Construction et consternation

we will all get fat

2007-12-02T13:25:00.001-08:00

This kitchen rocks. And I get to tap dance on top of a lucky hawaian turtle.
There will be frog legs for diner tonight!!!

This is were the action is

2007-12-02T13:22:00.001-08:00

Yes full action.
Breath in , breath out, snore in , snore out.
In truth the salty air at the beach makes you want to sleep. A lot...
Thierry Aubert

what a cute wall

2007-12-02T13:19:00.000-08:00

Even Georges Hamilton would be jalous of such a delightfull ambiance. I get to admire myself at least twice a day in these mirors. That's why they are gorgeous...
Thierry Aubert

we are getting there slowly

2007-12-02T13:11:00.000-08:00

As you can see we have opted for a hardened sand path so that it mixes well with the environement. Let's hope that it will last. Today the wind was blowing at a 120 km per hours...
Thierry Aubert

6 oclock and no comment

2007-11-10T01:00:00.000-08:00

the corridor

2007-11-10T00:48:00.000-08:00

At the end of that long long corridor you can see a major art piece created by a major artist from a major town in a major country of a major continent. This piece is a major work from its major period. The majority of people who see it favor the blue color in the painting.

The frame was created by a minor artisan from a minor town in a minor country on a minor street in a minor shop. He asked for a minor price that's why we used him because the price of the painting was major and we had a minor budget left.

By the way I'm listening to a Bach suite in D minor...

can you see the bug?

2007-11-10T00:42:00.000-08:00

There is a major bug on this image. Can you see it? Well yes, the TV. Since we don't have a satelite dish our nice TV doesn't fonction yet so we have to use nineteen century technoogy...
But the room is nice. right?

the wall

2007-11-10T00:34:00.000-08:00

We hanged some art that we brought back from the Canary Islands. Since the walls are really white, decorating them was a must

it's growing

2007-11-10T00:15:00.000-08:00

As you cna see our plants are growing nicely. Plus we have great weather for the season

outside is still a mess

2007-08-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

But inside we start to feel cosy.

Still a few details to iron out but over all, it feels good.

Outside there is so much sand (we are on a sand dune I remind you) that we have to use the broom every other minute.

Can't wait for the decks to be done.

more cement

2007-08-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

After having done the kitchen with waxed cement , I decided to do the sink table that way also. Looks quite cool I think...

First light

2007-08-01T12:32:00.000-07:00

We are quite happy because we don't have to use candles anymore.
The kids are not affraid of gosts anymore and we sleep better for it...

gros plan sur la bête

2007-07-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

the guest bathroom is almost done

2007-07-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

a sea turtle in the kitchen

2007-07-09T13:01:00.000-07:00

The kitchen has a little surprise.
I decided too doodle a little.

Stairs

2007-07-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

Not bad hey?

My smart neighbour asked me what kind of tiles I was going to choose for the floor. It is hard to be a misunderstood artist!!!

1st coat corridor and corridor finished

2007-07-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

this time, I had to give a hand

2007-07-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

As I was saying, we decided to have a nice waxed cement floor for the kitchen, the bathroom and the corridor. But construction people are n holiday now. France: 35 hour weeks and 7 weeks holidays…/
So I had to get my hands dirty

I'm a specialist now!!!!!!!

Scene from the Seine

2007-07-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

Taken at midnight...

The living room

2007-07-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

It's all white, like milk but this time, no electricity... We forgot to get the consuel (conformity document)

Da Bathroom for the buddies

2007-07-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

That's downstairs for the visitors. Still no water...

Still waiting for news from the maire...

DA bathroom upstair

2007-07-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

We are still waiting for the water. The town has forgotten to run pipes in front of our street. Well when you work 35 hours what can you expect???

outside "the wall"

2007-07-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

We have to make sure that the path to the garage will hold so we made a little wall (extra 5000€ just for the fun of it)

Time for some news

2007-07-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

We have placed 2 kitchen elements BUT the floors are not finished. We will do a waxed ciment floor.

amazing skies

2007-06-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

SUREAL

The stairs and kitchen are waiting for cleaning

2007-06-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

Walls and floor

2007-06-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

The floors have been placed and the walls have received the first coat of white

a little update

2007-06-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

This is the house a month later. It's not moving fast but still it's coming along...

Have a look!

And you???

2007-04-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

we like the tile color we picked...

another angle

2007-04-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

I just can't wait to move the furniture in...

View from our great neighbours

2007-04-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, the roof is almost finished and this is what it looks like!!

and there shall be light

2007-04-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

From that little tube will come electricity. And light shall be... Not to soon...

Beautifull day at the beach

2007-03-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Great day, but no wind so no kite flying, just a bit of rugby with the kids. The girls won... Well they think they did... We are gentlemen...

Eliot is looking for a place to play tennis

2007-03-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

This is the side of the house. Where the wood pile stands there will be a nice deck with lounge chairs and cocktail holders.

The ladies have picked their rooms

2007-03-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

The girls have chosen their rooms, they now know where to sleep. All they care about is when it's going to be finished and what color furniture and walls they'd like.
Me, all I want is the house to stand the next storm...

Someone, please explain...

2007-03-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know what to make of this?

Holes and unfinished roof parts...

But the builder is confident...

Good because someone has to be in these conditions...

Can you see?

2007-03-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

There are the first roof tiles. By the end of the week, the roof should be finished. Keep your fingers crossed please

nothing is perfect

2007-03-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

Glue does not look nice on a wall.

Get me the slob who did that!!!

He's fired!!

Just kidding. He will only stay late and clean up!!

Inside / Outside

2007-03-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

Pretty cool!!

Two weeks later

2007-03-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

Yeah,

We are now waiting for the cover to be placed. As you can see the house is nw covered with a beautifaull meleze from siberia.

This is a view from the street

2007-03-10T05:12:00.000-08:00

The house is straight. The camera isn't.... And the photo Artist. Moi, had too much coffee...

and this, will be the bathroom upstairs

2007-03-10T05:09:00.000-08:00

It seems small. But in truth, it si the camera which is very small...

this is the ceiling in the main room

2007-03-10T05:05:00.000-08:00

and another one

2007-03-10T05:03:00.000-08:00

Not bad, hey ???

Beautifull day in Quend Plage

2007-03-10T04:54:00.000-08:00

I took a rapid trip to the beach to check out construction. It will soon be possible to hide from the never ending bright sun shower. The roof should be finished by the end of the week.

If you like 3D, This is for U

2007-03-03T13:16:00.000-08:00

NOT BAD HEY? Now you know how to make a wooden home...

Don't you?

slow because of the wind

2007-03-03T12:37:00.000-08:00

One of the top walls fell because of the wind, so we had to repair and it slowed us down for a few days. that's why it didn't change much since my last post...

Next week, we'll see a big difference. WELL, I hope......

We chose our roof tiles, they will be aged.

Beautifull day but slow week

2007-03-03T12:29:00.000-08:00

It was a wonderfull day today. Kids played on the beach and the wind was good

Some crazy guys were riding in freezing water, others were collecting mussels...

more money out of the pocket soon

2007-02-26T13:58:00.000-08:00

You see this path, I'll have to do something about that because it will be hard to drive in the sand

and another one for fun

2007-02-26T13:55:00.000-08:00

another angle

2007-02-26T13:51:00.000-08:00

NOT bad hey??? well don't forget it's going to be another color at the end...

view from inside

2007-02-26T13:47:00.000-08:00

No windows yet but I can see where the sofa is going to sit

And the house is here

2007-02-26T13:43:00.000-08:00

Well it wasn't easy because the customs were on strike so we had to delay the downloading but look what a good team can do in a week and a plan.

Nice hairy dunes

2007-02-26T13:33:00.000-08:00

Since things are going smoothly, we planted oyas. Furry little plants that grow on dunes like weed. In weeks the sand will disappear.

that was just before

2007-02-26T13:28:00.000-08:00

Look at these strong men. They are the ones who did the fondation

finaly the foundations

2007-02-26T13:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the cavalry, the project goes forward. The foundations are made but it cost me a bundle in extra concrete...

Thanks the loser who started the project.

mean while my house is growing in the factory

2007-02-14T13:45:00.000-08:00

See the future as it's beeing made.

These are the house panels

So I called the cavalery

2007-02-14T13:40:00.000-08:00

In time of despair, call the pros....

AND more

2007-02-14T13:36:00.000-08:00

Three days later

2007-02-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

Yes this is three days later. Don’t forget that there is a lot of wind in the rgion.
I was scared, how much was this mess gonna cost me????
All was to be done again.
Give me a gun so I can shoot that mofo!!!

This doesn't seem straight?

2007-02-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

So I said to the promoter:

Where is your laser? He answered: I'll have it friday.

I answered: We are sunday, you'll be finished friday.

he said: you're right.

I said: No you won't . You're finished now. Does this seem straight to you?

Get he hell out of my propriety!!!

He said : But???

YOU got two minutes before I kill you for trespassing!!!

It couldn't be true

2007-02-14T12:57:00.000-08:00

Imagine,
The promoter I had chosen, never show up at first and then when he did, he broke my neighbour’s fence, my gate and sold most of my sand to god knows who…
Then, check out the picture, he dug in the sand for the foundations of the house without ever taking a measurement… Yet he had sworned that he would use a laser.
He must have though he had superman’s eyes…

2006-11-24T14:25:00.000-08:00

Hell in your own back yard...
In truth, this was the start of many headaches and hair pulling nights...

2006-11-24T14:18:00.000-08:00

AFTER
(Yes. You've noticed. Another house was built in the mean time...)

2006-11-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

BEFORE

The house

2006-11-24T13:39:00.000-08:00

The house,
This is not the house of our dreams but I think that for a week end shack, this style will do fine. We actually bought the plans from a great architect on the net: dessinenousunemaison.com. Great guy, great service. Great projects…
These are the plans.
It will be a wooden white house on the beech.
Cape Cod style.

And we wait...

2006-11-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

Well, we found the land and now all we have to do is :
Design the house
Clean the piece of land
Find a construction company
Get the construction permit
See the bank
………
I already need a rest.
Lets look at that beech again.

WHY?

2006-10-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

Because the beaches are awsome
and the wind constant!!!

MAP

2006-10-29T12:47:00.000-08:00

By the way
I'm building in France.
Not in the south. All the way north.
Check out the map:
I hope that the locals are not insane like in Corsica.

Sand just like this

2006-10-29T12:39:00.000-08:00

After a little cleaning, it should look like that for sure.

AND WE LAND!!!

2006-10-29T12:29:00.000-08:00

YES!!!
After a couple weeks search, we found the most perfect piece of land (dune).
The problem, we couldn't really see it...
Under this mess there is sand. I swear.

It's live

2006-10-29T03:53:00.000-08:00

Look This is where it all started for us.
A beautifull beach, kite surfing. And a great plan: Why not build a wooden beach house in the dunes?
Well this is the story...