REAL LIFE
The luxurious master ensuite
Dirk had to learn new skills
“I will never forget that first bath, it was pure bliss – even if the rest of the room was unfinished”
We found a local chap to cut
down the granite to size, luckily there was just enough to fit the space. Dirk also fitted the pre- owned units we had bought for the utility room and tiled the whole floor (some 50m2
)! These
were now our only renovated rooms – we were using what would eventually become the lounge as storage as we didn’t have any outbuildings. We spent our evenings in front of the new woodburner, relaxing in a pair of armchairs.
BEDS AND BATHS Next, we needed to work out the size and position of the bedrooms and bathrooms in the main house. The floorboards were rotten, so Dirk took them all up and demolished the walls. When he set about boarding the two floors, we marked out two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor and divided
the whole loft space into our master suite. We had new windows
made, which Dirk fitted. The rickety loft staircase had to go and a local carpenter made a replacement which was repositioned. The original one actually collapsed while Dirk was reboarding, but luckily he escaped with just a cut! Using the metal rail system,
he built new stud walls, fitted electrics and plasterboarded. I’d bought enough Victorian- style sanitaryware online for our ensuite and the main bathroom. As we wanted to enjoy the comfort of our master suite and be able to have a nice hot bath, this was a priority. I’ll never forget that first bath, it was pure bliss, even if the rest of the room was unfinished! Over time, the two first-floor
bedrooms and bathrooms were completed. I enjoyed being able to finally choose paint colours
The extension is a huge success
and furnish these rooms with all the revamped furniture and soft furnishings I had collected.
LAST LEG As we had no outbuildings, we needed a garage. Work started in early spring 2021 but wasn’t completed until September, and it still needs cladding in wood, a summer task. As soon as it was watertight, we moved all the DIY gear, tools and garden equipment in and started work on the lounge, the last leg but no small task. We had excavated and
concreted the earth floor years back, including adding a plastic membrane. All the interior walls and ceiling were insulated and plasterboarded. We spent weeks cleaning the soot-coated beams and then sanding and waxing them.
Shirley reaching loſty heights We had purchased a pair
of old oak doors at a brocante years ago, and they now have pride of place as part of a cupboard covering the now fully connected electrics. Paint colours were chosen and floor tiles purchased, again laid by Dirk. Curtains from the old house were recycled and made to fit the door and window. I turned 60 in July, and Dirk
had a quiet 60th during the first lockdown, so we had a party to celebrate both birthdays and the completion of the house. It was so lovely to have friends to stay for the first time. Since completion, we have
been enjoying retirement in our beautiful house. Who knows what the future holds, but there’s still plenty to do – the next chapter will be designing and planting the garden. ■
The lovely master bedroom suite takes up the whole loſt space
The welcoming lounge – the beams have been cleaned, sanded and waxed 62 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2023
The spacious and relaxing terrace
Dirk and Shirley enjoying a day out
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