Monday, April 13, 2015

The Cold Has Always Bothered Me

The Dining-Nook Transformation - episode 4 out of ???

The New Window


Me: Cottage, we're not going to open a new window in the dining-nook. It's very expensive and with the light coming in from the kitchen now that the wall has disappeared, it makes no sense to spend so much money and worry on that.

Cottage: Finally! A sound decision! We're not changing anything!



Moi : Cottage, nous n'allons pas ouvrir une nouvelle fenêtre dans le coin salle-à-manger. Cela coûte les yeux de la tête et c'est moins justifié maintenant que la lumière arrive de la cuisine grâce à la cloison ouverte.

Cottage : Enfin une décision raisonnable ! On ne change rien !

Huge kitchen window whose light arrives in dining-nook.

Me: Well, actually... Your window is very old and rather drafty... Maybe we could use some money to change it for a more efficient one... Because even if I have long blond hair, the cold does bother me!

Cottage: Nooooo! I don't want one of those plastic windows like my dear neighbour has!

Me: Relax! We can talk about it. What would you like?

Old dining-nook window

Moi : Eh, bien, en fait... Ta fenêtre est tout de même bien vieille et étanche comme une passoire, alors...

Cottage : Non, non et non ! Je ne veux pas de ces fenêtres en plastique comme ma voisine !

Moi : Calme toi ! On peut en parler. Qu'aimerais-tu ?

Same window after removing the wall paper...

Cottage: A pane window like I used to have back when I was young...

Me: Why not? It'll be charming. I'll get a quote for that.

Cottage : Une fenêtre à petits carreaux comme quand j'étais jeune...

Moi : Pourquoi pas ? Ce sera plein de charme. Je vais demander des devis.

Later...

Plus tard...

Me: Cottage? You know, I talked to many carpenters about the window and they all said that having a window with small panes will darken the room... which is the opposite of what I want...

Moi: Cottage? Tu sais, j'ai consulté plein de menuisiers à propos de cette fenêtre et tous me déconseillent  les petits carreaux qui vont assombrir la pièce, le contraire de ce que je recherche...

Cottage: What? What are you trying to tell me? That you're going to have it your way no matter how I feel?

Me: Don't get all grumpy like an old man! While I was visiting Erquy, I saw a house that had very interesting windows. I took a picture for you, for the carpenter and for my readers.


Cottage : Quoi ? Et alors ? Tu fais fi de mes souhaits et tu n'en fais qu'à ta tête ? Ce n'est pas ainsi que cela fonctionne !

Moi : Mais ne monte pas sur tes grands chevaux tout de suite ! Regarde, quand j'ai visité Erquy, j'ai vu une maison dont les fenêtres étaient très intéressantes. J'ai pris une photo pour toi, le menuisier et mes lecteurs...  (Juste au dessus.)

New window, day it was put in (china has disappeared from my sideboard for safety resaons!)

Cottage: Oh, it does look like a compromise, the thing you're usually so bad at! You're improving!

Me: Thanks, Cottage! So shall we go for it?

Cottage: Let's go!

See the difference it makes: the right window has been changed, the left one not yet.

Cottage : C'est vrai, ça a l'air d'un bon compromis... Mais dis-moi, tu progresses, toi qui détestes les compromis !

Moi : Merci, Cottage ! Allez, on fonce !

Cottage : C'est parti !


Me: Oh, Cottage! You look so charming from the outside with your new windows... I think I fell in love again!

Cottage: You were not completely wrong, I do look dashing! 

Moi : Oh, Cottage ! Tu es charmant vu de dehors avec ces fenêtres... Je crois que je tombe à nouveau amoureuse de toi !

Cottage : Bon, tu n'avais pas tort, j'ai l'air très séduisant ! 


Psst! Don't tell Cottage yet, but I still have a thing or two in mind to make that window even more charming... I'll just let him rest a little!

Psst ! Ne dites rien à Cottage pour le moment, mais j'ai encore une ou deux petites idées pour rendre cette fenêtre encore plus adorable... Je vais le laisser admirer calmement les nouvelles fenêtres un petit moment !


See you soon,

A bientôt,







PS1: Aside from the fact that I love the look of the new windows, they proved to be more efficient than the previous ones against the cold in winter.

PS1 : En plus d'être jolies, les nouvelles fenêtres se sont avérées bien plus efficaces contre le froid en hiver.

PS2: The new windows are wood... I paid for a coat of primer to be done before the window was assembled, but then I did all the paint coats myself... in the middle of winter!

PS2 : Les fenêtres sont en bois, j'ai payé pour qu'une couche de protection soit posée en usine, mais ensuite j'ai fait toutes les couches de peinture toute seule en plein hiver !

PS3: For obvious money saving reasons, the living-room window was changed that same day, but when I'll write about the living-room transformation, you'll magically forget that, won't you?

PS3 : Pour des raisons économiques évidentes, la fenêtre du salon a été changée en même temps, mais quand j'écrirai mes articles sur la transformation du salon, vous oublierez magiquement cette information, n'est-ce pas ?

57 comments:

  1. I LOVE the new windows! Very charming and a perfect compromise! Your cottage is coming together so LOVELY :)

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  2. So very lovely! I enjoy seeing all the work you are putting into this cottage!

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  3. "Grumpy like an old man" Made me laugh! The windows are gorgeous and keeping in the spirit of all things cottagey. On a serious note Magali, you have taken Cottage from the ground up ( and on going ) into a beautiful seaside cottage. Like a quilt wrapped around you and kitties. Warm and cozy. Kathleen in Az

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    1. Thanks, Kathleen... I have a double job, making Cottage more beautiful and more comfortable... The windows did both!

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  4. You have such a wonderful way of writing. Cottage looks very nice, love the windows, I mean, the window. :-))

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  5. You were definitely not completely wrong! Cottage should be very happy and proud. It looks totally charming!

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  6. Oh, yes! The windows are the eyes of a cottage, definitely. It looks so friendly. Very beautiful! When may we hope to read about that magic living-room transformation? And do you plan to change something about the window there too?
    Yours,
    Sarah (the one with the really, really bad memory)

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  7. The new windows look great and are a wonderful compromise. You will be glad you did it! Can't beat new windows for efficiency

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  8. They look fantastic! You and Cottage came to a wonderful compromise! Cottage definitely looks dashing. :)

    -andi

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  9. Oh Magali, I love the way you share your adventures with Cottage with us - you and Cottage are simply charming!

    Happy Monday. Hugs!

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  10. Great compromise! It is nice to see Cottage so happy and warmer. Looking at that picture of your kitchen again made me warm. It is just so beautiful!

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  11. That's wonderful that some carpenters can still build windows! They look so pretty and perfect! Su

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  12. What gorgeous windows! They look like they really belong in your cottage!

    Judy

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  13. The great ideas you have always amaze me, and 'the window' is no exception, such a charming look for Cottage and perfectly perfect.

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  14. I am so happy that Cottage agreed with you. The windows look terrific and you made a great choice. It really makes a wonderful look to the Cottage.
    Have a great week.
    Mary

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  15. I am so happy that Cottage agreed with you. The windows look terrific and you made a great choice. It really makes a wonderful look to the Cottage.
    Have a great week.
    Mary

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  16. I was looking at the photos again, because they are so pretty. What side is the kitchen on, because there are two side by side. Do they also pull forward and open at the top like European windows? I loved the different ways the windows could open in Italy, because there were no screens.

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  17. Oh my goodness I think it makes a huge difference!!! Love the new window and choices you made. I also love the view into your kitchen and nook with that beautifully larger window bringing in all the light. Cottage must be so please and you can sleep peacefully at night. xo

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  18. I LOVE those new windows and they look perfect for your cottage. They remind me of Prairie style windows. Lovely. And also the white beams and walls - ah, tranquility. Beautiful!

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  19. Love the new windows, and I like very much the panes on the top! They look like they were meant for the cottage and you! So glad you didn't have to have an argument with the cottage like I have to with the hubs. Hubs makes more noise, but both seem like they can be stubborn!

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    1. Cottage and I agreed on the windows, but sometimes it's not as easy!

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  20. The new window look great, perfectly cottagey. They sort of look like his eyes and the small panes are his eyelashes!?

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  21. The windows here are very cheap and ugly. I hate taking photos where they're in them. Oh well...
    Brenda

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  22. Your new windows are very charming! I can see why cottage is so happy! xo Karen

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  23. Beautiful windows! I bet the cottage is very happy with your decision. :-)

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  24. The window is beautiful and I think you made the right choice too ;)

    xo

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  25. I've been told I should talk to my plants but no one ever said to talk to the house as well.
    I must do that.
    The window is fab.
    Amalia
    xo

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  26. What a team you and cottage make! I will definitely start talking to my cottage as there is tons to get done around here! Love the simple brilliance of the window... it looks perfect and I love the picture of cottage in snow! With the 85 F degree weather we are having here in Florida so early in the season, that picture was so refreshing.... well done.

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    1. Surprisingly enough, we had summer-like weather for two days this week as well!

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  27. Magali! Perfect window! Windows to me are like EYES. They need to express what is inside of the soul of the house, and certain windows have no personality or sparkle. When you find the right style window for a house, it makes all the difference! And that window surely does the trick. Gorgeous transformations, always! Anita

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  28. tu as gardé la même idée que pour ta fenêtre de cuisine et c'est une excellente idée que celle-ci, tes fenêtres s'accordent parfaitement avec la maison et puis avec les pierres ça donne à l'ensemble un charme fou... j'ai bien envie de te piquer l'idée de ton arrosoir, quoique j'en ai déjà un au jardin ;-)
    bisous ensoleillés

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    1. L'arrosoir est un cadeau de ma cousine à qui j'avais demandé pour Noël "le plus vieil arrosoir qu'elle puisse trouver" !

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  29. You and cottage are a match made in heaven. I love the window choice you made and cottage looks even more stunning than before!. Good job Magali.

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  30. Magali me encanta como tu convences a Cottage que acepte lo que tu crees conveniente para ambos. Huyyyy no nos hagas esperar mucho para ver lo que sigue :) las ventanas son bellas.
    nelly


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    1. Estoy trabajando duro en el proyecto de la ventana y se espera que sea capaz de mostrar más pronto!
      Gracias por visitarnos,
      Magali

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  31. Magali, I adore your new windows! They are exactly want I wanted for our cottage, but hubby didn't want any lines. They are perfect, so good to hear they make your cottage warmer too. xo Patty

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  32. Wonderful decision - just perfect, and adds so much to the sweetness of your charming cottage. You and cottage are definitely soulmates!

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  33. Hi...how quickly we/i forget..i can't even remember what the other ones looked like..these are Great..so did you change the banner photo too..i went to it for a reminder..an it's the new windows..swapping them both at the same time only makes sense..if they would have looked different on each side of the door..that would have made you an cottage nuts..it was indeed a fabulous compromise..cottage is looking happier every time you share the improves you've done for him..looking forward to seeing your garden.! we have rain again here..sigh..so tried of rain..

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  34. Cette fenêtre va merveilleusement bien avec celle de la cuisine & ta façade en est bien améliorée. J'aime bien les petits carreaux du haut.
    Les chats vont-ils bien? Ils doivent aimer être dehors en ce moment avec ce beau temps sur toute la France. Plein de caresses pour eux. Bises & bonne soirée. Babette

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  35. I think I gonna talk to.my window too:)

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  36. Thanks so much for stopping by!!
    Love how your new windows look!! They really added to the charm of your lovely Cottage!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  37. Those windows are a treat! When I picture windows for my own house that we might get sometime in the future, I picture having stationary transoms, I want to call them, above the doors and windows. They are high enough that privacy wouldn't be an issue, and the light can come in. You made a wonderfully good choice with these windows. They add the bit of character and whimsey a cottage enjoys. Best wishes.

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  38. I really love the look of the windows. They match! Can't wait to see what you have planned for the sitting room. Have a beautiful day. Jo

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  39. So happy you found the perfect window for Cottage!!!!

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  40. Vert nice. They look like the windows we see on Craftsman style homes here. What do you mean by plastic windows on your neighbor's house?

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  41. Les fenêtres de Cottage lui apportent beaucoup de charme, il a bien raison de s'admirer... Bonne idée d'avoir pris une photo avec seulement une des 2 fenêtres changée, on se rend bien compte de la différence, la nouvelle fenêtre a plus de cachet, bravo !
    Bonne journée. Nathalie

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  42. avoir l’œil pour repérer LA fenêtre qui conviendra ! et avoir un artisan digne de confiance qui réalise LA fenêtre de vos rêves ! vous menez votre chantier de rénovation à la perfection !! j'aime beaucoup la comparaison des deux photos intérieures : trois petits carreaux et la baie est habillée tout en préservant la lumière... et de l'extérieur, c'est trop joli, Cottage a une jolie frimousse ! (en perçant une autre fenêtre la façade aurait été déséquilibrée)
    - cordialement - monique59

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    1. Merci pour ces encouragements. Effectivement, le choix des carreaux du haut de la fenêtre a été guidé par la volonté d'avoir du charme tout en préservant au maximum la luminosité.

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  43. Your cottage it so charming ... (don't tell him I said so :) Seriously, everything you do is like magic. Great Job!

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  44. Quelles belles fenêtres ! Bravo ! Flopsy

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  45. Finally catching up with you, Magali. Cottage is looking quite fetching with it's new windows! A great choice!

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