Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

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Cassis Renovation: Stairs

 

 

Oh the apartment in Cassis. After six weeks of wondering if we were going to have to use ladders to access the upstairs, we finally found an artisan who can build them for us. Hopefully in June he will start. Since the apartment is difficult to access because it is on the port with massive restrictions as to when and for how long we can park a truck, the work will continue to be done inside. The iron pieces will be carried up stairs (already that is a major feat) then welded piece by piece inside the apartment. That means the floor boards and painting will be completed after the stairs are in place. 

 photo: Standing in the kitchen looking up the ladder that one day will be stairs to the middle floor.

 

 

 

The iron stairs will come up from the entrance/kitchen downstairs (the hole on the right side of the photo above) then turn to the left where Yann is looking down. The will be 80cm wide. Then they will restart from the top of that hole and go up to the bedroom behind the blue plastic.

 

 

 

 

The window is staying it looks into the bathroom. 

The guys are calculating stairs and i-beams to add to the ceiling to support the weight.

A massive project in a small space.

 

 

 

 

The upstairs beam will be cut, and then a support will be added as the stairs will run along the right side.

It is a puzzle but one I can visual and find interesting. So much to think about, calculate… we are fortunate to have an incredible team of artisans working on it. They make every horror story about construction sound impossible because they are smart, steady, strong, perfectionist and honest masters at their work. Nothing is daunting to them. 

Renee also carved to stones to use as a base for the sink.

Amazing he is.

 

 

That is the hole for the stairwell, looking down into the kitchen.

When I am at the apartment, I spend half of my time freaking out that someone is going to fall through that hole, and the other half of my time freaking out about climbing the ladders to and from each of the floors.

 

 

 

Talking stairs: Welding iron, weight, support beams, hauling such pieces through the window, and measuring uneven walls and calculating everything three times.

 

 

 

 

 

Today was a great day, a sigh of relief day.

Stairs have my respect.

Comments

34 responses to “Cassis Renovation: Stairs”

  1. Marilyn

    Whew! Like a puzzle, but oh the reward when it is done. Are you getting excited yet? I would be.

    Reply
  2. Jacklynn Lantry

    I love these updates. Interesting and such fun to watch the progress. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    Well that does it. I’m just going to have to come and see it all (and marvel) when it’s all done. I’m good at visualizing and yet am having a lot of trouble visualizing this. Probably it’s easier when you’re IN the 3-dimensional space itself, pointing and waving, especially with artisans who think in 3D for their craft. Nonetheless, this is probably a fun problem/project for them.
    80 cm = just 31.5 inches for the stair width. How do you get a bed up to the top floor through that opening? How do you get a MATTRESS up there? (Or, will it go through the slightly arched window that faces the harbor?)
    I came to your page today hoping for an update and was not disappointed!

    Reply
  4. Kathie

    You have a thing for I-Beams, don’t you, Corey? ;-)))

    Reply
  5. Mardog

    Love watching the daily progress! Merci!
    xo Marchein

    Reply
  6. Diogenes

    The walls already look much nicer with the coat of plaster. The small size means that everyting has to be just right. I am not visualizing the stairs yet, but the place has come a long way since the start!

    Reply
  7. Andrea

    You’re blessed by a brilliant building team!
    Love that nothing is a problem…just great solutions

    Reply
  8. Julia Thelen

    “I-beam”. Isn’t that where you met Yann?
    My last spin on the dancefloor, there was in the early ’80´s.
    They closed in 1994, then tore it down and put up an appartment building.

    Reply
  9. Robin

    No drawings? If not, you are very, very brave! So fun to see this progress.

    Reply
  10. Our French Oasis

    Sounds like you have come up with a great plan, it’s going to be fabulous.

    Reply
  11. Tongue in Cheek

    Oh yes I am.

    Reply
  12. Tongue in Cheek

    🙂

    Reply
  13. Tongue in Cheek

    Yes you will have to come see when it is done. I can “see” it that is one thing I can do, so it helps on these sort of projects. And yes it truly helps to have a good team. Yes everything over 58 CM has to go through the window. The 80 CM stairs are not the problem, it is the unchangeable entrance that determines what goes it or not.

    Reply
  14. Tongue in Cheek

    Hehe 😉

    Reply
  15. Tongue in Cheek

    thanks! I am glad, cause the photos are not very attractive.

    Reply
  16. Tongue in Cheek

    Exactly. Who knows where we are going to hang or put anything. But at least we can have a glass of wine on look at the sea.

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  17. Tongue in Cheek

    Yes we are fortunate to have the team we do!

    Reply
  18. Tongue in Cheek

    Yes that is all true.

    Reply
  19. Tongue in Cheek

    We have a drawing. A floor plan. But not a placement plan. We had to get behind the walls to see what was what. With old buildings like this you never really know what you are going to find.

    Reply
  20. Tongue in Cheek

    I hope so!

    Reply
  21. Dd

    Amazing project. It will be so beautiful when it’s done. Just picked up a copy of Victoria, your Paris apartment looks incredible. You have t touch!

    Reply
  22. Ana

    Wow. What a feat! You are brave souls. Chapeau! (Is that what one says?)

    Reply
  23. Kiki

    OMG – COREY, I can’t read your inputs every day, it pumps up my heartbeat far more than I can handle at the moment…. You all are über-brave, courageous, crazy and lovable – and honestly, if only, if only, I had YOUR team of trustworthy, wonderful, able-to-think-for-themselves, willing team of artisans, I would have been SO lucky. I had a wonderful guy with connections in England, a so-so-but-at-least-willing guy with his team in Switzerland and far more really bad luck than joy here in France. I finally found one good electrician, a TOP guy for the re-roofing and insulation incl. replacement of beams which hold (or rather at the time, didn’t hold) the house together but for everything else, it’s very, very difficult. I hope to have another good man, a Portuguese who is hardworking but lives his life in a totally impredictable way in ‘minor’ things like timing, giving & holding dates, and he is quite expensive. But still better an expensive man knowing what he does than 5 who are available and have no clue….
    I have a lot of courage, I’m daring but I would NOT have had the heart for your project. You have my full admiration and I wish you all that you may find no more rotten surprises. I had so many in our tiny house from 1430 onwards in Switzerland that I lost the taste for this kind of surprises. I shall drink to your health (and that of your team) when we’ll eat our Italian meal in a bit. Salute & Santé

    Reply
  24. Dori

    I love watching the process and progress, Corey! I look forward to see it all come together, and if the finished work looks anything like what I imagine, your apartment is going to be both beautiful and charming. 🙂

    Reply
  25. Eileen

    I am so enjoying your posts on the Cassis apartment! Every time I see Tongue in Cheek in my inbox, I get excited! Cannot wait until the end result — especially seeing what you do with the kitchen. I am dreaming through you!

    Reply
  26. Brenda Locklear

    Corey…I LOVE seeing these construction pictures but I wonder how in the world you are going to get furniture into the apt? a bedroom suite and mattress? a stove and refrigerator? Are you sure the stairwells are big enough?
    I am so eager to see the finale.

    Reply
  27. Patti

    Fascinating! I am enjoying your progress but today was the most interesting so far as I sat at my desk trying to visualize the stairs, the twist and turn and how much room they will take up. Thank you for sharing. Someday you will have to guide a tour of your renovation projects! (Or another book to follow the first on you haven’t written, yet.) 🙂

    Reply
  28. Tongue in Cheek

    Thank you, I try!

    Reply
  29. Tongue in Cheek

    Thank you, sometimes I think Brave could be crazy too. And Yes Chapeau!

    Reply
  30. Tongue in Cheek

    Drink and be merry for us. Yes a good team is crucial. A plan a must and steadfastness. I love it. I wish I could do it. I think it is creative and interesting, every bit of it. When renovating century old buildings surprises are common.

    Reply
  31. Tongue in Cheek

    Thank you! Fingers crossed!

    Reply
  32. Tongue in Cheek

    I hope the end results doesn’t let you down. Thank you for being a cheerleader, we need them!

    Reply
  33. Tongue in Cheek

    Through the windows. That is the only way. The stairwell outside the apartment is smaller. SO we knew through the windows since day one.

    Reply
  34. Tongue in Cheek

    Yes it is easier to visual now, though the stairs are tricky. They will take up a massive chuck of space. But we knew that. I hope the stairs don’t take over, otherwise we will be eating breakfast lunch and dinner on them, lol.

    Reply

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