Our apartment in Paris started when French Husband was twenty one and bought it with his mother.
Years have gone by, the renter moved and at last we could renovate it, keeping it for ourselves.
We thought the project would start in March 2013. I raced around drawing up plans, writing ideas, collecting tiles, faucets, paint samples, kitchen appliances, flooring, hardware… only to have the project pushed back over and over and over again. The renovations started July first.
I calculated five to six weeks, if all went well, to complete the renovation.
We brought our team from Marseille, stayed in a hotel next to the apartment and got to work.
Bedroom before.
The bedroom after.
Back in February 2013. I went to the apartment for the first time. Measured, calculated and tried to come up with a floor plan. The above photo was taken in the bedroom.
It was daunting. Simply because everything had to go.
Also I had no idea what we would find under those walls. The basement dates 1600s.
Our apartment is located on the third floor without an elevator.
This photo is between the bathroom and what was a second bedroom. Though between the bathroom and the second bedroom there was a very tiny hallway with three doors, wasted space indeed.
A kitchen was placed in this bedroom, in the closet space actually, and the walls would come down.
Before.
The small hallway between the old kitchen, bathroom and second bedroom was torn out completely.
(This was a bedroom with a closet that became a kitchen.)
Before and After photo.
Where the counter is use to be a wall. Where the stand with bust is use to be a hallway. Our apartment has one bedroom and an entirely opened kitchen living room space.
We thought to keep two bedrooms, but decided we rather have a large living space and one bedroom.
The apartment sleeps two.
The bathroom before.
The checked floor was linoleum. We removed it. In fact we gutted the entire bathroom. The bathroom was the biggest challenge due to what we found behind the walls. We lost floor space which was depressing. Nevertheless the bathoom is good size.
We opted for a shower and no bathtub.
Carrying the rubble down three flights of stairs and carrying supplies upstairs proved to be daunting in the summer heat.
That green wall was the second bedroom wall. It was taken down. The red tiled floor we ripped out. Behind me (in the photo) was the old kitchen wall. In the background is the entrance.
After shot. The old kitchen was torn out. A table and chairs stand in its place. Behind the chairs (I am still looking for chairs to "go" with the table, in the meantime these will do.) is the wall we restored.
The old kitchen sink.
The new kitchen sink.
The French antique oil on canvas painting was a find years ago at a small flea market in Gardanne. The metal trim above it use to be a part of a decorative trim from a bakery.
I am considering to paint the back wall (shown above) a burnt orange.
Before: The original bedroom with a gold painted wall.
After.
After.
This is looking into the bedroom from the entrance. The front door is to the left. A window is to the right. Behind is the living room and kitchen. The two steps into the bedroom I chiseled back to the stone: Enough old carpet, tile and glue to fill a hefty garbage bag.
This is the old wall frame we saved. In front is the living room, behind is the entrance and bedroom.
The entrance.
The living room open space and kitchen.
I am looking for a rug…
Notice the grey sofa? Remember when I asked you to help me pick one out? It is wonderfully perfect. Thanks to YOU.
The alcove was discovered when gutting the old kitchen. The urn with an angel's face is from Marseille. It use to be part of an old shop. When the shop closed it sold most of the decor. I bought this piece. I am hoping to find some long willowy tree branches to go in it. Not so easy in a city jungle. Certainly I will be lucky if I require at a florist shop. In the meantime I stuffed it with procession candles.
The bust stands where the tiny hallway use to be.
The kitchen is on the left hand side as well as the bathroom.
Behind me are two large windows and the armoire. The sofa is to the right, straight ahead pass the entrance is the bedroom.
Looking For:
Dining room chairs,
Rugs,
Chandelier to replace the one above the dining room table,
and a cabinet to go by the alcove.
Part two to follow….
I love the coffee table that I found at a shop in Paris (Notice I did not mention the shop's name… Second hand store Emmaus.) It is Napoleon the Third with chinese design on top with gilded stairs at the base. It is unusual in shape and form.
The price made me pee my pants with utter joy 70 Euros.
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