Thursday, August 08, 2013

Dream Window

The Kitchen Window Series (it's a soap opera, really) - part 3


As I already told some of you, my old laptop crashed the day I arrived at my parents'. I know I don't seem to be the luckiest girl on the planet, but in the other hand, I'm happy to have a sick computer and healthy parents rather than the other way round.

Comme je l'ai déjà raconté à certains, mon ordinateur portable est en très mauvaise santé et je pense qu'il va falloir que je le remplace. Vous devez penser que je suis vraiment malchanceuse, mais je préfère que ce soit l'ordinateur qui soit malade plutôt que quelqu'un de la famille.

Still, knowing you were all unable to sleep because you were so excited about my new window, I managed to get it repaired, even if it's temporary apparently and a new one is going to be purchased.

Mais, sachant que vous attendiez avec impatience des nouvelles de ma fenêtre, je me suis arrangée pour faire faire une petite réparation qui ne tiendra sûrement pas longtemps, juste pour vous montrer quelques photos.

So, are you all ready to see my new window? Take a deep breath, here it is!

Vous êtes prêts? La voilà!


Let me tell you, it was very difficult to find someone that understood what kind of window I wanted.

J'aime autant vous dire que de nos jours se faire faire une fenêtre comme ça en France, ce n'est pas facile.

Right now what's all the rage in France is that kind of window:

Ce que tout le monde me conseillait, c'était la fenêtre plein jour.


I, on the contrary, wanted a wooden window and a few panes to add character. Nobody seemed to find it was a good idea.

Au contraire, moi, je voulais du bois et des croisillons. Personne ne semblait trouver que c'était une bonne idée!

So I drew a sketch of what I wanted. And this is what I drew and finally got!

Du coup, j'ai fini par dessiner ce que je voulais et trouver un charpentier qui a réalisé mon dessin.


The lowest part of the window has four panes and doesn't open, so I can display a few things here and still be able to open the window.

La partie basse ne s'ouvre pas pour que je puisse mettre plein de petite vaisselle devant sans que cela m'empêche d'ouvrir la fenêtre.


The window was actually changed in November and the hydrangeas were really shabby, but I couldn't wait to take a picture, after I painted it.

La fenêtre a en fait été changée en novembre et les hortensias étaient bien moches, mais je n'avais pas résisté à l'envie de prendre cette photo juste après avoir peint la fenêtre.

I chose to paint it All White by Farrow and Ball, which is the paint I chose for my ceiling. There's nothing like a fresh coat of white on a paned window, according to me.


Now if you think the series is over with that reveal, you couldn't be more wrong. Be sure that if the reveal was quicker than usual, it's because I have a few things up my sleeve.

Maintenant, si vous croyez cette série terminée avec la pose de la fenêtre, vous vous mettez le doigt dans l'oeil! J'ai encore plein de petits projets liés à cette fenêtre. Juste pour vous mettre l'eau à la bouche...

The first one is about this handle that came with the window.


Does it look cottage-y or not? NOT! It's going to get changed soon. The picture above is after the primer and before painting.

Vous avez jeté un oeil sur la poignée que m'avait prévue le charpentier? ça fait cottage d'après vous? Non, non, non... Je vais la changer!

Then, you may have noticed in the first picture, that I tried for the very first time my hand at sewing curtains (that's kind of an overstatement for what I really did...) and I'll tell you more about that project later.

Ensuite, vous avez peut-être remarqué des rideaux dans la première photo. Je vous expliquerai tout de mes talents de couturière (très, très limités) dans un prochain article.

Now, just for fun, here's a little before/after collage I made.

Je vous laisse sur ce petit avant/après de ma fenêtre.


So what do you think?

Alors qu'en pensez-vous?

See you soon,

A bientôt,

I'm sharing my window with:
Join the fun here each Wednesday!         HGTbtngrey                 
No Minimalist Here            I would love to have you join me for my link party, Share Your Cup!        The DedicatedHouse                   



38 comments:

  1. It looks great! It gives so much charm to your cottage! Looks like that cat likes it too!

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  2. They look perfect Magali - including your curtains - tres cottage - y :)
    XOXO

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  3. Your new window is absolutely charming, I love it Magali! When we built our home we accepted the added expense to have timber windows on every window, now it is a very expensive choice and most people use aluminium windows. Love your updates and your sense of humour. Computers, phones they are all a nightmare! Have a wonderful stay with your parents and please take care! Ann x

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  4. Very attractive and completely right for a Breton cottage. With windows in France opening inward, there is rarely any sill on which to display things, so your idea is very sensible.

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  5. i think it looks gorgeous both ways, especially from the outside!
    x

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  6. I think it is absolutely gorgeous! I love the small panes of glass along the bottom that don't open...very clever! It looks like it is original to the cottage...nice job! Looking forward to seeing what you choose for a handle....:)Sorry about the laptop....no fun having a sick computer! LOL Hope your visit with your parents has been enjoyable and restful.

    Blessings, Vicky
    Life On Willie Mae Lane

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  7. Just stunning. I totally agree with you on the charm. Love your curtains too. What a view.

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  8. PERFECT!!! Pick a big bouquet of the hydrangeas for the kitchen to celebrate!

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  9. Love it! It is so perfect for your cottage. I am so enjoying seeing all the updates and your amazing transformations. You have the cutest cottage!

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  10. I agree with you--it does look more cottage-y with the extra glass panes--very pretty!

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  11. I love your window! Although I don't exactly know where you're going to fit the trapeze-flying firemen. But it's beautiful!!

    -andi

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  12. It is perfect Magali! A perfect cottage window. Patty/bc

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  13. Oh my gosh, it is breathtaking! Love the little panes and the blue shutters are brilliant! Love, love it! Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  14. The window is perfection. It looks like it has been there for years...it just belongs there. I love it! The panes add so much character and charm.

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  15. L O V E the new windows.

    One of my pet peeves is seeing a beautiful custom built home with cheap-o windows.

    Yours look great.

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  16. Chez moi j'ai mis des fenêtres à petit bois aussi, donc je te comprends...

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  17. Sometimes it's the subtle changes that make the biggest impact. And the blue of those shutters! Gorgeous!

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  18. It's not quite what I imagined but much better. I pictured little panes, but I think it was a really clever idea to have the non-opening section at the bottom.
    And oh boy, doesn't it look way better than the PVC !

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  19. I'd say PERFECT. What a great idea to put panes at the bottom! Looks great :)

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  20. Love this new window! Great detail :)
    Susan

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  21. J'adore venir lire les avancements de ton petit cottage! J'aime le choix de ta fenêtre, parce que j'aime aussi les petits carreaux. J'ai accroché des brise-bises aux portes fenêtre côté cour pour les habiller sans occulter la vue sur le jardin, et des rideaux assortis côté rue. C'est ma grand-mère qui me les a crocheté et ma hantise est le jour où je devrais les décrocher définitivement parce qu'usés par le soleil... Ma grand-mère aujourd'hui disparue ne m'en refera pas...http://alacampagne85.canalblog.com/archives/2013/04/13/26916031.html

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  22. A great idea , I like the look. Such pretty blue shutters.
    betsy

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  23. I think it's adorable - and I love the blue shutters too.

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  24. A janela está maravilhosa! Gostei de passar por aqui! Fico seguidora. Bj, manuela

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  25. I love the new window. It looks fantastic. I'm glad you went with what you wanted instead of listening to everyone else. It makes such a huge difference. Your little cottage is looking cuter and cuter each post.

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  26. I came across your blog last week and spent hours reading about your cottage renovation. So picturesque! So adorable! I wish I lived close by, so I could help you with some of the work! I happened to see a picture that you had taken and posted in a previous post. Hmmm, I thought. Is that the new window she is just now showing? So I figured you had had the work done earlier -- but it was fun to figure it out and get the "sneak" preview! haha! I love what you are doing with your cottage and wish you the best in all your endeavors! I look forward to following your progress.

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    1. Btw, I do love your new window and think it fits in quite well with your cottage style!

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    2. Thank you so much for your kind comments and for your interest in my blog. I was wondering who would notice that the window had already been shown on the blog. You're very observant. The window was indeed changed earlier, but I just finished the whole "kitchen window" project this month!

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    3. Magali, I love looking at all the details in pictures of pretty places! That's how I happened to notice your kitchen window before you posted its reveal. And your new "shutter" work done with molding? Well, it's lovely! And clever! No one would know you are not a DIYer!!! I think, after the curtains and your woodwork, you can no longer claim that you are not a DIYer!!! You definitely are, and a very good one at that! :)

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  27. Fantastic! It looks much better! Why is it so hard to find people that will just listen to you and what you want. I don't mind input, but when someone tells me, "awe, you don't want that" I get a little perturbed! Glad you got what you want. It is perfect. I can't wait to see what cottage hardware looks like :)

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  28. LOVE your window! Good for you in being steadfast to get what YOU wanted...looks wonderful!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  29. Oh, it looks so lovely! And the picture showing the window and the shutters and the hydrangeas and everything. Swoon!!! ~Angela~

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  30. Hi Magali, just hopping by to let you know that I will be featuring you at SYC today.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  31. I think your window is perfectly dreamy - blue is the perfect color for the shutters and LOVE the flowers! I am delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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