Renovations part I

The couple from Casa Nova came round and measured walls and stuff and talked much of stairs and floors and internal windows.

What they will do first:

Close off the space under the mezzanine to make a room which will include the big window, so the stairs will be inside the room: this will allow separating from the barn in winter to keep warm. The room will be an odd shape, following the present odd shape of the mezzanine and extending it 2 metres; it will be about 40sqm.

Stairs with 1/4 turn onto a platform at the base to allow for the height of the room.

All the wooden pillars will be inside the room.

The extended mezzanine will at first have a 1-metre high wall instead of railings, to allow for the addition of a full-height wall later (with a big window onto the barn). This later full-height wall will be a Very High Wall, almost under the highest part of the roof.

Existing walls to be painted with chaux to cover the horrible tacky cement which disfigures areas of the lovely stone.

Floor will probably be laminate because it's cheaper than tiles, but still 20 euros per sqm. (ouch)

Wooden bench-seat along kitchen wall to cover the strange heating apparatus. This will make a lovely warm place to curl up on in winter.

They will start at the beginning of August and this first job will take about a month. I've done some sums and may need to borrow to cover some of it because I shan't have been paid enough by September.

There is a list of things which require extra help, mostly on the walls, and some of which can be done before the main work begins. Volunteers will be very welcome.

After they'd gone I stood at the door from the kitchen and realised I would miss the view into the golden barn very much. I wonder if there can be a downstairs window as well.