How to say "fixer-upper" in French?

Are you looking for a little nest of your own in the South of France? Imagine this being the wall of your village! Read about a unique little fixer-upper located in the village next-door to ours, here in the Vaucluse! And, if you know of anyone who dreams of relocating to a charming village in France... be sure to forward this post!

***

For today's word, we are using a reverse-dictionary English to French approach as there is no direct (read: neat and simple) French word equivalent.

fixer-upper 

    : une maison à retaper, à renover ou à refaire
    : un bien immobilier qui nécessite des travaux ou une rénovation 

 Audio file:

    => Listen to Jean-Marc read the definition for "fixer-upper":
            Download MP3 or Wav file 

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE... by Kristin Espinasse

So often it is the French who have come up with a charming word or phrase (think amuse-bouche, or mouth teaser", and again grasse matinée, or "a sleep in"....  

But what about our English terms? Take, par exemple, today's word:"fixer-upper". Isn't it fun to say? Fixer-upper, fixer-upper, fixer-upper!

If I were French, I just know "fixer-upper" would be a favorite English word—this, along with "elbow grease" (come to think of it, the two go well together! Only difference is: there is no direct translation for the first... whereas the second has an easy equivalent: elbow grease = l'huile de coude).

Though the French have plenty of charming terms related to real estate (pied-à-terre and the beloved "bercail" come to mind), they do not seem to be able to give a word-for-word translation for "fixer-upper", though you'll find a definition: fixer-upper = une maison à renover).

The fact remains, there are plenty of fixer-uppers on the French market to keep us house-lovers or nesters or casaniers dreaming! Have a look at this historical abode, in our neighboring town of Tulette.... 

I've driven past this home (middle unit, comprising two doors on the ground level and three windows above) weekly, on my way back from the horse stables where our daughter rides. The road in front will take you to Nyons, and to the scenic villages of Villedieu, Mirabel-aux-Baronnies, and Vaison-la-Romaine, to name a few.

Question: how would you gussy up the façade, or front, of this house? With flower pots? A little chair next to the door? Maybe a grape-vine trellis? Share an idea here, in the comments box.

 This bien, or property, is historic for its antique communal four, or oven. Once upon a time, villagers came here to bake their own loaves of bread! 

Question: how would you renovate and decorate this room if you were to buy this fixer-upper? How would you "mettre en valeur" or bring out the goodness of this gorgeous ancient oven? Would it serve as a backdrop to a dramatic living room or kitchen? Or would you make this room your fiery bedroom? And what about those poutres, or beams, along the ceiling? Do you think they need painting? Or do you love them tel quel, or as is? Share your tips here, in the comments box.

 Here is the stairway inside... and the patina of a past life. How would you cover the floors (in terre cuite or en bois?) and what would you do with these walls and doors? Do you like the iron railing? Would you paint it? And, ah, I see this particular poutre has been painted white. Your thoughts and ideas are welcome here, in the comments box.

 

A melody of rooftops and the église from this view... on the opposite side of the village home, where more doors and windows give onto the village's interior. I've strolled past this coin many times, taking photos of the municipal pétanque court just up the way...

Advantages of living in this village home include:

1. Proximity to the weekly farmers' market: walk out your door... and into rows and rows of flowers and vegetables!
2. Smack in the middle of wine country with fresh air à gogo!
3. Wonderful neighbors (click here to meet one of them).
4. Steps away from the fleuriste, the post office, le coiffeur, the café where my Mom chatted up the locals while I hid behind my book, the mini-market, the pharmacist, the librairie... 

For those who are interested in this property,  I will forward your request to my friend Patrick, the realtor. I leave you with the ad for this maison à vendre:

Ancienne Boulangerie de village à rénover, authentique four de boulanger et terrasse avec vue sur l'église, surface exploitable 200 m² travaux à prévoir. prix 89000 euros.

Former village bakery to renovate, authentic baker's oven and balcony with view of the church. Total size of 200 m², work needed. price 89000 euros ($115,000)

...Now, how to say "finder's fee" in French?... :-)

 

Le Coin Commentaires

Comments, corrections, and stories of your own are welcome here, in the comments box.

Selected French Vocabulary (fill in the missing definitions, in the comments box)

un amuse-bouche = 

la grasse matinée = a sleep in
    faire la grasse matinée = to sleep in 

par exemple = for example

l'huile de coude = 

le pied-à-terre = second home

le casanier, la casanière = homebody

le bercail = 

    rentrer au bercail = to return to the fold

le bien

le four = oven

mettre en valeur =

la poutre = beam (ceiling)

tel quel = 

la terre cuite =

en bois = 

 

 

Our home was a fixer-upper too. There were no stairs there.. and no wall (or sleeping dogs) for that matter! We broke through the mur to connect the two rooms. Don't miss the before picture (or midway picture!)... click here.

 

Comments

[Debra Saturday]

lovely bakery....I wish I could...I would change the minimum. I love it as is.

Thank you for sharing this lovely...bakery..and allowing my thoughts to roam in France.

[Janet Moreau]

Firstly, you simply must paint the facade, and the shutters, you could add some delightfully stylish brackets, and hanging baskets with lovely flowering plants. A?possibility is a small sort of one third table, attached to wall, so not wide, and the appropriate stylish chair. It is only a suggestion you would have to consider if suitable, but a curved awning, you know the type, sometimes they have scalloped edges, and the curve of it would echo the curve of the arched wide doorway. You can purchase gorgeous stone plaques - I have one that says "Give thanks to God, and has a lovely design of carved fruit, grapes etc on it, that adds style as well. Re; the wrought iron staircase, I am a fixer upper and have recently painted some reddish rusty posts, with a "Killrust" metal paint, in a Wedgewood Blue colour, and the improvement was quite amazing, you could use black if you like but it gives a new lease of life.Re the wooden ceiling in oven room - You MUST seal it with some product, or paint, for hygiene and cleanliness that a new surface will bring, in my opinion. Must go, dinner burning..... Au revoir Janet Moreau, Katanning, Western Australia

[mac]

This fixation with prettying the thing up is so out of step with the French mentality.
Just paint the exterior to match the other properties in the village and help keep the "Frenchness"
But all means do your own thing inside!

[Kate Pindar]

Bonjour Kristin.

What a charming little place, thank you for sharing it.
As always your blog is very interesting and inspiring and I look forward to every edition.

I agree with the suggestions, it needs very little other than a coat of paint and some basic decorating. It looks like it sits on quite a predominant corner so business should be good!

I'll try my luck on a lottery ticket tomorrow and will be sure to invite you all over to help! if only! but it's nice to dream isn't it. Let's hope the person who buys it does it justice. Keep us posted!

Kate.

[Henri]

I'm not familiar with the area, but perhaps this would be a nice "themed rental house". For example, if there are folks who want to stay somewhere for a week or so and prefer to rent a place that has "character"...

Then this would be an excellent investment. 86k euro is pretty cheap, and depending on the rent and demand, could pay for itself.

So.. if that were the case, I would "fix it up" by simply painting the outside and then the inside I would keep and highlight each room's "original" character quality. For the oven room, if it is on the main floor I would make it the main room where guests would feel cozy and part of history. This means adding furniture that adds to the existing "old communal oven" feel with lots of pictures of the old village, and the people who used the oven.

[Kris, Brittany]

Well looking at the house with a less romantic eye I would say that renewing the doors and windows would be the priority at the front. Inside I would keep the oven, treat the beams for woodworm and other creatures who love to feast on it. That is if the beams are still in good condition. Make that the kitchen, living room. Tile the floor to match the brick. Paint the railing black, rewire the house and assuming it has water and is on the mains have a new bathroom and possibly a second toilet.

It is a charming house and a perfect pied de terre for us North Westerners who need a sunny summer. But back to the reality of renovating the house we are currently living in.

[Mim]

This reminds me of our travels to Tende in the Roya River valley looking for a pied-a-terre. So many fixer-uppers. We would try to envision each as our home. We ended up not buying a place, but have continued to travel to France, enjoying different villages and Cities. Thanks for sharing and bringing back nice memories.

[Bill in St. Paul]

Fixing up a house in France has always been one of my dreams. I've several books (now well out of date) on how to buy and fix up a house in France, but I've never had the money nor the time to do it. This one looks like a great one to start with. I'd also do the minimum to maintain the charm but to make it livable.

[tammy @ arizona]

i would fill in with stucco the bottom part where the door is so it is one smooth ledge across for flower pots (et le chat qui dort). replacing the glass with a lovely window and lace curtains, looking directly into my dining room so the passers by might wish us bon appetite as they pass. i would remove the oven turning this into a massive fireplace with lots of shelving for books. yes i would keep the iron staircase railing. what fun...thanks kristen for giving us something to dream about

[tammy @ arizona]

o yes, and that front door....a lovely deep aubergine with brass knob

[Cheryl Brown]

Add two pots of flowers on either side of the doors to get started.

[J Giles]

Please, please, please do not write "it's"(it is) when you should write the possessive "its". We writers need to preserve the English language.

[Randy Komisarek]

Kristin:

You forgot "sweat equity" which would also apply to this property.

[Kristin Espinasse]

Thanks for these excellent ideas!

Henri, your themed rental house is right on! I meant to mention a similar idea: this little house would make a great investment for a group of people who are looking to create a rental property. Another idea would be a time share! Several people could get together to purchase such a property, then take turns using it!

J Giles, thanks for the edit--always appreciated. Unfortunately, I make several mistakes (maybe a half-dozen or more?) in each edition (each post is composed le jour j or the day of publication, which makes for a whirlwind situation!).

Frustratingly, some of the mistakes, such as the one you pointed out, are lessons Ive learned long ago (as always, thanks to my readers!), but for whatever reason (the rush to finish a story or the automatic nature of my spelling) these coquilles or typos sneak in. 

Off to fix some of todays coquilles and mistakes....

[Annie]

I would like more information on the property.

[barbara]

Tell me more..it's got potential, lovely! How many bedrooms? Does plumbing and heating work properly?

[Eileen deCamp]

Hello Kristin,
I loved listening to Jean-Marc say "fixer-upper", that was cute. Our Belgian neighbors used to laugh hysterically when when we would say the word dessert. Something was funny about that to them.
I love the fixer-upper, but I would paint the upstairs shutters the same as the front door and add window boxes downstairs and maybe also a trellis with climbing roses curving over the doorway. The inside probably needs lots of work, but maybe just cosmetic. I wonder what the view is like from the upstairs windows? "It's got potential" is always a scary phrase!

[valiart]

The beams are great, maybe need some wood preservative or if you want them shiny, varnish. The railings on the staircase, don't change a thing, except if they are looking to get tarnished, sand them down and repaint them with black rustoloem. The floor would look nice with terra cotta tiles, then you could look into rendering the walls in places where needed, and paint with a warm creamy color or paint half the wall in creamy color and lower half in warm orange tinted or red tinted paint.

[Karen Whitcome (Towson, MD. USA)]

If only.... (fill in the blank). But then again, if only I would stop saying "If only" and really start taking a positive "can do" attitude, it will happen. Your home is beautiful and I know you struggled through (still do at times) getting it just right. Thinking about the book/film A Year in Provence makes me wonder if getting a fixer-upper fixed up is really difficult. What is your take on that?

The first thing to be sure is working is the plumbing. I think I can deal with anything else after that is in working order.

Aesthetically, on the top of my list would be to put in naturally finished double arched entry doors.

I think I would like information on this property, Kristin. Feel free to give the agent my email address.

[Della]

Kristen,
I already own this property - in the real estate of the mind! Thank you for the gift of dreams. I've always looked at houses with an eye to change/improvement, and now I have a charming French bakery to add color and inviting plants, awning, table and chairs to the front. Inside I will do what preservation is neccessary to keep its heritage and yet be able to invite my neighbors to visit while baking pies and bread together. I love it!

[charm]

How unique and lovely. Please forward information. Thanking you.

[Julie F in St. Louis, MO]

Flowers and that French blue paint or that unique light green on doors and shutters. Of course pots of geraniums. Please don't tempt me. Every region I visit in France I want to buy property. I'm still working on getting my husband to cotton to the idea of a place of our own over there. Thanks for the links to the other stories. I had fun traveling down memory lane.

[Karen Whitcome (Towson, MD. USA)]

I like Della's thinking.

[robert walterman]

thanks for the post--got me dreaming again. would hope every now and then you will show properties like this--really gives us all what is out there and the cost so we can plan for the future. my thanks

[mhwebb in NM, USA]

I can't help but wonder if the walls are still permeated with the yeasty smell of bread!

Blessings,

Mary

[Alastair Grant]

Oh dear! Here I go again Kristin. I am going to ruffle a few feathers! I believe that a 'fixer-upper' in the context you use it, is not English but American English! In English a fixer-upper is a PERSON who fixes things up, but the term is very seldom used.
A property which needs fixing up would be marketed as ....? Oh help! ... it would be... Oh I don't know - perhaps 'ripe for renovation' or perhaps 'a renovator's dream' or 'in need of TLC'... Won't someone from England please help?
Alastair from South Africa

[Caroline]

Kristi,
It's truly a little gem! Now, if only your friend, Patrick, has additional pictures of the inside --- I'm thinking hard about this one!
Take care,
Caroline

[Karen Stoeckley]

Please do not take it away from what it is and has been! Fresh paint and MAYBE some flower boxes above and seal the wood doors and shutters. Inside the bakery becomes the heart of the kitchen with a wonderful plank table and rush seated chairs and a open cupboard with a nice old brass chandelier dropping low from the wonderful freahly cleaned and oiled beams. Don't touch that railing, just refresh the walls with white wash and embellish with my husbands wonderful watercolors of Provence scenes. The Floors? Restore where ever possible and terracotta tile where not possible to restore. Some appropriate throw rugs where needed. Cheerful fabrics on the furnishings and comfort seating for friends and family. Keeping it simple and tasteful would be the key for us. Send details! We will be there to see it in April.
Karen in Missouri

[Ellen Aragon]

My favorite French real estate phrase is "dans son jus," usually used to denote an old property that has been left untouched for decades, or perhaps centuries!
Maybe you will have a new career as a realtor when your children leave home, Kristin. You have a great eye, and can always see how to make a house into a home.

[JULES GREER - PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO]

KRISTI DARLING,

YOU REALLY ARE A 'CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK' - I LOVED YOUR DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES REGARDING THIS 'STEALER.' YEARS AGO WHEN JEAN-MARC DEPORTED YOU OUT OF FRANCE BECAUSE YOU WERE TOO MUCH OF A FIREY ARIZONA-AMERICAN YOU SPENT A FEW WEEKS IN ONE OF MY SECRET OFFICES AT WINDMILL PLAZA OFF OF SCOTTSDALE ROAD. I HAD LEASED THIS OFFICE SO I COULD HAVE SOME PRIVACY AWAY FROM MY HOME OFFICE AT REALITY EXECUTIVES' BECAUSE THEY PASSED A RULE IN THE EARLY 90'S THAT YOU COULD NO LONGER SOMOKE IN YOUR OWN PRIVATE OFFICE.

I DECORATED WITH A FLOURISH - A WALL OF BOOKCASES TO HIDE A WONDERFUL LITTLE BED WHERE I COULD NAP BETWEEN APPOINTMENTS IF I CHOSE. I FOUND A OLD HOTE-DESK THAT HAD ALL OF LTHE LITTLE BOX'S IN FRONT FOR KEYS OR NOTES OR WHATEVER THEY WERE FOR. PLANTS AND PAINTINGS EVERYWHERE...I WAS IN HEAVEN.

THEN YOU LEFT YOUR NEW 'ASSISTANT' POSITION AND RAN BACK TO FRANCE TO FOLLOW YOUR OWN DREAM.

THE POINT BEING - I WAS ASTOUNDED WHEN I READ YOUR POST TODAY AND FOUND THAT PERHAPS THAT LITTLE SEED PLANTED ALL THOSE YEARS AGO MIGHT BE PUSHING UP THROUGH THE SOIL OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL MIND.

I REALIZE YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN SELLING REAL ESTATE - BUT YOU COULD ACTUALLY CARVE OUT A LITTLE SPOT ALL OF YOUR OWN JUST WRITING ABOUT AND PHOTOGRAPHING DARLING PROPERTIES AROUND THE PROVENCE AREA - THIS WOULD GIVE YOU A REASON TO VISIT MORE VILLAGES, MEET MORE PEOPLE, PLUS INTRODUCE ALL OF US TO YOUR GROWING LIST OF INTERESTING PROPERTIES.

YOU MUST GO BACK WITH YOUR VIDEO CAMERA ON MARKET DAY.

XOXO

MOM

P.S. I HAVE ALREADY REDONE THE ENTIRE PROPERTY ABOVE IN MY MIND....OF COURSE IT WOULD SERVE AS AN ART GALLERY WITH SLEEPING QUARTERS UP-STAIRS AND PERHAPS A ROOM TO RENT OUT WHEN I NEEDED EXTRA MONEY.

[JULES GREER - PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO]

A SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL OF KRISTI'S FRIENDS -

YES! I NEED AN ASSISTANT TO EDIT MY COMMENTS, I AM TRULY ASHAMED OF ALL THE SPELLING ERRORS, PLUS THE LACK OF PUNCTUATION.

I HAVE A NEW COMPUTER AND ALL OF THE IMPORTANT KEYS FOR BRACKETS, QUESTION MARKS, ETC. ARE HIDDEN UNDER OTHER KEYS ON MY KEYBOARD....I GUESS I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP MY LAZY, HAPPY LIFE AND GO DOWN TO THE COMPUTER STORE AND HAVE THIS FIXED.

I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO KRISTI ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD GIVE UP MY CAPS.....THIS WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR ME TO DO....BUT I HATE DISAPPOINTING SOME OF MY FRIENDS WITH MY STYLE. IT'S HARD, I PAINT WITH BIG STROKES AND BRIGHT COLORS, I WEAR PONCHO'S AND HATS THAT SHOUT - BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I HAVE A VERY SOFT VOICE.

XOXO

JULES

P.S. ALSO I NEVER PROOF-READ WHAT I WRITE AS I WOULD NEVER PUSH THE PRINT BUTTON IF I DID.

[Kristin Espinasse]

Mary, I love your reflection, I cant help but wonder if the walls are still permeated with the yeasty smell of bread! Excellent!

Karen S., so true about keeping it as untouched as possible. 

Karen W., I agree about the plumbing--first things first. Ill see if I can find out more and update you all about this little bijou.

Alastair, no worries about ruffling feathers, as long as we are all learning, and we are. Thanks for your comment and for the info!

Hello chère Caroline (who helped with our lastest harvest!). Ill forward your info to Patrick at the next chance.

To all who have left a note about wanting more info or about being put in contact with Patrick, Ill be forwarding all of the inquiries on to him as soon as possible.

Off to call Mom and she what part of the house she is currently working on... in her lovely artists mind! 

[mary]

Hi Kristin, Charming house. One question (or two)--is there a little garden? Is there an actual toilet (not a hole in the floor) and is there hot and cold running water with a functioning sewer hook-up. Everything else would be minor. Oh, how I love to dream. Thanks for the fun. Mary

[Kristin Espinasse]

Robert, good to know you enjoyed this post. I do hope to share more fixer-uppers. It is fun to decorate together with everyone here, and to, as you say, to dream again.

[Susan Sawyer]

Have your realtor send me some infor. It really looks too charming.

[Buffy]

It looks like we are all on the same page, dreaming of a little home in France. When my son and I were hiking in Provence a couple summers ago, we came upon a desserted house. I have spent many moments dreaming of what I would do with that place. Daydreaming is the next best thing to the real thing. There is that rare occasion that a dream can come true.

[Karen Whitcome (Towson, MD. USA)]

KEEP USING CAPS, JULES. I LOVE TO BE ABLE TO EASILY FIND YOU!! and nobody cares about the typos. It comes with the territory.

[Ron]

fixer-upper:
"une maison pour la vente tel quel"
or perhaps,simply
"une maison tel quel?"
(of course, only the French could make a contraction if they felt like it)

[Nancy Rial]

I'm always thinking of buying, renovating...changing each vacant lot I pass by. In reality- I have been renovating my house back here in the States for 10 years- so probably won't ever start that project in France- but it is , oh, so, much fun to imagine it. I hope whoever moves in will allow you to photograph an update. Wold love a posting in a few years about what happened.
(from Cambridge- that's for your Dad you likes to know where the postings come from)

[Rebecca]

I once had dinner with a Parisian couple whose English capabilites differed. Hers was pretty proficient and his was minimal. George had an admiration for a particularly American trait which he tried to describe. Americans had "new-hoe". Response: furrowed brow. Americans had "knee-who". Furrowed brow followed by light bulb recognition....KNOW HOW! I think that's in the same category as fixer-upper.

[Ronnie in PHX]

I love today's post! (I really love them all.) Kristin, ever since I read your "Words in a French Life," and Cara Black a few years ago, I am hooked on any book I can find that is about Americans living (at least part-time) in France. I have found a few good ones from the sides of your blog page. I appreciate the recommendations. :) I am currently reading Ann Barry's "At Home in France: Tales of an American and Her House Abroad" and continuing to daydream about my husband and I being French homeowners one day. We are back in AZ,(from NY) for good... at least until retirement. First plan of action- become an AZ homeowner, which shouldn't be too difficult with this buyer's market. Next- a home in the Biarritz vicinity for my born-in-Santa Cruz-surf-loving-husband. It seems a bit pricey, so it may be a while! :) Jules, I love the all caps. I know that you are not shouting and it takes more than all caps and a few typos to offend me. I probably have some typos in this message and I am deliberately not going to edit my post. ;)

[martina]

Fresh paint, same colors for the exterior, fix any leaks, wood rot around the windows and door. A bracket between the door and double doors with a big pot of hanging flowers. Inside, terracotta tile floors with big woven rugs. The home would be kept as close to original as possible, except for new plumbing and electrical The oven area would be fitted to be the kitchen/great room. The oven used for cooking/baking and for heat. There would be two standard poodles-Georgie and Gordy lying by the front door, awaiting any wayward croissant bits and protecting the neighborhood from squirrels. The cat would be looking out one of the upstairs windows when not napping. Oh dreaming.......

[Debbie Ambrous]

Kristin,
I'm wondering if the house has a bathroom. The budget for decorating could be diminished quickly after calling the plumber. I love decorating, and I've dreamed of purchasing many French houses on the internet, decorating all of the rooms in my mind and planting the garden also. My husband says I should send a bill for my decorating suggestions and then maybe I could eventually buy one. I totally enjoyed looking through the fixer-upper with great potential. Maybe the new owner will share the "after" version with us later.

[Millie]

Je suis en retard, but I love to do the vocabulary list...On dit l'huile, car c'est un H muet et pas "la huile".

un amuse-bouche, un amuse-gueule, petit hors d'œuvre= appetizer, snack cocktail, nibble
de l'huile de coude = de l'énergie
le bercail = le foyer, home, family, fold
le bien: the good, property, possession.
Faire le bien: do good
Distinguer le bien du mal: to know the right from wrong.
mettre en valeur, mettre en relief = to emphasize (the good point)
tel quel = as is
J'ai tout laissé tel quel: I left everything as it was.
la terre cuite = terra cotta
en bois= wooden
Finder's fees: les honoraires d'intermédiaire
Please forgive any typo mistake. I'm typing à la hâte...

[Julianna]

I have a maison à renover of my own here in Las Vegas, NV. Not an old house (1997) but the previous owners left it in dreadful shape. I am slowly attempting to bring it around.
A maison à renover in France would be a very time-consuming dream come true; one which I wish I had the energy and ambition for. I agree with Debbie: I would love to know more about this beautiful project, the new owners, the home in various stages of renovation, the final result. Perhaps you can charm the new residents into sharing with you (and us).

[A Hopwood]

Salut Chere Kristin!
I am "catching up" a bit tonight on my FWAD. I find that sometimes (many times) I fall behind. But, when I really need it, I can go back to Provence, thanks to you. Milles Mercis for FWAD and for you and your family. I love being able to escape to France, if only for a moment, if only in works and pictures. It is truly therapy..so good for the soul! I love the house...how much fun it would be to renovate...to bake bread in that oven! I can smell & taste it right now.
Bisous,
Amber

[Derin Gemignani]

Yes, it is very charming. But being practical and I noticed none of the other posts queried this: how is the plumbing and the electrical? I noticed no pictures of any working bathrooms or light fixtures. So would everything have to be plumbed and wired? If that's the case, the price of the place begins to at least double.
Other than that, I would move in in an instant!

[Kristin Espinasse]

Millie, thank you very much for this excellent vocabulary list! I love learning the new terms, especially the ones for which I could not find the French equivalent. 

For those of you who brought up bathrooms, plumbing and electricity -- good questions. Ill ask Patrick and then come back and update this post. Stay tuned!

And yes! Wouldnt that be fun to see the before/after photos? I wonder who the new owners will be? Maybe theyll write of their adventure. Can you think of a fun title? ...along the lines of: 

An Ancient Oven in France: On Making a Cosy Nest at the French Bakers... 

[Gretel]

What a wonderful little cafe it would make continuing the community use! Perhaps a recycled timber mezzanine level at the back of the space could house a library to browse in while drinking coffee but definitely full height room over the stove area. Fill it with wonderful vintage industrial finds quirkily transformed into different uses. I would also love to see a clean white wall sitting a little proud of the existing peeling paint wall so they are juxtaposed and filled with wonderful modern art. Voila..a mix of old and new! :-)

[Dave de Garis]

Wow has this post created some commentary, and it's all so similar. We're are not just on the same page but the same line! What a charming, tres gentile property. I think I found it on Google Maps pics on Rue des remparts. All it needs is some basic furniture, the plumbing checked out and some basic power; sorry I'm too practical not arty. Ok a balcon. Ok a bit more than that. Maybe a bed or two. This reminds me so much of my bike tour there in 2008, riding up from the Camargue through Arles and Avignon and all the great little places in between. Oh to do it again. Ok then, to make things happen: who's up for it with me in a share?? Surely even if we went there in the summer, more than enough time for several shareholders. Email me at [email protected]. Cheers Dave de Garis, Melbourne

[Katie Schwausch]

Please forward my address to Patrick! I would love to learn more about this property. You post comes at just the right time.

[Nick]

I agree with J Giles and Alastair Grant. When I saw the title of today's post I assumed that it was about a person. Also, as Alastair says, it is not a term commonly used in English, certainly not in the UK.

As for how such a property might be advertised: there are a variety of ways. For example: 'requires modernising'; 'offers great potential'; 'would benefit from sympathetic upgrading'; 'would suit someone seeking a challenge'.

'Ancienne boulangerie'. This shoud be 'Former' rather than 'Ancient' bakery.

[Nick]

My typo: 'shoud' should be 'should'!!

[Sandra Vanw]

Such a delight to read about this lovely former boulangerie in need of some gentle updating and care. Looking forward to hearing further details Kristin once you have them from Patrick.

I agree with Jules...this could become a beneficial and fun sideline for you perhaps~! Sharing wonderful "finds' for sale around your region. Your readers including us are very open and would welcome this new angle should time permit.

We are so looking forward to our time in France. I have to share that we just received the go ahead to spend at least six months, following our hearts dreams living in France! Now where do we wish to begin this exciting new chapter...oh such wonderful challenges. We are so grateful and hope that we will be able to remain in France long term. At last Kristin. Thanks for your words of inspiration and encouragement along the way.

[Kathleen]

I often dream of owning a house in France and living there most of the time or all of the time. When ever I walk by a broken maison I often think of what I would do it fix it up. I am a frustrated, want to be architect. I love to decorate houses and think of what I would have done to make it work better.
My husband used to say that I would retire in France, but I would not do so without him and he is still working. Plus you need the money and should be present when the work is being done, or it might not get done.
Oh to DREAM!

[mhwebb in NM, USA]

I'm glad that you liked my reflection. Please keep us posted as to who buys the house and what they do with it. - Mary

[Martine]

I think my fantasy would be to restart the community oven. What would get the town to come together on Saturdays to bake?
I would put lots of flowerboxes up, but otherwise change very little. And I would sleep upstairs.

[Martine]

I remember hearing a Moroccan man talk about his village. He said that the men's routine was to take the bread dough to the village oven, leave it with a baker, and then go around to the other side of the building for a steam bath(which used the oven's heat). Afterward, the bread would be done and the man would go home. Maybe this building could be a hammam/boulangerie! Maybe sore, aching vineyard workers could come for a steam bath and pay with wine! On peut rever. . .

[Audrey Wilson]

Loads of potential here .The oven must be kept as a feature,probably best in a kitchen . The beams should be treated & then stained in their original colour. I would use crépie on the plain wall in a 'blanc cassé' to give light & texture& if this were to be a kitchen a tiled floor ( there are some wonderful tiles around ,Spanish & Italian especially)
Keep that wonderful stair railing & if this is an entrance then more tiles. I'd strip the doors & stain them with something like 'chene'.
I'm not in the market to buy, because we bought an old barn 18 years ago which had earth floors & piles of peach boxes & all sorts of agricultural equipment, no main drainage & very ancient electicity. After 18 months very hard work & countless Peter Mayle experiences we finally made a delightful home here in the Roussillion region of France

[Cathey Benefield]

I hope to visit the Ossau Iraty valleys this summer and would like to visit a farm where they produce Ossau Iraty and Brebis cheese. Could you recommend a couple of farms? or farmers markets to get acquainted?