Wednesday 15 May 2013

Sympathetic Renovation?




I've known this beautiful little semi derelict cottage for over 40 years, and have often thought about making an offer to the owner. But after my lengthy procrastination, someone has deservedly beaten me to it.

I'm pleased to see that it's being given a truly sympathetic total restoration job. Those dormer windows and modern industrial tiles (above) look perfect against the ancient stone walls. One can see at once that a painstaking restoration expert is at work here; someone who will accept nothing but the finest in order to return it to its former bucolic glory.



This interesting white plastic side-door, for example, could easily be an original from time gone by. It blends in so cleverly with  the surrounding block work (OK, OK, I know, my tower's built with blocks). And the bars across the window are..... well, they're bars; kinda prison bars. Nice!



And so to the pièce de résistance; 'The Front Door'. Set charmingly into the ancient stonework, this beautiful white moulded-plastic door just enhances the beauty of the old façade. Its English Georgian semi-circular half-light design is simply perfect against the rusticity of the cut stone opening. OK, it's an off-the-shelf door that doesn't quite fit, but that extra strip of 'plexi', at the side, helps fill-in so discretely.

Give that man a medal. A white plastic one with a middle finger pointing skywards!
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23 comments:

  1. Shoddy block laying and where's the lintel to the back door - still in the shop is it ?

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  2. Did they get planning permission for those bloody dormer windows? Hideous springs to mind.

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    1. It pains me to say this, but if this was either an English or Dutch restoration job, it would be VERY different. So many locals have NO RESPECT at all for their own architectural heritage.

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  3. Tragic. Modern or old, I really, really, really hate plastic doors.

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  4. Oh dear. It's almost criminal...

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  5. Aargh! You should have bought it Cro.

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  6. Ye gods. In matters of taste some folk know only 'Sunny D'. The roof I might forgive if, and only if, the build was intended to juxtapose new to empaphasise the old - but those windows and doors? They're just criminal. That front door is a joke, surely?

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    1. It had a perfectly good roof on before. The tiles could all have been re-used.

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  7. Relax, I'm sure they will 'make good' with a total covering of that lovely stone effect cladding.

    LLX

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  8. I imagine they get on well with your neighbours... Poor old cottage.

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  9. I get the feeling that you can get away with anything in France, just so long as you butter-up the Mayor.

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    Replies
    1. More homes 'restored' and lived in, means more money in the coffers.

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  10. How is your tobacco barn restoration/renovation coming along?

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    1. In one word, 'SLOWLY'. But things are advancing. We have the main large door going in soon, then we will put in the windows. It's a question of having the money when required... so many other things to do at the same time.

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  11. Oh my, what were they thinking? I live around many 300 year old homes (probably considered new in Europe), and any restoration of these homes have to be approved by local townships. They would approve tearing it down before they would allow that terrible renovation.

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  12. Oh my word...that's just vandalism!

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  13. Very French.
    I think that's why the French tolerate the English in France. Without the likes of us, all old French buildings would be ruined. Or left to simply fall down.

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  14. God Almighty. I bet they paint it orange.

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    Replies
    1. Ah, Hippo. I'd been wondering where you were!

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  15. Oh dear God. They must be shot!!!!!!

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  16. I was wondering if they were related to those of orange wall fame, but i see Hippo has had similar thoughts.

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  17. You should have bought it, and flipped it. I am sick at what people do to beautiful structures such as this. I call it butchering.

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  18. My mom used to say that the front door is the first thing people see, so it's important for the owner to make it look welcoming as possible. And with this door, the owner definitely succeeded. Now I realize that the color white is really a classic color that can blend well with any kind of home style. Anyhow, it's heartbreaking that you lose the chance of owning this house but witnessing it's improvement, you're still a winner. Francisco @ KatchMark.com

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