Rip, Tear, Break, Bag, Carry, Repeat… Renovating in Cassis

Cassis renovation first floor the beginning

 

When we renovated in Paris I was there every single day, most the time inside the apartment watching the hunks do their thing. But this renovation it is not possible to stay inside as the work is more intense, the space is smaller (though the same size as Paris) because it is on three floors, and the stairs no longer exist because they were torn out so we could access the each floor with one singular stair case.

But the main reason I am not in the apartment … INCREDIBLE DUST!

 

 

Cassis renovation room

 

The apartment is on three floors, here you can see two of the floors.

They ripped out the walls, for the stairs, and also because I thought it would be better to see the roof line, and have the loft open verses closed in by a wall. The top floor we will extend so the room will be larger too.

Question: Can we make the skylight larger? No. There are strict historical monument codes in Cassis. Nothing on the outside of the building can be changed. This code came into practice no so long ago…

 

 

cassis renovation

 

A hole was cut out to access the bottom floor. On Facebook I added a video, showing the floor being cut out.

 

 

Renovating in Cassis v

 

So far the renovation team has carried out seven tons of debris. They had to carry the debris in buckets as the stairs access the building are too steep and narrow to do otherwise.

 

 

Cassis renovating an apartment

 

This is the top floor, or as I call it the bedroom. The wall in front was removed and the roof line exposed for more light and to have a open feel. The guard rail was were the ladder came up, that will be removed as well. The stairs will come up on the other side.

 

 

 

 

Renovation cassis omg

 

The stairs use to come up under the toilet. There was a tiny entrance where the rubble is piled. A tiny entrance equals a truck load of rubble. How many buckets did it take to unload it downstairs?

Oh please name this photo!

 

 

Renovating old beams French 1800s

 

When we bought this apartment, the first thing we knew we had to do, was figure out the stairs. We had a suspicion that when we removed the old unusable stairs that we would find a problem, and we did. The two main beams in the apartment, one of them under the stairs, had been cut and did not reach the wall! YIKES! Also the other beam was cut in half so the toilet could fit underneath the stairs. YIKES Again!

Needless two old oak beams were purchased and hauled upstairs… a feat for Hercules!!

Photos of that tomorrow.

 

The beginning of renovating

Rubble cleared.

We are off to a good start.

 

The other question many of you have asked is can we make the windows larger? No we cannot as the outside cannot be changed.

If you have any questions or want to see a detail of whatever, let me know in the comment section and I will try my best to answer you.

 

 



Comments

62 responses to “Rip, Tear, Break, Bag, Carry, Repeat… Renovating in Cassis”

  1. Are the workers wearing surgical masks to protect their noses and mouths? We always wore them when working on our house. (If not, then even a bandana tied bandit-style around the lower half of the face starting just below the eyes is of some help).

  2. I would not have the nerves to be able to do this–SO MUCH WORK to be done. Bless you for sharing the photos as changes are made.

  3. How wide and deep is each floor of the apartment?

  4. Yes Kathie they are. There is no way they could work without them.

  5. Photo title..throne with a view?

  6. I agree, the workers are amazing. It is intense. I could not do it alone, nor could Yann. It is the work for professionals.

  7. The first floor is approx 9 x 4 meters at its widest. The middle floor is more or less the same, the bedroom is 4 x 4 m. We will extend it by a meter or so.

  8. lol that is a good one!

  9. I am impressed with how much they have done just this week. Amazing! Whew! Yes, I also thought of throne for the toilet. Maybe Throne above, Debris below.

  10. How many windows in the apartment?

  11. Also, how long do you think the renovation will take?

  12. Diogenes

    So it’s kind of two floors plus a loft under the roof? Are the stairs going to be a straight line on one side wall?
    Cut beams, gulp!

  13. Janet Eiffel

    photo……..
    “Go” where no man dares to “Go” !!!

  14. Yes, I am impressed too. Very fast, precise and professional. Throne above will soon be debris below.

  15. One of the first floor, one on the middle floor and a skylight in the loft. They cannot be altered in any way.

  16. 6 to 8 weeks if all goes well. With old building you never really know what you will find. Plus we will have to wait for the stairs and they are made to order…

  17. Gulp is right. Freaky!! But it can be fixed.
    The first floor to the second floor the stairs will be against the wall, then due to the beam, turn 3/4th the way up. The middle floor to the loft will be straight up against the wall.

  18. How old is the building? With the restaurant down stairs, will you hear anything or smell anything?

  19. Jacklynn Lantry

    I just love following along as you create your new space. You are an amazing team!

  20. ChicagoSheila

    How about, for now, it looks like “the best seat in the house.”

  21. Kathleen from Oregon

    That last photo looks like a dollhouse, it really is tiny.

  22. What a monumental job!! It will be bijoux and tres jolie, I think. Thanks for showing the work-in-progress. I think so many people come to France, see an old house, an empty barn, a ruin and think how wonderful it would be to buy and renovate it…and have NO idea what that might entail.

  23. Chico Sue

    Wow! This is an incredible and impressive undertaking. So much fun to watch. Thanks for sharing!

  24. jend’isère

    Somewhere under the rainbow

  25. So much seems to have happened so quickly, isn’t it fun seeing progress move at such a pace and your photos showing this are excellent, thank you, it is such a great insight into what you are doing and I am loving following along.

  26. Leigh NZ

    Boy what a fast paced reno, impressive! Can’t believe that all the rubble is gone already. The light has certainly been improved by opening the place up and will be made even better by clever use of lighting and mirrors.
    Photo title is much the same as others, “Loo with a view”

  27. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us. Your reno is so very interesting, first
    thing I look for in my inbox. How very lucky that apartment is to be shown
    so much love.

  28. Given the extent of these renovations, have the neighboring houses been affected?

  29. I was thinking “The Throne Room”.
    Love the pictures of the progress.

  30. (haven’t got the time to read all comments so, sorry if already said)
    Throne, fit for a king!
    I nearly choked on reading & viewing, this is a repeat of our Lutry home renovation….. never, ever again! Too much dust, rubble, (very) bad surprises, and YES, same as in Cassis (and totally understandable), NO ALTERATIONS with regards to windows, roof windows, balcony, doors, even the colours & no other shutters but wooden ones in a certain limited range of colours…. BUT, in order to keep up the overall vista of such a magic place, needs must!!!!
    Good luck – you guys certainly don’t do things halfway… )

  31. Sharon Morrison

    The title; Old stairway to the Throne.
    No window in the bedroom, just a skylight?
    Looking like major progress so far.

  32. Deb Archer

    So exciting! A Spring transformation for the little building. It will feel so loved when you are done, like going to the spa and buying a new dress. Thanks for including us in the project. I love seeing the pictures.

  33. Wendy in Kennewick

    Seatbelt required! Can’t wait to see your magic touch with this home!

  34. So cool! What’s French for the dangling toilet? That should be the name of the apartment!!!

  35. Terri N Texas

    Wow! Great job so far! Thanks for letting us watch the progress.

  36. Keep those good links coming!

  37. Hum, yes I imagine I will smell the wonderful aroma’s of Chez Gilbert’s cuisine and be tempted to dine there with ever breath. As far as noise… I will let you know. Those I imagine summer to be very different then the other 10 months of the years.
    The building we are guessing is from the 1900s, though the beams are much older, recuperated material from an older date. We have a meeting with the Mayor’s office to learn more about the building. I will keep you posted.

  38. Thank you! I feel your cheering!

  39. lol that is true as it is the only seat!

  40. It is, but it will be just right.
    xx

  41. Hi Evelyn, So so so very true. But it is worth every second. I love it!

  42. Thank you, I cannot wait for you to see it!

  43. Ah that is sweet! And so very true.

  44. Yes, they are incredible fast. Amazingly so. I have never seen a team conquer as much as they do in a day.

  45. They are fast aren’t they. I keep thinking there is an army behind them somewhere. And yes it is turning out as I imagined! Light!

  46. How encouraging thank you!

  47. Hi Sue
    Yes dust is everywhere. But everyone has been very gracious and understanding. I am going to own everyone champagne and chocolate chip cookies at the end of this!!

  48. I will call the bathroom that !

  49. Thank you Kiki! Oh boy you got it right, but it is true to keep Cassis looking as it does, it is best to have rules.

  50. Yes just a skylight, but the light from the window is a straight shot too, as the wall has been eliminated.

  51. I might need a spa and a new dress too!

  52. lol, that is flawless! Seatbelt! Good one!

  53. Oh Mari I am stealing your Shackteau!! You are a clever gem!!

  54. This is so exciting….this is a front row seat. ….what do you think….
    Were there any old newspapers or antiques in the walls? Any hidden treasure….
    Ali

  55. We will be on a cruise in July and are planning a day trip to Cassis (our second visit, loved it the first time!) I will definitely be keeping a look out for you apartment. I love seeing the renovation as it happens.

  56. The love of things with history will carry you through this — The stairs coming up under the toilet?!?! The plumber that put that in had a wicked sense of humor.

  57. Photo:
    Newfangled Outhouse

  58. Irene Thomas

    When John asked Mary out back in the Twenties, Mary had to have her younger sister accompany them, just to be proper. The couple sat in front and Sis had to use the old jalopy’s Rubble Seat. I know….too goofy!

  59. Thank you for your post of the renovations! Its so exciting to watch and your pictures show so many details. It’s fun to imagine with you as your imaginings come into reality!

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