Doing business

So far, everyone I have spoken or written to in France has been helpful and friendly. On my list this week is banking, insurance and wi-fi and I am satisfied with the level of response I am getting to this point.

I asked Rosalind to recommend the bank and she sent me to Credit Agricole, which has a branch in Duras (actually just a short walk away from the house) and the branch manager Madame Feytout cheerfully welcomed me to her bank in a nice email. She said she would forward my information to one of their English customer specialists so we can start an account. I hope to hear from him tomorrow as I would like the account set up before I leave the states so I can wire myself some money to be used on projects and purchases while I am in Duras.

Madame Mitteau from the Agence Generali-Duras, sent me a quote for homeowner's insurance. I am delighted to report that the yearly premium will be about 400€ per year and I have the option of paying in cash or cheque, or I can pay monthly by bank account debit. I think I will go with the cash as the amount is too small to warrant dividing it up in installments. I will meet her to finalize the policy when I arrive in Duras.

I called the English help line at Orange this morning and was on hold for several minutes listening to a terrible, brooding song which I can't get out of my head now. Orange is the new name for France Telecom, the largest telephone provider in France. It is government operated and they are the only ones who control the phone lines into homes. I don't want a land-line phone, but I still must have the line in order to get ADSL and wi-fi service. Orange also provides television, but I don't know if I want that yet. So the guy on the help line was very pleasant and checked my address to see if there was already phone service to the house. He said it appeared that there was not a line in existence and asked if I had a telephone pole nearby. I laughed and told him I had no idea. He gave me the email and phone number for the English-speaking department that installs phone lines. I sent them a note this morning, but have not heard back yet.

So, banking, insurance and phone service are not exactly the fun parts of this process, yet it is giving me great satisfaction to know that things are chugging along.

Looks I love

I am loving this shabby chic kitchen look from houzz.com.

I still plan to do the pale blue-green walls at Clocktower Cottage, but I want all the other elements to pop in soft white tones.

This pic makes me want to add some soft fabrics into the mix, but I am not yet sure how that will work given the present cabinet situation. 

I love the way the natural vines soften the edges. I will have to spend a day traipsing through fields to find some wildflowers and vines to dry to bring some nature into my design. Being in wine country, I hope I can at least get my hands on some grapes.

The ugly workstation

Right now, the Clocktower Cottage has an island that was clearly an afterthought. It was poorly installed, is too heavy-looking and has an ugly formica top in a terrible color. In a few words: it must go!

Here it is:

I saw this nice marble and wrought iron island online and now I am trying to find a way to recreate it in Duras.

 I sent the photo to Julie, the woman who is going to do some painting for me and she is working on tracking down a metalsmith she knows who makes custom gates and railings, etc. She also knows where to get marble worktops, so perhaps she will be able to coordinate this project for me.  I think the kitchen will feel bigger and less stodgy with a see-through island like this one.

Three weeks!

I am trying hard to stay focused on my project in France despite being somewhat sidelined by a husband who recently underwent surgery and who needs an awful lot of my attention. While I am happy to give him everything he needs, I have to admit to feeling emotionally and physically wiped out much of the time. 

Thinking about the Clocktower Cottage and mentally rearranging furniture, imagining funky pieces of vintage wall art on certain walls, figuring out how to turn grain sacks into Roman shades, thinking about everything I will throw out and what to keep, is a good way to cheer up and distract myself so I dont get too lost in matters out of my control.

I asked my Realtor for some recommendations for a handyman and a housekeeper and she provided a couple of people she knows who come highly recommended. 

The handyman's name is Ludovic Mora. I love the sound of it! Surely he is the sullen type with hunched shoulders and a constant five o'clock shadow. Perhaps we will have a pastis together at the end of a long day, then he can return to his donkey, whose name could be Marie. Maybe he brings Marie with him on odd jobs and she snorts her displeasure when he ignores her for long periods. I could do my part by having a selection of treats on hand. Carrots seem so cliche. What else do donkeys nibble on to pass a dull day?

The housekeeper's name is Sue O'Neil. Just Sue. Just O'Neil. I'm having a hard time trying to create a mini fantasy encompassing a woman with that name. But, for a housekeeper it's a perfectly good and efficient-sounding name. Someone who can be trusted to get the job done. Someone who speaks English! I wonder what language Ludovic speaks. I wonder if he has a nickname. Ludo? Vic? Gosh, I am just a nut!!

Lighting!

This is the fun part! Of all the components required to make a house special, unique and reflective of the owner's taste, I think lighting should be given a top priority and an ample budget should be set aside to be sure that at least the living, diningroom and kitchen all have fixtures that have some wow factor. I love lighting fixtures! I wish I could buy new ones every year, like eyeglasses, but the reality is that they are expensive--and should be--so it's important to get this purchase right the first time.

Tonight, while doing my usual surfing for house things in France, I FINALLY came across a great, did I say great, online lighting shop called france-luminaires.com. I have been looking for one for several days and just kept finding places like the French equivalent of Home Depot--nothing special. France Luminaires is just what I was hoping to find. The selection is fantastic! The prices are reasonable and they offer free shipping in Europe.

Here are the fixtures that have caught my eye:

Livingroom

Dining area

Also this sconce: 

I still need to find a pair of simple lights for above the island in the kitchen. No problem. I'm sure, given a little more time to browse, I will spot something perfect. I love, love, this shop!

The list grows

http://fabulouslyfrench.42stores.com/

Check out this great vintage homegoods shop. It's about 15 minutes from Duras in the town of Eymet, where I have been to the market and to shop several times. This is one of the many places I am including on my electronic "Decorate Duras" list. Lucky for me there are a number of cute shops like this and I have also discovered an Annie Sloane stockist nearby in Miramont de Guyenne--just in case I want to buy a litre of a special color to paint inside my wall cabinet.  

On a more practical note, I have identified the shop where I can buy custom made window screens called "moustiquaires," in French. Here's the thing. The word for window screens is based on the word for mosquitoes: moustique, so, admittedly they have mosquitoes in France. But nobody in France has any screens on their windows--go figure! 

Clearing up a small mystery

I received a lovely letter from the current owners of the Clocktower Cottage, which they named Beaumaris. I had wondered about the odd choice of name, which means "beautiful sea," in a place as far inland as Duras, but Pam has explained the charming origin here. How romantic to name your happy place after the town where you met!  The letter is below:

Hello Donna,
Rosalind very kindly passed on your email address so that I could write and tell you a little bit about Beaumaris, soon to be yours.
I would like to say that Beaumaris has always been a "happy house" for us, and I do hope that it will be the same for you.

The name "Beaumaris" is the name of the seaside village in Anglesey, Wales, where John and I first met. It is a special place for us. When a friend, a stonemason by trade, heard our story he made the name plate that is now outside the house.
You will also see the stained glass window in the kitchen has also been specially made for the house, and the shape is quite unusual. It depicts the cross of St George, the patron saint of England, and the Fleur de Lys of France. It was made by "Jennifer" who used to have a studio in Duras where she used to restore stained glass windows, particularly from churches. She now works from home in a village called Landerrouat, which is not far from Duras. By the way she also made the two oblong windows in the kitchen/lounge.

In the kitchen you will see a set of scales and a row of hooks attached to the beam on the left as you go into the kitchen from the road. We found these when we were doing restoration work. Apparently they are meat hooks and scales as Beaumaris used to be a butchers shop at some time in the past. 
On the wall above the dining table is a wooden ox harness which we bought in France at a "vide grenier".

The metal wall lights in the lounge come from an old public house in Huddersfield, Yorkshire where I originate from. It has long since been demolished. The wooden ceiling lights and wall light come from an old house in Liverpool, where John originates from.
The lovely hanging gas/candle light fitting in the lounge is French and is complete.
There is a fabric covered chest which also comes from Liverpool, and if you remove the bottom of the chest you will find that J.H. Fellowes made it in 1971. We met Mrs Fellowes in 1989, and she was a lovely old lady. She was moving house and didn't have room for it so we bought it from her.

As you go up the stairs all the mirrors on the walls are from various places in England and Wales, and are of some age.
The large wooden chest at the top of the stairs is very heavy!  The owners nameplate has been removed at some stage, but on the inside of the chest is the name plate of the provider, Carrington and Co, Silversmiths, 130 Regent Street, London.  On some of the compartments the  labels are still there indicating which pieces of silverware go where.

On the wall above the double doors on the landing is a hand worked mantle surround. This was bought in France.

In the bedroom the gold Chinese carpet is one that we brought back from Hong Kong. I am not sure how old it is as we didn't buy it from a shop but from a friend.
The picture above the bed also comes from a public house in Huddersfield. 
The marble wash stand was bought in France.
In the cupboard under the window are some very old tiles. We think they may have been on the hearth when there was a downstairs fire place.

There is a story behind most of the things that we are leaving with the house, so if when you have a look around and there is anything that you would like more information about please do not hesitate to contact us, and if we can help we can.

Now to things "more practical"!!!

In the upholstered chest there are extra curtains.
Upstairs there are sheets, duvet covers, blankets, towels etc.
Downstairs there is everything you should need in the way of crockery, glassware, cutlery, pans etc. 
There is a toaster, kettle, food processor, mixer, iron and ironing board etc.
It should mean that when you come over to France you will not have to think of bringing bedding, towels etc.

In the loft we have left things that we think will be of use to you, spare tiles, wood etc.
By the way you will see that there is a stone recess into the tower, and we have no idea what it was for. We would like to think that it was where soldiers sheltered when Duras was a true fortified town with perimeter walls. The bottom step of the staircase is also stone. Why? We don't know!

The key to the ISOA double glazing system is in the small drawer of the tall unit in the kitchen/dining area.
The gas bottle is under the sink.
Mr Beauge, the electrician , has been and carried out the necessary work.


We will leave some documents with Rosalind before we leave, and if we can find some photos of the house when we were doing the restoration, we will send them to you.

Unfortunately Donna we will not be at the signing on the 2nd June, as we have to return to the UK. It would have been so nice to have met you. Maybe we will meet sometime in the future, as we will certainly take you up on your offer of two weeks holiday a year for five years. 
You will have to let us know how we arrange this. We normally prefer to come in May/June or September/October and not in the peak holiday season. It is so good to know that we haven't completely severed all our ties with Beaumaris!!!

I am sure you will be very happy in Duras as the people are so helpful and very friendly. We have made so many French friends that we will be keeping in touch with.

I think that is about all for the moment, but should you need any more information about anything at all, please do not hesitate to contact us.

With very best wishes,
Pam and John

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