The Paris Apartment: What You Want to See... Show and Tell (18th century Nail Winners Too)

How lucky am I that you are as enthusiastic about the renovation of our Paris apartment as I am. Thank you! How lucky you are that you are not covered in dust and dirt, and can watch at a distance. I am not working... just watching too, but the dust and dirt, know no bounds.

 

The photo above is part of the bathroom.

The Pink Arrow: Shows the black and white 1980s linoleum flooring. It looks far prettier in this photo then it does in real life. I thought about buying black and white tiles, but I already bought grey stone tiles. I cannot imagine having the workers carrying them downstairs, taking them back, and bringng up the other tiles. So the 1980s linoleum flooring is not going to happen. 

The Green Arrow: When the wall tiles where taken off we found the original old plaster painting, which goes around the entire bathroom and is about about five feet high.

 

 

Even with the knick marks, from chiseling off the 1980s tiles, it was appealing. I especially liked how it looked against the black and white checked floor. Many of you asked if we were going to keep it. But given that I bought the grey stones tiles, let alone the shower tiles etc... and given how long it would take to restore the wall, making it easier to manage, we decided that some things can be changed and others cannot. Had I known what I know now it could have been done differently. Though one never knew until it was torn open.

 

 

The Red Arrow shows the PVC plastic piping, that we are using to replace the clay piping (terre cuite) that was there. The clay piping was encased in the (Yellow Arrows) 18th century stone wall and snuggled under the supporting beams. It was a delicate work to remove the old piping and replace it with new piping.

The main pipe that goes down to the basement and then the main sewer drain is in iron. 

 

 

Yellow Arrow: Months ago I found the 19th century hand carved marble holy water font at a brocante that happens twice a year in Barjac (Links on my blog are high-lighted words. If you click on any of the high-lighted words it will take you to another site/page to explain, or show you more.)

The marble holy water font weighs more than me, and it looks so good! Just goes to show me it is all about packaging.

 

 

 

(The Red Arrow: Under the plaster walls are the eighteen century walls. Large beams in criss-cross pattern, then stone and mortar filled and attached with small boards.)

 

 

Brother Mat asked to see female construction workers. 

Dear Bro Mat, You really want to see me?

 

 

(Removing rubble, the only pure plaster wall in the apartment. Came down opening the two little rooms into one large room.)

I thought we would have a chute that the workers could dump the debris into. But the sidewalk/street below is too narrow for a dumpster. I feel for these guys!

 

The Pink Arrow: A few weeks after I found the marble font, I found a column at Truffaut, a chain garden shop in France. It was the perfect size, shape, patina and it was solid enough to hold the marble font. Yesterday, one of the workers cut it as it was too high to use as a column for the holy water font to be transformed into a sink. And you won't believe what happened... he cut the column too short! He felt badly about it... I don't know what we will do to render the problem. It is what it is... either we use it as is: Too short, or ditch it, or find a solution. I was sad a little, but it wasn't worth getting upset over.

 

The walls unfortunately, will be covered with sheet rock. Gasp!

 

 

The cast iron radiators will be repainted. There are five in the apartment. We will replace the one in the bathroom. The copper piping and wiring was removed (and recycled) to make room for new copper piping and wiring.

The golden box is full of cookies from the Aux Fruits d'Eden, an Algerian bakery a block away from the apartment. Ramadan started this week. Sammy is French Algerian. Because he is Muslim he is fasting from sunrise to sunset. No food, no water, from four in the morning until ten thirty-ish in the evening for a month. I gave him a box of homemade pastries to take back to the hotel and feast on after dinner... 10:30 in the evening! We do not eat nor drink in the apartment, none of us, due to Sammy's faith. Imagine construction work, in the summer and fasting? He never complains and always smiles. 

 

The Random Winners (please email with your address so I can send you a nail.) 

Thank you for the delightful and interesting comments! You my dear readers make the blog more interesting when you leave a comment. Thank you!

 

1) Cindy Fazio

2) [email protected]

3) Linda H.

4) Tina

5) Dawn Fleming

6) Sandy Austin

7) Patti Lloyd wrote: 

"A hunk that loves the Brocante? I don't suppose he cooks too?" Guess what he does! He owned a restaurant in Marseille that is how we met him twenty five years ago."

8) Wanda Decker

9) Marlis

10) Peggy Braswell

11) Michele Waits is the winner of the larger nail.

12) Will be nailed to the apartment wall as a reminder of this post and project.

 

Comments

[Patti]

I'm loving these details! And the photos. I'm sorry about the column but looking forward to the solution. Is it "too short" enough to add a little marble base? What ever you come up with will be good. I have no doubt! Thanks for including us in all of this.

[DeeDee Clark]

I love the continuing saga. Some day I want to rent this.

[Bev S.]

I should have realized about Ramadan!

[Nancy W]

you are right to not be angry about the sink mistake. It was,of course, a mistake & we all make them. I can imagine your disappointment though. I vote...find another solution for the base as too short would be a nuisance forever & ever. Perhaps as Patti said " add a little marble base?". Put your thinking cap on Corey. I believe you will come up with something very imaginative.

[Ardis]

yes, a little base from the brocante for the column with the holy water font! perfect combination of everything

[becky up a hill]

Oh Corey, many thanks for all these amazing details. So sorry about the 'measure twice, cut once' that didn't happen.

[Jill]

Oh yes, you must add a base to that column! Or even a block of wood painted to match - the column looks too perfect not to use. ::Jill

[martina]

A little marble base, cut in a similar outline to the font would be my suggestion for putting between the floor/column so the font is the right height. Thank you for the photos/information!

[Star]

I love reading this stuff, Corey. Can't wait to see the next installment.

What a nice gesture for all of you to refrain from eating in the apartment out of respect for Sammy. I was reading about Ramadan recently and the fasting that takes place. Sammy is certainly living his faith each day to do such hard work and not even partake of water.

Love, love, love what you are doing with the 12th nail.

[Lana Kloch]

glad you're picking your battles, corey! you have a wonderful disposition... thank you for all the shots of the workers.. in their various stage of dress.

what compassion you all show regarding the muslim worker. working so hard without water and food; i cannot imagine it.

the layers are fascinating.. if walls could only talk.. they must be rich with tales. do you know the former owners..?

awaiting tomorrow's travails, i mean progress...

[BV]

to short? no problem for you...a opportunity! i am in the add a base camp. love, love, love all this and am hoping to see the finished apartment...in person ~ one of these days. we never know what the future holds, do we?
BV
xo

[Denise Solsrud]

poop! you snooze, you lose. how did i miss that? did not see that there would be a drawing for a nail. congrats to all. Bestest,Denise

[Denise Solsrud]

keep forgetting to ask this,but may i ask,why the gold ring on the 1st knuckle of your finger. was the ring your mother's or your baby ring? wouldn't it be hard not to loose? thanx.Bestest,Denise

[Judi]

The font is so wonderful! You'll find an even more clever solution. But I hope you get to keep it in the bathroom. it is unique.

[Marilyn]

Congratulations to the winners!
Watching from afar I am amazed at what everyone is having to go through to make this the jewel it soon will be. No wonder it hasn't been done for a very long time.

[Paulette]

This is fascinating. Love the pictures and commentary.

[Violet Cadburry]

You could cut it shorter and make a bidet.

[Julie Schaefer]

Love it!

[Wendy Morrison]

Why not make a plinth for the pedestal holding the sink?
WM

[Jeannie]

Your remodel is so interesting. I love seeing the exposed beams and plaster. I marvel at how well everything was made sans power tools. As others have said, I know there is a base for the column at the brocante. Wouldn't it be fun to find a pair of feet from a statue for the plinth? Thanks so much for such an informative post. Ramadan Mubarak to Sammy! Congrats to the lucky winners. I hope the nails are like horseshoes and bring goodness to you all.

[French la Vie]

Hi Violet Cadburry,
LOL! That is a good idea.

[Kiki]

FULL OF ADMIRATION - FOR EVERYBODY - off to singing for 10 days - keep strong guys!!!! Ramadan AND work so hard.... can't imagine that, I'm so weak!
wonderful what all of you do - you have my utmost admiration.
Sxxt happens - but don't even think about a bidet, that's not what you need in a holiday flat, use that space differently. I would opt for a cement-block to stand the base on, if you have the space (???), you could make it large enough to stand a basket or bottom shelving on it for the towels etc.
Much love :)

[KAMFreeman]

It is wonderful to follow along with the remodel project...watch it on the screen and not get covered with plaster dust and grime....it is amazing the finds that come to light as the walls are broken down...the painting looks wonderful...perhaps if you have some good photos it could be the resource for some work on a future project. Your workers are, indeed, excellent...both visually and in their willingness to do so much up and down the stairs with heavy and cumbersome loads of materials, new and that which is removed. Love reading about all of the recycling that is done as the deconstruction process moves ahead. A local friend is one of the founders of a business here that sells items and materials from deconstructed homes and office buildings...it is well used by everyone and even has attached to it a building called the women's place where classes for women of all ages are given in the home-arts..cooking, canning, sewing...and also how to utilize the materials that are saved. A brocante of sorts.
Somehow I know there will be a good solution to the challenge of the too short pedestal for the sink...and the tile you describe for the floor is going to be wonderful with the sink.
What a delight to open each day now to another page in the process of transformation! Thanks for the "seat" on the tour train.
Kristin

[Debra]

From someone whose 22 yo Reno project is still not complete, I love reading about the details and unexpected choices and changes. Thanks for all the pictures and explainations.

[Kathie B]

When Sacha was working at a construction site in Marseille a summer or two ago, weren't some of his coworkers also observing the daytime Ramadan fast? I can't even get through 24 hours on Yom Kippur any more, due to my health, so can't imagine how anyone works strenuously all day without food, let alone going without water during the summer heat. Guess you're all just a lot younger and tougher than I am :-)

[Suzanna]

oh my, your pics tell the story, dust and powder, I have plaster walls and they too were falling apart in places, so we repaired these holes, and carefully use the correct drill bit to hang paintings for the chipping that happens......and cutting the holy water font, what can one do, it is done, I stood on top of the tub for subs once, marked the spot in huge writing and they still got the shower head too low.....gasp, closed in the walls and it was done when I arrived.....what to do, not much, keep moving in my case...congrats for your winners! aww....my dream to visit ~ XO

[Eileen]

I think I've said this before (?) I can't imagine anything being more fun than renovating an apartment in Paris -- especially if it's your own!

[The Paris Apartment]

Quel project! I give you a lot of credit, a true labor of love. And we get to be armchair observers, thank you for that, it's been a fantastic project to follow ad we all know how great the payoff will be!

[Nick Astle]

Loved the album. nice work