The First Step to Renovating Our Apartment in Cassis

renovating an apartment in France, Cassis

 

The papers are signed it is ours.

Since the last owner was an elderly man who died, the first step was to hire someone to move everything out. It was quite a scene watching big things coming down teeny stairs. Most of the things had to be dismantled. I knew this apartment was going to be a challenge, and that thought was confirmed. While the movers where moving the police came by to say that vehicles on the port are allowed until eleven in the morning. From that moment on it was a race against the clock.

 The photo above is taken in the back room looking towards the port. The apartment has three floors we refer to them as: The first floor, the middle floor and the bedroom. In the photo you can see a ladder going up to the bedroom.

The first challenge we face will be creating stairs to connect the three floors.

 

 

renovating an apartment in France, Cassis

 

That ladder is as bad as the stairs leading to the apartment. Most of the houses facing the port use to belong to fishermen, for that reason they are called: "Fishermen's houses": Long narrow houses, that have a ground floor for their wares, steep stairs to the second floor where there is usually a kitchen, a bath and a bedroom.

 

 

renovating an apartment in France, Cassis

 

 

This is the kitchen, but we are not keeping it. It is in front of the only window, that cannot be made larger.

The apartment measures about 646 square feet.

 

 

 

renovating an apartment in France, Cassis

 

image from https://s3.amazonaws.com/feather-client-files-aviary-prod-us-east-1/2016-03-01/5a71c3a8ddf644998a9811811c5681ba.png

 

These are the exterior stairs to the apartment. They are steep, straight up, narrow, and uneven.

It goes without saying they have to go.

 

 

 

image from https://s3.amazonaws.com/feather-client-files-aviary-prod-us-east-1/2016-03-01/73c32648cf4247cfb3bc260975798b9a.png

  

The bathroom? A toilet under the stairs, and a shower on the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

image from https://s3.amazonaws.com/feather-client-files-aviary-prod-us-east-1/2016-03-01/b412d2837ceb48ab8304fe2477ea7370.png

 

This is the bedroom on the top floor.

 

 

 

image from https://s3.amazonaws.com/feather-client-files-aviary-prod-us-east-1/2016-03-01/64436c601a8c4fc394d8fa3d871b610e.png

 

More to come…

I put a video of the apartment on Facebook

If you would like to see the layout/draft of one of the floors, you can download the link below:

Download Premier étage

 

 

xxx

 

 

 



Comments

20 responses to “The First Step to Renovating Our Apartment in Cassis”

  1. Will the same contractor team that worked on the Paris apartment work on the Cassis place? It will look lovely when done, but what a ton of work for everyone!

  2. Oh Gosh Corey,
    its going to be amazing.
    Worth of the work!!!!!!!

  3. Diogenes

    If anyone can make it a work of art it’s you. Seems the key to the whole thing is the stairs.

  4. I can’t wait to see what the two of you come up with on this project!

  5. Jacklynn Lantry

    What a fun adventure. I don’t have facebook anymore so I can’t see the video. Please email it to me Corey. I’m so happy you have lots of before pix because it’s fun to compare them to the “afters.”

  6. I know you will make it homey and beautiful1!

  7. And the fun begins – can’t wait to see it all!

  8. This one will be beautiful after the adventure, I just know it will. Can’t even imagine what you are dreaming for it.

  9. But what gorgeous tomettes on the middle floor! I know you can make it fabulous. No one thought you could pull it off with your Parisian apartment but you did! It is fabulous.

  10. OMG….we have just spent 4 months renovating a boring investment property & our main bathroom…I don’t envy the job you have ahead of you. But it is like giving birth, once the renovations are over & every room is beautiful, you forget the hard work involved.

  11. Shelley Noble

    I’m sure you’ll make it gorgeous, step by step. xoxo

  12. let the magic begin.. thanks for sharing how it looks now and some history about this waterfront house in cassis..
    it goes without saying there is much to do.. can’t wait to follow your progress and see how you tackle the challenges you face…
    the finish product will be incredible.. you are simply a visionary, corey amaro.. sending love and hugs.. missing you

  13. What a challenge! But what fun when it’s all done. An apartment in beautiful Cassis!

  14. Charland

    Wow, oh, Wow. It will be lovely!!!!

  15. karen in Ohio

    oh my!!! what Jenny M said!!! joy comes in the morning… the prize won & victory accomplished… i love all the old features-
    that red…but let there be light!!!

  16. how about a little elevator?

  17. Terri N Texas

    This is great! Love to see the progress.

  18. Is there only one window in the entire apartment?? The window I saw on FB had an amazing view, but I think I might get claustrophobic if that was the ONLY window. I do crave a small space, though, and the location unbeatable!

  19. you are all going to have a great, fun time renovating! yes, bring on the modern, sleek, but soft touches… i am finding that my “developmental” milestones still come on “later in life”, wanting to pare down “stuff”, yet wanting to hang onto what i love. so many of my friends are in that space…. happy for you to have the sea to inspire you…..

  20. I think there has to be flexibility with each space you choose to renovate. No matter what, it will have your personal touch! I’m so looking forward to seeing how this progresses.

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