Ashley TinkerStay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence

Bells, Shutters and Stone Traditional Architecture in Provence

Church Bells of Bonnieux Recently, we stayed in the hilltop village of Bonnieux in Provence’s Luberon where we were treated to a singular sensory experience. We reached out to Vincent Gils, the only carillonneur (bell-ringer) left in the Vaucluse area and one of few left in France. Vincent’s father, Bernard, …

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Renovating Provence Water
Expat Living and Real EstateJulie WhitmarshLiving in Provence

Renovating in Provence When the Water Stopped

By Vaucluse Dreamer: By the start of November, our little place was in a state of chaos in readiness for the work to start. The rooms were piled high with relocated furniture & building supplies and Andy had laid new Travertine floors throughout the 2 main spaces upstairs that would …

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Provencal House Renovation
Expat Living and Real EstateJulie WhitmarshLiving in Provence

Provencal House Renovation It’s Transformation Time

By Vaucluse Dreamer: Firstly I have to start with an apology – the last few months have been rather chaotic with one thing and another and I find that this really is the first time I’ve been able to sit and write about our little half-life in France for quite …

READ MORE  Provencal House Renovation It’s Transformation Time
Provence Home Renovation
Expat Living and Real EstateJulie WhitmarshLiving in Provence

Living in Provence Let the Home Renovation Begin

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: It’s well over 2 years now since we finally picked up the keys and opened the door to our little house in Provence after so many years of dreaming about it. We couldn’t afford a perfect house with elegant gardens and a pretty pool and …

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House Renovating Lourmarin @ShutrsandSunflowers
Caroline Longstaffe

The Challenges of House Renovating in Provence

Contributor blog post by Caroline Longstaffe Don’t you ever wonder when you ask your friends how they are and they always say ‘wonderful’? Really, always wonderful, no-one’s life is wonderful all of the time, is it? I know I’m a sharer, I write a blog after all and admittedly I mostly write about …

READ MORE  The Challenges of House Renovating in Provence
Renovation in Provence #ExpatLiving @CuriousProvence
Ashley Tinker

DIY Stores and Builders Merchants in France

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: It can be difficult to find stores near you in a foreign country. Your common knowledge of simple store names just isn’t there. If you’re renovating a house in France, depending on where you’re located, this is where you’ll find your building materials: DIY Stores …

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How to Renovate in France on a Budget @CuriousProvence
Ashley Tinker

How to Renovate in France on a Budget

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: How to Renovate in France on a Budget So you’ve bought your fixer-upper in France. The romanticism of Peter Mayle has snared you into the dream (or perhaps my blog?). You’re not a millionaire but you’ve got essentially a ruin of stones to work …

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Renovation in Provence @VaucluseDreamer
Julie Whitmarsh

Bring on Winter in Provence the Woodburner has been fitted 

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: The last 2 days have gone by in a blur of builders, rubble & dust, but it’s been worth it. Having got rid of the hideous pellet burner (affectionately known as Growler) back in August, we’d been keeping our fingers well and truly crossed …

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Renovation in Provence #ExpatLiving @CuriousProvence
Ashley Tinker

Before and After Renovation in Provence: Living Room

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: Here are a few pictures of the before and after renovation of our living room. Can you believe the difference? The locals are, unfortunately for us, still so curious that I’m often confronted with a face pressed against our window… But thankfully, everyone seems impressed. …

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House in Provence Renovation @CuriousProvence
Ashley Tinker

Full Before and After DIY Renovation in Provence: Kitchen

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: Our Kitchen before and after the renovation If you’re interested in the full Before and After of our house renovation here in Provence; voila! The kitchen, when we first bought the house, was entirely brown. The last time the house had been renovated was …

READ MORE  Full Before and After DIY Renovation in Provence: Kitchen