Monday, March 28, 2016

Not Going According To Plan

What's going on at Cottage lately?


So, spring is officially here. According to plan, you should find me painting my glass front door...

Le printemps est officiellement là. Selon mes prévisions, je devrais être en train de peindre ma porte-fenêtre...

Except it's windy, rainy and my pupils gifted me with flu!

Mais, pas de chance, il y a du vent, de la pluie et mes élèves m'ont refilé la grippe !

 
According to plan, I should get quotes for a project I have (or had) for the living-room.

Selon mes prévisions, je devrais être en train de demander des devis pour un projet que j'ai (ou que j'avais) pour le salon.

Except my garden gate decided to kick the bucket and I'm getting quotes to replace it and I'm probably going to use the money spared for the living-room project to get a new garden gate.

Mais, pas de chance, mon portail a décidé de rendre l'âme et du coup, je fais faire des devis pour le remplacer.

Cats working hard to help me while I'm sick...

Does it mean that nothing has been going on in the living-room, which is supposed to be the 2016 project?

Cela signifie-t-il que rien n'a avancé dans le salon, qui est censé être le projet de l'année 2016 ?

Cottage Floor Plan Before/Le plan de Cottage avant

Yes and no.

Oui et non.

Nothing has been achieved that I can show you, but many hours were spent on the Internet making decisions. I think I have found a sofa that could work in my space. I need to see it in person at some point before ordering it.  I have also some curtains that are just waiting to be hung next summer.

Si les choses ont un peu avancé, il n'y a rien que je puisse vous montrer. Mais après de nombreuses heures passées sur Internet, je peux vous dire que je suis sur la piste d'un canapé et que des rideaux attendent dans un coin de mon bureau que l'été arrive pour être pendus.

Cottage in 3D before/ Cottage en 3D avant
 
Before I get my posts on the living-room transformation, I'm going to show you what Cottage's first floor look like. It's such a simple cottage that it never occurred to me to draw a floorplan for you, but some readers have been asking about it.

Avant d'écrire mes articles sur la transformation du salon, je vais clarifier un peu les choses sur le plan de Cottage, car certains lecteurs me l'ont demandé. Vous allez voir, c'est très simple.

The non existent door of the kitchen BEFORE / La cuisine AVANT
When I bought Cottage, the first floor consisted of three rooms: the living-room lead directly to a bedroom through a door and to a kitchen with a doorway with no door.

Quand j'ai acheté Cottage, le rez-de-chaussée était divisé en trois pièces : un salon qui menait à une chambre grâce à une porte et à une cuisine grâce à une ouverture sans porte.

Cottage and its three floors BEFORE/ Cottage et ses trois carrelages AVANT

When we had to gut everything out to add some drainage under the floor, I decided to rebuilt the rooms nearly as they were before as I thought it "belonged" to Cottage, but with a little twist. The doorway with no door  was closed and an opening was created between the kitchen and the bedroom that had already became my dining-room.

Cottage Floor Plan After/ Après les travaux

Quand tout le rez-de-chaussée de Cottage a été mis à nu pour pouvoir ajouter des systèmes de drainages dans le sol, j'aurai pu en profiter pour repenser tout le plan. Mais j'ai fait reconstruire les cloisons presque à l'identique car pour moi elles faisaient partie de l'âme de la maison. J'ai juste supprimé l'ouverture sans porte de la cuisine (une idée de ma maman) et créé un passage entre la cuisine et la chambre qui était déjà devenue ma salle-à-manger.

 
As I was writing that post, I realised I didn't have that many pictures to show you what the transformation looks like. I'm too flu-tired to clean Cottage and take pictures, so I used an online floor planner. Of course, I refused to pay to be able to save what I had done on the site (I have a gate to pay, remember?), so I just did some crappy screen captures...

After : only one door leading to the dining area/kitchen.

En écrivant cet article, j'ai constaté que je n'avais pas beaucoup de photos permettant de visionner les transformations du rez-de-chaussée telles qu'elles apparaissent depuis le salon. Mais la grippe, cela ne donne pas envie de ranger toute sa maison pour la prendre en photo et j'ai donc réalisé des petits plans sur un site en ligne. Comme je suis près de mes sous (et que j'ai besoin d'un nouveau portail), j'ai refusé de payer l'inscription et j'ai lâchement fait de minables captures d'écran...

After the first renovation, before the door was painted !
 
Before my usual "A bientôt", I wanted to say that I keep in my thoughts all my readers who live in a country where there's been a terrorist attack recently (I know that I have readers in Belgium, but  I may have readers in Turkey or Pakistan and I'm unaware of it). Just know that my little candle at the kitchen window is burning for you as it was burning after the Paris attacks. 


Avant de dire mon habituel "see you soon", je voulais préciser que je pense fort à mes lecteurs qui ont été touchés récemment par des attentats. Je sais que j'ai des lecteurs belges, mais j'ai peut-être aussi sans le savoir des lecteurs en Turquie ou au Pakistan. Sachez que la petite bougie à la fenêtre de ma cuisine a été rallumée, comme après les attaques de Paris. 

See you soon,

A bientôt,



54 comments:

  1. Chère Magali, I wish you HEALING! Oh mon amie, I am so sad that you can't get your plans done! I am now on Spring Break this week and I'm glad I'm well so I can do some painting I had planned. Thinking of you and hoping you get well soon. Cottage is such a jewel and beauty, and I know that you will continue to get things done in due time. BISOUS!

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  2. I wish you get well soon !
    Good luck ... and a lot (more) of help and hugs from your lovely cats :0))

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  3. Wishing you a speedy recovery! I'm on my third bout of a cold - the windy weather is not helping. Good luck with the gate xx

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  4. Sorry you're sick! I never realized there were only 3 rooms to the main floor of your cottage. You're doing a wonderful job of fixing the place up. Happy Monday! xo

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  5. Oh Magali! I'm sad that you have been ill but it certainly seems like you have gotten things done nonetheless. Getting a screen capture was a good idea you resourceful person ;).

    There are always set backs and few things go according to plan, but they always seem to work out in the end. Whatever you do will be lovely and just perfect for Cottage.

    xxx

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  6. Things rarely go according to plan, that's the one certainty! Sorr you've been ill - the flu is making the rounds here as well. Looking forward to seeing more of spring at your sweet cottage!

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  7. Good Day Magali, sometimes the flu can drag on forever. Tea and rest with the kitties. Replacing the gate is a must, had to do that a few years ago. Hopefully warm and dry days ahead for painting the door.
    Mr. Cottage is a work in progress, it seems like yesterday when you were making decisions for the kitchen. How's the upstairs looking?
    Keep warm, Kathleen in Az

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    1. Spring break begins at the end of the week and I hope there'll be some sunny days next week! The upstairs is still a huge mess... But it's insulated ;)

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  8. get well soon - love your cottage and seeing how you redo - it all looks so pretty - I love the photo of your candle hanging and the stone house across the way - beautiful

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  9. You seem to be making progress on your plans, the kind that takes planning. You will get there, just have to remember cottage has a mind of his own and he's tired of the old gate and wanted a new one, first! Sorry you are sick with flu, what a bummer with spring knocking on the door! Hope you recover quickly. Sending you a get well hug………….

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  10. Malheureusement on ne fait pas toujours comme on le voudrait. Une chose m'intrigue, c'est ce très joli mur en pierre.
    Caresses aux griffus. Bises. Babette

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  11. I feel so bad for you. The flu, even though it was a gift, is not a nice thing. Tell them next time chocolates would get them a higher grade! I love your house Magali. You have done such an amazing job and have definitely done it the right way! Feel better soon my friend.

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  12. So sorry you are not feeling well. Just take your time with your plans, it will get there. Love seeing the befores and afters and the layout. Rest up, so you can get well.

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  13. So sorry about the flu! Simmer a pan of water on the stove for humidity, maybe? You have done so much work on cottage already, maybe a small delay won't hurt too much. A gate for the garden is a very important thing, so of course that comes first. Soon you will be able to do other things, maybe in the garden, with Spring coming. Isn't Spring wonderful? My thoughts, also, for all the people everywhere suffering from violent acts.

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    1. The gate does come first, but it seems rather difficult to find a wood one nowadays ;)

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  14. Dear Magali,
    I hope you will get better soon! What kind of sofa do you have in mind? Something white and cosy? The ctas don´t seem to care for a new one, do they?
    I was very unlucky with my blog, it has been hacked by this damned stalker and I coulnd´t get it right again, perhaps I will start again later, but at the moment I am to exhausted with all those fights.

    Enjoy spring and keep safe as good as possible!
    Yours
    Sarah

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  15. mince, c'est la loi des séries côté travaux pour ton cottage, il faut quelque fois prendre du temps et réaliser les choses les unes après les autres
    Ce qui s'est passé en Belgique a été terrible et comme pour les attentats parisiens j'ai trouvé que ces névrosés psychopathes étaient bien plus entrainés qu'ils n'y paraissaient, espérons que nous n'aurons pas à assister à une nouvelle crise comme celle qui vient de se passer, voir toutes ces victimes m'a rendue malade, malade parce que des innoçents ont payés de leur vie les volontés de quelques tordus dégénérés
    Je croise les doigts pour que tout s'arrange pour toi et cottage, restons fort et soudés face à l'adversité
    Bonne fin de week end et bonne semaine
    @bientôt

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  16. So good to hear from you Magali! Sorry to hear you caught the flu. Drink lots of fluids and snuggle with the kitties. There is always an unexpected expense it seems, we encounter that too. Very frustrating! I hope the weather improves for us both in April! I too wish to get my door painted. Hoping the worst of your flu is over and you are on the mend.

    xo Patty

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  17. I certainly hope that the gift of flu from your students is soon a distant memory!
    I enjoyed seeing the view from your window. It is the little things like that - a glimpse at another place - that I enjoy so very much.

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  18. I liked the floor plan you created, and don't think the photos are "crappy" at all. Opening up the kitchen to the dining really improves traffic flow and makes Cottage seem much more spacious. Your living room is already so charming, I can't wait to see the changes you have planned. Get well soon! xo

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  19. Looking forward to seeing more of your cottage renovations in future!For the time being relax and get better!It's nice of you to keep the candle alight.What a pity this situation continues.AriadnefromGreece!

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  20. Hi...hope you're better soon..nice that the cats are looking after you. I'd opt for the gate too..summers coming an the new gate will be beautiful for cottage..i think the crappy screenshots look pretty good myself..what's the name of the site you used..looks like fun..have a nice week.!

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  21. Your cottage is coming along so nicely. Sorry you got sick hope you feel better soon. Nice that you have the candle lit for all of those that died and the families feeling such loss. Hugs.
    Kris

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  22. Hope you get well soon. Love watching you work magic on Cottage. I have started to redo my house.You have given me some great ideas.....Hugs

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    1. That I could inspire someone is the best compliment ever! Thanks! And good luck with your transformations!

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  23. I worked for many years at schools and was sick every year so I know what you are dealing with on a yearly basis.
    I love what you have done in the room leading to the staircase. It is so much more fitting and is perfect.
    Take care, friend. Life is a series of sidetracks, endurance is the key.
    Ginene

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  24. My vehicle decided to get seriously ill, so it was i the shop for 4 days and the cost of $1500 was a shock but had to be paid. I would rather pay for a garden gate!
    My carport and patio cover need leaks fixed but the car was top priority. So now got to save up again!

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  25. Poor you, Magali. I'm sending you a virtual cup of lemon-ginger tea with a bit of honey added. I hope that you will sip it and think of the many things you've achieved already, it's been an amazing journey and you've earned a bit of rest.
    Amalia
    xo

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  26. Magali! I just saw that you came to my blog! THANK YOU! I so hope you get well soon and to full recovery. Cottage is waiting for your loving touch! XOXOX

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  27. I like your idea of keeping a candle lit in your window - All of the senseless terrorism is so heartbreaking and I think it makes us feel so helpless. I enjoyed seeing the floorplan of cottage. You have had a wonderful vision for cottage and I just love everything you have done. We did some similar changes of doorways and windows in our house and it was all worth it in the end.

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  28. Magali espero que tu salud prospere dia a dia y que tu energia regrese a ti y Gracias porque asi y todo te tomaste el tiempo en poner las fotos para nosotros lindo gesto. cuidate y que te sientas mejor.... Nelly

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    1. Gracias por su amables palabras , Nelly . Vuelvo tan pronto como me siento mejor !

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  29. Oh, so sorry you are not feeling well, Magali. My daughter has the flu, too. Of course she has been visiting and I am hoping I don't catch it. I think that a garden gate is most important to be replaced. Your floor plan is lovely and I enjoyed seeing your little stairway. I only have 3 rooms downstairs, too. It takes special planning to find the right furniture and there is never enough storage. Take care of yourself. xx Karen

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    1. The stairway is one of the only original feature left from Cottage and it was very difficult to save it!

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  30. I love your posts about the progress on your cottage! Sorry you have the flu and hope you recover quickly. I love that you light a candle in the lantern in your window. How thoughtful of you. Looking forward to future reports from you to me here in Utah!

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  31. Just when you think things are going according to plan, something happens to muddle it all up! It sounds as though you're making progress with floor plans and furniture choices. I hope you're feeling better soon, Magali. I missed a whole week of work with Influenza A and tomorrow I'm scheduled to go back. Your candle in the window says it all.

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  32. I hope you feel well soon. In renovating it seems that setbacks and reordering of priorities is the standard. I really like the white that's in the entrance. xoxo Su

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  33. quelle paisible terrasse : les jonquilles, la végétation qui renait, le soleil...
    c'est la photo 10 qui a retenu toute mon attention : la porte d'entrée présente une jolie imposte à trois petits carreaux... chut !!!! vous en parlerez à l'occasion des travaux du salon...
    bonne fin de semaine ! bien cordialement - monique59

    --

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  34. I'm so sorry you're sick, but I have to say I laughed when I saw "la grippe" because it reminded me of when my son was in the musical "Guys and Dolls" his freshman year. One of the girls in the play sang "La Grippe" and it was so cute and funny! Get well soon!

    -andi

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  35. The cottage is looking great. I like the way you changed the layout. Hope you are feeling better soon. Jeannie

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  36. There will be plenty of time to work on your cottage. Right now, your priority is in taking care of yourself! Hope you are well soon.

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  37. Thank you for the floor plans, they make visualizing your cottage more realistic. You have made wonderful alterations. Jo @ Let's Face the Music

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  38. It is so frustrating when unexpected repairs creep in. Cottage is already much improved, and I'm sure she will be patient with the rest of the changes. I hope you're feeling better by now.

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  39. Magali! Thank you for coming to visit my post! Un peu féerique! MERCI et bonne semaine! ANita

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  40. Get well soon from that flu!! Your cats are adorable! Wish you good luck in the new projects for the living room.

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  41. Hope you feel better soon...I've been sick for near a month! Old homes don't always go as planned and life gets in the way..Progress can come in small doses but still progress.

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  42. The Cottage has come a long way. You have done a beautiful job in bringing it back to life.

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  43. Hope you're feeling better. Sorry about the gate, unexpected repairs are the worst!! I love the candle, by the way. I feel like I've, not been around, I've just been so busy! I decided to quit my job and try to write a book, you'd be surprised how, much time that takes, but I've missed you.

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  44. Hoping by now you are fully recovered, Magali! I'm glad to see your floor plan, as it give a better feel for cottage. Sorry about the gate :(

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  45. I'm sorry for your garden gate! On the foto from June 2013 it so nice and it looks brand new!
    Greetings from Germany,
    Meike B.

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    1. I had chosen a very cheap gate when I arrived at Cottage, knowing that there were chances it would be damaged when all the renovation trucks drove in the path... Cheap doesn't last, most times!

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  46. I think we all need a little love and healing. Love your lantern and its message.

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