paint, new art, new light fixtures The skylight   New glass, fresh paint to achieve the "loft" look JM'S OFFICES BEFORE AFTER Office #1 (entering)   Fresh paint, bookshelves, glass window replaced to let the light through NO PHOTO reverse view: comics and French SF bookshelves Office #2 (towards Cours Colbert)   Desks and computer, files still being sorted out  NO PHOTO   reverse view: desk, filing cabinets THE ATTIC   The Presbytere side of the attic, presently storage, with new insulation, window with view, eventually to be turned into a living space with its own shower.   The Cours Colbert side of the Attic; eventually to be turned into a mezzanine bedroom wiuth futon. Supervising the work from afar: