Sorry its taken me so long to see this. The house move, return to work has slowed me right down. Still sorting through things but getting there. I love how you repurpose things, a woman after my own heart and your eye for colour is great. I loved the old 70´s paper in the kitchen just don't think I would want to live with it first thing in the morning lol
Hi Jan you and Duncan have created a beautiful holiday let very well equipped with lovely homely touches the wood burning stove is beautiful, I hope this year brings you lots of bookings all the best xx
If you ever have the time, I was just looking at cottage decor & stumbled upon a video called “step into this colorful country cottage” & it was totally enjoyable. Then I said to myself who are these people? Well, Kirsten & Joerg, 2 Germans living in Britain & I tell you they love everything British & bought themselves a little house but continue to visit cottages all over England for ideas, so when your French guests say your rental property has a British sensibility to it just KNOW that they’re jealous...so many people LOVE the British decorating style & Britain is loved world over for it. Your place was brought back to life & it’s just lovely! 🇬🇧
It was staying at your gîte that cemented my desire to move to France! It took me another 7 or 8 years but the gîte started it! It was as lovely to see some of the original pics too! Especially the loo!
I love the wood stove in the living room! The gite is a perfect fusion of French country and practical elegance. Lovely little cottage! If I go back 50 years to the village houses of my childhood, all you need are some lace curtains to make the space 'traditional'. The art is spectacular. Thank you so much for the tour.
Thanks, Jan. Good info to have if we ever get over to France again. Will feel like we know you from watching your vlogs, just in case we decide to stay with you….if you have the room; you are becoming quite popular now….lol.
What a fantastic transformation, you have both worked hard ,looks lovely place to stay ,I would love a wood burner they look nice and cosy ,well done and thank you for the tour x
Loved this video. When time/money permits we’d like to start renting out (long time off yet as need to do a heck of a lot of work first). I found your before and after photos interesting and inspiring. What a lovely place to stay. 😍
Oh God! I’ve gone over tons of these vacant house tours & I’ve seen toilets in living rooms & sorry but I was like WTF? REALLY? people were using the bathroom there? Wow!!!
Now, I find a tour like this quite interesting, with before-and-after photos and explanations of how you repurposed different items. The decorating choices of the 1970s were truly appalling, weren't they? Our house was just about as attractive as yours! And I remembered to keep scraps of paper/wallcovering and flooring. A friend (who is French, btw) put it well: I can't imagine someone looking at this and thinking - that's just what I want! You've really made a silk purse out of the proverbial sow's ear, Jan.
We are 3hrs drive from Paris, 2hrs from Tour. Paris is quicker by train to Laval around 1hr30 but then you need transport from there. Mind you, you would if you flew too. Thank you ❤️
We haven't dug too deep but those we have spoken to haven't said much. I need to keep digging I think. From what I remember there was no other family and the person who sold it after he died is also not with us anymore either! Thanks for watching Darlene 🥰💖
Is that the norm in France?! Who leaves a house empty for 30 years?! It would be very interesting if you could give a back story (if you know it) about the prior owner & why the house was left vacant so long. It’s so curious to me how theses towns manage to survive if houses are left empty so long, who pays the property taxes? In the US, you don’t pay your property taxes, your home ceases to be yours. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it does move quick enough & then your house is auctioned off to the highest bidder & they take ownership after the town gets all the back taxes owed to them paid.
As is common in a lot of countries,the house was left to family and they are often reluctant to sell or can't agree to sell. So someone must be paying the taxes etc on the house. A big problem is that the relatives that inherit the houses don't want to live in the countryside because of no work opportunities or they don't want to spend money on renovating the houses. So, like you said, they sadly sit empty, slowly deteriorating 😥 Also if the taxes aren't paid the commune claims the house and tries to rent it out or they may demolish it. We have a couple that got rented out and one that was demolished. I think this is why a lot of French are happy that foreigners buy the houses and save them. Our house is in quite a prominent position so our neighbours were very happy when we bought and saved the house 💪
I’ll bet the neighbors were happy to see people coming in to take over & renovate, who wants to live in a ghost town? I mean 30 years means that enough time went by that maybe a number of family members were deceased, but I guess someone was covering the taxes. It’s sad that the French government isn’t trying to get more industry to set up shop in other areas of the country. I guess that house was waiting for the right people to come along. Sometimes you wonder why things happen the way they do.
Why is the artwork in the bedroom put on the wall with such odd pins on either side of each frame? Wouldn’t it look better if nothing stuck out the sides? THE STREET LIGHTS GO OUT AT 11:PM??? WHY?!
We often use those type of fixings to secure our artwork to the wall especially in the Gite. We have had pictures accidentally knocked off the wall with an elbow or shoulder and of course the glass has smashed. Those fixings are secure. They can be painted to match the colour of the wall but we're happy with them as they are. To be honest it is easier to dust and clean the pictures when they are fixed like that too. As far as we are aware the lights used to go out at 11pm to save money. There is rarely any people out and about at that time of night and if there are, people are used to carrying torches. Nowadays people use the torches on their phones. The time has now changed to 10pm due to electricity costs/ energy saving. In the summer the lights rarely come on due to the long days. I must say this isn't the case in large towns, just in the countryside. We like the lights out, it helps with sleeping. 😄
Sorry its taken me so long to see this. The house move, return to work has slowed me right down. Still sorting through things but getting there. I love how you repurpose things, a woman after my own heart and your eye for colour is great. I loved the old 70´s paper in the kitchen just don't think I would want to live with it first thing in the morning lol
Thank you Germaine 🥰
Hi Jan you and Duncan have created a beautiful holiday let very well equipped with lovely homely touches the wood burning stove is beautiful, I hope this year brings you lots of bookings all the best xx
Thank you so much Morfudd 🥰❤️
💕I LOVE the wood stove & that Rug is so beautiful💕
Thanks for watching Susan ❤️
It’s such a nice cottage I love it .your furniture is just right
Thank you 🥰❤️
What a lovely place!
Thanks Carol 🥰
If you ever have the time, I was just looking at cottage decor & stumbled upon a video called “step into this colorful country cottage” & it was totally enjoyable. Then I said to myself who are these people? Well, Kirsten & Joerg, 2 Germans living in Britain & I tell you they love everything British & bought themselves a little house but continue to visit cottages all over England for ideas, so when your French guests say your rental property has a British sensibility to it just KNOW that they’re jealous...so many people LOVE the British decorating style & Britain is loved world over for it. Your place was brought back to life & it’s just lovely! 🇬🇧
Aww thank you ♥️ Yes I follow Kirsten and Joerg, they are delightful. 😘
That was fun viewing, and loved seeing all the nooks and crannies. The staircase is quite striking too!
Thanks Adam🥰
Absolutely lovely, nest, tidy, interesting and brings a sense if calm!!
You did a good job of renovating it!
Thanks Helena, we're proud of ourselves ❤️🥰
@@FOPYSFrance I am a neat freak and I shall certainly stay there! Well done!!
It was staying at your gîte that cemented my desire to move to France! It took me another 7 or 8 years but the gîte started it! It was as lovely to see some of the original pics too! Especially the loo!
🥰 Aren't you glad we changed the loo?😝🤣
I love the wood stove in the living room! The gite is a perfect fusion of French country and practical elegance. Lovely little cottage! If I go back 50 years to the village houses of my childhood, all you need are some lace curtains to make the space 'traditional'. The art is spectacular. Thank you so much for the tour.
Glad you enjoyed it Renee 🥰 And thank you💖
Thanks, Jan. Good info to have if we ever get over to France again. Will feel like we know you from watching your vlogs, just in case we decide to stay with you….if you have the room; you are becoming quite popular now….lol.
Thanks Sandra, I do hope so 😘🥰
What a fantastic transformation, you have both worked hard ,looks lovely place to stay ,I would love a wood burner they look nice and cosy ,well done and thank you for the tour x
Thank you Tina 🥰❤️
Loved this video. When time/money permits we’d like to start renting out (long time off yet as need to do a heck of a lot of work first). I found your before and after photos interesting and inspiring. What a lovely place to stay. 😍
Glad you liked it Becky ❤️
Oh God! I’ve gone over tons of these vacant house tours & I’ve seen toilets in living rooms & sorry but I was like WTF? REALLY? people were using the bathroom there? Wow!!!
I suppose if they live alone and never have company 🤷 At least ours is now in it's own room.
Now, I find a tour like this quite interesting, with before-and-after photos and explanations of how you repurposed different items. The decorating choices of the 1970s were truly appalling, weren't they? Our house was just about as attractive as yours! And I remembered to keep scraps of paper/wallcovering and flooring. A friend (who is French, btw) put it well: I can't imagine someone looking at this and thinking - that's just what I want! You've really made a silk purse out of the proverbial sow's ear, Jan.
🤣 I know! a lot of houses bought these days in France seem to have been decorated in that era. Thanks Lisa 🥰😘
All your hard work has created a charming place for your guests. How far is it from Paris and Tours?
We are 3hrs drive from Paris, 2hrs from Tour. Paris is quicker by train to Laval around 1hr30 but then you need transport from there. Mind you, you would if you flew too. Thank you ❤️
@@FOPYSFrance ok. Thanks!
Happy New Year , have you researched the previous owners of your property ? You home is so near the church may have been an important person ?
We haven't dug too deep but those we have spoken to haven't said much. I need to keep digging I think. From what I remember there was no other family and the person who sold it after he died is also not with us anymore either! Thanks for watching Darlene 🥰💖
Is that the norm in France?! Who leaves a house empty for 30 years?! It would be very interesting if you could give a back story (if you know it) about the prior owner & why the house was left vacant so long. It’s so curious to me how theses towns manage to survive if houses are left empty so long, who pays the property taxes? In the US, you don’t pay your property taxes, your home ceases to be yours. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it does move quick enough & then your house is auctioned off to the highest bidder & they take ownership after the town gets all the back taxes owed to them paid.
As is common in a lot of countries,the house was left to family and they are often reluctant to sell or can't agree to sell. So someone must be paying the taxes etc on the house. A big problem is that the relatives that inherit the houses don't want to live in the countryside because of no work opportunities or they don't want to spend money on renovating the houses. So, like you said, they sadly sit empty, slowly deteriorating 😥 Also if the taxes aren't paid the commune claims the house and tries to rent it out or they may demolish it. We have a couple that got rented out and one that was demolished. I think this is why a lot of French are happy that foreigners buy the houses and save them. Our house is in quite a prominent position so our neighbours were very happy when we bought and saved the house 💪
I’ll bet the neighbors were happy to see people coming in to take over & renovate, who wants to live in a ghost town? I mean 30 years means that enough time went by that maybe a number of family members were deceased, but I guess someone was covering the taxes. It’s sad that the French government isn’t trying to get more industry to set up shop in other areas of the country. I guess that house was waiting for the right people to come along. Sometimes you wonder why things happen the way they do.
🤗
Why is the artwork in the bedroom put on the wall with such odd pins on either side of each frame? Wouldn’t it look better if nothing stuck out the sides? THE STREET LIGHTS GO OUT AT 11:PM??? WHY?!
We often use those type of fixings to secure our artwork to the wall especially in the Gite. We have had pictures accidentally knocked off the wall with an elbow or shoulder and of course the glass has smashed. Those fixings are secure. They can be painted to match the colour of the wall but we're happy with them as they are. To be honest it is easier to dust and clean the pictures when they are fixed like that too. As far as we are aware the lights used to go out at 11pm to save money. There is rarely any people out and about at that time of night and if there are, people are used to carrying torches. Nowadays people use the torches on their phones. The time has now changed to 10pm due to electricity costs/ energy saving. In the summer the lights rarely come on due to the long days. I must say this isn't the case in large towns, just in the countryside. We like the lights out, it helps with sleeping. 😄