It's been three weeks since the work on our house started. First came the demolition...
I am in one bedroom crammed with furniture and other things, and a space next to it that will become a "dressing" (a walk-in closet), also crammed with things. A laundry room next to the kitchen, that now also holds a shower and a toilet, became a very spartan kitchen for the moment. These spaces will be the last to be worked on. The rest of the house is a war zone.
The first week was most tiring. Although I didn't like what the most recent additions to the house have been, and I knew that these will be the subject of the demolition, I didn't expect that seeing my kitchen stripped to the bare minimum would be such a shock to the system. The exposed walls, stones and brick, trenches dug in floors to accommodate the pipes, holes between floors for the new bathroom canalization. Everything necessary and perfectly normal for anyone who does construction. To me it sort of felt - personal... Can't explain why. It just did.
Bathtub, sinks, radiators - were all taken away to make room for what work needs to be done. So far there is water and electricity, although some days I am warned there will be pauses in their supplies. So far these were very temporary so we didn't have to go to a hotel. And taking a cold shower on a very hot day is hardly an inconvenience, right?
Getting used to the disorganization of daily life was another thing. My dog seriously objects to being carried from one room to another. Can't allow her to roam freely when there is dust, some debris, and potential sharp objects to step on, or lick. We are slowly getting used to living with minimum, although I do miss access to all my clothes... and I miss the ease of preparing food, eating healthy is a challenge. Alors, these are the realities for the next few months.
Some days I get cut off from the bedroom, or the laundry room (the only clean and livable spaces now) for hours, as the workers maybe working on a particular part of the house and it is just not practical to pass and interrupt them. Thankfully there is a garden. It is getting serious weeding now, finally I have time to work on it. The garden is the only space here that is free of dust, and is growing peacefully. A true oasis these days.
The second week of the "travaux" was better - the ugly wallpaper was stripped away. The bare walls were revealed, somehow giving the spaces a fresh breath of air. I saw layers of old wall paper, covered in flowers, and the old plaster, in the prettiest pastel hues, pink and off white. I somehow wish it could be preserved, but I know that the cracks in the plaster need to be repaired, and it is going to be better to have everything painted a uniform color. So I take lots of pictures to document my house in transition.
When the third week arrived electricity and plumbing were under way. The workers are trying to get done as much as possible before the long month of vacation starts. As I said previously - August is no joke, everyone takes time off. In our case, we know there will be someone working on our project although in a limited way. I am keeping my fingers crossed that in spite of this being August, we can keep moving forward with things.
Slowly but surely we are advancing. The coordination of various teams is key, it is our architect's task to make sure of this part. As for me, I am keeping in mind that good things take time!
To be continued...
xoxo
Joanna
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