Chez nous

Le Fournil in the spring of 2009 - and later

A long time ago now, in 1987 Harry and I came to France for the first time together. We spent some time in the Loire, and then moved on to the Perigord (Dordogne) and fell in love with it. Like many kinds of love, it wasn't too rational - we hadn't seen much of the rest of France.

But we knew that we wanted to spend as much time as possible there, and very shortly decided that we wanted to move there. By fall 1988 we had made the decision, thinking we would be in France within 6 months. A few realities like a declining property market in Toronto delayed us, but by the spring of 1990 we knew we wanted to buy a house, even though we hadn't yet sold our Toronto home.

We came with high expectations. Lots of property, a stream, a tower, a Renaissance staircase. Forty houses later we realised that this was perhaps not realistic, and picked one of the only two houses we felt was worth buying. A nice property, with not too much work to do, in an attractive village.

And finally in June 1994 we were able to move here and start our new life in France.

We've now been in France at Le Fournil in Carlux for many years, with no regrets at the move. In fact we still often wonder how we came to be so lucky. We've spent a lot of that time working on our house, which was not meant to require any, but 200 year old properties seem to be like that.

This is a record Le Fournil as it is in spring 2009, with notes on some of the many things we have changed over the years. And of course since I began this blog, we've continued to work on the house, and particularly on the garden.

For instance, summer 2014 - interesting but faded and splintering old shutters replaced by new aluminum ones. Big advantage - no more removing/painting/re-installing.

Le Fournil, approaching from the village below

Le Fournil, approaching from the village, with the chateau behind.

March 2014

Further up the road, the entrance

Further along, the gate and pathway leading up through the lower garden, and then the driveway entrance, with garden above.

And inside the courtyard

Finally, through the main gate, with wisteria growing over, into the courtyard. The house now has new doors, windows, roof - and a place to sit when we're not working.

Our view, and visitors

The ruins of the chateau date from the 12th century. The chickens are a little more recent.

The kitchen

One of the first things we did - the old one had torn vinyl tiles and cheap cabinets. So, on to walnut cabinets and ceramic tiles. Nice, but in fact not very practical, and so, after almost 20 years, in Spring 2014 we did it over. Work was by the Atelier Bretel Pere et Fils, master carpenters near us. Colour is French grey (appropriate) by Farrow and Ball. Countertop is black granite, leather finish.

1995