Our Little Piece of France

Le Menil Scelleur

Image and text by Gabrielle.

Friends! I have some big news: We bought a house today. A little French cottage! We can hardly believe it!!

It might not feel like big news if you’ve been following along. Because we first saw this house last August (so long ago!), and we’ve been under contract since February. The house has been uninhabited for decades and has mostly been used as a barn, so there were some questions about whether or not the house could be legally inhabited again.

But — hooray! — the questions have been resolved. And we became the official property owners today.

Now the hard work begins. We start with a phone call to the electric company to visit the property and install a meter. And then we go from there! When we hatched this plan, we assumed we could quickly buy a house and spend our last year here renovating. Hah! Reality check: We leave in a month, and if we manage to get electricity installed and roof repaired before we move, we’ll consider that a triumph. : ) We keep thinking we’re crazy to take on a project like this, but we LOVE that it will keep us connected to the area in such a real way.

Today, during the closing, as we signed the official papers, the previous owners gave us the photo at top. It’s our house circa 1900 (compare it to this photo). And it’s actually a postcard, with an address label on the back. When I saw the little family, I started to cry. What a treasure to be able to picture the people who lived in this place oh so long ago. (And the collar and cut on the son’s jacket — it’s so French! It just does me in.)

Tell me: Does this project make you gasp with terror at the amount of work (and frustration) ahead for us? Or gasp with inspiration at what it might become? Maybe some of both? I’d love to hear your renovation stories!

P.S. — I detailed more about what it will take to redo this property here. And you can see more images here, here and here, if you’re curious.

107 thoughts on “Our Little Piece of France”

  1. CONGRATULATIONS! I’m so happy for you all. I’ve so enjoyed reading your stories about life in France. The project sounds both exciting and daunting. Wishing you the best of luck and looking forward to hearing updates, renovations stories and before and after shots. :D

  2. Pamela Balabuszko-Reay

    The second I saw the picture I got goosebumps. Then I read that you cried and I got choked up.

    Nothing but inspiration in my mind.

    I so look forward to seeing it unfold.

    May it be just the sort of nest you wish for.

    1. Pamela Balabuszko-Reay

      Perhaps you could recreate the photo with your family stepping in. A few more people- but it would be lovely.

  3. Felicitations! What a wonderful project – can’t wait to hear all about it – having fixed up several homes (though none without electricity!) I can say it is SO rewarding – so happy for you!

  4. Excellent! Exciting! Félicitations! It screams potential!
    The house in the forest in our home region in France and that we have been completely smitten by for years is still not for sale (one of the heirs doesn’t want to sell) so no big renovation for us. one day….
    Can’t wait to follow yours meanwhile!

    1. We haven’t been considering a thatched roof, and in fact, didn’t know until the closing meeting that historically the home even had a thatched roof. But wouldn’t that be neat?

      For now, I think we’ll simply repair the existing roof. Which will be plenty exciting for me.

  5. Wow, congrats!! What a beauty!
    We’re building a new house here in the Swiss Jura. So no charming cottage for us, but the same stress and work that will never seem to stop ;-)
    What works for me is: take everything one step at a time and accept that it will not be perfect overnight.
    Bon courage!!

  6. Congratulations! What a marvelous adventure. If anyone, any family, can make that cottage a little slice of heaven with love and hard work it’s you and yours!

  7. We seem to love renovating… We are on our second home that we’ve been redoing for 2 years now. (It’s actually called a French Chataeu style house, but in the US) and its stressful but having the vision is the most important thing. As the project starts to come together the stress melts and the joy of seeing your vision become real is the best pay off. With your situation, on the hard days I’d remind myself that what you are doing will create long lasting memories for your family for generations to come. It’s amazing, congrats!!! Can’t wait to watch the transformation!

  8. Congratulations. What an exciting adventure. I would love to know how big the building is and if you are planning on adding on or just keeping it small and bunking in when you visit. I love that it is close to the friends you have made while you were there and places you feel connected with. I would love to do something similar – it’s on my bucket list. Oh, and that photo is the best. I just got goosebumps when I saw it. I could see a larger version of it printed on a canvas and hung with pride in the new cottage when it is finished. One of the features I love the best is that funny little corner on the doorway to the right where the stone was left rounded – my eye is drawn to it every time.

  9. oh my goodness, so excited for you guys!! Will you do renovations long distance? Will you rent it out when you are away? (I’ve always loved the idea of owning a vacation rental/2nd home). congratulations!

  10. Sheila Kaminski

    I saw a re-do of an old barn on the COCOCOZY website today that is a must see for some great ideas for the French house. The bunk room alone is fab!

  11. Congratulations for finally owning the house, patience is a must here in France when buying a property. Very moving the old postcard!
    We live about an hour from you in Basse Normandie and have just started on the renovation of our third farmhouse (a bit like yours). It is so rewarding to be able to bring a piece of history back to life ! We simply love granite!
    I saw your house has an old breadoven on the side, do you also have an old granite fireplace inside?
    If you ever need any help or want to know about our experiences, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can see some before and after pictures of the holiday cottage we renovated on our website http://www.espritdubocage.com , sorry still only in French and Dutch. You can find photo’s of the renovation on the Dutch version only under the title Actueel.
    Good luck and enjoy!

  12. I’m so excited for you! Sounds like a dream come true, and it will force a physical connection–something to look forward to. My advice is to make it as low-maintenance as possible. I’m sure you will come up with great design solutions, but I have to tell you we became responsible for my in-laws home, which is literally around the corner, but it has been full of surprises and headaches despite having someone stay there for a week every other month. They just come when a home isn’t occupied full time. Can’t wait to see how you plan for and solve those kinds of problems. I know you will do it brilliantly.

  13. Sweet happy Day….I hope you are just doing the Happy Dance…I know I would be.
    I would find it hard to concentrate … when you get back to the states…my mind would be forever drawing up plans for the cottage.
    Enjoy and good luck in your adventure!

  14. Congratulations! I have always wanted to own a piece of history. When we were house hunting in Virginia I fell in love with an 1822 plantation house.

    Even better, my husband was just offered a job in London, and I am looking for a place on Sabbatical Homes. I found a medieval home, “built in 1107, with additions in 1336 and 1665. ” It’s too far from work, but can you imagine?!

  15. I love that you now have this photograph. I just don’t think it would feel the same if you found a CD that had a bunch of pictures of the house. There’s something beautiful and wonderful about holding a tangible image. And artifact. An actual piece of history. That’s why, as a photographer, I focus on selling prints, not a CD of images. As time rolls on, some things stay the same.

  16. Wow, that is so exciting! I can’t imagine doing a trans-atlantic renovation, though. That intimidates me to the core, but good for you! And the payoff will be well worth it, I’m sure. Not too long from now, you’ll have a home away from home in France. Sounds lovely. :)

  17. Hi Gaby,
    I’ve been reading your posts for the last 3 years and in my dreams I hoped that one day I’ll be’ part of your “living with kids” section :). But halas, it will take a while apparently.
    I live in the outskirts of Verona, Italy together with my husband and 2 sons and last year we have signed a pre-contract for an old house that is on the towncity’s maps since the 18th century. So big rennovation needed.
    Because of the economic colapse in Italy, we have asked the owner for a 1-year delay for paying for the house because we needed a loan from the bank. Fortunately we got the loan and bought the house on February. Since then we contacted 3 contractors to get their offers and are still waiting to start the works.
    I’m sorry if I sound pesimistic, but Europe works at a different rythm than US. I talked to my cousin in the US, who’s friends bought a house somewhere in Georgia last summer, teared it down, rebuilt a new one and since this spring they live there.
    Europe is nice for the history, for having a relaxed kind of living, for sipping your cappuccino in an old piazza in a summer morning, but when it comes to building/rennovating an house I wish I could live somewhere else.
    Good luck rennovating your beautiful house and please keep me a spot in your “Living with Kids” posts :).
    Alexandra

  18. Congrats!!! What a great project! You are absolutely right to start with the roof. That’s what we did…we are renovating an early 17th century townhouse in nearby Bayeux. You can read about it here: http://www.rockrosewine.com.
    Again, it’s wonderful that you are doing this. What a great way to keep ties with a beautiful region. Cheers!

  19. I feel houses have souls and when someone takes on a project like yours and breathes life back into a house it is nothing short of a wonderful miracle. I think your project looks like a tremendous challenge and that you will do a terrific job! Good luck.

  20. Congratulations! This is wonderful. Can’t wait to see more pictures on how you will decorate this charming cottage!

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