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!
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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":
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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:
- Proximity to the weekly farmers' market: walk out your door… and into rows and rows of flowers and vegetables!
- Smack in the middle of wine country with fresh air à gogo!
- Wonderful neighbors (click here to meet one of them).
- 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?… 🙂
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.
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Please forward my address to Patrick! I would love to learn more about this property. You post comes at just the right time.
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.
My typo: ‘shoud’ should be ‘should’!!
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.
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!
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
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.
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. . .
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
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?