Dordogne self catering & bed and breakfast farmhouse restoration stories from Monpazier2012-05-20T19:43:03ZJacinta and RayCopyright 2012, Jacinta and RaySPHPBLOGBarn yard changes
For us, our surroundings are as important as where we live and so the challenge now is to try to create garden rooms while having a working farm. This summer we tackled the courtyard area within the barns as we could work qithout disturbing our many guests.
When we arrived it was very much just a working area with the barn on the left being used as winter quarters for the dairy herd.
The old redundant tabacco barn, was used for storage for broken machines, an old caravan used for storing papers, and various oddments.Although some tabacco is still grown in the area with a factory in Bergerac most farms stopped production as they were simply too small to grow sufficient quantities.
The beginning of the overhaul really started when we needed to have huge trenches dug for the new electric cables and all the new plumbing, as the old pipes ran above ground and so froze in the winter.The mess and amount of mud was unbelievable and the rock required specialist pnuematic drills. Being able to have water, let alone hot water, in the winter certainly made it all worth while.
In the spring we visited a private garden locally that is open to the public. There, among other wonderful ideas, we gleaned ideas for a garden based on tubs which can be moved if necessary but which provide colour during the year. Luckily a neighbouring farmer had some old wine barrels he no longer used and was happy to do a deal. Once cut in half, cleaned and preserved we then had the fun of deciding where to place them.
As the area is sheltered we have been able to plant an olive tree and oleanders, a vitex agnus-castus, glorious lespedeza thunbergii, a fig tree with delicious fruit, bay trees, wisteria, scented roses that clamber up the wood pillars and the of curse irises which are so popular in the area.
We have really enjoyed this area this summer, supping a cup of tea or the evening glass of wine. We lok forward to seing how it continues to grow and develop while deciding which area to try to transform next year.
This is the original view from the front garden and we've now started to build a small dividing wall between the manor garden and the rear courtyard.
We shall think of planting this autumn as we've been having such a dry spring that it would be too difficult to keep everything alive. The Irises though have really loved being baked and have put on a glorious show.
Some of the stone we've used in the pool garden to shore up the bank and hopefully give a natural feel to the decking area.
As with the irises the oxeye daisies have flowered really well but I fear they will be over before most of our guests arrive. The French 'flower market' season is about to begin so we'll have to have a look-see and find other plants to extend the season.
We're getting quite hooked on the garden and gardening and have found some lovely gardens here from which to take inspiration. In fact we've now set up another branch to our activity/specialist holidays and offer garden tours. If you're interested go to: www.frenchgardenadventures.com
We've delayed takling the job as we have been feeling rather overwhelmed by the amount of concrete and the impracticality of removing it all! We think and hope we have come up with an idea.
The first job was to remove the roof which was relatively easy as we were aided and abetted by a neighbour whose ability tp climb over anything is second to none.
Then we needed to cut the beams whivh have proved fantastic firewood throughout the winter giving the most wonderful heat.As you can see we were helped by the new farm cats who thought it was the best playground.
Then out came the windows and I've decided to recycle the unbroken ones by making some cold frames for the seedlings and cuttings. They are so solid it would be a shame to discard them.
Then it was just a question of taking down the walls!! A tractor and another neighbour have assisted in this long job as it is one thing to knock something down and another to clear the mess away.
It's great when you can see the buildings slowly re-emerging. An elderly French lady who used to live here in the 1930's as a child and with whom we are now friends says there used to be 4 beautiful chestnut trees in the area of the concrete yard.
You can also now see back to the house so how we create a garden is going to be so important to the whole project. The newest end of the barn was made from concrete blocks but luckily the older section was constructed in stone which we are now recycling by using them to build a stone wall along a bank near the swimming pool.
The final section of the wall came down today so hopefully by the end of next week we should be ready to start thinking of plants, a rill, and some flowers.
The first major impact on the building was the creating of French doors in the kitchen so that it would be double aspect and allow the morning light to stream in.
Next came the changing of the bedroom window in the fourth room upstairs so that we could construct a chimney and fireplace in the salon below. This was a bit of a gamble in that we had already ordered the new handcrafted window. The artisans re-used the existing stones and, much to our relief, the new window fitted perfectly!
That was followed by contructing two further sets of French doors, one in the new entrance hall and one in the new salon. Light now streams in and the view over to the pond and woods is really beautiful in the morning.
Bertrand then started work stripping off all the remaining crepi and replacing it with a softer colour crepi 'a joindre'. He really worked so very hard and everyday we could see a definite improvement. Fortunately he also found the work satisfying as it really was hard going.
As you can see we still need to make the shutters but 'petit a petit' as they say over here.
We have just finished laying a terrace along the back so that we can eat breakfast outside in the sun.
]]>http://blog.domainelesfaures.com/index.php?entry=entry100509-1736432010-05-09T00:00:00Z2010-05-09T00:00:00ZSnow at Les Faures
Couldn't resist putting some of the winter photos up as it really is so beautiful. We are managing to work on which is good as the bookings for this year are proving to be coming in much earlier than last year. The word hopefully is spreading.
The wild life is also certainly making it's presence known with the deer and wild boar coming quite close to the house.
We are also expecting some Aubrac heifers this week so no doubt our bullocks will enjoy the new company.
]]>http://blog.domainelesfaures.com/index.php?entry=entry100211-1127042010-02-11T00:00:00Z2010-02-11T00:00:00ZThe house beneath!
It was the location rather than the house that helped us make the decision to buy. The house itself was very run down and sad and desperately in need of some love and attention.Little did we realise the treasure of beautiful stone we would find under the old and discoloured 'crepi' or render.
Farmers are known for being very practical people and so previous owners had created a modern garage within the house using cement joists and the necessary rectangular opening. Reinstating french windows using stone and handcrafted wooden doors helped to transform the appearance of the house as one approaches.
We nicknamed Bertrand 'the elf' as he is a very strong but small man with a wonderful sense of humour and loved his woolly hat and muffler. Mind you, as he was working throughout the year to help transform the outside, he certainly needed them in the winter.It took months of work to strip off the crepi, clean the stones and then replace with natural lime crepi ' a joindre' so that the stone could still be seen.
The front door was then the next task,and being riddled with woodworm, was almost impossible to open and so we commissioned a new door based on the style that would have been in vogue when the house was first built. It surpassed our expectations!
Two years after having moved in we have a house we believe has become alive again and 'Quelle belle maison' is an expression we often hear.
.]]>http://blog.domainelesfaures.com/index.php?entry=entry091105-1521562009-11-05T00:00:00Z2009-11-05T00:00:00ZWalls go up again
After much worry as to whether I had got the room dimensions correct it was a relief to find that it was going to work out OK. It was then time to make acquaintance with a new artisan who specialised in staircases and with whom it was so important that I got my explanation in French correct as I knew exactly what I wanted. Well see for yourselves! The stairs work well and are both child and elderly friendly.
The new section into the attic meant that all 4 bedrooms could have ensuite bathrooms another very important factor for our new B&B business.
After much deliberation we then made the entrance into a study with a sitting area now much used by guests and where there is often a game of chess in progress as guests play an ongoing game between forays into the countryside and bastide towns.
]]>http://blog.domainelesfaures.com/index.php?entry=entry090912-1135322009-09-12T00:00:00Z2009-09-12T00:00:00ZThe stairs had to go
Under the wooden steps was an actual stone staircase which must have been great in it's day but was unfortunately crumbling.........hence the covering.... and so we weren't able to re-use for the newly designed staircase. We did save the stone and later found we were able to use them to create doorsteps to the new French windows which is fantastic.
The day the staircase came down our masons actually turned up in hard hats which they normally never wear so we knew for sure it was going to be a dramatic piece of work!
Then the rebuilding could begin to create an entrance hall and a gently rising staircase that was safer for all.
]]>http://blog.domainelesfaures.com/index.php?entry=entry090713-1925122009-07-13T00:00:00Z2009-07-13T00:00:00ZHow not to sell your house!
The shutters were never opened....... because the windows didn't close... and the odd dim light bulb gave the whole place a very gloomy feel.
With more bravado than knowledge we commenced knocking out the patition and when family arrived for a bash to celebrate R's birthday they also had a good bash at the walls.
We then decided to start taking up the floor for the underfloor geothermal heating and thought we were in for a good time as the tiles were laid straight on the earth. Well!!! This stone house is built on rock... which is good because it won't sink but a pick axe is not enough to dig out 21cms.... so we then had to hire a compressor. Much noise and juddering later we had the beginnings to lay the 1st layer of re-enforced cement flooring.
More destruction to follow!]]>http://blog.domainelesfaures.com/index.php?entry=entry090624-0914142009-06-24T00:00:00Z2009-06-24T00:00:00ZHornets galore!Pipes stood out from the walls, wires hung down and worst of all hornets would visit each morning and evening as soon as we put on a light, appearing from the kitchen chimney!
As the sting from 7 of these creatures can allegedly kill a man you can imagine how quickly we vacated the room! All was not lost though as a local plumber (they also clean the chimneys here) armed with 4 large cans of hornet killer lit a smokey fire and mounted a huge ladder to the top of the chimney stack and did the deed. He resembled a cowboy laden with guns........walked like one too.........but to us, was a saviour and welcomed for an aperitif.
Work could then continue with the artisans knocking down walls and digging up the floor. Light was desperately needed, as again, typical of many old french houses it was very dark and gloomy and closed to the beautiful views we have.
Gradually, a kitchen emerged that is now enjoyed by both those who rent the house and ourselves when we have B&B guests.
The hornets are also no longer are a problem and have taken to the woods which is where I trust they will remain.]]>http://blog.domainelesfaures.com/index.php?entry=entry090609-1518332009-06-09T00:00:00Z2009-06-09T00:00:00Z
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