Lost skill

I've lost the art of sitting. Not the mechanical action, I can still stand with my back to the sofa, bend my knees and there I am. Sitting. But what happens then? What am I meant to do?

Andrew and I said we would down tools from this weekend until January 2nd. We are both tired, not physically but mentally. We are really enjoying our restoration project for so many reasons but the planning and decision making can wear you out. Last week I was obviously not focussing properly and sustained three (minor) injuries, all caused by lack of concentration on the task in hand. I was being the second pair of hands to help Andrew with some plumbing and forgot to move mine out of the way. Result a bruised and swollen finger. Going down stairs I remembered what I had gone up for, did a sharp U-turn and tripped. I did not win the battle between hardwood stairs and shin. Finally I put a log on the wood burner without thinking what I was doing and seared my arm, Andrew heard the noise from across the room. Now none of these are serious but I need to stop for a few days.

So the sitting bit, obviously I haven't spent all year on my feet, I have sat down but usually it's to do something house related. Research, accounts, planning, ordering. Even as I type I have the urge to open a new tab and look for the perfect kitchen tiles I haven't yet found. Or order the shower tray while Lapeyre still have their 20% discount.  We are already talking about a job that we could do on 'Boxing Day'. I really don't know how to switch off renovation mode.

Back in the U.K I used to have 'magic moments'. 15 minutes or so with an interiors magazine and a cup of coffee or glass of wine but I haven't done that for months. Partly there is the guilt but also, although I subscribe to Art et Décoration magazine, it's not quite so relaxing when I have to read it with the aid of a dictionary. My kind friend Maggie has brought me a copy of Country Homes & Interiors so I may have a trial run of 'sitting' later this afternoon. I have ordered a couple of books to read over Christmas so maybe that will help.

Please don't feel sorry for me, life is good. Really good, but if you have any suggestions to help me regain the art of sitting they will be most welcome.

Really?

We've just come out of a meeting with 'L'Architecte des Batiments de France' in Tulle to discuss our new windows and doors. The Mairie is happy with them, we have to use wood replacements and they have to be in the same style but as were going to do this anyway it wasn't a problem.

But there was an issue which we just weren't expecting - the colour. On the existing house and barn all woodwork is white, and we were expecting to keep it. But oh no! Even though that is how it has always been it now has to be either cream or a grey-cream. Not only that but we even have a specific RAL number to use (RAL9001), all because we live within 500 metres of an historic building (actually three of them). And woe betide us if our window sills are more than three centimetres wide.

Easter feasting

She then mentioned the mortar that we were using, the Mairie had specified beige, yep another set colour. We said that was fine, but she said it did not appear in our 'dossier' or planning application. When I said that surely this was just maintenance not new work I got a slow, shaking of the head.  Apparently not, another dossier is needed. The good news is that she is quite happy with all that we are doing and that the signing off will be a formality, we can start getting quotes in.

Any wonder we headed straight to the patisserie for restorative cake!

Barn concept board

I was able to set a few hours aside this week to design the concept board for the barn. I wouldn't normally do one board for a whole house but I need to achieve a flow across the two floors. It doesn't mean that each room will be identical, different spaces will take specific elements from the concept.

The barn concept board

I started off with a list of 'feelings' for the barn:

• Welcoming
• Comfortable
• Natural
• Relaxing
• Hygge
• Restorative
• Energising
• Stylish
• Rich
• Calm
• Indulgent

Some of these were very similar so they went, and some jarred. Finally I selected relaxing, indulgent and restorative. These are how I hope visitors will feel when staying in the barn.

Next step was my image bank, initially about 45 images that eventually became 6. Again more than I would normally choose but it is the whole building.

I now have a basis for design, colours, textures and overall feel so am feeling much happier. I can start designing the spaces and sourcing.