I realise this is not the appropriate forum, but I have searched everywhere for resources. Do any of you knowledgeable people know where I can find websites giving guidance in restoring a 200 year old house in the heart of France in a suitable style?

Go to www.google.com and search on:<BR>france home restoration<BR><BR>Websites are scarce (couple of GCs have sites) but mostly it's books. Also communicate with the French "Department" where the house is located.<BR>hth,<BR>

I would love to do this someday, hopefully before another decade rolls by. When I stayed in the Vexin area (Haute Normandie - - three weeks, living with one family), I discussed it with my hosts quite a bit, since the dad was in the building trades.<BR><BR>There are many logistical issues to be overcome - - not that they can't - - not the least of which is how long can you afford to spend doing it?<BR><BR>but no doubt about it, many, many people have done it - - especially from England -- when you browse through some of the various sites listing properties, some of them even have "show-n-tell" web pages with the before, during, and after.<BR><BR>Are you pre-purchase (I assume)?<BR><BR>Assuming that I can ever afford to do it, I will spend one summer (at least six weeks), traveling looking at properties that could be purchased, and talking to people who had done it. Locality matters a lot, surely you realize - - from a standpoint of customs, suppliers, regulations, etc.<BR><BR>And be aware that laws governing transfer/disposal property owned by a foreign national - - who happens to die - - are said to be very, VERY un-"user-friendly". So you have to consider your heirs, and the possibility that you could be leaving them a headache.<BR><BR>St. Cirq can undoubtedly share a ton of info on this subject. Try asking this question on the Delphi/pbprovence forum to her or Patricia (pbprovence).<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

If I'm reading your question correctly, you are asking for design consultation not buying information. In addition to websites , have you tried the library, french country design and decoration is very popular at the moment and I see loads of books both there and at Borders, etc. There is a newsletter that I get weekly aout home ownership in France and the expat commuity, I don't have the address right now, but it usually comes early in the week and I'll post it then.<BR><BR>

After reading all of Peter Mayle's books I think I would opt for a house that has already been 100% restored. :·)

I'm with Jack on this one. <BR><BR>Another good book to read before you even think of doing is:<BR><BR>On Rue Tatin by Susan Herrmann Loomis published by Broadway Books,

To Jody:<BR><BR>I didn't mean to make it sound like the focus of the "research work" to be done would revolve around buying issues.<BR><BR>More like what are the experiences of others in "restoration" - - which to me is fairly separate and different from design and decoration issues - - things like fixing plumbing, strucutural problems, electricity/wiring, leaky roof, etc.<BR><BR>I'll be surprised if there is any written info - - web-based or otherwise - - that is as useful as talking to people in THAT specific locality who have the skills, tools and access to the building materials to do the work. Or people who have had to figure out where to find those people.<BR>

Thank you for all your replies and advice.<BR><BR>The full(er) story is, my husband worked in Paris for 3 years about 10 years ago and it has long been our ambition to return. We have been looking seriously for the last 2-3 years and suddenly we found what we wanted.<BR><BR>We had no intention to restore but in the end to have the position we fell in love with ... There are some advantages - the fees for the notaire and immobilier are so much less, and the end result is what we want and not someone else's idea of perfection!<BR><BR>We have made contacts as far as plumbing etc are concerned but I am anxious to recreate a French house and not anything anglicised or americanised. I found one site - www.frenchhouserestoration.co.uk - but it is the only one so far, and it is at a very early stage it seems. I had hoped there were some others out there.<BR>

Ann:<BR><BR>Do you already own the house then? If so, you have a notaire. If not, you'll have to get one - and be sure to get a good one, as he/she will be your best resource for years to come.<BR><BR>Depending on where in France the house is, there may well be very stringent rules regarding restoration - types and sizes of windows, materials you may use, etc. If your notaire can't fill you in on this, local building supply people can, and you should definitely also make a trip to the mairie and gather all the pertinent information that is available. Local workmen will also be a wealth of information, as there is hardly anywhere in rural France that workmen aren't busy restoring old houses, so they must know the appropriate regulations.<BR><BR>If your question is more about doing research to see what an "authentic" 200-year-old house would look like in whatever corner of France you're in, I should think you'd do well doing library research or asking local workmen if they have engaged in such projects before - perhaps they'd let you visit some restored properties. Another obvious resource would be local real estate agents.<BR><BR>If you have other questions, please feel free to e-mail me directly.<BR><BR>

Ann- Give this a try- www.internationalliving.com Bonne chance!

tip top<BR>

As far as International Living goes, I must say, I would be fairly wary of dealing with them. I have written articles for them, so I can't be totally negative with regard to their services, but recently they have begun a huge campaign to get people to pay for tours to what they call "remote" regions of France to encourage the buying of property there - they obviously are in cahoots with real estate agencies there and make a tidy profit from making sales of property in such regions - the most recent being the Languedoc-Rousillon. <BR><BR>I doubt International Living would be a particularly good resource when it comes to restoring a 200-year-old property. Their expertise is in selling you a property, not in restoring it. I think, from reading your e-mail to me, that you are interested in the genuine restoration of a property to its original *look* and *feel.* That's something only local artisans can help you with, but I'm sure you can find ones to assist you. There is a tremendous spirit of "patrimoine" in rural France, and loads of local workmen would be more than willing to help you restore your house to resemble its original *look.* <BR><BR>Do you really want no central heating or central water supply, though? What, exactly, are you trying to restore? Are you going to live in this house? If so, do you really want it to be totally restored to its 17th-century status? Are you prepared to live in such a house?

Ann,<BR><BR>A good starting point for information on what you can and cannot do when restoring or renovating a property is the "Mairie". They often have rules for what is allowed - for example: what kind of roof tiles, changing exterior walls, shutter colors, etc.<BR><BR>The best advice on restoring usually comes from the artisans you employ - find the best stone masons when redoing walls and the best carpenters when doing<BR>woodworking and windows.<BR><BR>Electricity and plumbing must follow EU guidelines and must be up to date (or you'll have a hard time getting insurance).<BR><BR>There is a large book (in French) about rurual houses... if you're interested I'll dig it out and send you the name.<BR>Is the house you're interested in a village house or outside the town ? and in what region ?<BR><BR>I'm not much of a guide on time required - I"ve been working on our place (an 18thC olive oil mill) for almost ten years, a project at a time.<BR><BR>Patricia<BR>

What a great thread!<BR>

Ann,<BR>I subscribe to a few internatiional magazines. One is "France Magazine." <BR>(http://www.francemag.com). There is a wealth of info about buying property,rentals,etc. At the back of the magazine there are quite a few photos of homes for sales in various towns. Check out this site and click on "Forum." I'll bet you can find what you want there and more. <BR>I love this mag to see which towns/villages are profiled ea month. The photographs are simply magnificant.<BR>I hope you get to live out your dream. Good luck! Francie

I forgot about France magazine which I also buy but don't subscribe to! their website has all the articles ! www.francemag.com

up<BR>

Recently, the UK TV channel Channel 4 ran a progamme about two Britons restoring a house in the Ardeche. Granted, some of the stuff was meant to have some entertainment value, but it also dealt with real, down to earth issues, such as coping with the neighbours, the builders, and yes, the Mairie, which, according to French law, is the ultimate body to deliver the precious "permis de construire" the guidelines of which you'll have to strictly follow. It's called "Location in France" (I think... ) and either the tape or a tie-in book, or both, should be available on channel4.co.uk