How long will it take to finish the Château’s Coach House? YOU DECIDE!
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2023
- We are Marc, Amy, Clement and Juliette, a French-English family restoring a 33 room medieval chateau and huge estate in southern France. Follow our award-winning, historically-sensitive restorations and our journey towards self-sufficiency and sustainability, with plenty of laughter along the way.
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#history #sustainability #castle #chateau #selfsufficiency #renovation
Since your volunteers will only be there for a few weeks why don't you have them do the essentials that you cannot do alone? Save the tile making, painting, and other non-essentials for after they've gone. Make a ToDo list and prioritize the tasks.
Keep your daily videos short (10 minutes) and they don't have to be in real time. Hope you can move in before Christmas. Good luck! 🥰🤗
Write every (tiny) job on a piece of paper/notebook...the prioritise most to least urgent for moving in....bathroom, kitchen, bedroom. Once you have those rooms functional, move in. Save the tiling, painting, decorating for after the move in, completing 1 room at a time. It helps stress levels when you can see the end result in each room....doing a little in every room simultaneously is a recipe for the loony bin.
Good luck with the daily video....keep them short. ,😅
4 weeks
I will definitely watch your weekday daily videos. I just don't want you to "bite off more than you can chew!" If the kids get sick, don't stress about the videos. People should really be understanding. After working on renovations all day long, you will be tired. Please get enough rest! I know you didn't ask for a second mother; 😂 but I love your videos so much that I don't want you to get burned out.❤
Yes, I agree
I have debilitating arachnophobia and can so relate to you.
U need to get over ur “edge” finishing. U have lost perspective! It looks good as is
If it were me, I would stop all other projects and get the coach house finished finished! Once your family is moved in I would think you would be able to then give your total focus on other things. Just my opinion but go for it!
Unfortunately there are urgent works elsewhere that take most of Marc’s time at the moment, and I have daily household and childcare responsibilities, and we’re still awaiting the help we need for the sewage ponds so there’s no way we can move in before that’s done and it’s dependent on others!
@@Chroniclesofrosieres use the assistance of your volunteers and get done what you can! I see your frustration, I couldn’t live in a construction site especially with two toddlers. Good luck!
I look forward to seeing Monday to Friday videos, but please don’t put unrealistic pressure on yourself. As for completing the coach house,I suppose it depends if that is going to be your full focus, if so, get a good, realistic jobs list/plan set out and ‘crack on’ with it and hopefully you would be in for Xmas, if not before. I wish I could help you ❤️ xx
👍💕🇨🇦😊💞💖
You always do wonderful things and will plough through in a respectful and colourful way 😊
I would complete the kitchen and baths immediately. Everything else can happen while you live there. I would say a few months. Lovely volunteers. Have them begin working in the kitchen and baths. xx
you need a list for each room most important at the top of each list, put the lists up in each work place. crossing of each day is so much fun.
I think with a well thought out plan you could have it liveable in a couple of months - especially as you have extra hands helping. It is amazing how much faster things progress when it's not just you! I would start lining up more volunteers for the next shift so you can maintain the extra help through the summer. I love your videos and will definitely look forward to the 'almost dailies'. Honestly any length will do - even a few minutes is fun to watch! The coach house is going to look amazing.
Definitely before Christmas, before fall would be amazing! I would push, push, push the coach house to the front of the list of must complete ( especially with the help you have)
Don't over do it. Short videos are just fine. Time lapse is acceptable. Go for it. Stay organized
Excited about your daily blog!
Habitable but not totally complete, still means having a working kitchen and bathrooms(s), bedrooms and a secured outdoor space.
With a nanny by Christmas but without a nanny March of 2024.
Being realistic about your expectations is vital but you and Marc have wonderful positive attitudes which is half the battle!
We have lived through renovations, twice while living in the parts not being renovated, it always takes longer than expected.
As someone has already mentioned, make a to do list based on difficulty. Get as much done while you have help. Get a tripod and set it in a corner to film and don’t worry to much about camera angles. Once you’ve moved in you can take your time to do the main building 😊
Yay to daily videos. I think it will take 3-6 month’s complete the renovations. 3 months if you rush or 6 months if you want to tackle all the projects. Best of luck, it will be beautiful no matter how long it takes.
Agreed. Provided that Marc’s skepticism is kept in check.
I've been watching your story from nearly the beginning, and my recommendation would be to concentrate on a single 10-20 minute update per week. That will give you time to be with your volunteers, the work and your family. Also, I'd like to see you in the Coach House before the winter. Bless you.
Maybe use the daily vlogs as the bones on which you hang each particular task. One task per vlog, regardless of the duration, maybe. You can break a really big task into more than one episode, but not often. Make the dailies short (even time-lapsed) of each task (meaning finished to a pre-determined goal - recommending !absolutely! finished for that particular task, so that nothing more needs doing). In planning the vlog of the task, the task plan will emerge & vice versa.
You needn't upload in chronological order, but adopting the paradigm of finished vlog/finished task is the goal.
It means several vlogs in the works at a time. Recommend mapping &checklists. Do you have a big, blank wall you can paint with chalk paint & use to keep track? Maybe on the ground floor of the coach house?
By all means - finish the coach house residence. Bit by dogged bit.
Rooting for you. Yay!😇
4 months but I know nothing
I loved this. Thank you for taking the time. We all wanted to know what was left.
Also that beautiful kind hearted couple staying with you is such a gift. They are so sweet and I am thinking they will give all they can to help, big hearts.
Cant wait for more Amy xoxo
And yes outdoor cushion furniture is a must for tired backs and feetsies and for fun
Amy, your planning and organization skills will be put to good use. I am always impressed with how well you manage the various tasks of parenting, caring for the animals, and moving forward on your projects. I’m so very glad that you have this help, but I confess to being jealous that I don’t have the necessary construction skills of your wonderful helpers. I would love to be there building alongside you all. As far as timing, I believe you are dedicated and hard working and focusing on and celebrating your progress rather than having a specific time goal that might frustrate you is a good plan. I know that huge steps forward will come with this wonderful team of helpers. Remember, this is a lifetime commitment, not a half hour renovation show 🥰
Personally, I would reasonably have it done by Sep 15th, but I don’t have children & film crews. I agree, be smart about what your helpers help you with. Painting is easy. Have them help boxing in lines, cabinets, work tops & functioning washroom on main level. Good luck. Don’t get lost in the weeds over minute details, get it functioning.😊
Prioritize, proiritize, prioritize, and make lists. It might be helpful for each room to have its own to-do-list, that might make it easier to pick back up where you , or someone else left off when the inevetable interuptions happen. Also creating a master construction schedule, with estimated task duration and time line might keep everyone moving forward and coordinated. Having a brainstorming session to define and fine tune the schedule and tasks is crucial. You and Marc have to decide and agree on what is a wish list and what is the bare minimum of what is absolutely necessary to move in. I think Christmas is a realistic target. Good luck.
I would set my goal for November first. It really depends on what you have already sourced and what you still need to source. That would give you four months to focus on specifically the coach house. The other projects will need to be put on hold for the time being. I think with extra hands and a timeline it could be done. I am always amazed at what I can accomplish when I know something has to be done by a certain date. It may not be perfect, but it will be a home, not a work site. ♥️
I’m in absolute shock that your volunteers are from Kansas City! That’s where I live and I feel like I want to meet the people that have volunteered at the UA-cam chateau channel that I watch! 😂
I'll defer to Marc and your mum (because mom's know everything 🧐🥰) to guess when you will finish the coach house and whether you doing daily videos is a good use of your time right now because they have to live with you. 🤣🤣. My role as a patron is to simply love and support you guys which is so easy and delightful to do. Do what you want dear and listen to your heart within for guidance as only you know what you and your little ones need. So glad you have such a wonderful couple helping you. I hope they have fun at your beautiful chateau, and you and Marc enjoy their gracious help. 💕❤
In my experience haha… (5 yrs of building a new beside the old and then renovating the old house) I personally would tackle one room or one ‘task’ like the plastering, at a time where possible. Its not clear what the skill sets are of your volunteers but many hands will make lighter work. Have lists and a clear focus of what you want to achieve with each room. Yes, three to six months time wise. Clearly you would know all this already but theres my 10 cents worth (10 cents of Aussie money is not worth much by the way these days 🤭)When my old house is rented and begins paying for itself at last I will look forward to becoming a patron but until then I am a keen subscriber. I always look forward to your next vlog. Weekday delight to come! Thank you!!!
Amy, I'm pretty sure that Marc feels the same way you do. You two amoureux need a Friday date night, complete with candle and fine wine. In conclusion, I'd wish you a nice evening, but I wouldn't want to spoil you evening. Looking forward to your next vlog, at your convenience. ❤❤
I won't make a guess on the time to complete, but I think you'll be surprised at how much two young and enthusiastic people will accomplish in a few weeks. So excited to watch the process!
Am presently renovating a 900 sq ft condo and between two of us full on we're hoping at 8 weeks! Your project coach house is large and has so many creative elements that steal all the time! Focus on essential spaces as others have suggested. The tiles can follow- you need a working toilet, sink and bath. Prioritize: essentials/ next necessities/ desirables last. You will continue to move from room to room with none being totally finished but you will be able to live within it. The only fear I can attest to is never getting the final few steps completed - although in your case you will move to the Chateau and once it is again empty, you will be able to whip into shape the final tasks in the Coach house. Good luck and prioritize, prioritize, prioritize!
Your secret weapon is a lovely duo and I’m sure with their help you can really speed up your progress, and manage short daily vlogs. 🙂♥️♥️♥️
As to an estimate, I’m horrible at them (a tried and true family joke), so I won’t hazard a guess… except to say that for me, it’s always at least 2-3 times as long as I think (even if I’ve already at least doubled my estimate). 🤣🤦♀️🤣 But then, I’m almost always a workforce of one - with 3-4 people (trading off kid duties as needed), you’ll have far better luck than me. 🙂
Wow very ambitious ! Get out the whiteboard ,then just do one project at a time. Go as far as you can go with help then reasses your time frames. Best to you all! Wishing you a productive summer !
It's a great idea to do a team push to get into the Coach House. Here's my guess: You could actually get the Coach House habitable but still a building site in 3-4 weeks IF you have 3 full-time workers ( I mean functioning plumbing in the powder room, bathroom and kitchen, plus functioning cooking area, but none of them really finished). Habitable but not a building site (again with 3 workers) would take double that, and finishing all the little things would double the time again. So that's four months with a full-time focus with multiple people.
I think you’re very astute Lisa and that’s probably what I would reckon too.
Life is Brilliant when several forces come together: the urge to just finally get it done, the present of focused guests to help, and one's own IDEA/INSPIRATION that it is indeed a good plan! Having lived in our home when it was "habitable but not finished" I'm with Lisa Kilmer. Our "chateau" is a suburban Kentucky 1970s, massively remodeled, with twin daughters (4-10 during those years).
I wish you all the best with the coach house x I know your first deadline was November 2021 (if I remember when I visited you guys in May 2021 ) - but looking at things realistically you’ve had a beautiful baby since then and many projects alongside x If you could get in before the weather turns this year - that would be a real boost for all of you I reckon 🥰 x
Amy, I know how it is to move after 18 years in you house. In all honesty, I would say over six months not to be a Debbie downer. With a young family animals in the mix. The unexpected always happens with a Family even with the extra hands to lighten the load. I hope everything works out and Jason and Michaela are able to help moving the construction zone of the coach house in the correct direction so you can move in. In all honesty, Amy, you might want to start small with the videos. Try maybe two videos a week rather than five. Don’t set the mountain too high for the videos. If two you can accomplish easily then put maybe another additional one on a week, but it’s a large undertaking to do five videos during the week when you have a young family, and animals. Please take care of yourself and your family first. I hope this doesn’t burst your bubble. I mean this as a encouragement. ❤ The health of yourself, and your family is more important than videos for us.❤
I thoroughly agree. Please don’t overstretch yourself. Certainly film something each day of your progress but just send out twice a week.
There is an enormous amount of work. Sadly every room has been started but not finished. Soooooo if it was me with limited help I would do one room at a time. The first the kitchen. Most important as you only have a small one now. Then bathroom . The rest as you feel necessary. BUT one at a time.. Good luck 🍷🍷🇬🇧🇬🇧
I’ll say 6 months, but it would be fabulous if you got it done earlier.
Amy I love your enthusiasm, with 3 people working on it, one looking after kids, my gut feeling is 3 to 4 months. I would complete, each room because you will never get back to the finish as you have a Chateau to renovate. Just had to say!
Daily vlog 10 to 15 minutes even shorter if needed, are the best. Drop the intro and just get strait into the day.
Even if you don't get time to film just a 2 mint vlog to say hi, checking in, keeps the audience/youtube content.
Dan's vlogs on @escapetoruralfrance has nailed it, with daily vlogs.
Good luck with it. I wish I could come and be a nanny for you, as my back ground is working in early childhood education!
Depending on if materials are readily available and how many volunteers are helping you, maybe you could move in by Christmas 🎄? Hopefully sooner but there is a lot to do. The daily blogs could be no longer than 5 to 10 minutes. Dan from escape to rural France does a daily and they are never longer than 10 to 15 minutes long, sometimes less. So happy you have help. Can’t wait to see how much gets accomplished. Thanks for sharing 😍😘
Wonderful vlog - I always enjoy them. You are so down-to-earth and REAL. I'm glad you have help - things always take longer than you expect by yourself, but go faster than expected with a team. I am going to say 3 months...with a lot of hard work! Best of luck, we are all pulling for you!
Amy, I am excited by your help arriving at the beginning of the summer. I will hope you can get all the work done before the leaves begin to fall. I am not exactly aware of your seasons, but having a goal for mid August would be great. I am in the US and my summer is the "school summer" of June 15 to August 15. I will pray and enjoy watching, liking and commenting whilst I do my own ""summer work".
Every home build/renovation programme I watch they always seem to aim for completion by Christmas. That gives you 6 months. 🎄 🎅
Realistically Amy, I think it will take a full month even with 3 additional workers to complete the essential details for the basic plumbing of bathroom, electrical, plastering bedroom details, painting, etc. for the Coach House.
I've read through many of the comments, and I agree, that not knowing the skill sets of the lovely KC vounteers or exactly how long they will be with you, it's nearly impossible to project how long it might take to have the coach house move-in liveable. I agree with most that the laundry area, kitchen, the largest bathroom, and a safe play area for Clement and Juliette are critical for being able to move-in. That means the plumbing and electrical are safely finished in all areas to the point they are child safe. The pretty light fixtures probably wont be done, nor likely homemade tiles installed, but things would be safe and livable. I'm guessing it would take at least 2-3 months to get to this point taking laundry, meals, pets & childcare also into account! 😮
The best advice here AND the big board with listed tasks by PRIORITY - marked off as done. WONDERFUL to show at the end of each vlog now & forever.
And, hate to say it, but plan on 6 months.
Just do the essential projects to get yourself in target to be in before Christmas. If you want it completed it will be 12 months instead of 5 1/2. Good luck!!
So happy to see you have two young volunteers to take on some of the needed tasks, but perhaps you need to guide them to do tasks that are essential right now and leave the ornamental jobs for later? Perhaps a 'to do list' prioritized with finishing plumbing leading the way and then onto more essentials.
I'm writing this on Sunday, so a bit later. YES, to the daily vlogs. Keep them under 10 minutes. Minimal editing -- use your pause button so you don't have to chop and mix film later. Focus on ONE thing for each video.
If you are sick of living in a building site, then you'll want to finish the coach house before you move in, which will take longer, even with help. Hand over the tasks to your friends and give them the ability/authority to make decisions and finish the work so they don't have to ask repeatedly. I would focus on the downstairs. I'd use standing furniture for the kitchen surfaces. Make it comfortable and livable. Things that aren't essential (light covers, shutters) can be done while you're living there. Cover things with fabric/curtains instead of finished doors. You will feel relieved just to be IN there, so that the chateau work can commence.
Where's your work schedule..? Be a great project manager...!
Love the idea of volunteers to help... many chateaus in restoration stages do that!
How long will it take?
Depends on the work schedule... progress and means to do it...
6 weeks is a great start!
Hope your in there by then...
Remember... nothing's impossible... ❤
Placing a time frame on these projects will be hard, if, you're planning is mixed together with your current needs and your event needs.
It seems you need to pick which 'need' is most important, and go with that. Setting up a small kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom, along with the downstairs main area, first, would get you moved in. Daily vlogs, albeit short, is a tall order. But as you said, it will make you accountable. My best wishes for this project.
I think I’ll take 6 months. I’d love your kids. Nova Scotia, Canada
One month for livable. plumbing finished, kitchen appliances serviceable, utilities safe for children. Tiles after (winter project?), Fence in yard and get nice garden furniture now.
Ouch !! Amy, mission impossible!! It’s got to be 4 to 6 moths with not having illnesses Or some such happening. By winter preferably, I hope Marc likes the idea!. It’s not for the faint hearted and I do hope you make it. I feel exhausted just talking about it. WCL
4:29 Good to hear -- no one is sick!
In the coach house b4 school starts & lil time for family holiday if possible!
Anything is possible but health & wellness for you & your family is first just remember you told your viewers this in the beginning. How about every other day set up a schedule see how it works! Onward!
Great that you have some volunteers to help you on some of your projects. So happy for you guys!
Woah! That is a LOT to complete while raising children, cooking/cleaning/laundry, completing critical outdoor projects while the sun shines, and bearing in mind that shops in France aren't open all day to run to for needed parts. Weather - always weather, as well. The wildcard is what little illnesses the children will bring home from nursery... The projects may look small, but so many require many days of work. Daily filming and editing (2 channels!) and running that drain out the back will take a lot of time. Do you have septic/sewer? You didn't mention that - and that is a HUGE time sucker. If your goal is habitable, you may be able to get by with 4.5 months. Once you started talking about décor and light fixtures and everything painted I think 6-8 months. 🤞
You will really have only two people working on this full time. Why not every other day videos? Take off a bit of pressure so that you have some days where you can just focus on completing projects without moving cameras and clearing out peacocks so you can be heard. 😄 I say that as I move my dogs and three foster puppies around before I can start anything. 🤣 Every other day videos may also give you an extra four hours so you get some sleep a night. 😴 My heart goes out to you when I see you both with dark circles under your eyes. 😘
Hello to your helpers from Omaha, NE - just up the road, really. Many of my family members live in KC. Amy, you and Marc and the kids need to come to the Midwest some day. Marc would love the agriculture (REALLY, REALLY BIG tractors!!!! 🚜🌽🐄) and you would love the culture 🎭🎨🎵 💃and architecture. 🏡 🌇 The kids would love the zoo, in the top 3 in the country.
I agree with everyone. Decide who is the project manager, what are the specific tasks, who is ordering the supplies needed, who is actually picking up the supplies, who is best one for doing each task. I also would assign daily tasks such as shopping, cooking and cleaning, watching the children. People are much happier and efficient when they know exactly what is expected of them. One the major issues I have found with remodeling is not having the supplies when it is time to use or install them. Having to run to the paint store for one more gallon is a loss of productivity. Maybe a major list of task and supplies for each room needs to be done first. Also, mix up the work a little. People get tired of doing the same thing every day. Playing music helps keep the spirits up!
Yes you deserve to have some where nice to live xxxxxxxx
I understand why you want to push to get into the coach house. You have already done most of the major works. If you push ahead, I reckon you could get in, in a couple of months. Most is cosmetic and decorating. Fingers crossed for you Amy. 🤞
hello Amy...... I would say alone or with Marc you would set aside two months of work b/c of tending to your beautiful children, laundry, food, house updates, etc., but with your wonderful visitors that would take all of their time in these projects I would give it 3-4 weeks at most........it will be just beautiful.....🥰🤩😍
I'll go for 2-3 months 💪🤞 with so many helping hands you could make great progress. Really looking forward to daily videos, even short update that doesn't require lots of time editing would be great and could get you motivated even more when you see the progress you're making every day 😉 good luck with it all 💪👍
I’d not do a daily video - save your time and energy and do a nice weekly one. If you had all the materials on site I’d say it could be done in three months but as some things still have to be ordered and some things restored I’d think closer to five months. Can’t wait to see it done! Good luck.
Hooray for Jason and Mikala (sorry if I misspelled)! Kansas City to the rescue! (I live in KC, too.) Keep the videos very short, 5 minutes, maybe think about 2-3 short videos rather than 5? Enough to give you a push, but not so much to overwhelm? Shoot for 3 months but expect 6. Things always happen! Good luck!!
Before Christmas 🎄
I would suggest getting moved into the coach house during November so that you can have a nice Christmas with the family. Hoping that bathrooms, kitchen and laundry are all working. The tiling project could be very time consuming so it might need a separate timeline, with more thought behind that than I can manage as a distant observer. I know you have the larger laundry area but I think having a stackable washer/dryer would be very helpful, especially during winter and the rainiest months. I would think keeping it on the main floor but in what you are planning as the industrial kitchen (and not the main open living area of course) would be a reasonable way to do quick loads.
Does it make sense to have a planning and ordering/purchasing timeline and a separate actual hands on work timeline? You might need to work backwards from your move in date to see if the schedule is doable. Wishing you loads of good fortune! 🍀🤞
It looks like most of the hard work has been done. I read some of the comments that think it will take months... I think with a push it could be mostly done in one month.
Will the "nanny" be coming soon? That would be helpful too. I'm hoping with some great help, the coach house could be ready for occupancy by October. ❤😊
She’s coming soon Judi - we’re so excited!
Hello, So super to see you again. How wonderful Jason and Michaela are volunteering with you; stars in alighment indeed. My gosh, you have shown quite a lot of projects which need to be finished in The Coachhouse for Jason and Michaela to tackle. The first thing i would do is make a list of priorities in the coach house and what Marc and Jason can achieve in the bedrooms while you and Michaela start preparing the living room downstairs, get all the mess out so you can see the wood for the trees and get cracking. I agree with another commentor leave the Chateau, get settled into the Coachhouse and then tackle the Chateau restoration and decorating. At least you will come and return to happy, comfortable space without decorating required.
I think the coachouse will take, depending how much time allowed to work on it, will take 3 to 4 months. I wish you all great success, good fortune and hope you beat the estimate! ❤ 😊 xxxxx
You need a punch list up on the wall to understand the order of importance.
Yeah, I’d definitely get a paint brush to start in that kitchen for them to work on, while you make a list. First thing decide that the kitchen is the room you need done before you can move in, order your appliances now, cabinets and please get your supplies in order.
They look like a wonderful, wholesome American couple.... I approve!
I don't know what skills the lovely couple that are volunteering have, but I would think 2 months. I agree with whomever said, just finish, finish. You will be so much happier, and it will give you the serotonin boost to get through more projects!
Please don't torture yourself with daily updates. Every other day or 3 times per week, would be perfect! It will help keep momentum (accountability), and there will be a before and after, that is noticeable. That's not a before and finished! That kind of pressure on yourselves, with ALL you and Mark do, is insanity. Even with extra help.
I'm very excited to watch this phase, okay, I like everything that you put out to watch, but ...
Be well and happy,
Audri
Amy, before I answer 'how long' I have a couple of questions:
Firstly, will you be free to work or will the littlies be around most of the time?
Do Jason and Michaela have e.g. plumbing skills?
Is there a camera operator/ editor or will you be doing it yourself?
So glad you have help whilst Marc is busy outside. Also I agree with other comments that you should completely finish the coach house , lampshades and all so that it feels finished to you. I'm sure you'll have much more energy for the rest 😀💜
I totally agree with your decision to push for the carriage house to be completed. I think it will take 4 months, if you don’t run into too many complications! Looking forward to your daily vlogs!
It’s really hard to say without knowing your wonderful helps skills, if the young man has building skills I would say six weeks.
I'm going to make a guess at 4 months to get it to the point where you can live in it comfortably, which means you'll be in before the cold winter weather sets in. Doesn't have to be completely finished, because you both have high standards for what you want to achieve! Wishing you and your lovely volunteers the very best of luck! Xx
Wow! Kansas City, MO! I live about 35 miles northeast of there. It's a great city!
When you two put your minds to something you get a lot done in a short time. I honestly think with help and single-minded focus, you could get it move-in ready three months. Not done, but liveable. So, 1st October.
Oh and I don’t think you can do daily videos. …not without a lot of stress. Unless they were essentially unedited 5-minute updates more as motivation through a feeling of accountability. Then I could definitely see that possibility.
With help I reckon on 6 months. Good luck!
I think your starting point should be a room by room plan of exactly what is needed to totally complete it. Then work out what must be done before moving in. Then draw up a list of the order items should be completed and make a timetable working with the number of workers and the number of hours to be worked each day. With childcare you will be able to complete your tiles over a shorter time. Sticking to a timetable and fixed order will speed up the moving in day. I think you should aim for start of next school term for all major works to be finished and aim for mid October to move in allowing for final finishes
and total completion by Christmas. Good luck!
I think I’d be prioritising bathrooms and kitchen and bedrooms (maybe one volunteer in each sector) and go hell for leather for the next three weeks while you have them. You may need to steal one volunteer every now and then and put onto different tasks but in the main you’d get those areas liveable and safe. The main living area is already useable so then you’d be able to move in and complete finishing touches whilst there. If you’re all able to devote a full working day each then with 4-5 of you pulling together you may get in within the month. If tiles need to be made first then priorities may change a bit but in between drying/firing/glazing you cld stick to the above plan. Bon chance!
Renovation - optimistically...Halloween. Daily vlogs - just go for as long as you can. Don't work those nice folks too hard. 🙂 You got this girl!!!
Yes to daily videos keeping them short, 3 to 6 months easy, once those volunteers go maybe get more that can help with specific tasks, prioritise the big things or things you need help with and leave the smaller jobs for you to finish. You can do this and help will take the pressure off, good luck Amy, I am cheering you on from Australia 🙏🏻😀
I hope your volunteers have usable skills that will be of real help to you - so much to be done. Maybe these sweet young volunteers have friends who can step in when they leave? I would think all the work might take 4-5 months? Happy all is progressing and that you, Marc and children are happy and healthy.
Great challenge!
Keeping up with the daily vids and having two helpers, and your need to escape the chateau, are great motivators to get it done asap. You’ll move in before you know it. I give you two months … 😘
I am thinking a good goal would be Oct 31 to finish the work needed to move in. That would be a great time to move into a warm/easy to heat space. I love the idea of short daily videos to keep everything on track (and to feed our endless curiosity lol). Best of luck, what a fun project.
Hi Amy & Marc, It's great that you have three volunteers to help you make the last push of the final details to get the coach house finished to be able to move the family into a finished space. I think with a good schedule laid out, 4 - 6 weeks may be pushing it but with all hands on deck, you may be able to make it happen. As for a daily video, if you must, keep them short, 10 - 15 minutes maximum, and highlight the important progress, that will keep everyone on task and schedule. Additionally, even with Marc working on outside projects, certainly call him in to finish up and work on tasks that only he needs to finish so others can move forward more easily and not play a waiting game for details to be completed. There, I've given my suggestions, mostly from what I picked up from the video, but in the end, it's your project to manage and complete in a timely manner. The best of luck with everything, I look forward to following the progress. Mark & Scott
PS...I'm not a new follower of your videos, but just playing catch up with what I have missed over the last couple of months.
You need a list of everything that needs done in each room and a floor plan with measurements for all things- including windows and doors and heights. That way you have all measurements for buying furniture, planning window coverings, etc., estimating paint and finish trim lengths, piping, wiring and miscellaneous.
You also need a decor board to put paint samples, fabrics, tile samples, fixtures etc. That way you can visualize the look you want to end with.
Then you can generate tasks per day so everyone stays organized. It gives you lists of things that need to be bought, ordered, etc., so you can minimize your shopping and maximize your work time, coordinating when each task needs to be done, and what can be done as the same time as something else. Plus you can then check off tasks as they get done so you can feel a daily sense of accomplishment.
I am sure if you look at the internet you can find example lists to help you remember everything you need in each room and each project. Like light covers and matching screws, faucet connectors and plumbing fixtures, door hinges, shims and handle, thresholds, curtain rods and hangers, shower rods, cabinet handles.
You can make up mock up sizes with cardboard to see how large things need to be to fit the scale of the rooms- for example, light fixtures. You need a sense of scale so uou don’t end up having to order and reorder, or purchase something at a brocante and then have to return it. Taping sizes of things off on the floor, like how big the coffee bar should be, the size of the dining table with chairs around it, etc., will save you so much time and grief.
Basically you are setting up to be your own project manager and that will go as efficiently as you are organized. So once you’ve done all above, then you need to go room by room and make a complete project list for that room and everything needed to complete it. Once that is done you can create hardware lists, plumbing lists, brocante lists, tool lists, online ordering lists, etc. That way each task is ready to go and there is no stopping because you are out of supplies. It is like doing lesson plans and preparing supplies for teaching lessons.
If you had this all done, I could give you time to completion, but getting this all organized will take you most of a week; then there will be a waiting period for anything you have to order, anything you have to purchase (shopping trips and I understand you are quite always from stores).
You also need a schedule of work times, meal times, clean up after meals and grocery lists. Keeping drinks and snacks close at hand to the work space saves time and conserves worker energy. The project will go faster if you plan in advance and no one gets too fatigued and cranky. Plan tasks to do so that if one gets held up by weather or problems everyone can turn focus to the next. Flow is important.
Bathrooms and kitchens take longest. I don’t know if your rooms are plumbed; it looks like the bathrooms are wired but not the kitchen. So you will need to have an electrician out to do that so you can work that into the schedule.
Each evening you will need a brief planning meeting for the next day, a review of what has been done and yet needs attention and what tools and supplies everyone will need for the next day to come, including any tutorials on how to do things, so they don’t have to be redone. Additionally, each morning there should be a brief meeting to cover what specific tasks need accomplishing, who is to do what, and discussion of task related issues.
The bathrooms will likely take 2-3 weeks once started. The kitchen will be six weeks. Depending on what is done and needs redone, bedrooms can take 4 days each. These are minimal times. Things alway take longer than you plan.
Please make sure to have plenty of equipment and supplies so people don’t run out in the middle of a project. That is the biggest obstacle to moving swiftly and efficiently.
Then make sure you set up work spaces well organized so people aren’t wasting time looking for tools and supples, running from place to place to get work done or having to wait on each other for resources.
Finally, clean up the worksite each day so it is clean and ready to go for the next day, including cleaning snd organizing tools, bringing in supplies needed for the next day or next project. Plan to have a cleanup hour at the find of each day to accomplish this, even if tasks have to be cut short. It will save so much time snd confusion for the next day so people can get started right away.
As for your outside space, I would ask for suggestions from your up the hill neughbor. He will undoubtedly have some great ideas how to best manage and decorate the space, including where to plant snd what to plant as well as what tasks are needed, what supplies for that particular spot and in what order. He can visualize a space that is both decorative and good for a children’s play area ( no poisionous plants, all hardy plants that fit the area and look decorative and take minimal tending to). The you can order what you need and assess and assemble required tools and materials.
If you follow this suggestion, you will have to put in a week of effort yourself but then you should only have to check in in the morning, at noon and end of work day except when you are making tiles; so you can still attend the kids with few interruptions; of course this will also necessitate shopping trips and time ordering things. But it will make everyone efficient in use if time. You will see progress.
I would not plan more that 2.5 work days for your volunteers without a fun break for them. That way they will enjoy both their vacation and their volunteer work. So this will require advance planning and discussion with them about local sights, festivals and day trips. That way everyone knows the schedule, has the same understanding of the work flow and can get the most out of their experience.
Hope this helps.
Hiya all 😁 start with the tradesman standard you are happy with then the living standard you are happier with and all the rest of the love with grow in a loving home xox
If you work on it daily three months. That’s consistent working with that being the main goal.
I say before Christmas to set a realistic goal that allows for unexpected delays. Amy, make a list on a large board of all that needs doing in order of priority, and then cross each thing out as it is done. It will help you to focus on completion of each step, and visualize your progress.
I think ambitiously you can move in by October 1, before it gets too cold. But I think more realistically, you can be in for Christmas. So excited for you to be able to be settled in the coach house!
I will echo the other followers that daily videos would be lovely, but if it is too much, that’s okay too! You have a lot going on, so I wouldn’t stress about getting out a daily video if it’s not possible.
Amy you and Mark need to divide up chores. It may help to get on some type of weekly schedule. Additionally, set your date and work backwards from there. Do a regroup! Pick up & sort, organize the main obstacles.This will help you all around.
It would be great if you could get in by the holidays. That said be flexible about what must be done before you move in. You don’t want to move into a building site but if the upstairs is finished especially the bathroom and you have the basics of a functional kitchen you’re golden.
If the upstairs is done it can be your sanctuary to get away from any remaining construction tasks and the kids would be contained in a safe area to play and while you all sleep. Leave the secondary tasks on the first floor other than the necessary part of a kitchen till last as when the kids are awake so are you to supervise them ie keep them safe when they’re inside. Best of luck. And fingers crossed.
Johanna Maine USA
Not knowing Jason and Mikayla's (sp) talents and abilities with renovations it is hard to say how long the coach house will take but I am going to be optimistic and say you will be in by the fall. Having the extra hands will be a great help. Best of luck
First of all, I adore you all and have been with you from the beginning. I’m rooting for you to get moved in quickly. But realistically, At least 2 months but more like 3. Go for it and don’t look back!!❤️🤗👍
I'm subscribed to both channels. I have notifications on, but am not getting them. I hear across multiple channels that YT is not pushing notifications. I think yoou can get a lot of the fiddly finish work done in a couple of weeks. I'm a list maker as it helps me stay focused on goals. Maybe do a list for each room to determine what can be done by your awesome helpers before they go? I'm with you about how exhausting living in a construction zone with small kiddos is!
elm will keep moving so won't be as stable as any other timber;.. but.. we had a couple of similar pieces and they made an amazing central island top over an old kitchen table in which we set a sink and induction hob. The scraps are a round table top over a pine table. Priorities are always bathroom/kitchen and then the bedrooms with heat sources.
Best Wishes for a speedy, but thoughtful, restoration! Looking forward to seeing it all come to life. ❤
Very excited for you to enjoy a team of helpers to support your progress and help you with the work and the kiddos! You look happy and enthusiastic! I hope you will welcome my suggestions. I recognize I only know a small percentage of what you have going on - but since you asked - here are my 2 cents. Please don’t take offense or feel the need to defend if I am clueless - I sincerely want to help and recognize I don’t have the whole picture. Just apply what might help and ignore the rest. Since your volunteers won’t be there for months - I think maybe focusing on the bare minimums to get you able to move in would be the first priority and the “pretty bits” could be the second stage. I’m thinking safety and function over beauty. Get your kitchen painted and appliances in - even counters - plugs sorted, etc. Get at least one bathroom working but maybe the tiles aren’t first priority. Fence an area to corral the kid’s play space - even if you just use that temporary roll out fencing with some stakes for now. You probably already have done this - but I would need my first team project to be to brainstorm and make a big dream list of all the things in each room you would like to accomplish to consider the space complete. Then go through and makes a list of priorities for safety and function to be on your “bare minimum for safety” list. See what your team feels their skill set can contribute most to maximize their time spent make the greatest impact. Make a schedule by listing out a plan for what projects to handle on what days. See what materials need be sourced to be there to use on your proposed work schedule. I know no day will go 100% to plan - but you will at least have a plan and just be adjusting as you go along. I’m very very happy for you! 🎉❤
PS you can even plan ahead for meals and who will cook/clean/kids, etc so you can just carry on each day without having to stop to think!😂
so pleased you have some help. 3 months !!!!
I love your channel, châteaux and Kansas City!!! I’Jason & McKayla, way to represent the Midwest USA and wishing you a great adventure in France. 😎🌻🇺🇸 ps: I live in So JoCo KS
I would suggest getting the living area downstairs and one bathroom done-done; you could sleep in there while a bedroom is finished off. Looking at a whole building is both daunting and too vague, I think. Perhaps (if you don't already have one) make a notebook with a running list of tasks, 1-2 pages per room; you will be able to see what's doable in the times you have, and see progress more steadily. My guess is that, if you focus on just those two rooms, you could be in by Autumn. Also, with a notebook of task lists, you'll see which projects overlap each other (e.g. tiles for various rooms), and be able to plan your tile-making, or wood prep, or paint-buying, more efficiently...
You’ve got a lot on your plate with the family, the land and your vlogs, but with 4 extra hands, in my humble opinion it could take 6 months or more. But who knows when motivation takes hold you may be able to push forward quite quickly, it would be great to see the project unfold but increasing the amount of vlogs will increase the editing time considerably so unless income is a factor (in which case consider shorts) then it might be advisable to keep to one vlog for the gardens/grounds and one for indoors as it were. Please be careful not to burn yourselves out.
Most realistic assessment! 👍🏼
For your family’s sake, I’m thinking an optimistic 2.5 months to be ready to move in ( small finishing touches not included). With your much appreciated volunteer support they will make all the difference in the pace of the progress, I’m certain🤗🥰
Looking forward to your daily vlogs. Have always enjoyed your wit and humour, Marc's knowledge and work ethic, your most adorable children and your magnificent estate. 👍👍👍
12 weeks for the essentials to move in if all hands are on deck. More realistically, by Christmas.
3 months
I understand how you feel. We remodeled while living in the house with a 2 yr old. Awful! The only room that didn't have dust was the bedroom because we did it first and then kept the door closed.
Do you have a rough guess on when you will be able to get the sewer system up and running?
Love you’ve got help do the larger work that needs more hands. concentrate on fitting kitchen , bathroom electrics and definitely those stone steps for safety the other work can be done when you’re back to two of you. I would do weekly vlogs as it’s a big commitment for daily’s unless it helps your income love from Australia 🇦🇺