This renovation isn’t what I thought… | Provence vlog

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New vlog from Provence, France. This is an update on the house renovation... and it's not going well...

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#renovation #reno #Provence #lifeinfrance #vlog

[justineleconte]

In case you're looking for the link: the first 100 people to use code JUSTINELECONTE at the link below will get 60% off of Incogni:

[melodybrooks]

Option 3: Find renovated historical homes that you admire. Talk to their owners. You’ll find the architect you seek. As longtime entrepreneurs, your experience resonates with my husband & I. I sometimes find myself biting my tongue to keep from asking, “Shall I pay you to watch me do the work?” Thanks for taking us along on your journey.

[carmenerwin]

My experience after three years renovating in the south of Spain: Look for houses in your area that have been renovated in a way you like, ask owners and builders working there for arquitects names. Talking to neighbours or craftspeople: never ask for recommendations, because people will recommend, their brother, uncle or cousin. Ask: who did your house? Become best friends with the owner of the hardware store and the builders yard. They know everybody!
Also: the really good ones will be very busy-be prepared to wait. Patience is important or you might have to settle for second best. Anyone that can start a project straight away is probably not very good or they would not be available.

[sayhello]

Hi Justine from the USA. 👋🏼 I’m an interior designer and I spent almost 10 years working for an architectural firm. What I found was often the cause of “disconnect” was that the architects who are paid 💰 had never ever worked a day as a craftsman or layperson. They had the book smarts and theoretical knowledge, but they had absolutely no idea how the work actually gets done. This became an issue during renovations of old homes that had been constructed before building codes were written. I was called out to jobsites to take a look at all sorts of strange findings. (Literally, there were times where we discovered that whoever built the house 150 years ago ran out of lumber for framing and used random items like table legs instead. 🤣) I always tried to use these puzzling situations as a learning experience. I’d go out to site and ask the to show me what was the problem and why it wouldn’t work as planned, and then brainstorm together to come up with a solution. We’d also bring in the homeowner(s) to show them the situation so they didn’t feel like they were being ripped off. However, my colleagues wouldn’t do the same with their projects. They’d act arrogant toward the laypeople/trades who honestly knew better. They would make excuses to the homeowners. Etc. All that to say: maybe after getting your plans finalized, working either with a construction engineer or directly with the tradesmen would be best. Ask them to include you when your plans need to pivot. You’ll learn a lot too, which I think you’ll enjoy. Everything I learned on the job helped me when I remodeled my own house. Together, my husband and I have framed walls, demolished and rebuilt bathrooms, installed toilets and faucets, hung drywall, laid tile, etc and it’s been very enjoyable. 🤓

[SF-vlty]

Hi Justine! My advice is start all over again. You'll probably regret if you don't. I did! And mine was a much easier project. It's clear you don't trust them anymore. The best of luck to you! 😘

[acrossthepond]

Dear Justine, I am sorry you are having difficulties with your architects. One thing I wanted to mention was when you do find someone you will use to start the project for you, make sure you list in the contract all the things in the house you want to be protected and saved while the contractors are carrying out their work, your beautiful tiled floor, the doors and shutters, the mantelpiece. Photograph them and attch them to the contract before signature. Otherwise, the whole place will become a building site and irreplaceable architecture will be ruined. I do hope you find someone soon.

[NatalieStile]

1. DITCH THE CURRENT AGENCY!
2. Do not double your estimated time frame, but *quadruple* it.
3. Install tarpaulins over the leaky roofs, more solid than a temporary makeshift might need.
4. Now that you probably hate me for my recommendations: Let us find your unicorn: Unicorns are rare, but they exist 🦄
Put the cart before the horse: Approach the last guilds instead of the first ones typically scheduled in such reconstruction projects. The ones of your least priorities within your schedule right now. The ones that get deferred the most due to construction delays: Built-in furniture restorer/conservator, flooring/ tilers, painters, gardeners, etc. Ask them for their experience, ask for names of architect offices, solo architects, construction management offices, solo construction managers, ASO. They know and can tell stories about who & what & why reconstruction projects were run in what circumstances, schedule, expertise, manner, delays, and so forth. Be open minded regarding the narrative angle you might experience. Perhaps not just ask the boss in the showroom, but also the "simple & quiet" workers (who typically direct any enquirer to the boss; these workers have the unfiltered real-time experience you intend to trace back), on-site if there are any. Or at the chip shop @ lunch break, or at/in the pub @ after-work beer.

The third option you asked for: Make a time-limited appeal within your existing social media network. Ask for expertise first hand or third hand, perhaps (or hopefully) team up irl.

I wish you success.

[Aigra]

Option 3: Look for a construction engineer. You'll need one anyway since you are planning to do structural changes and they usually know the local architects and craftspeople.

[fulvias.]

I have no clue, BUT an architect who suggests you to cover those tiles and change those doors has definitely to GO. Good luck! Waiting for news, the house looks fantastic.

[vkat]

My friend (we live in California) inherited an old house in France. The house is very narrow 3-story house, 1 room on each story, looks like it was built between 2 other houses 🤔 he had to renovate it too. French contractors drove him nuts 😖 same frustration as you experience now … he hired Swiss guys, they did everything fast and as he wanted.

[jenniferjones]

TRUST YOUR GUT. Fire that firm. As many suggest below, look/ask around. Find finished work you really like and use that firm/person. Renovations are notoriously slow and more expensive than contemplated. But slow is entirely different from not doing with your house what you told them you wanted done, not having answers to reasonable (and unreasonable) questions, and not having thought through options/alternatives. The last point really matters because most budgets are limited so there will be many decisions to make--such as: can you have x if you cut y, or do y differently, etc. Like finding a good doctor, a good question is: If I were rich and famous, who would I hire? Maybe start there. If you can't afford them, maybe they can recommend someone who they mentor or who does good work but at a lesser price. Good luck with your beautiful gem of a house and keep us posted!

[tamcon]

Former architecture major here: There are many sub disciplines in the field; an architect that designs houses is not the same as an architect that designs hospitals, and neither is the same as someone who redesigns _historic_ buildings. Always vet the firm/independent architect you're hiring to see what their experience and skills set is. They could be an amazing designer of new single family urban residences but have no understanding of rural vernacular architecture. Hope things are improving for you, and that the next update shows progress that pleases you!

[kristinasveric]

Dear Justine, I feel your struggle! As an architect working in Venice (yes, only renovations!) I looove your home and your desire to keep the precious historical finishes and materials, I wish I met more clients like yourself! I would advise to find another architect which works with historical buildings. I wouldn't rely only on an engineer, they usually aren't trained to do the detailed renovation work you're looking for.. I see many more useful advices in the comment section. Good luck! ❤

[hannievanweel]

I am from the Netherlands and renovated a house in the Haute Provence twenty years ago. I did not want to write this to you but it was a complete hell for almost three years. I always thought it is because I am not fluent in French but overall it is the work ethics that are different than yours. You approched the project with a German attitude: You do what you say and on time and if you don’t know an answer you look it up or reccomand another craftsperson. That was never the case. In the end our solution was to work with other European Dutch, contractors who had businesses in the lived in the area with the same work attitude as myself.

[Melodyinthe]

Looks like you have received some solid advice here. Maybe as part of your vetting process, make sure they understand you are looking for someone with a similar work ethic and communication skills. Knowing how to do the job isn't enough. You need someone with the integrity to own up when they don't know something and to follow up when they say they will do something. Starting over may cause delays and be more expensive in the short run, but cutting corners now will mean more expenses down the road and will probably cost you more. Keep us informed!

[lbacchus]

No, you did not set the bar too high. The freelance architect is probably your better bet. It's time to change the agency. Hopefully, you have architect friends (not necessarily the same region) they may give you some tips on what might be happening and maybe help you to separate the good from bad options. Also it's critical to get a good contractor, they will always find things which will not work from their point of view. There are many cowboys, and you might have the best design but a terrible contractor will derail the project in a bad way. My experience is that it can take even up to a year to schedule a good one. So if you have not already then get a head start on that so you won't have to wait long to start execution. Your project looks challenging, but I know you will get there!😊

[cl]

Several years ago I renovated an over 120 years old stone house in Greece. I went around the area and where I found tastefully renovated houses, I asked for information. That's how I found the right craftsmen for the work.

[ReidandShane]

You are making all the right decisions Justine. Follow your intuition for your renovation. My husband bought a farmhouse built in 1881. When I first saw it I thought he was crazy buying that house and for taking on such a huge project but we renovated the entire house keeping a lot of the original woodwork and architectural elements and loved the end results. You are not setting the bar too high for your architect. You are paying the agency and they should provide you with results you want. Perhaps you can hire a German architect!

[dianaford]

Oh, I feel this! My mom (who is German) lives in France. Anyone who has lived in a country that “gets things done right, right away, the first time (like in the US, Germany), and then moves to a country that has a mañana/laissez faire culture …it is beyond frustrating. I’m so sorry you’re going through this and I hope you get some resolution soon!

[auroramocho]

I renovated an old house two years ago and if I could go back, I would have fired the first company and find a new one. It will set you back months, but that time will be worth it in the long run. Good luck, you brave girl.