Sunday, February 02, 2014

Take Me And Don't Leave Me (Pretty Please)

The Kitchen Sink Mini-Series - 3 - 


You might not understand the title... So let me explain, last time I took the road less travelled when renovating my cottage, I lost a few followers: it was when I decided not to have wood floors in a very damp cottage. I still think it was a good idea, but it cost me a few followers....

So after this post, I'm afraid I'll be on my own on this little blog!

Eh bien, vous semblez tous avoir apprécié les éviers que je vous ai montrés dans mon dernier article. Bon, ne m'en voulez pas trop, mais ce n'est pas du tout ce que j'ai choisi... 


Let me explain what happened:
a) I was looking for a temporary sink while renovating as I couldn't stand the very ugly plastic one the previous owners had left and that I had already kept for three years.

b) I had three requests for that temporary sink: white + ceramic + drainboard.

Laissez-moi vous expliquer. Pendant les travaux, je cherchais un évier provisoire pour remplacer celui en résine toute jaunie que m'avaient laissé les précédents propriétaires et avec lequel j'avais réussi à vivre de façon tout à fait héroïque pendant trois ans. J'avais trois exigences: blanc + céramique + égouttoir.

I went on the Internet to see what would meet my criteria and my budget. Well, there was only one chosen one, that was in a store a quarter of an hour from the cottage. I wasn't in love with it, but it was only temporary.

J'ai alors farfouillé sur Internet pour voir comment je pouvais combiner mes critères et mon budget très réduit. Je n'ai trouvé qu'un évier qui puisse faire l'affaire dans un magasin du coin. Ce n'était pas le coup de foudre, mais qu'importe, c'était juste pour un an ou deux.


Off I drove there and went straight to where the sinks were. I couldn't find the one I had seen on their website. I ran all over the store to find a salesman... You know, they are those people with a weird sleeveless jacket who run in the other direction when they can see you have a question for them.

Arrivée là-bas, impossible de trouver le dit évier dans le rayon. J'ai donc commencé à poursuivre les vendeurs: vous savez on les reconnaît à leur veste sans manches colorée et au fait qu'ils courent loin de vous dès qu'ils se rendent compte que vous avez une question.

You should never underestimate a petite blonde, because I finally caught one and, a little out of breath, I asked him where the ceramic one basin + drainer sink was. 

Mais il ne faut jamais sous-estimer une petite blonde et j'ai réussi à coincer un vendeur à qui, un peu essoufflée, j'ai demandé où était l'évier en céramique avec égouttoir.


"We don't carry that kind of sink anymore, Mam. Nobody wants something like that nowadays." At that moment, the said sink began to grow on me.

"On ne fait plus ce modèle, madame, personne n'en veut." C'est à ce moment que j'ai commencé à aimer cet évier, je crois.

"Well, it says on your website you have some." And I showed him the page I had printed (again, never underestimate a petite blonde).

"Mais, il est sur votre site internet." Et je lui ai montré la page que j'avais imprimée (encore une fois, ne sous-estimez pas les petites blondes).



So he went away to check the back of the store and he came back with a huge cardboard box. 

Il est donc parti dans la réserve et il est revenu avec une grande boîte en carton.

"You may want to open that, Mam, before paying. It really is a grandma kind of sink and we have much prettier ones in store. This one has been at the back for years and I can't get rid of it."

 "Vous devriez l'ouvrir avant de payer, Madame. C'est vraiment un truc de grand-mère: on en fait de beaucoup mieux maintenant, d'ailleurs, on n'arrive pas à se débarrasser de celui-là."

"Really? Would you discount it so you get rid of it?"

"Et vous me feriez une réduction de combien pour vous en débarrasser?"


And off I went with my grandma kind of sink I payed nearly nothing for!  And you know what? I love it!

Et me voilà partie avec mon évier de grand-mère payé une bouchée de pain! Et vous savez quoi? Je l'adore!

Sure, it's not a beautiful farmhouse sink, but it's white, since it's ceramic, it's very easy to clean even if I leave tea stains for days on it (well, if I haven't lost my followers because of the sink, I might loose them because of that),  it definitely has a vintage look (my grand mother has the same actually in her very old kitchen) and it has a drainboard, which is a must for me since I wash all my vintage dishes and the items I sell at the shop by hand.

Bien sûr, ce n'est pas un bel évier timbre d'office, mais il est blanc, il est en céramique, ce qui le rend facile à nettoyer même si je laisse sécher les tâches de thé (oui, je plaide coupable) et il a un égouttoir, absolument indispensable pour moi qui lave à la main toute ma vieille vaisselle et celle de la boutique.



So, I'm going to keep it in the new kitchen! It'll allow me to save a little and I don't feel like I'm making any sacrifice at all! I'll probably change the faucet, though, and of course the countertop that is just something I bought second hand from someone who was changing their kitchen as I needed somewhere to put the sink during the renovation!


Je vais donc sûrement le garder dans ma nouvelle cuisine. Pensez-vous comme mon cuisiniste que je suis folle?

Are you like my contractor who thinks I'm crazy to keep that sink?

You may have noticed my gorgeous lightbulb above the sink... I feel a "kitchen lighting series" needs to be written by someone! So, see you soon,

A bientôt,


I'm sharing my sink with:

 Linky Party           I'm a Fan of My 1929 Charmer Blog!           http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.ca/2014/02/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no198.html                                           
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia                                         

63 comments:

  1. Well, I for one am happy you are keeping the sink! I thought it was too nice for a temporary one. It is very charming and I really like the faucet too. I think it is perfect for your little cottage! How awesome that you got it for a great deal too...:) Makes it even more special! Have a lovely week.....Vicky

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  2. Actually, I love it! The idea isn't to spend as much as you can to get what everyone else has, the idea is to be original and creative on a budget! Good job!

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  3. Grandma sink!!! What a typical male view.
    It is of course almost exactly like the one we bought for our French house, but we did have two bowls. It stayed fresh and clean and I loved it!

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  4. I love the sink and the faucet!!! The drainboard is nostalgic and perfect. That's something I had in mind if I lived back East (New England). (My father is a plumber and he use to have a collection from pulling them out of houses.) They are made of cast iron and porcelain. Magali, I think you will have new kitchen, that will look authentic. On initial glance people think my kitchen is old, and I don't mind, because I know I did it right for this old house. XOXO

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  5. Great sink! Everything is working out perfect. Now you will find the perfect light fixture too!

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  6. I see nothing wrong with your sink - I like it and wondered why you were getting a new one. It looks perfect in your little cottage. So much for the fair weather friends - it's your home and you should do what makes YOU HAPPY and what you like.
    You are the one who will be living there, cooking and doing dishes so it's your decision.
    Have a great week.
    Mary

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  7. Magali, I love your sink and your blog!!! Persistence pays off, I am so happy for you, Ann x

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    1. Thank you, Ann! I do hope that my patience wil mean I have a kitchen someday!

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  8. This is serendipity : the right object goes to the right person, for the right price LOL ... No really, I hope it feels as good as it looks (the cottage I mean) for it is coming together nicely. And the most expensive kitchens usually happen to be the less cosy ones... So enjoy your low cost sink, and enjoy the money you have left to go on a holiday with :-D
    Marcy

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    1. A holiday? Such a good idea! I haven't been on a holiday since I bought the cottage!

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  9. I love it! I think it has a very vintage feel...and at a great price...so perfect!

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  10. Hi Magali, I LOVE the SINK! I believe you are making the right decision by keeping the sink...it's darling! If you lose followers over wood floors and a sink, then they are not true followers! You don't need that type of follower anyway! You change and decorate your home the way that fits your needs or style. You have a lovely, adorable home! Blessings~~~Roxie

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  11. Oh I ADORE that sink! Perfection! What a great vintage-look piece, and it totally fits your space. I'd be just tickled. Good for you for following your gut!

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  12. I love this sink. It reminds me of the one my grandmother had in her century old farmhouse.

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  13. I like that sink and good for you showing him you meant business. :)

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  14. I love white color, your sink looks so cute!

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  15. I like the sink, especially the dish drainer part.

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  16. This is your house and your kitchen! The sink is white, ceramic and has a drainboard? Very well. And it looks charming like the cottage! I don´t know about the light bulb, but should keep silent: We have been living in our house for about 14 years now and still have light bulbs (one in the cellar and one in the dresssing room). Lamps are very difficult... Blogs ought to show reality and not only the great places. Your kitchen is lovely, because you really live and cook in there. After looking at your photos I don´t feel bad and inferior but pleased, something like "at home", because this is real. There is nothing wrong with reality, it can allways be completed by dreams and fantasy, but perfection is dead. And about the tea stains - they are not poisonous?! Do we allways need to show something great and shining on the outside in order to dazzle other people, to be accepted, but not the way we are, but the way we would like to be? To be "liked"? I like that sink.

    Have a nice day!
    Sarah

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  17. Tu as beaucoup d'idées... et beaucoup de patience aussi. Chercher aussi longtemps un évier, des meubles, un plan de travail, un four, des étagères, la couleur des murs... je n'ai pas le courage... J'attends avec impatience (tu vois bien que je n'ai pas de patience !) le résultat final.

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  18. ahh..don't worry about followers Magali! Your cottage has such character that many of us can only sit and drool at its unique quality. :)

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    1. Thank you so much. I'm not really worried about "loosing" followers, but it's never a nice feeling to find out you have disappointed people!

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  19. j'aime bien tes petites histoires... et en fait, on se moque de ce que pense le cuisiniste !!!
    il est très bien cet évier... et si c'est ce dont tu as besoin, le reste n'a aucune importance...

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    1. C'est vrai, mais comme je ne suis pas une professionnelle de la déco, le cuisiniste me fait parfois douter de mes choix!

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  20. What a fabulous break! Congratulations on your lovely sink - it's PERFECT!!!

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  21. Wouldn't it just be a wretched world if we all had the same likes! Your beautiful, tasteful, cozy, charming cottage is yours! Good for you for being the gal who keeps true to the character of your home-I happen to love your sink and your vision!
    xx-
    Jemma

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  22. I love your sink. I would never stop reading a blog because I didn't like something they have done. I do leave blogs that have contests where you have to "like" them on facebook, twitter, their old yearbook, the daily paper, etc. etc. etc. That makes me crazy.

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    1. Thanks! I'm not very comfortable with competition: that's why I was worried!

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  23. I actually don't think so! When I first saw the sink, I actually thought it was perfect! It's unique and goes right in well with your cottage!!!!!! You should go with how you feel for it, since you'll be the one using and looking at it day in and day out. I agree with changing the faucet, but that'll be easy later on. I'm glad you saved a ton too!

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  24. The sink looks perfect to me. You wouldn't lose me as a follower even if I didn't like it. Though, I suspect you know that. Everyone has their own style. I love yours and you got it at a great price. Yay for that!

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  25. I am just another one who agrees with all of the above comments. I love following your blog and learning of the progress that your lovely cottage is making, and of course, I enjoy seeing photos of your cats.

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    1. Thank you! I'm going to try to plan a post on one of the cats during the month!

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  26. Love it!! And it has the chained sink stopper. Nice memories.

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    1. You're right! I hadn't even tought that modern sinks don't have the little chained stopper! I like my sink even more!

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  27. Hi Magali! How terrible that you'd lose followers because they didn't like a decision you made! That seems so shallow! Anyway, I know I've been missing in action for a little while, but I would never unfollow you! Love the sink and the little ridges for the dishes to dry. How lucky that you got them to discount that old granny sink! It seems like a common theme in France that people like the newer, modern look. I'm so glad you appreciate things with a timeless quality!

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  28. I love that sink! Especially the built-in drainboard and the chained stopper. So charming. You don't see sinks like this in the States.

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  29. That sink was waiting on you and your cottage all those years. It is the perfect sink for your cottage. Yes, my grandmother had one like that (except it was monstrously big!), but the character fits regardless what a salesman would say. I continue to follow you on the renovation journey. Read about the trials and tribulations of teaching in France. I went through the same things when I taught here in the US.

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  30. That sink is perfect for your kitchen Magali! I love the drain. It's so practical, and as far as I'm concerned, function is número uno when designing. Good for you for sticking to your guns and getting a discount for your efforts,

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  31. Well, I'm not leaving your, Magali! I LOVE that sink, and think it is absolutely perfect for a cottage! You were meant to have it, I believe, and I'm happy for you that you got it at a good discount. Do you know what else I love ? That Pur Vegetal soap!

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  32. I love it too. Glad to see you're as popular as ever. ;)

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  33. Bonjour Magali.
    Je possède cet évier depuis ...35ans je ne lui ai jamais trouvé un défaut, sauf maintenant sa couleur terre de France année 80.Je pense réactualiser ma cuisine .Quand on n' pas beaucoup de plan de travail ,une cuve encastrée dans un plan de travail qui puisse faire égoutoir ne serait elle pas un bon compromis.Avez vous un avis?
    claude, une mami
    Claude,une mamy
    claude ,une mamy

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    1. Bonjour,
      Je n'ai pas votre adresse email et j'espère donc que vous reviendrez sur le blog! J'ai aussi eu cet évier en coloris "vieille pierre" dans un précédent chez-moi! J'ai aussi peu de plan de travail et c'est pour cela que j'ai choisi un évier simple bac. Faire encastrer l'évier et avoir un plan de travail rainuré pour l'égouttoir, c'est vraiment très joli. Ce n'était pas dans mon budget...
      J'espère que vous me tiendrez au courant de l'avancée de vos projets!
      Magali

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  34. Well...I like the sink. Trust your gut and don't let anyone influence you otherwise. You're blazing your own trail!

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  35. I think this is a pretty sink. I have a white ceramic one as well, and it's fairly easy to keep clean. I think it looks vintage and appropriate for your cottage, and I love that you were able to get it at a good discount--brava!

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  36. Ah! It pays to be behind on my blog reading because I get the tease and the reveal all at the same time! Je l'adore!

    People left over a FLOOR???????

    xoxo
    -andi

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  37. I LOVE it!!! Granny sinks are the best sinks!!! Another win for Magali!!!!

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    1. Thank you so much, Sara Marie! We'll make granny sinks trendy again!

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  38. This is my first visit to your blog and I found it to be very enjoyable. The tour through Paris was fantastic. I loved Grisnan and its stories. Your new sink fits in beautifully with your little cottage, but I was disappointed to hear that you to have workers in hardware stores who like to avoid helping customers too. I will be back to visit soon.
    Traci

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    1. I'm glad you found your way to The Little White House! I'm afraid that a few things are universal: the love for design... or the fact that hardware store employees aren't helpful!!!

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  39. That is absolutely the sweetest sink I have ever seen!!! Your sink reminds me of one I grew up with, how I wish I had it in my home now. You have great taste and you instinctively know what will look charming in your cottage. So far, I have loved everything yo have done - looking forward to the next project!

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  40. I love your sink!! A built in drainboard is a bonus and it really has a country appeal! Good score Magali!!

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  41. Well I think you are one clever sassy gal to get the sink at a discount and I love it and think it is perfect for your adorable cottage!

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch



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  42. Well I think it's a fine sink! White, ceramic, draining board, check! Vintage look,nice taps, good size, easy clean, what's not to like?

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  43. Oh, my I love your sink, it's perfect sink! Petite blondes...you go girl!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  44. Moi j'en ai plus que marre des artisans ou des vendeurs qui savent mieux que moi ce qu'il faut que j'achète. Ce qui est tendance ou carrément ringard. En ce moment par ex, très difficile de trouver du carrelage carré. "Mais madame, les clients aiment cette faïence rectangle". Forcément si on ne leur propose rien d'autre...J'ai réussi à trouver du carrelage carré et ensuite c'est le carreleur qui m'a regardée avec un drôle d'air!
    Bises et bon we.

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  45. Seriously ?? you've lost followers from things you've posted !
    I love your sink, I wouldn't have thought twice about choosing it, in fact it's very similar to one I bought a couple of years ago when I lived with my partner. He even said I could bring it to this house, when I moved here but it wouldn't have fitted. Even though you might replace the tap, I had one very similar to that too !

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  46. Oh, I'm so behind on reading your posts, Magali. I've got to get busy and catch up. Just wanted to say, though, that I LOVE this sink. And I love the skirt you used under it. It's so charming. I say you should definitely use it in your new kitchen. You have a great eye and wonderful style. I'm so glad you stuck to your guns with that salesman. It paid off, didn't it? Congratulations! Hugs, Nancy

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  47. Good for you!! I think it's perfect for your kitchen. Love the cabinet skirt too.
    I'm not too fond of wood floors in a kitchen. I prefer stone, esp a black and white checkered pattern.
    I am LOVING your kitchen series.
    xoxo's

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  48. I LOVE the sink. I'm going to try your short blonde technique and see if I can find one for myself. I need mine to go the opposite way though. We'll see. PS I'm assuming you were talking about Home Depot????

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