REAL LIFE
Creating the couple’s work studio up in the house’s roof space
online, a small and relatively inexpensive battery-operated cable finder. I have one now and have, of course, never used it. The buying of our house
and the intricacies of buying abroad led us into a career swerve. After first taking on our house in 1999, we tentatively launched a new business (
ahouseinbrittany.com), which set out to introduce prospective buyers to immobiliers and notaires on the peninsula who were happy to accept appointments from our website visitors to view properties they had seen online. It went well – so well that
we spent less time working as a marketing consultancy and more time building liaisons in Brittany (later Normandy too). In the laptop age, work is where you are much of the time – and you may be out of reach, but never really out of touch. Dare I mention Brexit? Well,
it didn’t do us (or many of the agents with whom we worked) any favours with would-be expats from the UK. It subdued
the market which is fortunately now recovering. However, our renovating carried on and we have met many interesting artisans, traders and renovators on our travels. A few words of advice. The
French authorities, starting with your local prefecture, are never happy when they come across building work being carried out by unregistered traders. French artisans are required, by law, to give a 10-year guarantee on the work they carry out. The authorities take a very dim view of non- registered builders, plumbers, electricians, roofers, carpenters etc undercutting those who rely on their businesses. It matters not where the
labour may come from, just bear in mind that if word gets around that it’s going on, then not only will ‘the trades’ get their collars felt but so will the so-called client. We’ve seen it
The lounge is a great multi-purpose space with a striking tiled floor
happen, and it causes severe pain for all those involved.
JACKS OF ALL TRADES Much of the renovation and development of unused spaces we have been able to tackle unaided, with the exception of roofing, pouring concrete floors and doing the electrics. But we have done everything else – woodworm treatments, plumbing, carpentry, stud walling, plaster-boarding and timber flooring. We’re both the product of art and design college, where workshop skills were expected. And there’s almost always an online tutorial to spur you on if inspiration or direction is needed. Micki has even made leaded light and stained-glass windows and door panels along the way. The biggest tip we can offer
other ‘part-timers’ – ie, those who don’t get over to their second home as often as they
OUR FAVOURITE LOCAL PLACES
We have always taken advantage of special places to go to enjoy some time off aſter good renovating behaviour. These range from Josselin, Malestroit and La Gacilly for the annual Yves Rocher photo extravaganza (amazing), to La Moulerie de la Baie at Jospinet on Brittany’s north coast, when the tide is right. Recently we went to Betty Food, an Airstream trailer/kitchen, deep in the forest at Lake Guerlédan, where you dine alfresco on a floating pontoon on its own small lake. They serve steaks and American-style hotdogs and burgers. I hope they'll be back next spring. Plus, there’s the son-et-lumière experience at the Abbaye de Bon-Repos in the first week of August. All Breton gems.
The spiral staircase being built FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2025 53
might like – keep the garden/ land to a manageable size, or, failing that, just become a permanent resident. For us, it’s been a 25-year
cross-Channel love affair with both Brittany and Ker Leroy. We’ve literally spilt a little blood and a few tears. But was it a good idea? That’s easy: you bet – no sweat! Friends and family have
asked us: “How on earth have you been able to go back and forth so many times?”, and “don’t you ever spend time holidaying anywhere else?”. We reassure them that we are not going on holiday – as we expect to be combining getting the next project under our belt with a little bit of time off for good behaviour! ■
You can watch a video of Chris and Micki’s Brittany home here:
https://youtu.be/iHNVas7q0NA ahouseinbrittany.com
A free photography festival takes place in nearby La Gacilly every summer
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