Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Tabula Rasa

An Other Sneak Peek Upstairs


Since Cottage can't keep a secret and spilled the beans (or at least some of it) of what's going on upstairs, I thought I could share with you one of the things I'm thrilled about...

Puisque Cottage semble incapable de garder un secret et a craché le morceau sur ce qui se passe à l'étage, je me suis dit  que je pouvais vous parler d'une des transformations dont je suis très contente...

 
Let me get something clear first... If I don't show you much of the upstairs, it's not because I never want you to see it... It's because it's just very unfinished. Reality check about living in a Cottage that needs a complete transformation. It takes tiiiiiiiiiiiiiime. A few things have changed upstairs, but for now, it's more technical than design. So the insulation of the roof has been redone, the electricity has been updated (it's such a comfort to be allowed to actually turn the light on in the bedroom) and the plumbing is new... But that doesn't really photograph well... None of the prettifying has been done (yes, I sleep in a bedroom whose walls are raw drywall) except in the loo (by the way, I have an update that I'll show you someday about that small but important room).

Clarifions d'abord un point. Si je ne vous montre pas beaucoup de l'étage, ce n'est pas parce que je refuse que vous voyiez cet espace. C'est parce que c'est complètement inachevé et pas très passionnant pour le moment. Et oui, c'est ça la vraie vie dans un Cottage qui nécessite une transformation complète. C'est looooooong. Evidemment, il y a déjà des choses qui ont changé, mais c'est plus technique qu'esthétique. Ainsi, l'isolation du toit a été refaite, l'électricité a été sécurisée (c'est bien pratique d'ailleurs d'avoir le droit d'allumer dans la chambre) et la plomberie est neuve... Mais tout ça ne rend pas très bien en photo ! Aucune déco n'a encore été faite (oui, je dors dans une chambre en placo brut), sauf dans les toilettes (oh, d'ailleurs, j'aurai un petit quelque chose à vous montrer dans un futur article).

Cottage, downstairs, when I bought it.

Thus said, as Cottage showed you in a previous post, I have begun working on the landing. The staircase is in the living-room and I wanted all the walls in the same paint colour, as I was aiming for harmony versus the wild array of colours that was there before. It seems that despite Cottage asked you to hold your tongue, some of you noticed two things, the doors - that will be for a later post - and the floor - this story is for today!

Cela dit, comme Cottage vous l'a montré précédemment, j'ai commencé à travailler sur le palier. L'escalier se trouve dans le salon et je voulais que tous les murs soient de la même couleur, je visais l'harmonie en opposition avec la multitude de couleurs qu'il y avait auparavant. Et il semble que même si Cottage vous a demandé de tenir votre langue, certains d'entre vous ont remarqué deux choses, les portes - ce sera pour un prochain article - et le sol - cette histoire-là est pour aujourd'hui !

Downstairs floor now, all the same in the three rooms.
Let's go  back in time a little... When I bought Cottage, there were three different floors downstairs and six different floors upstairs! It was not something I liked, but I thought I could live with it until the different phases of the renovation began. Except for the bedroom floor, this I could not live with. 

Bon, alors, faisons un petit retour dans le passé... Quand j'ai acheté Cottage, il y avait trois sols différents au rez-de-chaussée et six sols différents à l'étage ! Ce n'était pas du tout mon goût, mais j'ai pensé que je pouvais vivre avec jusqu'à ce que la rénovation commence... sauf avec le sol de la chambre !

The bedroom floor was covered with navy blue carpet squares... Don't forget to admire the orangey wallpaper, red skirting boards and blue linoleum while you're there!

Le sol de la chambre était recouvert de carrés de moquette bleu foncé... Admirez au passage le papier peint orangé du couloir, les plinthes rouges et le lino bleu !


On the first day I got the keys, I decided to remove the carpet, hoping to find something beautiful under the squares... But I only uncovered an uglier linoleum... So I decided on something very un-me: a temporary solution. I drove to the nearest carpet store and ordered the cheapest seagrass they had. As it wasn't too expensive, I even ordered enough to cover the yellow and orange linoleum of the landing and the turquoise one of the loo.


Le jour même où j'ai eu les clefs, j'ai décidé de retirer la moquette, espérant trouver quelque chose de beau en-dessous... Et j'ai découvert un affreux lino bleu et jaune plein de taches. J'ai donc opté pour une solution qui ne me ressemble pas : le cache-misère temporaire. Je me suis rendue dans le magasin de moquette le plus proche et je leur ai acheté le moins cher des joncs de mer qu'ils avaient. Pour ce prix-là, j'en ai aussi pris pour couvrir le lino orange du palier et le turquoise des toilettes...


It really did the trick. I liked walking bare feet on it, the cat didn't damage it and unlike what I read on the Internet, I thought it was easy to maintain. I'd say that the cheaper it is, the less thick it is and therefore the easiest it is to vaccuum. Despite how much I loved that floor, I had other dreams for Cottage...

My bedroom

Vraiment, c'était une bonne idée. Outre le fait que le jonc de mer est plus relaxant pour les yeux que le bleu, le orange et le jaune mélangés, j'aimais marcher dessus pieds nus, les chats ne l'endommageaient pas et je trouvais ça très facile à garder propre, contrairement à ce que j'avais lu sur Internet. Je crois que moins il est cher, plus le revêtement est mince et donc plus il est facile à aspirer. Mais j'avais d'autres rêves pour Cottage...

When the loo was in the bedroom, good times...

When we had uncovered the ceiling downstairs, we had discovered beautiful beams and a lovely wood ceiling... Ok, it needed a little work, but it was there... So I thought that this ceiling was also the upstairs floor and I wanted to see it! All the contractors told me it was a mistake... 

Kitchen ceiling...

Quand on a défait les faux plafonds du rez-de-chaussée, on a trouvé de jolies poutres et un plafond en bois. Certes, cela a nécessité un peu de travail, mais  cela en valait la peine. Je me suis dit que ce plafond était aussi le plancher de l'étage et je n'avais plus qu'une hâte, enlever tout ce qui le recouvrait. Mais tous les artisans m'ont dit que ce serait une erreur.


So I made a little experiment... There used to be a walk-in closet in the extra room (notice the past tense, hey?). There I removed a portion of the floor... And there was the original wood floor. It wasn't a beautiful one as in a town house of course, but I knew I would like it better than the linoleum anyway. So I said to the contractor : "Maybe it's a mistake, but I'm doing it nonetheless."


J'ai donc fait une petite expérience. Avant il y avait un petit débarras dans la chambre/bureau. J'ai enlevé le revêtement de sol sur une petite portion pour voir ce que cela donnait. Evidemment, je n'ai pas découvert un parquet Versailles, mais un vieux plancher que j'espérais pouvoir sauver.  J'ai dit  au menuisier : "C'est peut-être une erreur, mais je tente le coup."


I paid for the floor to be sanded... There's only so much a Petite Blonde can do on her own. The sanding showed a floor that was damaged but sound, so I decided to keep it... Maybe I was over-confident in Cottage, I have to confess I hadn't even prepared a plan B! It's only covered in the loo for sound insulation reasons ;)


J'ai payé pour que le sol soit poncé... Il y a des moments où une Petite Blonde doit connaître ses limites. Le ponçage a révélé un sol abimé, mais sain et j'ai donc décidé de le garder. Je dois avouer que j'avais tellement confiance en Cottage que je n'avais de toute façon pas prévu de plan B. Le plancher n'est recouvert que dans les toilettes pour des raisons d'isolation phonique ;)

Before the walls were rebuilt.

In case you think this is a dream come true, I'm going to burst your buble...  While uncovering the original wood floor, I also found out that my fisherman's house isn't a fisherman's house at all... Between each space between the planks is filled to the brim with dirt as the upstairs was probably used as a granary attic. Cleaning that is a labor of patience and back-ache... But it's better than if I had to remove fishbones and fish scales!


Avant que vous pensiez qu'il s'agit là d'un rêve devenu réalité, laissez-moi vous remettre dans le droit chemin de la vérité. Chaque chanfrain est rempli à rabord de terre... C'est ainsi que j'ai découvert que ma maison de pêcheur n'appartenait en fait pas du tout à un pêcheur et que l'étage servait de grenier à grain. Petit à petit, je débarrasse donc mon plancher de cette terre : c'est un travail de patience et de mal de dos ! Enfin, c'est mieux que si j'avais à retirer des arêtes et des écailles de poisson.


As much as I love harmony, the wood floor might receive different finishes in the different rooms given it's pretty beaten in the bathroom and the extra room and in slightly better shape in my bedrooom and in the landing. I probably won't make a decision before the rooms are painted.


Même si j'aime l'harmonie et la simplicité, le sol recevra sûrement des finitions différentes suivants les pièces car s'il est très abimé dans la salle de bains et le bureau, il est dans un état correct dans la chambre et le palier. Je ne prendrai probablement pas de décision avant que les murs soient peints.


From the stats on my blog, I know that I have many, many American readers. I'm thinking of all those who live in Texas and Louisiana as the images on the news are pretty dreadful righ now.

Les statisques de mon blog montrent que j'ai beaucoup de lecteurs américains. J'ai une pensée pour tous ceux qui vivent au Texas et en Louisiane car les images qui nous parviennent sont bien alarmantes.

See you next time,

A bientôt,

Hasta la proxima,



PS: I noticed that since the stove reveal, I have a few new readers. Welcome to you! If you want to catch up on a few things, here are a few useful link to understand Cottage's story:








40 comments:

  1. so much hard work to make your home how you want it. One day it will all be done. Yes flooding is bad in the south gulf states of Texas of and Louisiana. One day they too will need to be redoing their homes - my heart goes out to them

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  2. I think the floor is gorgeous, I love the wide planks.

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  3. It looks amazing, and I love the old floor. I also love the living room.
    It is amazing what gets between the cracks of the floor. In my last home, the floor wasn't even old, and crude would get between the planks, and would use a skewer. I can't image years of debris! In this house, when I chose the floor, I chose no cracks between the floor the expansion joints are hidden along wall and between two of the bedrooms covered by the wall molding or a threshold. xoxo Su

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  4. Oh, what an exciting process, my friend. I simply love the look of the floors and I can't wait to see more of the upstairs.

    Happy hugs to you!

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  5. You were smart in attending to all the necessary (and expensive) work like plumbing and electrical. Now on to the fun, decorating part. Good for you--there's no sense "putting lipstick" on a project until the "face is clean". Even though you have so many plans for upstairs, the sense of light and space is beautiful...even as is. And, good decision on exposing the wood floors. I think Cottage must be very proud!!

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    1. It wasn't the fun part to do plumbing and electricity... But it was necessary as the electricity was a problem... I had an electrician visit the house when I bought it and there was only one socket I was allowed to use in my bedroom!!!

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  6. It does take a lot of time and effort to get things how you want them. Follow your heart.
    Brenda

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  7. I think that Cottage will like the wooden floors better. You have done a terrific job on all your remodeling - follow your heart and Cottage's also and you won't be disappointed.

    Enjoy your weekend. Has school started?

    Mary

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  8. yes, from one exhausted do it yourselfer to another - it takes FOREVER to get the entire house done! but what a great feeling whenever you get another space finished. :) Have a wonderful week!

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  9. You are doing such hard works.. at the end it will be an amazing place to live..

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    1. I hope at some point it'll be amazing... Or at least finished ;)

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  10. I would paint the floor white or robin egg blue!AriadnefromGreece!

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  11. Yes, I would say that floor is better than linoleum. Yes, it does take tiiiiiiime to remodel anything.

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  12. Restoring an old house is such a load of work, but so worth it! I enjoy every bit that you share with all of us. Keep going!! It looks great!!

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  13. Restoring Mr. Cottage takes money and time, slowly you're putting your ideas and hard work into your home. Do what your heart tells you. I enjoy your blog Magali through the years. Mr. Cottage, kitties, your travels, your trials as a Teacher and most of all, your spirit:). We're here for you cheering you on. Kathleen in Az

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    1. Thank you so much for this nice commment. I do need my readers to cheer me on as the school year isn't beginning well...

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  14. Dearest Magali, Cottage has THE LOOK! The beams are great "bones" and give that authentic cottage look! Our upstairs in our cottage also has this same layout with the eaves, giving the upstairs a most cozy look. But I never show my upstairs either since it is unfinished as well.

    You have made admirable progress and everything is looking so great!

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  15. Hi...cottage must be SSSSSSo happy you decided he was the one for you..you've done a Beautiful job bringing him back to a sweet home..saving those beams really makes the hall stand out..it's just wonderful..and yes..grain beats fishy anything every day..those floors turned out Great..an the beating they've taken just gives them some character.....my friends sons family lives in Houston right smack in the flooding..they've lost nearly everything..they carried out..or i should say were taken out in a boat..straight from their front door with what they could carry in big garbage bags..and their home was just built 2 yrs ago..such a sad situation down there..so NICE of you to give TX a nod today..many Thanks.!

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  16. Cottage has what it takes to be a dream home. YOUR dream home, and actually anyone who appreciates historic, sweet cottages,

    The floors are gorgeous and an unbelievable improvement. I'm sure you're making Cottage very happy :)

    xxx

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  17. First of all, your living room is stunning. Second, don't you wonder what the previous owners were thinking? Cottage has to be so happy to have the charming Magali as his owner now. Your vision to reclaim Cottage's historic beauty is coming to fruition, no matter the length of time it is taking. No grand thing was done in a day. One of the things I admire about you Magali is that you stand up for what you want. It takes courage to look a contractor in the eye and say you're going to go for something, even if it doesn't work. I love that about you! Hugs.

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  18. Love the gentle unfolding of the story, Magali...

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  19. Wood floors are so wonderful even if you have to paint them. You kept me in anticipation all the way through the story! We put wood floors in but not in the master bedroom. My biggest regret so far with our house. We will be replacing the carpet with wood as soon as we can put it at the top of the long to do list.

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    1. I was lucky that except for the sandin, I didn't have to pay for the wood floor, they were there, just hidden!!!

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  20. I love the wood floors...in my mind, you can't go wrong with wood. The cottage is delightful and a true labor of love. Love the befores and afters.

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  21. les vieilles maisons sont souvent chargées d'une histoire à découvrir au fil du temps, un peu comme un vieux livre que l'on ouvre pour la première fois et qui réserve quelques surprises au fil de la lecture...
    Je remarque que tu as du entreprendre de sacrés travaux de rénovation, c'est impressionnant la transformation de ce petit cottage abandonné et transformé par tes soins en un joli endroit cosy et douillet qui prend forme au fil du temps pièces après pièces
    Je te souhaite beaucoup de courage et de patience pour ces travaux qui quelque fois doivent te saouler un peu quand même
    Belle fin de semaine

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  22. I love the uncovered floor! Could you perhaps sand the rough parts that the sander couldn't reach and either fill the deepest gouges? I think the continuity would be wonderful, too. I have found that contractors with busy schedules will sometimes say "You don't want to do that." if they have long lists of jobs to complete. ~Ginene

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    1. I haven't made a decision yet, so all ideas are welcomed! Thanks for your comment.

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  23. It's looks amazing! Hang in there and you will have a prize cottage.
    xoxo Jo

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  24. Wow, how amazing to find the original wood floors underneath that awful linoleum!! Can't wait to see them all finished, no doubt they will be gorgeous!

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  25. So. Much. Work. But oh so worth it. I'm sure Cottage appreciates your perseverance.

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    1. Cottage and I both appreciate the old floor... I love feeling it under my feet as soon as I get up in the morning.

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  26. Ton plancher avec ses petits trous de vers et ses fentes a tout de même beaucoup de charme. Tu as bien fait de n'en faire qu'à ta tête... comme toujours. Bon courage pour la rentrée. Il va t'en falloir ! Bises

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  27. Good for you for not listening to the naysayers. I like the old floor imperfections and all. You are getting a lot done this summer.

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  28. I, if anyone, can understand the challenges of updating a cottage. There are time I feel the Charmer is fighting me every step of the way...she doesn't like any new do's..Mr. Cottage seem to give you the same attitude...but in the end we know it will all work out. I like how you found the wood flooring. When we ripped out the old floors upstairs we found the original 90 years old floors. What a thrill. Like you the wood in each room differs and we are facing the same challenges...Always go with your gut!

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  29. Cottage is looking better and better all the time! Love the old floor and the exposed beams upstairs. So beautiful. xx Karen

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  30. Our wood floors are old and distressed. The wood in the living room and dining room is oak and I have no idea what the wood is in the hallway and bedrooms. But, we love the quirkiness of our floors.

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  31. Floors are the hardest to decide. I haven't decided on anything, I keep changing my mind. Maybe in the future I'll finally decide!

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  32. nous avons aussi conservé les planchers d'origine de notre petite maison de 1894, ils sont simplement recouverts de lasure écolo ; mais j'avoue qu'ils craquent, qu'il faut caler les meubles... et qu'un stylo qui tombe dans la chambre ressemble à un tremblement de terre dans le salon... mais c'est trop doux aux pieds et trop chaleureux !! monique59

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  33. Et bien.......en tout cas tu as eu raison de conserver le plancher de l'étage, c'est si chaleureux un plancher.
    J'attends avec impatience de voir le résultat.
    Je reviens du Sud Ouest où je suis allée pendant 5 semaines pour restaurer aussi le plancher de l'étage et le relooker et puis ce qui a été plus agréable, déménager les meubles que j'avais chiné et enfin décorer.
    Caresses aux griffus. Bisous. Babette

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