Bare Bones

Well, the stripping out is as complete as it can be while allowing you to walk to every floor of the house.  The new oak beams are due to go in in the next week or so, and first-fix electrics on the top two floors.  We stayed over Easter at the wonderful B&B La Maison Pavie in Dinan - a great find, and of real interest as it has period panelling which can act as a reference for the panelling we are intending to create on the second storey of the house.  Jerome and Camille are terrific hosts and have created something exceptional in their lovely place to stay.

La Maison Pavie

As for the Petit Manoir - I think it suffices to let the images of the inside speak for themselves...

The ground and first floor - awaiting new beams

Everything on props...

The rubbish heap now at head height

The best thing about this visit was to see the outside of the building being transformed by the repointing.  On the easily-accessed terrace and courtyard elevations this has entailed chopping out the cement mortar and replacing with lime mortar.  The side elevations will be much quicker to repoint, as they have never had cement pointing.  The difference between the cement and lime finishes is astonishing, and a powerful illustration of the need to use traditional methods and materials in such settings.

Flooring

We have found a supplier of French limestone flooring, who has this lovely brushed stone in sawn slabs for a clean look.  As it is good for exterior use as well as indoors we intend to use it on the ground floor of the house as well as the terrace.  The colour picks up the warmth of the existing stone and will go well with the painted render of the walls inside, as well as the rendered garden walls outside.

Julian at Urrutia Stone has a great selection - stone flooring for every setting, and exports to the UK...