Countdown to the Paris Apartment Project

Over thirty years ago an apartment was bought in Paris by a young man of 22 with a vision. He convinced his mother that it was a good investment, she believed him and bought three more.

Nearly two years ago we started toying with the idea of having a place in Paris, and renting it out a few weeks of the year to help cover renovation cost.

This year we found out that our daughter and son would both be living in Paris. The idea we were toying with become number one in our agenda.

Who likes being far away from the ones they love? I know from experience that it is an awful feeling that doesn't go away. 

 

 

 

For the last several months, I have been to plenty of hardware, kitchen, bathroom, painting, fabric, flooring, and lighting, shops than I could not possibly recall. 

I have wavered little in what I have thought best for the renovation.

Quality, cost and appealing were my objectives, with a big (!) emphasis on antiques.

I measured, calculated, often remeasured and often dreamed up ideas while sleeping in the car.

At last July 8th is the starting date. As I typed that I realized that the date has been pushed back more than several times. But, I honestly believe that this time it is going to happen... and I am so excited.

The builder, or renovator, has worked for French Husband for twenty years. It is a good thing he is who he is, otherwise I might be mad at him from all the times he has changed the dates.

 

 

 

The hardest part for me hasn't been waiting, no that is not true, I wish it was done already! Other than that hiccup that hardest part has been selecting a paint color. I am not good when it comes to picking wall colors. For those of you who have been reading my blog for...ever, you know how I paint... with a sock in hand and several batches of colors.

I think taupe-ish.

I am so not daring.

 

 

 

Oh remember the Paris map I found at the brocante and wallpapered to my bedroom wall? Well I found another! My Belle Mere (mother in law) and I framed it, it will hang in the bedroom in Paris.

How cool is that?

 

 

This is a blurry reflection of the Paris Map. The mirror was meant for the Paris apartment, but it is growing roots in our house. Has that ever happened to you? Where you buy something for someone, a present let's say, and then you decide to keep it?

Oh well the Paris apartment could end up empty with an air mattress and paper towels. 

Remember when I asked you, my blog readers to give me idea / tips for renovating and setting up the Paris apartment? Well, I have kept every idea close. A checklist you might say.

Some ideas you wrote I have to repost today, because I still love them:

I had a good chuckle when BW Clark wrote, "Maybe a kitten. I know it isn't feasible, but still, that makes me feel happy and safe."

 Trisha pointed out, "...As someone who travels about 200 days a year and has for the last 15+ years. Live in the apartment for a couple of days. Sleep in the beds, use the kitchen and then you will know what works and what doesn’t. SO often I wonder if anyone actually every tries out the arrangements in their hotels or B&Bs. Switches on bedside lamps that can’t be reached without actually getting out of bed or no bedside lamp at all. Towel racks you can’t reach form the shower, etc., etc. Use the apartment for a couple of days to work out those kinks. Bonne chance!"

My Belle Mere and I, are planning to do just that. We might never leave.

Suzy Meek Geere's comment sounds right up my alley,

"Maybe (you can have) lovely decorative pieces, with a price tag!" 

French Husband chimmed in, "Corey you cannot do that? The apartment might be empty every time someone leaves."

"I know! Wouldn't that be fun! Then I could go to the brocante all day long and re do the apartment all the time."

French Husband walked away.

I hollered after him, "Hey it beats trying to find a sexy Parisian fireman, that is what someone wrote they wanted!!"

He didn't turn around.

 

The word from the renovator is that the apartment will be ready in September. 

Yes, you calculated that right, the renovator thinks he and his crew can completely renovate the apartment (50 some square meters 500 square feet) in four to five weeks. But I am adding an extra month just to be safe.

 

 

Early this year I had a weekend giveaway for the Paris Apartment, the winners were:

The Randomly Picked out of a mixing bowl Winners are:

Amylia

Tedee Grace

Jend'isère 

Petra Leaford

Mom of Five

Kit

Please let me know when you can come, anytime after September looks good.

 

Monday, Monday.

I cannot wait to hear the bang boom bash! Hopefully, the whole apartment won't fall down when the wall hits the ground. Of course that won't happen. 

I will take many before and after photos.

Ugly Duckling transfomation.

 

Had I known I would have bought this zinc window years ago.

Oh well.

At least Yann (French Husband) had the foresight for a future dream that is coming true.

Comments

[Linda]

Will your builder work in August? Ours never did. It was basically six months with no work done until the second week in September. Good luck.

[Cookie]

Hi Corey the plans for the Paris apartment sound wonderful I hope you won't be waiting past September. I am wondering if the Tour de France is coming past your town as I'm watching it on TV each night (here in Melbourne Australia) I always hope to see you standing on the side of the road waving with all the other people. Hugs Cookie

[martha chabinsky]

so cool to have a place in town...I took your advice and have used Rick Steves to help plan my trip. I'm coming the first week of October to Paris and cannot wait!!! Perhaps we can have that drink after all!

[Bev S.]

How exciting! How often will you go to Paris to check on how it is going?

[jody]

i love that your dream is coming true for you! xo jody

[Diogenes]

I can certainly understand why you are reluctant to let go of that mirror. Good luck with the renovations!

[Marilyn]

How I wish I was one of the winners. But you are a winner for having the "sexy Parisian" in hand and what will be a beautiful apartment in September. Love your sense of adventure and humor.

[Kathy Mc]

I am so jealous. You are one lucky, blessed lady. Good luck with your endeavor.

[Carol]

So exciting, Corey! I look forward to watching the progress.

[Nannister]

I love color! It stimulating to me but I see you like neutrals so great but pop some color in there. Red pillows, or teal turq,orange,yellow! See I go crazy just talking about it but a pop of color really makes things sizzle and you can change out so easily! I do like the price tag idea too! I hear you talked to my neighbor Sylvie,its like a bit of France next door! and I love the way we greet now with the kiss-kiss on the side of the face. have fun with the project!

[martina]

Wow, Yann really was smart to invest in the property back then. I have watched a few House Hunters International episodes with people wanting to buy Paris apartments. The prices are ooh la la!

[Lynne Gordon]

Excited to watch the progress right up to completion!

[Ellen ~ American Homestead]

If you can't get the renovator to finish on time, do what the wife in A Year in Provence did. She invited all the wives of the various workmen to a party at the house ~ the work was finished in no time. All the workers wanted their wives to be proud of them...

[Mom of five]

Can't wait to see the apt! I'm going to Tuscany in may to a cooking school with my sisters-in law but maybe my husband can meet me in Paris before or after? Would that work? So exciting!

[Patti Lloyd]

The Paris Apartment..sounds like a good book.

[24/7 in France]

I once bought a lovely glass-handle salad fork and spoon set as a wedding gift and just couldn't part with it in the end! Bonne chance avec la renovation.

[Irina]

Corey, I'm so excited for you! That mirror is beautiful. I would keep it too :)Cannot wait to see your apartment pictures.

[double d]

You are so brave. It will be amazing to watch this unfold.

[karen]

I am so excited to see it in progress and done. That map is awesome! karen...

[Betty]

I love your blog and have been following it for years. I LOVE Paris. It is my most favorite place to visit. My daughter and I will be there in November and I am so hoping your apartment will be available for us to rent for the week we will be there. We toyed with visiting Provence then but we both love Paris so much we just can't be in France and not go there. So many things to see even after all the visits we have already made. Hey maybe we can do both!!!!! That would be wonderful. We are working on our plans now.

[Kit Artig]

Dear Corey,
I've loved your blog for almost 2 years now and the Paris apartment sound like a dream come true-both for you and for all your lucky guests! My name is Kit, but you probably have lots of followers named Kit. Someone named Kit had made the list of winners of a weekend in Paris.
Could it possibly be me?
I live in Carmel CA, and have been to the Willows area many times.
Thanks again for all your lovely photos and truly inspired writing!
Kind regards,
Kit

[Kathie B]

Just think, with all that construction going on, it'll be difficult to do much cooking in the apartment till it's done, right? Guess you and Yann will just have to force yourselves to eat out at charming little bistros, and maybe bring in breads, cheeses, fruits and pastries for other meals. What a sacrifice!

[Dawn Fleming]

Very excited for you et bonne chance!

[Suzanna]

I am SO excited for you & moving forward with your Paris Apt., choosing beige walls as you shared, perhaps gorgeous (the right blue) and beige stripped window treatments in silk with blackout lining, others would go with the right red & butter yellow/golds, ofcoarse the ideas are endless for fabrics, Brunschwig & Fils & Lee Jofa has some nice linens w your antiques. And yet again, fabrics found @ the brocante is so nice too! Can't wait to see! :-)))

[Rebecca from the pacific northwest]

You asked what gifts we've purchased and never gave to the supposed recipient. Which brought to mind santon-like figures of Joseph-Mary-Jesus and also a couple holding a baby and a watermelon that I decided was Elizabeth and John and ... whatever her husband's name was. I bought them in Cairo Egypt to give to my mother and loved them so much that I never ever gave them to her but incorporated them into my own putz (Pennsylvania Dutch style of nativity scene). When she died, I finally felt like they were "mine". But still the smallest glimmer of guilt clings to them. She never knew.

My husband wants to know why I didn't enter the drawing for the weekend at your apartment. I haven't stopped by your blog for a little while, as this indicates. I'm in trouble now!

[Brenda, Walker, LA]

My heart fluttered when I saw the line on the email..."Paris Apartment"...I can see it so plainly as I dream of a trip there! I love taupe, with black...and then any accent brocante pieces...

Perhaps you can keep all the pieces you pick for the apartment, then transfer your pieces from your house to the apartment?

I think a FEW apartment pieces could actually be for sale! Like a desk, if you have one for back-up...or tables, smalls...ect?

I always buy for Kindred Hearts Antiques and Gifts, then live with them awhile. As I study a piece it may get painted, or repurposed, but sometimes it stays with me just the way it is. I often tell it to stay and then tell something else I have goodbye and bring that to shop instead...after a few years of this, I have a home that evolves into something I love even more and more each year.

Loved the suggestion to stay in the apartment a few times, what fun! Furnish it slowly and for purpose, that way it will be filled with very very special things you could not pass up...(or your home will, lol)

[La Contessa]

KEEP THE MIRROR!I'm planning a trip to Venice in October maybe I can swing by if the apt. is available...............would three of us fit?MY SONS and MOI!

[Paula]

Lovely to hear your excitement!