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NEWSLETTER No. 37 - DECEMBER 12th 2006 In this final newsletter for 2006 we will take a look at old doors. A small number of craftsmen of France have made it their business to restore old doors or build brand new ones to an old design and specification. Unless you live in a very contemporary styled dwelling, you might be looking to add extra character to an entrance, or to the interior of your house. If this is the case, please read on. Top properties are a former winemaker's house beside Gignac (Hérault) with a main dwelling and loft, and a stone house in Le Vigan on 2800m² of ground. Finally, I should like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas. Should you wish to be removed from this mailing list, please use the link provided at the bottom of the page. Otherwise, kindly read on. Theme of the fortnight: The reuse of old doors Old doors, be they at entrances or communicating rooms or cupboards, with their weathered looks, engravings or sculpted woodwork, rudimentary yet decorative iron fittings, few will deny, have instant appeal. In France there are experienced craftsmen that from their considerable stocks of old doors salvaged from aging homes, make decorative additions for new property restorations, in the process re-dimensioning them to make them fit. The tests of time will require great skill on the part of the craftsmen in giving new life to an old door while retaining its character. Others craft entirely new doors to an old design, complete with period fittings. When choosing between options, one necessarily takes into account the style of the property to which the door will be fitted. Entrance doors will be very different in farmhouses, where a fairly simple rustic design and potentially window panes will be optimal, in contrast to that for a townhouse, where a physically heavier piece of work and a more extravagant use of sculpted wood will be of the essence. When making a new door, the choice of wood will also impact appearance and solidity. Equally, hardware - locks, latches, diamond head knockers, heavy duty fasteners and hinges will be necessary and these may also be recycled parts or new ones built to an old design. The vocabulary used by joiners and furniture makers is very specialised and not immediately obvious to a casual observer. Let us not get bogged down in the details therefore, but merely appreciate these works of art.     Restoration Techniques: The deterioration of doors over time includes a number of problems - the bottoms of external doors are often in poor condition due to rainwater penetration, fittings may be absent, holes cut for the purpose of fitting new locks or letter boxes and so on. The restoration process starts by delicately dismantling the door and studying each part to establish which parts must be replaced, and removing any remaining paints or varnishes. In the context of its adoption in a new home, it may be necessary to raise or widen the door. A top craftsman will do this without altering the door's aesthetics. The choice of iron fittings for knockers / handles either requires the restoration of old parts or use of a model of old design. Inner reinforcement of the door is often done traditionally, using lightweight wood so that the door doesn't become too heavy. Doors used for entrances are often given a modern touch by way of water tight weather strips and three way locks. The finish, varnish, wax and sometimes using antique patinas, will give the door the required durability and ensure it blends well with the surrounding wall.    New doors are crafted out of solid hardwood including walnut, oak, cherry, chestnut and lime wood and kiln dried to a maximum moisture content of 10-12%. Prices for restoration and newly built doors are entirely dependent on specification.  Useful Addresses: 'Portes Anciennes', founded 20 years ago and with a stock of 15,000 doors have two outlets in St. Remy de Provence and St. Andiol (Bouches du Rhône). Their wide range of doors encompasses non-restored and restored doors and new old style doors. http://www.portesanciennes.com 'Ebenisterie d'Art BERTOLI', based in Tavel (Gard) near Avignon have a wide range of new doors built to old designs. http://www.lesbellesportesdeprovence.com/ Also: http://www.provenceportesanciennes.com/ http://www.portesantiques.com/news/nouveautes.html and finally, eBay can also be a useful source of old doors and fittings. Top Properties: Beside Gignac, a former winemaker's dwelling pleasantly restored to create a main dwelling and an independent loft. The total internal surface area of the property is 320m² beside which there is a garage of 50m². There are total of 10 rooms of which 4 bedrooms. A mature garden of 375m² gives appreciable external space. Montpellier city centre a 25 minute drive. The asking price is 470,000€.     Also new on the market is a restored stone built house set in the hills above Le Vigan (Gard) with a surface area of 100m² comprising a living room, kitchen, four bedrooms, a bathroom, and an additional room of 26m². In addition there are three cellars, an outbuilding (clède - used formerly to dry chestnuts) and a bread oven. The property stands in grounds of 2800m² which is partly buildable. Minor renovation and decoration work is required. The asking price is 255,000€. The next newsletter will be on January 9th. Bonnes fêtes!  +33 467 297 068 +33 626 581 415 Contact: http://www.jamespropertiesfrance.com/contact.php www.jamespropertiesfrance.com About James Properties France: Based in Montpellier in the south of France, bringing to you a carefully picked selection of properties within a 70 mile radius - with the occasional more distant exception - that are chosen for their combinations of attributes, most notably: - Setting of outstanding natural beauty - Distinct character or unusual features - Quality of renovation or authenticity - Value for money James Properties France (JPF) serves primarily an English speaking, though often highly Francophile clientele looking to move or own a second home in the south of France around such places as Uzes, Nîmes, Montpellier, Anduze, St. Hippolyte du Fort, the Southern Cevennes, Gignac and Clermont l'Herault and the Hauts Cantons. The property selection proposed by JPF is targeted to fit buyers from abroad in terms of types of location, accessibility, environment / landscapes, and types and formats of construction. Besides bringing you a wide array of properties, JPF helps by running specific searches in the Gard and Hérault. JPF acts as an intermediary between you and a number of regional estate agencies, at no extra charge. Selections of properties that meet your criteria can be established prior to your visits, any linguistic issues totally alleviated, questions about French procedures and legislation addressed quickly, and information on prices and property details addressed plainly by all parties. JPF helps you with your purchase from the beginning to the end of the process, often communicating with the assigned notary to make sure that content and conditions of sale are correctly documented, ensuring all is in order for completion, and keeping you informed of progress. Insurance and utilities can also be arranged. In addition, should you wish to have assistance in maintaining or making alterations to your house, or any formalities associated with property ownership or financing in France, JPF can give assistance on an hourly basis. Should you wish to sell your property in the south of France, JPF can also help. If you would like to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please click on the following link: www.jamespropertiesfrance.com/unsubscribe.php |