A few weeks ago as the seasons were changing places.
a moment was shared with our friends Laurie-Annya and Ian in Cassis
Crystal blue
a few puff clouds
smooth sea.
05 November 2021
27 February 2019
Brocanteur Friends Come Over for Lunch
Two of my favorite brocante dealers came over for lunch. Before they arrived I looked around my house and declared that they were going to find the things I sold to them, I should play a game I thought like "Find fifteen things that you sold me?" Actually, they would find more than that without even trying. I made lunch and was so excited to see Christophe and Philippe.
The market in Cassis is every Wednesday and Friday, this morning I walked to the market, filled my basket with fresh seasonal produce, farm eggs, flowers, cheese, wine, olives, and bread from local producers and artisans. The sun promised another spectacular day, waving in the Provencal blue while dancing in the gentle breeze it felt like a weekend in June and not a weekday in February.
Menu
Pizza with seasonal vegetables stacked high fresh mozzarella,
Roasted beets, avocadoes, and stuffed ravioli wrapped around green beans.
Desserts.
Felt like summer with the window open.
A cigale on each plate, the cigale is the symbol of good fortune and happiness. The classic design is from Louis Sicard who started in Aubagne in 1890.
Brocante,
Lunch,
Friends,
Sunshine,
Beautiful day.
Christophe and Philipe the perfect French gentlemen brought over a bouquet of flowers, desserts, and a gift darlingly wrapped with a French ribbon sash.
Inside there was an antique box, a seashell box to hold a rosary and inside the seashell box a multi-ribbon bookmark that was used for a Mass book. Religious gifts since they know I tend to buy things for my church, I mean home, well it is the same sort of place, isn't it?
A perfect day.
21 February 2019
Another Piece of Furniture Going up and Through the Window
After three years of looking for the right armoire or chest of drawers for our place in Cassis one that was not too high, nor too wide, or too deep, I found one. Nevertheless, even though it was perfect it was going to be a challenge getting it into our place.
Hence the window to the rescue!
In it went, with the help of Rene, Loic, Ian, Mika and Yann.
I was so excited I forgot to take a photo of how it looked once in!
Photo soon to come xx
12 January 2019
Cassis Home Renovation Project
If I did not have such a great team to work with I would never agree to step in and project manage such an undertaken of Cassis Home. Plus if Ching and Gary were not good friends of mine and if they weren't one hundred percent behind every decision I make I would never be doing this. But since the "Team" is behind me and creativity is free rein this is one of the best projects, that am lucky and happy to be part of it.
What I mean is that this apartment was good enough, it was livable but Ching and Gary wanted something more, something unique, something that honored its bones. Simple, Avant-Garde, Modern with only a slight hint of whimsy. They wanted space, not the tight fit that it was, and they wanted all the beautiful light of Cassis to pour in. If the Team wasn't behind me I would be frustrated not to be able to bring to life what I visualize for this space.
We are going to have a cement-like finish, that Rene and I created to put on through the entire apartment. We are also going to add it to the stairs three levels of them. The bottom part of the stairs is original to the apartment which is over a hundred-year-old. They are not made like the upper two levels which were made in the 1980s and are solid cement. The bottom level stairs (not shown) will take more work I will explain that when we are working on them. For now, I had the team take out the decorative solid iron bars on the stairs. Of course, we had an engineer-architect come over and check out to see if it were possible. Once we got the green light I had them take them out and reinforce the corners with thicker iron tube plus we added an I-beam to the corner. I had the team leave the old I-beams exposed to give it a loft feel.
Facts:
Dust. Dirt. Debris. Stairs plenty of them.
Rene is a genius. Honest and incredibly hardworking.
Patience.
Discovery at every corner, that is the thrilling part working within old walls.
Friends who appreciate my creativity and let me spell it out, erase it, reroute, bam nail it.
Exchange with confidence.
These last few days I am seeing Cassis Home come alive, breathing, it is as if my thoughts are being made whole, playing out on life's stage.
We removed the decorative iron bars then replaced the two end ones with a thicker heavy iron bar that they drilled into the stone wall.
An I-beam and those two iron bars are the main support for the two floors overhead.
Every time I say I-beam I think of Yann, as we met at the I-beam in San Francisco nearly 32 years ago dancing to hits such as Higher Love,
Your Wildest Dreams, West End Girls, White Wedding, Kiss, Addicted to Love, Don't Leave Me This Way...
Those songs rock on to a different beat to the sound of hammering, chiseling, scrapping...
The pipes were pierced and fixed into the stone supportive wall.
Next, the tiles had to be chiseled off so that we can layer them with cement.
Rene chiseled off all the new tile, and sweep afterward. Our shoes are constantly dusty!
The steps will have a cement-like top with an iron band across the top.
This is the prototype railing It is like a ribbon
08 August 2018
Would You Swim in a Sea that Called Your Name?
Late this evening I walked from our apartment to the seaside, it took me three minutes.
Taking my sandals off I stepped into the sea the water wrapped around my legs which felt like a needed hug, the water was warmer than I have ever felt.
Delicious and inviting.
Very few people were around, a few were swimming, it was 11pm.
I took off my dress, threw it behind me and went on in.
Pure bliss.
Later I stepped out, put my dress back on and walked home to write this post.
14 June 2018
08 June 2018
The End of the Day
At the end of the day,
we have the earth under our feet,
the sky above our head, and
the air we breathe in between.
The window with a view.
The soft air of summer poured in.
A simple meal salad, breadsticks, cheese, asparagus, a carafe of water and nothing for dessert.
Simple. Delicious. Friday night.
Reflective mode.
Thoughts come and go like the waves of the sea in front of me.
18 May 2018
How to Celebrate on a Diet
How to celebrate a diet.
Well, that is not why I was invited to lunch.
Alys and Hilde asked if I would like to join them at the La Brasserie du Corton in Cassis, friends, Cassis, lunch with a view how could I refuse such a gift?
Two kir royals, a divine lunch, incredible manioc bread, followed by dessert. Diet took a back seat with glee.
Then I walked home trying to lose my guilt, and yet skipped with delicious delight. When I arrived home French Husband brought me a scoop of ice cream (from the new ice cream shop owned and by Le Grande Bleu) made with fig and ricotta the best ever, and ice cream is not my fav. I ate every single bit of it.
One would think a workout would follow, instead I took a nap.
Glorious.
Tomorrow if you the earth shakes that is just me on the scale.
Thank you Alys for the lovely lunch.
14 October 2017
Lunch in Cassis
Our Canadian friends Denise (aks Panty Lady, W.R. and Good Cook) and Vlad have a summer home in Cotignac. We shared the day together in Cassis before they return home.
The little cheese are called "bouchons" or corks.
Fresh Pea Soup
Take the peas out of their pod (or frozen),
Line them in a row and admire their cute factor.
Measure more four cups worth (kissing each one is optional.)
In a pan of boil water flavored with a cube of vegetable bouillon (I like to make mine and freeze them) add the four cups of fresh peas, plus a yellow onion cut in fourths.
Make sure the water barely covers the peas and onion.
Bring to a boil, then simmer until the onion is soft (ten minutes or so).
Take off the burner, add one cup of cream and blend smooth.
Put the blended soup in the frig until chilled.
Serve with a mint leaf topper.
(Add salt to taste)
I usually serve this chilled, but instead I served it warm with a Coconut Chili Pepper vegetables, with rice and sauteed scallops.
Vegetables (Baby zucchini, carrots, green onions, parsley, garlic, mushrooms all finely chopped.) Stir in gently coconut cream let it set.
Then stir in the cooked rice, and sauteed scallops.
Desserts were made from the local bakery:
Bon voyage Denise and Vlad, we will miss you
xoxo
16 July 2017
Snapshots from Cassis and Dinner in our Place
Cassis.
We had some friends over for dinner, a bit tight, and a bit hot but the company and conversation made up for that. Kirk, Anne, Lamont and Laura.
Lamont rode up Mount Ventoux the other day. No big deal for him as he does it nearly every time he comes to France. Imagine riding up Mount Ventoux without effort? Think of all the gnocchi you could eat afterwards! Yes, that is how my mind works.
I have seen Laura and Lamont several times, I do believe they come to France every year for several weeks.
They are so :very kind, when I imagine them they are as they are: ALWAYS SMILING. I love that about them. Happy folk! This year they stayed in our house next door. Neighbors in real time.
The other night for dinner everyone brought something for the aperitif: Asparagus souffle from Cassis, Stuffed peppers, Bouchon and ash covered cheese, pesto, sun dried tomato dips, olives of course...
After we had stuffed pesto gnocchi, with confit tomatoes, I drizzled pumpkin seed oil over it... Mount Ventoux here I came.
I won't mention dessert...
22 April 2017
The Gift of the Sea
Before Chelsea left for Bangladesh, we celebrated Easter early. We gathered together in Cassis because French Husband had a surprise to share with us. We knew the surprise, but didn't really believe it, could it really be as good as he was telling us. Not that he embellishes stories, or distorts the truth, far from it. Simply put, French Husband's surprise seemed way to good to be true.
Mr. Espresso gifted Chelsea with a new camera, a smaller one than her SLR, to take with her to Bangladesh. While we were in Cassis she tried out her new camera on us.
All the photos are from Chelsea.
Chelsea set her camera on a
timer, as she wanted us to jump.
But, we were either too soon, or too late, and could never get our groove on the right beat.
Personally, when they jumped high, I went bent down. I am a terrible jumper.
And that was just fine.
I thought it would add contrast. In the end we were in the middle.
French Husband's family is from Bretagne. Sailing is French Husband first love. Unfortunately, I do not do any of the sports he does, but I might have to learn about sailing.
One of the first things we did when we bought the fisherman's house in Cassis, was sign up at the sailing club. Instantly, French Husband met some wonderful people. Long amazing story made short French Husband met a man, who knew a man, who bought a brand new boat, and wanted to give his old boat away. When French Husband told me about this, he literally was bouncing off the walls, that he was given a boat. I remember thinking, "it must be a junker, or an inflatable raft..."
So as we were together celebrating Easter, French Husband wanted to show us the boat. There are two ports in Cassis one is in the center of the town, and the other is nearby in Port Miou.
One of the things Port Miou is famous for...
Cassis Stone
The lighthouse in Cassis is also made from Cassis stone from Port Miou.
As we walked the boardwalk to Port Miou, I imagined the boat to look like one of those that you see in the photo above.
French Husband stopped, stood proudly and said,
"This one."
We didn't believe him.
But indeed it was.
This sail boat was given to French Husband.
And French Husband decided to share half of the ownership with Rene.
It sleeps six.
Rene and his wife have four little boys.
What a lovely surprise;
a gift just like that,
a sail boat.
I guess I better learn a thing of two about boating.
09 April 2017
The Kitchen in Cassis
The kitchen in Cassis, and in the back the den which for the moment has a sofa that turns into a bed and end tables. The French doors slide shut and there are curtains on the other side for privacy.
The kitchen is completely from Ikea, the black and white paintings are from Camille.
The entrance is the grey/blue door on the right hand side.
The cigalle is a symbol of good luck, I hung it above the entrance.
The dining room table light has yet to be hung, therefore I have a lamp on a little table until the light is put up. It isn't going to stay there. The big starburst mirror we are not going to keep, instead we are going to hang a painting.
That is the window I found that matches the one upstairs. This one has interior shutters. It is from the 1700s.
The long number piece is for nearly 20 feet high when stretched. It is a geography measure.
The cherry wood table is from the 1900s. I bought it at a second hand store, it opens up if need be. The chairs are new: Black seats with a wooden base.
Those are the two beams we had to replace. The cupboard on the left is where I have our dishes. It is a bathroom cabinet from Ikea.
The painting will go up and the mirror will go back to the shop.
French Husband prefers the painting.
The square on the wall is where the electrical counter is.
I have yet to find something to hang there.
If you have any questions, I will answer them in the comment section.
xxx
07 April 2017
Loving Spoonful
Feeling clever, and kind of silly too, but I will let you be the judge of that. I found an ashtray, not that I have ever smoked, nor am I thinking to do so now, but I bought it anyway. I thought it was cute for Cassis, as it was of a fisherman.
Originally, I thought about nailing it above the entrance with thick nail heads. Though, as it sat on the kitchen counter another idea popped into my head, "A spoon rest!" It is indeed a perfect spoon rest.
Where the cigarette use to rest now a wooden handle takes it place. I wonder what that fisherman thinks? If he says he misses the cigs, no more loving spoonfuls for him.
XXX
31 March 2017
Creating a Modern Look with Antiques
Since childhood I have loved old things, the first antique I ever bought I was 12, I used my babysitting money to buy a mirror and a brown jar. My taste hasn't change.
While creating our newest home in Cassis, I entertained the thought of doing something different, especially when we took out the dropped ceiling and created a loft. The volume of the space spoke a new language, modern was its name. The challenge was to create a modern look combined with my taste for antiques. Friends can attest to my doubting if I could pull it off: Arnelle, Denise, Gina... to name a few. Their cheering me with appreciated guidance gave me the vote of confidence I needed.
Remember, the paddle Rene found under the floor when we were in the beginning stages of renovating? It become a focus color and texture point in choosing items for the house.
Hence, the white oak floor boards, and the white oak cabinet (that we transformed into a closet) which is between the living and bathroom. It is the first piece of furniture that I ever bought new (not counting appliances or bedding.) At the same shop we bought a navy blue sofa. After buying these two new pieces I felt like I was in deep, which made me wonder if I was on the right track as it was new territory.
Brocante finds: Modern with Antiques
The unpainted wooden boat with zinc sails (40 Euros) I found at the bottom of a box, disgustingly dirty, with its sails bent out of shape. The large shell lamp with its nineteen century black iron pedestal I literally begged the dealer to give me a better price, which he finally did at 25 Euros. I nearly kissed him I was so thrilled. The canvas study painting I bought a while ago, before Cassis was ever a reality of ours. I was going to sale it, but my friend Gina said, "He is the Captain for Cassis." I bought it at Carpentras from a dealer I know well for 70 Euros. The colors play well together and set the tone for the living room: White oak, black, zinc, yellow and the muted shell tones.
The window is original with its original forged iron hardware, Rene stripped it back to the natural wood. I am looking for a rug at least I think I am.
When French Husband and Rene hauled the sofa up a ladder, on to the awning of Chez Gilbert, and then through the window I thought I was going to puke (I posted the video of the sofa adventure on FB). At one point the ladder started to buckle, French Husband had the sofa balancing on his head, while Rene pulled it up to the awning. How an accident did not happen has me shaking me head. When I look at the sofa now I hear all the swear words I uttered that crazy day.
Above, and over yonder up those stairs is the bedroom, under the bedroom is the bathroom, below the stairs is the entrance, the kitchen and den.
I gotta change that cord on the shell lamp, extending it so it can hide behind Captain Cassis. The frayed edges of the painting don't bother me none. Yeah, I am a pick and choose kind of OCD. Peeling, cracked, chipped, yep that is okay, short cord on lamp No f-ing way.
When we were selecting a color for the walls Arnelle was a major help. As the walls were plastered the traditional way they were blinding white. As French Husband saw it white was good. Blinding? Wear sunglasses until the sun goes down. Arnelle's idea was to paint the back wall a blue black. Which I was grateful for the idea, and loved instantly. French Husband with his constant doubt and wanting to keep the entire house blinding white nearly made us black and blue with talking it about it. Finally, we agreed, we would paint the walls the same color as we had painted them in Paris (because he could see the results) and paint the walls dividing the back rooms blue black.
The walls in Paris and in Cassis are a stone white.
My life stories circle around the brocante, I guess that is normal considering that it is my work and hunting ground. The painting above is from such an adventure. I was busy buying things for a client, when I saw an older man selling his paintings. I had never seen him at the brocante before, so that in itself was intriguing. As I did not have time to stop and look, I asked him for his card and if I could meet him later to talk about his paintings. French Husband and I met with him, instantly falling in love with his seascapes from Ireland, Bretagne and Provence. His paintings have made me see the landscape differently.
A girl leaning on a window sill, blows bubbles from a seashell.
1800s of older,
Oil on canvas.
Who knew that those colors would match the modern painting on the opposite wall, and add balance to the ying and yang of old and new.
I bought this painting five or six years ago.
Miniature of a Siren.
The 1700s white oak demi-lune, unfolds making a perfect table to gather round for an aperitif.
French Husband and I had gathered our finds at the brocante, the car was stuffed, I laughed nervously, wondering where I would sit as we carried the last bit to the car. Next to our car was an antique dealer, the demi-lune stared at me, I poked French Husband, "See that? Those are sought after, if I was selling furniture I would buy it in a heartbeat." The dealer noticed us talking about it, presuming we wanted to buy it. He said, "300 Euros." French Husband asked me if that was a good deal, I told him if didn't matter if it was a good deal because we weren't looking for a demi-lune and the car was full. The dealer listening to us speaking in English assumed we wanted it, and said, "I can do a better price for the little lady if she wants it?" French Husband, honest as he is, said, "No she doesn't want it." I gave a sorry look and shrugged my shoulders, as to say that was true. Though the dealer read us differently, and offered us a better deal, "It is the end of the day, I am tired, I have sold well, I tell you what, I can do 150 Euros."
French Husband pulls me aside, "That is a GOOD deal we should buy it!"
"Yeah and it can ride on your head and sleep on your side of the bed," I laughed.
Somehow the dealer thought I was mad at French Husband for not letting me buy it. Sometimes male chauvinism pays off. He said, "Okay, okay, the little lady really wants it, and hell I want to get rid of it, so you can have it for 80 Euros. Make her happy, and you will be happier this evening."
And somehow we managed to get it in the car, and it never slept with French Husband.
A monkey fist rope hangs out in a champagne bucket.
The six foot by five foot painting is by Camille, that too went through the window. But as it was light it wasn't too big of a deal, French Husband would say, "Sure."
The chandelier is from the 1900s.
The velvet cut pillow can be found online at Maison du Monde.
French antiques with a modern twist.
Should I add a rug or not?
XXX
30 March 2017
Cassis, The Living Room
This was the living room space,
with a ladder going to the upstairs bedroom.
Chelsea and Yann are standing in what use to be the kitchen. We moved the kitchen downstairs.
Tomorrow I will show and tell more about this room. Because today I am going to respond to yesterday's comments. If you want to hear more about the apartment you might want to check yesterday's comments.
If you have any questions so far let me know and I will try to answer them in the comment section.
Thanks.
29 March 2017
Cassis: The Bathroom
The bathroom in Cassis was were French Husband and I differed. From the beginning we were bartering, negotiating, arguing, sweet talking... just trying to get what we wanted.
The main thing was French Husband wanted a washer and a dryer, in the bathroom. I wanted them in the kitchen under the stairs. French Husband wanted nothing under the stairs.
I did not want any doors in the bathroom, and I wanted a window so when I took a shower I could see the sea, without it seeing me. French Husband rolled his eyes so often I thought they might stick in the back of his head. I threw a tantrum about the washer/dryer, even stormed out of the house and went for a walk where I mumbled bad words. A washer and dryer took the lovely underlining aesthetic out of the space. Practical is not in my favor of design. French Husband, Chelsea, Sacha and Rene thought I was mad for not wanting a door: "When you are going to the bathroom, everyone will hear and see you!" In which I answered, "No they won't."
I was not telling the truth, and they knew it.
The ceramic tiles are made to look old and stained, as if in a warehouse. They are four feet by four feet in size. The Cassis stone sink was made by the original owner, maybe a hundred years ago, he was a stone cutter by trade. It was, and is, a kitchen sink (classic size and design of Provence). Because of that, "we" kept it using it as a bathroom sink instead. As French Husband smirked, "Why not, we have a baptismal fountain as a bathroom sink in Paris. If we ever do a house again, you probably will use a bird bath."
Rene works with stone as well, he MADE the stone support for the sink. I had him add a rod iron between the two stone supports in case anyone dare hang a towel there.
I haven't found a bathroom mirror, so a slab mirror is standing there precariously until I do. The shower is called a "douche Italian", the drain is a long inox piece against the wall. It is slightly tilted towards the wall so the water drains. It has no ledge, or lip, the glass shower wall appears free standing. Rene was the master, he built it from scratch, because no matter what I asked for, he NEVER said no. I tell you he is like having a thousand wishes come true. French Husband and I think HE is a rockstar. I had Rene put the water faucets etc. on the side to give the appearance that nothing is there. When I take a shower I can see the sea, and the sea cannot see me. But when I pee... not just teasing. French Husband got his washer and dryer too. A win/win.
The ball in the shower is a giant glass floater, I found it at the brocante, I bet you didn't see that coming.
On the side of the sink I hung sorciere mirrors, and in front of the washer and dryer there is a coat rack that I found at the St Tropez brocante. They are easy to find, but this long is a luxury. We use it to hang our clothes and things when we take a shower. The baskets I bought at Maison du Monde an home decor shop. The folding stool is made of iron and leather, another brocante find.
The washer and dryer are on the side of the sink. We haven't decided how we are going to "hid" the washer/dryer. A door?
"We have a door in the bathroom, but not where one would expect it," chimed French Husband.
Directly in front of the sink we have a closet, that holds the hot water tank, plus shelves for towels, toiletries and stuff. I bought the old door at the salvage yard for 25 Euros. In front of the shower and behind the closet is the toilet. The naked charcoal drawing is from 1818. A hunk of a man. I added the ivy leaf to cover his personal wowzer, so that my Mom, who reads my blog, wouldn't get mad at me, I can hear her saying, "Oh for God's sake Corey!"
The black iron heated towel rack (from a national hardware store called, Leroy Merlan), oh how the French love their heated towel racks, and I gotta say it has spoiled me too.
The painting is another one from Camille.
XXX
28 March 2017
Cassis: The Kitchen
This is where it started.
This is where I began to freak out.
This is when I met Rene for the first time, and his son.
This would become the entrance, the kitchen, dining space and den.
The door in the background was the original entrance. Which was a stairwell to the bottom floor that was not ours. We had Rene tear down the wall, cover the stairs (extended the floor over the stairs) and rip out the stairwell that continued up to the bathroom, living room and bedroom.
The blue arrow is the beam we had to replace, as it did not go through to the outer wall.
The yellow arrow is the stairwell that we took out. We assumed and were correct that the beam was connected to the stairs, and not the main wall.
The green arrow is the original entrance, we removed the door and the wall, extending the floor to the outer wall, gaining over a yard in width and five yards in length.
This is not a dart board.
The orange arrow is where the beautiful view of the port is.
The purple arrow is where the new entrance is.
The green arrow points to where the den room is and where we had French doors installed.
The light blue arrow is where the new stairs are.
The yellow arrow is what we had torn out and where the kitchen is now.
So many arrows, I will probably dream about them this evening.
The kitchen is from Ikea. The top is faux marble, the stove top is a white glass induction, the facades are brown/black. The tile rug is vinyl. I had wanted real tiles but Yann could not imagine it looking good, now he wishes it were
the real deal.
Here is a peek into the kitchen, this is where the stair well use to be.
Big difference no?
Before and After
Before:
This is after Rene and his team torn out the middle floor.
The yellow arrow shows where the bedroom is.
The green arrow indicates the bathroom.
The red one shows, one of the two beams we replaced.
The blue one is where the second floor is, the living room.
The purple one is where the tiny lights are and to the right are the stairs.
After.
26 March 2017
25 March 2017
Our Cassis Home: Part Two
Thank you for the generous, encouraging comments yesterday. I appreciate your following and admiring our effort in creating a home in Cassis.
The floors in the fisherman's house were a hodge podge of different tiles and cement, plus most of the second floor/first floor ceiling was taken out, due to sloping, replacing two beams and moving the stairs to the other side... we replaced the floors with white oak floorboards. I kept the tradition and did not use, oh man what is the word? I know in French it is plinthe. That is one thing about living away from my mother tongue, sometimes English words that I have not used in awhile seem to go back to California and wait for me to return. Okay, found it with google translate, baseboards. As century old French buildings are more often that not, made of stones, the walls are not flat or even. I did not want to sacrifice one inch using sheet rock to have flat straight even walls. Have you ever tried to use a baseboard on stone walls? Yeah not a pretty sight. Fillers are needed, and to me it seems to accent the wrong thing. Practical is rarely a word I use in design, blame that on my mother, as she use to say, "You have to suffer to be beautiful." I grew up thinking practical did not mean beautiful. Practical implies easy.
Today I am going to show "going up" to the the bedroom.
In the beginning, there was a ladder that went up to the bedroom. A ladder that freaked me out as it reminded me of when I was wallpapering and the ladder broke, and the monkey got choked and my wrist was shattered. Anyway, I knew we had to come up with a different system. Plus removing, gutting the closet and the toilet that use to be upstairs, meant that we could also eliminate the wall and dropped ceiling, which would make the bedroom a loft with a view of the port. So without hesitation it was goodbye convenient toilet and spacious closet.
The hand rail, Joel made by my description of what I see in Provence's homes and garden. The hooks work well in stone walls. Joel made the rods fluid, what means they are not straight, but seem to flow naturally with the rounded stone walls.
The loft bedroom: As the bathroom is downstairs, I could not imagine waking up at night, traipsing downstairs with no light or waking up French Husband by turning the light on, therefore I had Rene add tiny led lights on the loft's edge: There are three in a row, but in the photo you only see part of it. They are flawless, adding just enough light to see without disturbing anyone at night.
Instead of a massive onyx cable holding the floor to the ceiling and visa versa, which I could not, would not stand for, as it seemed the logical thing to do, and yet cold and boring in design, I found a wooden log, then had Rene encase the onyx cable inside of it. Similar to downstairs I had Joel make an iron trim to finish the edge of the floor.
The pink arrow: Instead of a guard rail, I used a glass table that is sealed to the floor.
The green arrow: In the ceiling are four tiny led lights.
The blue arrow: Indicates where the three tiny led lights are, to be used as night lights.
More to come.
24 March 2017
The Unveiling of the Cassis Apartment, Part One
Last August I found a fisherman's house for sale on the port in Cassis. French Husband and I had dreamed of a place in Cassis for many years, but nothing came up that we could afford... and then by lucky chance the fisherman's house came our way. The house was in need of major repair, most would have found it daunting, though we had a master contractor on our side: Rene the hero made it happen.
I have delayed showing photos of our place because I wanted everything to be ready down to the dishes in the cupboards, and paintings hung. It is 99 percent completed, and the unveiling can begin. Instead of showing everything all at once I will do it in sections.
First, the stairwell, as it was the most complicated configuration in the entire renovation process due to the space, the beams and because we moved the stairs from one side to the other of the house. Without Joel the clever brilliant blacksmith we would still be going up and down a ladder. The first series show part of the the second floor stairwell, there are three floors connecting 65 meters, or 700 square feet.
Those of you who know me, know the brocante bug has captured me to my very core, and to the hair on my chinny-chin-chin. When renovating the fisherman's house it was easy to see what walls to knock down, where and how to create the space. Though as time went on, I saw the fisherman's house more contemporary than I ever imagined, I felt it challenging me to keep it that way.
The light was an holophane street lamp from the1920s. We bought it at a brocante fair. The brocante dealer, who I know, told me over and over again that I was doing the right thing, and that it was worth four times more than the price he was selling it for. Rene transformed the holophane into a hanging light as I wanted.
The painting is from Camille, an artist who I also met at the brocante. Camille's wife was a dance teacher who became an antique dealer. One afternoon while at a brocante (with my friend Gina,) we cut through Camille's wife's brocante shop as to not have to walk around the block, that day she had her husband's paintings on display. Camille is in his eighties now, and he painted this oil painting nearly forty years ago. It is about three feet by four feet in size.
The holophane and the painting were a massive stretch for me to take from the comfort zone of "chichipompom" brocante style that I adore. Though French Husband fell instantly in love with the challenge, and that was the enduring encouragement I needed to leap into the modern territory of design.
The entrance is on the first floor, this is the second floor, as the stairs come up they make a mid-air curve to the second floor. We had the floor rounded to match the curved stairs below. I had Joel trim the edge in iron.
These stairs go up to the bedroom, behind the window there is a bathroom, in front of the window is the living room. The window I saved as it use to be the kitchen door, I had Rene transform it into a window.
The painting in the background is from Camille. The leather stool was a gift from my friend Mo (who makes black clay pottery). The mirror is from Ikea.
The second floor stair well.
Stay tune for more.
xxx
05 March 2017
04 March 2017
Heaven Sky Clouds Rain Sea Waves Sand Me Earth.
Cassis was under a wild wonderful wicked storm, all day long.
Waking to waves crashing, thunderous, my dream said, "Westport!" though the reality laughed, "Cassis! This loud?" Opening the shutters this is what I saw: Northern California! Oh la la, but it felt like it, as memory happiness swam right up to the window and splashed me.
Cassis in the winter, is my childhood summer, Oh! Laying on the beach in sweatshirts with my cousins Bernie, Alma, Bev. and my brothers under the fog, camping every summer.
The first time I heard about Cassis: 30 years ago, I was in Paris having dinner with Yann's friends when one of them said, "Oh if you move to Marseille, you must go to Cassis, the locals St. Tropez."
The locals, and history said, "Never was there a day like today."
Photogenic storm.
Waves whipping as they do up north, with the boom that makes one know who is in charge: Nature.
And the mist sprayed against my face, glorious baptism, licking my salty lips, smile down to my toes.
The waves stayed rough throughout the day, spectacular, impressive, grand, dramatic, familiar of a distance home.
Cassis rainbow of color.
The ever changing constant. The deep diving dreams, surfacing such things as sand, pearls, seaweeds and once Chelsea found a message in a bottle in Mendocino.
Mesmerizing, mysterious pull, oh siren how do you do that? I could not turn away. How fortunate seagulls are to dance above the waves.
God, I could live in this house.
How many times have I said that?
Does that count as prayer?
Heaven
Sky
Clouds
Rain
Sea
Waves
Sand
Me
Earth.
This evening you were still going strong.
xxx
25 February 2017
Cassis During the Winter
A Cassis sign on the Route de Crete.
The Mistral, bringing chill to a blue sky day.
Clementines.
The view from the cliff or the Cap.
Cap Canaille
Do you see our place?
Pastel colored facades at nightfall.
Plane trees waiting for Spring's crown.
Kir Royal.
Favorite restaurants:
-Chez Gilbert
-Le Grand Bleu
-XXeme
-Le 7
-La Vieille Auberge
-Pastis Bar
-La Villa Madie
-Chez Moi xx
The sound of the sea and a place,
to watch a little girl play with her dog.
and then cast our goodbyes into the blue.
07 February 2017
Dancing in Cassis
On my birthday Chelsea and Sacha made this 16 second video of us dancing in Cassis.
Make sure you have your volume on.
Music by Ed Sheeran - Shape of You
15 January 2017
Cassis Beginning Peeks
After glow.
The stairs had to be taken out, the beams above were rotten.
The room in the back is now a living space/second bedroom.
We also lowered the floor in the back by taken out the second step to one step. Underneath we found an eighteen century oar.
Before.
Before.
Finding doors to divide the room.
Turning the French doors into sliding doors.
Before.
Remember the light I found broken and tangled at a second hand shop? It
was the beginning of when my thoughts started to think mid century, something why out of my comfort zone, modern.
I am so pleased. I keep tearing up. I cannot believe this is happening. A dream came true.
After glow.
Thank you Rene, if I say it a million times it won't be enough.
14 January 2017
Cassis Dreamin'
We started moving furniture into the Cassis apartment yesterday.
Since the apartment is on the port we needed to start early as no cars are allowed on the port after 10:30am. Rene, Fabien and French Husband are superheros.
Out of all the pieces we carried up, the mattress proved the most complicated. Yeah yeah yeah why did I buy a queen size mattress? Because I thought it would fit. And with great effort it did.
Thank you for your letting me know which banner you liked best. Now, I have to find the high density photo on my hard drive, given I have 30000000000000000000 or more photos unmarked, nor filed in any reasonable order that could prove daunting. Fingers crossed.
The bedroom is upstairs, three flights to be exact.
We keep pinching ourselves.
Not everything is here but nearly.
I still have to buy a few more pieces.
Such as dining room chairs, and end tables...
But it is so lovely to see it unfold.
To see the furniture, the paintings, and the place, as people who helped us one way or another to get here. Rene is at the top of the list.
We had dinner and slept here last night,
but the best was to wake up this morning to this dream.
07 January 2017
A Reminder of What Our Apartment Use to Look Like
When we renovated in Paris I was there every single day, most the time inside the apartment watching the hunks do their thing. But this renovation it was not possible to stay inside as the work was far more intense, the spaces were smaller (though the same size as Paris) though Cassis in on three floors, and the stairs connecting the three floors no longer exist because we torn them out for the remodel, we eventually we reconstructed a stairwell.
But the main reason I was not in the apartment everyday... INCREDIBLE DUST!
This is a fuller view, walking around was not easy, and debris and supplies were constantly being moved as the work area is small, plus everything needs to be done inside.
The apartment is on three floors, here you can see the bedroom floor up above.
We took down the walls to make the bedroom into an open loft and to have the light from the skylight extend downstairs. Also we removed the fake ceiling to expose the roof line. There was a ladder accessing the bedroom, which we did not want and had stairs made to connect it to the second floor and bedroom loft.
Question: Can we make the skylight larger? No. There are strict historical monument codes in Cassis. Nothing on the outside of the building can be changed. This code came into practice no so long ago...
A hole was cut out to access the bottom floor. Back in March 2016 on Facebook I added a video, showing the floor being cut out.
The renovation team carried out seventeen tons of debris. They had to carry the debris out in buckets as the stairwell access the building were too steep and narrow to do otherwise.
To complicate matters, Cassis only allows delivery to and from the port before 10:30 am. After that no vehicles are allowed on the port. So we had to do any delivery or removal before 10:30 am.
Seventeen tons before 10:30 am, and much more delivered before 10:30 am, massive organization which Rene, our contractor was brilliant at doing.
This is the top floor, the loft bedroom. The wall in front was removed and the roof line exposed for more light and to have a open feel. The guard rail was were the ladder came up, that will be removed as well. The stairs come up on the other side.
The stairs use to come up under the toilet. There was a tiny entrance where the rubble is piled to access the apartment. A tiny entrance equals a truck load of rubble. How many buckets did it take to unload it downstairs?
When we bought the apartment, the first thing we knew we had to do, was figure out the stairs. We had a suspicion that when we removed the old unusable stairs that we would find a problem, and we did. The two main beams in the apartment, one of them under the stairs, had been cut and did not reach the supporting wall. YIKES! Also the other beam was cut in half so the toilet could fit underneath the stairs. YIKES again. When renovating century old buildings/apartments/houses such interesting discoveries are made. Some beautiful, others shocking and some just curious.
Needless to say two old oak beams were purchased and hauled upstairs... a feat for Hercules.
Rubble cleared.
The other question many of you asked was can we make the windows larger? No we cannot as the outside cannot be changed.
If you have any questions or want to see a detail of whatever, let me know in the comment section and I will try my best to answer you.
05 January 2017
The Fisherman's House in Cassis has a Sofa
The movers delivered the sofa to Cassis, though they could not take it up to the apartment as the exterior stairs' angle was too short and the sofa could not get through the front door.
If you following me on Facebook (or want to follow me click here) you can watch a video of Rene and Yann climbing a ladder with the sofa in their hands, then going on to Chez Gilbert's Restaurant's awning and then passing the sofa through the second floor window. I was filming down below praying and swearing, swearing and praying non-stop. Mostly swearing.
The apartment is painted. A few more details and touch ups to tend to. Tomorrow the floors and stairs will have a seal put on them, so we won't be able to "move in" until around the 12th.
The very beginning of the final stage.
Much more furnishings to come, so it feels like home.
The fun part starts now!
23 December 2016
Cassis in the Final Stages of Completion
At last Cassis is in the final stages of completion. It is being painted as I type and then the light fixtures and plugs will go in. We had the entire kitchen painted in Stone White, the same color we used in Paris. The grey hints soften the coldness of the glaring white. I prefer it. We also had painted the bathroom wall and the second bedroom's French doors a blue black too, I love it!
When a project kicks off it seems to happen quickly, when walls or rooms are being demolitioned is easy to see progress: Once a room now rubble. But as the project goes on and aims for the finish line it is harder to see the progress as the work is in the smaller details. The house in Cassis is shaping up beautifully, and I will feel bored without it! How I enjoyed the process. Rene is a genius craftsman. HE conquered every idea I put before him.
As soon as it is completed the furniture will go it.
I can hardly stand it, I want to get to it as my home in St Zac. feels like a warehouse and the creative force of collecting all that stuff is aching to get out.
There is a glass console for the bedroom upstairs, two nightstands, a closet, some paintings, a table and a chunky fold-out canape (sofa in French) for downstairs.
Rene's wife, Laiticia restored the antique chandelier.
Soon!
03 December 2016
Some Photos of our Place in Cassis
The last details await my return.
Here are two photos that Rene sent me of the kitchen.
The first thing I have to do when I return to France, besides kissing up French Husband, is pick out paint colors... Yann and I have different ideas when it comes to painting. So as I was leaving and we still hadn't made up our minds, or should I say we were still disagreeing, paint decisions were put on hold.
The second thing is to pick a kitchen faucet,
Here is an example of the two I like, which one do you prefer?
Something like this
or
or
or
or
What is your opinion?
05 November 2016
03 November 2016
What Are You Up To?
After the French Muse the list of things to do before leaving for Willows (this coming Monday) was daunting. I had to remind myself one thing at a time. The very first thing was checking in with Rene regarding Cassis, the floor is nearly in place and tomorrow the kitchen will start to take shape! The grand scheme for the apartment is in place. When I return the decor details will be on the agenda. It is bittersweet to be leaving before it is completed, but we are on the same page as what is in store and what needs to be done. I trust Rene, and the plan we have for Cassis.
Our friends Arnelle and Roger came to spend the day with us. We were in Cassis and it felt like summer even though I had a sweater and tights on.
My friend Mo from Reves made the garlic out of black clay pottery and white glaze. Isn't it darling.
The House Next Door has seen three friends and a fourth one to come. Everyone seems to fall in love with it! The House Next Door has a calming effect, it is like a cocoon. If you are coming to Provence and need a place to stay think about coming to stay with us.
I call the photo I took above: Wall Flowers, as they were against the wall in a vase.
Those of you who know me, know I do not create art. But the other day I took a torn, tattered piece of 1700s altar silk, and carefully glued it to a board then framed it.
What are you up too? What projects are you working on?
22 October 2016
Cassis the Window with a View
Remember how I wanted to change the window in Cassis, and I was quoted 1500 Euros. Well I went hunting around salvage yards, and found one!!!! (Yes that many exclamation marks!) As the window in the fisherman's house is not a standard size I didn't expect to be lucky, but I was. An 1800s wooden window, rounded top, interior shutters and original hardware for 60 Euros.
Well, the old new window is in place. Rene sent me the photos with a note:
Installed.
xxx
17 October 2016
Progress in Cassis
Progress in Cassis
Photos via Rene on the site.
If you want to know more I will fill in the details this evening.
14 October 2016
Cassis, The Fisherman's House Continued
Cassis is back on track, during the last two weeks Rene and his brother in law Fabien, have been working their magic and muscle turning Cassis into a home. Everyday the progress is evident, the fisherman's house is being transformed before our eyes.
Railroad iron track...
running over the door way???
Rene cut through the stone wall so we could have an entrance. But before doing so he saw that within the wall there was a long iron railroad track running parallel (such as an i-beam) to support the wall. Seriously, if this fisherman's house could talk the stories it would tell, like how and why did they carry a massive iron railroad track to insert in the stone wall? Four discs later Rene had cut through it.
Isn't the stairwell so cool! Since the stairs could not go straight up as the large wooden beams would have been in the way of one's head, we had to put a curve in a iron slab to be able to walk up without ducking. Not a simple calculation.
Walls are being plastered on the first floor where the kitchen will be plus there will be a den.
The window faces the port, the entrance is to the left, the kitchen will run along the right side and the den is opposite of the window.
Waterproof plaster boards are going up for the kitchen back splash.
Filling- Insulation/sound proofing.
Rene had to level the floor in doing so he added a filler in between the old floor and the new floor. The next step will be adding the wooden floor boards.
Plastering the walls.
To be continued....
Some photos are Rene's, you can follow him on Facebook for more information.
Ask him to accept you as his friend:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008824360057&fref=ts
05 October 2016
A Place I Call Home: Saint Zacharie
A longtime blog reader, and "feel like I know you friend" Peggy came to our part of the world for a month long visit with her husband Bob. They settled into our town on the boarder of two great regions, and dove deep into the slow lifestyle travel. Everyday they went to an off the beaten trail to a local market, where English was not heard and because of that the reality that this is France, and not catering to the tourist but to the locals who live here. They gathered their daily meal, plus baguette and wine from the local vendors, then had lunch in the walled garden where they were staying. Each afternoon they would head out on one of the many local trails into the Saint Baume forest. We live at the base of Saint Baume where tourist barely thread:
Saint Baume has the ruins of our town that burn down in the year 1200,
hiked to Marie Magdeline's grotto,
met boar hunters,
where they walked miles in the forest that Napoleon came to claim for his war machine and ended up declaring it holy and left it intact.
This summer we have at least fifty or so guests, some have stayed with us, some have stayed in the tiny house and recently in the house next door. Each guest/friend has left our little non touristic town declaring it holy and leaving it as it is...
far off the beaten trail.
With pleasure I would like to share Peggy's blog post about our town:
Saint Zacharie
The following Photos and Text is from Peggy on her blog:
http://cococooks.net/september-in-france-or-nine-hundred-photos/
"The British author, Peter Mayle describes me best; I am not a scholar. Rather, a dreamer, one who crowds a collage of perfectionistic photos and places them (complete with fragrance and aroma) percolating and illustrated 'on location' in my fixated fantasy land; recently, Provence.
MP and I dove into the deep end; during September we settled in a small out-of-the-way village, Saint-Zacharie, nestled in the hills of Provence-Alps-Cote d’Azur at the foot of Saint Baume Massif.
Rooted in remote mind-boggling history, the sweet hamlet is located on the edge of the Huveaune River, flowing with life-giving water and mythical fairy lore. (Although, the river was dry this year for the first time in twelve).
Off the beaten track, without a monument, museum, or lavish fête in sight, its proximity to the sea, countryside, and terraced medieval towns makes a seamless dot from which to ‘slow travel’.
Facebook video here:
Without an agenda, we settled into a ‘guardian house’ attached to a massive 300-year-old home situated in a walled garden where notable trees, trailing vines, and hiding bushes--according to Arnaud who spent boyhood holidays in the garden-- speak to each other and applaud the towering Au Grand Cedre, who claps his hands and in a deep voice dominates over them all, I imagine.
We slept well and took time to listen to cooing doves, French schoolchildren on the boulevard below, and the bells of St. Zac chiming on the hour ( if you forget to count, a re-chime occurs a moment later); a pure melodic heartbeat signaling a call to set aside unspoiled mealtime, worship, celebrate and to mourn.
A zillion trails in fragrant forests, some steep strewn with rocks and steps, others with wide open red soil, earth and sheer cliffs leading us to Calanques de Cassis, carried us over 90 miles in 25 days.
Slow days, simple pleasures of the daily baguette and a bright, juicy melon, fresh green markets, touring bigger cities, cathedrals, synagogues, rows of Brocante wonders, even an endless cheese trolley, allowed us to be present in the moment.
Our senses were seduced, our bellies indulged, and we were cared for with only a few words of French in our quiver. Unassuming ambassadors, guests of another culture to respect, we knew if we were polite, kind, unhurried, able to laugh at ourselves, puff appropriately, shrug and hold an open palm of coins when the math eluded us, spontaneous bouts of infectious laughter ensued--buying mosquito repellant in the pharmacy comes to mind.
Doors widened; new friendships tendered vulnerable conversations, and old-fashioned genteel correspondences came about.
Therefore, short of a novel, I posted an abridged summation of our treks, food foibles and triumphs on Facebook during #septinfrance with photos and comments. Many of you tagged along which presented a super highway moving picture postcard of inspiration.
When we left St. Zac for Paris (another thunderous bolt for the oozing senses) at the end of the trip, I wrote this of our 20 days,
Our last day in St. Zac meant pack... we lingered a little longer when our neighbors invited us to share a lunch of purplish green artichokes (with the biggest hearts), sliced beets, cheeses, and sourdough baguette below the grand cedar in the garden. Being o'so polite, I took a few pictures of our new friends. I dragged my bag, feet, and heart to the gate, looked up to lime green pomegranates and yet to flower wisteria vines; equally green. A source close to the garden said, "Stay until we bloom."
More reflections may indeed come forward!
Pinch me!
Photo source: Yann Rolland-Benis
Thank you, Corey and Yann for your generous spirits' and mischevious gifts-- ♥
If you have found my blog because you too know Corey Amaro and hers, Tongue in Cheek, message me for the details to glean what I learned to make your dream happen too!"
Photographs and text used on cococooks belong to, Peggy Lunde unless linked otherwise.
07 August 2016
A First Drink
We carried a portable picnic table, where four places to sit pop out, upstairs to our apartment in Cassis. With it we brought wine, glasses, a tablecloth, yet forgot the corkscrew. Luckily the apartment is above Chez Gilbert (a restaurant) they lent us one. Since there was five of us French Husband sat on the paint bucket.
Amongst the supplies, and renovation we celebrated for no reason.
Our friends Anne and Kirk and my Belle Mere joined us.
Kirk, who loves brocanting, brought us this book about Cassis that he found at Emmaus which is like a Salvation Army in France.
The book is full of old photos and postcards. Such thoughtfulness Kirk!
Taking a drink of that view.
Kirk and Anne took these photos of us standing upstairs looking out.
It feels like a dream.
Happy.
07 July 2016
Update: Cassis
Photo by Francois
It is happening, iron stairs going up in Cassis!
12 May 2016
The Blacksmith
Joel, the third generation blacksmith is a master at his art, known for his speciality in making stairs.
Yann and I sought out several staircase makers and their sources, we weren't impressed for one reason or another. We were introduced to Joel through Francois, Rene's father. Joel and Francois have known each other since childhood. Good friends, same work ethics and ultra talented.
Joel came to Cassis, saw the situation firsthand: Small space, beams that make a long staircase impossible, a spiral staircase that would take up to much room, basically a puzzle to he was gamed to solve.
Measurements, calculations, drawings... and sorting through ideas. We agreed we wanted it as transparent as possible, yet comfortable to go up and down.
Today we drove to his workshop to see the plan, talk when and how much.
All is good.
Joel is in high demand, so it pays to know his best friend. The soonest he can begin is at the end of July.
In the meantime, Rene will start on another project we have.
Talk about many irons in the fire; that is how it rolls here.
Joel's workshop is like a gallery/museum/cool place.
The equipment, the heavy leather aprons, the fireplace, the sound of hammering, the muscles...
Yeah I was drooling.
Art is art no matter the form, or the material. Watching someone create is such a pleasure, such a gift.
Nothing industrial, prefabricated, or one size fits all.
Artisans create: That which is meant to last, that which made by hand with passion, precision, their knowledgable imagination it is a labor of love and love is not cheap, nor meant to be thrown away.
Joel showing us a step that will be similar to ours.
The pattern is drawn with chalk on the iron slabs.
Is this a cool?
I wanted the anvil, the arbor press, the blacksmith striker (yes the young guy why not?), the finery forge, the hammers, the leather apron...
The seven elemental metals -- gold, copper, silver, lead, tin, iron, and mercury, the metals of antiquity.
A guard rail Joel made.
I would rather have that chimney hood than a Chanel bag.
The stairs from the middle room to the bedroom will look like this.
The stairs from the kitchen to the middle room will turn near the top.
If you would like to see videos you can do so by following me on Facebook, and or
on your cell phone using SNAPCHAT, my user name is FrenchCocoPuff.
04 May 2016
A Difference a Day Makes
Thank you Rene. Thank you for your amazing generous talent. Thank you for your incredible energy, spirit and that constant smile.
Thank you.
I know the project is not over, but I cannot wait until the end to tell you thank you, so I am going to say it now, Thank you!
The first coat of paint.
Somewhere along the line I am going to have to pick a color...
And lights,
and a direction of interior design.
But for now, it is such a pleasure to just see it as it is:
A miracle in the making.
The amount of work that has been done is such a pleasure to watch unfold. To see the skill Rene has. I am utterly impressed.
To imagine something and have someone be able to take it to reality and beyond, is impressive.
The stairs will go here.
What a difference a day makes.
02 May 2016
The Fisherman's House: Halfway There.
By the end of next week the bathroom should be completed. Whew. The bedroom upstairs and the middle floor are nearly complete. Due to the stairs, which hopefully will start at the end of May, being created/made inside the apartment we cannot paint, nor put the wooden floor, nor set up the kitchen. There simply isn't room for the workmen to build the stairs if the kitchen is in place.
Above you see a photo of the bathroom sink, which use to be the kitchen sink that the previous owner's great grandfather made.
In this photo on the far left will be the shower, then the sink and next to it the washer and dryer. The door that I had cut and made into a window is along the wall where the washer and dryer will be. None of the walls are straight, due to the age of the building and more so because it was made that way, and because I did not want to lose an inch of space by using sheet rock so had the walls plastered the traditional way. The uneven walls makes for extra calculations. Rene is a genius.
The opposite wall from the shower and sink, is the toilet on the far right in front of the shower, and the next space will house the water heater combo linen closet, after that there is an opening for the entrance. I am not going to put up any doors. Sacha and Chelsea think I am crazy. But when you see it you might agree with me, or not.
The entrance to the bathroom is by the window and in front of the washer and dryer.
The shower is called an Italian Shower because it is ground level without a step in, a glass wall will run alongside the sink.
Massive tiles will go up along three walls and on the floor, to see them you can look here:
Action Tiles http://www.equinoxceramictile.com/action/
This is the view looking out the bathroom window, to the port.
The view from the bathroom door into the main room.
In the living space, the port is behind me, the bathroom in front of me. Above the bathroom is the bedroom, and under the bathroom is another bedroom and underneath where I am standing is the entrance and kitchen area.
The stairs will be on the right hand side. The bedroom is lower where Rene is standing, but the ceiling goes up dramatically as you walk back.
The French doors in the back are sliders, behind them there will be a bedroom. The stairs to the upper floor will run along the right side, opposite the stairs the kitchen will be, behind me the dining space and entrance.
This will be the future dining area looking out to the port.
Half way there, 17 tons of debris taken out so far.
20 April 2016
This is the Fisherman's house in Cassis that we found in late August, and finialized the purchase in March. We started the work on the same day. The Fisherman's house is 700 square feet on three floors. We are in the process of a massive renovation. As what needed to be done, it would be easier to say what did not need to be done. Simply put: Everything needed to be done.
The photo above shows the third floor which is the bedroom. We knocked the wall out that faced the port and took off the entire fake ceiling to bring in more light to the bedroom, also we wanted to reveal the beams. There was a ladder that accessed this bedroom, we covered that ladder entrance by rebuilding the floor, the stairs will come up on the left hand side of this photo, where there is a wooden barrier to remind us that there is a hole three floors down.
The bedroom was wallpapered with pink roses, and there wasn't any electrical plugs. Renee and his father are stripping the pink rose wallpaper and are adding electrical outlets.
The pink rose wallpaper is behind and to the sides of this photo. There is a small skylight that we cannot enlarge. The beams are exposed, some of them will be roughen up so they "match" the older ones, then a white wash will be added to them since every beam in the Fisherman's House is different.
The grand opening that you see is where we took out the wall, will have two fine round iron bars running lengthwise as a guard rail.
The stairs will come up here, on the left hand side.
Before there was a wall here.
Now from the bedroom you can see the port, and from the bathroom which is under the bedroom you can see the port too.
The ceiling is very high which surprisingly allows the light of this one window to bounce around lighting the entire room. I purposely focused on the boat outside with my cell phone so you could see the boat and how close the port is.
Here you can see how light it is.
Yes that is one tiny cozy sitting room.
As we had to re-build the floor that had an opening for the ladder, then open a part of the floor on the opposite side for the stairwell, we had to reinforce the part we opened, since we cut through two main support beams. Renee bolted an iron rod from the floor to the ceiling and then covered the iron rod with this old beam I bought. He cut the beam lengthwise, then carved an opening, then encased the iron rod. Pretty cool no?
Renee's father stripping the wallpaper and re plastering the wall.
Pink rose wallpaper... And now what?
Looking down from the ledge.
I will feel safer once the stairs are in place.
The floor below we have to raise as it slants. We will be replacing the tiles with wood.
In this photo I am looking down from the bedroom, pass the middle room, into the kitchen. If you look closely you can see the bathroom window underneath.
Yes ladders up and down, Renee and his Father are in such amazing shape, they never complain as they go up and down countless times in a day.
This is the air vent for the dryer, and for the bathroom. We had wanted to add an air conditioner but we are not allow to add anything on the facade or roof. This evacuation outlet is going through the chimney that was once present but had been removed long before we bought it.
If you have any questions I will try to answer them.
xxx
16 April 2016
Maybe I Should Play the Lottery?
Remember how I wanted to change the window in Cassis, and I was quoted 1500 Euros. Well I went a hunting around salvage yards, and found one!!!! (Yes that many exclamation marks!) As the window in the fisherman's house is not a standard size I didn't expect to be lucky, but I was. An 1800s wooden window, rounded top, interior shutters and original hardware for 60 Euros! It feels like winning the lottery.
Happy beyond measure.
Maybe I should play the lottery, maybe I am on a lucky roll?
Yippy Skippy!
15 April 2016
The Fisherman's House in Cassis
When you walk up the narrow stairwell you enter the kitchen. Opposite this view there is a window that looks to the port and onward to the sea. The kitchen will be an alley style along the left side, at the far end there will be a sitting room/bedroom (behind the French doors).
Last week I found a set of four French doors that I bought at the salvage yard (cost 130 Euros), they will be transformed into sliding doors for the purpose of saving space, doors take space to open. The oar, that Renee found renovating the house, was under the floor in this sitting room.
Renee's father, Francois is also an artisan, his trade is plastering the traditional way and creating crown moulding. The entire fisherman's house will be plastered the traditional way. As the walls are stone they are by nature not straight nor even. If we had used sheet rock we would have had perfectly straight walls at the price of losing valuable footage.
Two of the French doors are in place, they will be "fixed" and other two (in the middle) will slide. As you can see we raised the back floor, partly to give it a separate room feel, and because it was like that before except two steps higher instead on one. But mainly we raised the floor because the building as a whole has leaned towards the sea (no it is not unsafe, or falling, or sinking...) but has "set" in over the years. The floor slated towards the sea from back wall to window about 15 cm.
The stairs to the second floor, or middle floor as we call it, are on the outside of the sitting room, next to the kitchen (which will be on the left hand side of this photo), the stairs will be in metal on the right hand side.
I am unsure about the ceiling in the sitting room: Hopefully it can be stripped and look good, or it can be left as is, or painted.
In this photo the entrance is on the right hand, I took the photo standing in front of the window.
We opted for metal stairs as the metal thickness will be thinner than wooden stairs. The sense of volume will have a lighter impact.
The stairs will take several weeks to make by Joel a friend of Francois.
I will include links to the artisans we are working with. If you are planning to build, renovating or restore and need a brilliant dependable team these are the guys to call.
Yann finally "sees" what I have been talking about and is pleased.
I had wanted copper faucets and hardware for the bathroom, but the only thing I found was more than I wanted to pay (4,800 Euros for a shower head and faucets) and Yann "couldn't" see how copper would look good. Though the other day he said, "Oh now I see what you mean! Copper would have been really good. Why didn't you convince me for it?"
Because I have to convince him on 99 percent of everything.
The kitchen will be where the tubes, cords and wires are.
Small space, big dreams, incredible team!
The stairs will go where the ladder is, though the opposite direction.
Ever time I go up, or down which is worse, I freak out. The memory of the ladder breaking (three years ago while I was wallpapering) and me falling on a concrete floor, shattering my wrist are relived. I cannot wait for the stairs to be in place.
I also look forward of walking out of the apartment not covered in dust.
This is inside the bathroom. On the right is the kitchen door transformed into a window, it looks out over the stairwell and into the second sitting room.
At the opposite end there will be a washer and dryer. I did not want them here, but that is one decision Yann won. I can live with it... I think.
On the right will be the washer and dryer, Yann is standing in front of the sink and on the left will be a shower. The shower wall will be in glass. It is a tight fit, that is why I did not want the washer and dryer in here. Practical Yann won. Space hog Corey lost.
Renee showing Yann how the doors will work.
It is starting to shape up and I can feel summer around the corner.
14 April 2016
What Will Hold that Stone Sink Up?
The apartment in Cassis, or the Fisherman's House as it known in Cassis, had nothing in it to be salvaged. The plumbing, electricity, two support beams, sagging floors... had to be restored. Basically, the entire place had to be gutted. Fifteen tons of debris were carried out by hand in buckets since the stairwell was too small to maneuver anything wider than fifty five centimeters, or basically the size of my hips. Adding to the fun the Port of Cassis doesn't not allow any cars, let alone trucks on the port after eleven in the morning.
We salvaged two things:
The stone kitchen sink and the kitchen door.
The top part of the kitchen door was a window so we used the kitchen door window in the bathroom to add some light. The kitchen sink we are using as a bathroom sink (Talk about repurposing!).
Renee, the young amazingly talented artisan is also a stone cutter. He hauled up two incredible pieces of stone that he carved to use to hold up the sink. The above photo shows them in place. The stone hasn't been clean and the floor has yet to be tiled but I wanted to show you a photo before the work begins.
...to be continued.
12 April 2016
Cassis Renovation: Stairs
Oh the apartment in Cassis. After six weeks of wondering if we were going to have to use ladders to access the upstairs, we finally found an artisan who can build them for us. Hopefully in June he will start. Since the apartment is difficult to access because it is on the port with massive restrictions as to when and for how long we can park a truck, the work will continue to be done inside. The iron pieces will be carried up stairs (already that is a major feat) then welded piece by piece inside the apartment. That means the floor boards and painting will be completed after the stairs are in place.
photo: Standing in the kitchen looking up the ladder that one day will be stairs to the middle floor.
The iron stairs will come up from the entrance/kitchen downstairs (the hole on the right side of the photo above) then turn to the left where Yann is looking down. The will be 80cm wide. Then they will restart from the top of that hole and go up to the bedroom behind the blue plastic.
The window is staying it looks into the bathroom.
The guys are calculating stairs and i-beams to add to the ceiling to support the weight.
A massive project in a small space.
The upstairs beam will be cut, and then a support will be added as the stairs will run along the right side.
It is a puzzle but one I can visual and find interesting. So much to think about, calculate... we are fortunate to have an incredible team of artisans working on it. They make every horror story about construction sound impossible because they are smart, steady, strong, perfectionist and honest masters at their work. Nothing is daunting to them.
Renee also carved to stones to use as a base for the sink.
Amazing he is.
That is the hole for the stairwell, looking down into the kitchen.
When I am at the apartment, I spend half of my time freaking out that someone is going to fall through that hole, and the other half of my time freaking out about climbing the ladders to and from each of the floors.
Talking stairs: Welding iron, weight, support beams, hauling such pieces through the window, and measuring uneven walls and calculating everything three times.
Today was a great day, a sigh of relief day.
Stairs have my respect.
05 April 2016
The Cassis Update
Cassis is shaping up. In the photo above, the blue covered area will be a loft bedroom, the room below it is the bathroom. The windows look into the bathroom, and the stairs will come be on the right hand side.
The plastered walls on the middle floor are drying.
Yes I took the door and made it into a window. The far right will be covered.
I am not sure if I like it... A window of some sort, but maybe not this.
The ceiling is insulated and plastered, the beams have yet to be cleaned.
Looking from the bathroom towards the front, seaside.
I wanted a window (like the original one above) made for the downstairs since it had been replaced by a PVC ugly one years ago. But the quotes I have are 1500 Euros or more... so I am thinking ugly isn't that bad. Gulp.
Admiration for the Renee and his dad for this beautiful job! I can hardly believe it is the same room!
What color...
Non colors are what Yann calls these.
What ideas have you?
Any questions?
So many decisions I love it!
The bathroom is in the works.
16 March 2016
Decision Making Mode
Renovating implies constant decisions.
Tiles,
Flooring,
Electrical outlets,
Light fixtures,
Paint,
Sink,
Vents...
Every detail is a wonder world.
You name the place I have been there, junkyards all the way up. Yesterday after visiting Cassis to define where to put the light switches, led lights and sconces I went to a tile shop not noticing until the saleslady gave me the once over that I was covered in dust.
Oh well dust is my new perfume.
This is the place that years ago I bought the stones to build our fountain. Of course I wasn't looking for stones this time. How did we ever carry those puppies!
Saw this stone sink, fell in love with it. But unfortunately, I do not think it is going to work:
MCM doesn't say stone sink... and more so Yann says one crazy sink (aka: The baptismal fountain sink we already have) is enough.
I have to pick my wishes/battles.
Tiles.
Shower base.
Stairs.
Knobs.
Bedroom doors...
Decision making mode.
12 March 2016
Cassis Renovation: The Beams are Up
The miracle workers: Took down the two beams that were badly cut from the apartment. They were able to buy two new old ones, load them with a crane on to the truck, then unload them and heave them (unbelievable) upstairs and place them in the ceiling, within an afternoon!
These two new old beams will be left as is, the walls will be scrapped back and re-plastered.
If money weren't an option, I would have all the beams replaced as the new old ones are beautiful in color and texture.
Monday the electrical lines, and plug placement needs to be decided. I will mark the spots, that is how I roll... visually. Thankfully, only the downstairs needs to be marked.
The view is worth the dust, debris and deconstruction.
The wooden slates in the background will become part of the new ceiling.
This is a fuller view, walking around is not easy, and things are constantly being moved as the work area is small. plus everything needs to be done inside.
Re-plastering and the cement will also be made inside.
The debris is carried out in those small black buckets.
In this photo I am standing downstairs looking up towards the two top floors.
A diamond in the rough, hopefully!
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French La Vie started in 2005. I have the "Brocante Bug," which means antiquing is my cure; France can do me no wrong when it comes to treatment ° 35 years living in France with my French Husband, whom I met while dancing in San Francisco ° Two children, now in their early thirties, amour et joie ° Come join our journey either vicariously through my blog or on a French La Vie Week Retreat in Provence °
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