AUTUMN GARDEN & WALLPAPERING THE SITTING ROOM | Charente Living | French lifestyle | Rural France

We finally started to wallpaper the upstairs sitting room. The old walls in our French house are slightly challenging to put the wallpaper on neatly. Watch the video to see if we succeed in the task at all! Also it is time to do some repotting and see how the plants are doing before the colder season creeps in. Our walled French garden is very hot and dry and the plants stayed alone without any water for many weeks...
We are Robert and Jyrki - Irish and Finnish artists living in Helsinki, Finland. With no renovation experience, but lots of enthusiasm and passion we take on the big challenge of renovating a townhouse in rural France, and enjoy the lifestyle it has to offer. We bring you travel, lifestyle, interiors, renovation and more. Get inspired by the French way of life in beautiful South West of France!
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/ charenteliving
Music by Epidemic Sound:
The Nightingale Is Singing Our Song by Martin Landström
Mouvement II, Noir et Blanc by Franz Fordon
#france #oldhouse #diy #charente #renovation #frenchhouse #rural #countryside #farmlife #lifestyle #lifestylevlog #lifeinfrance #ruralfrance #charente #french #frenchvillage #village #villagelife #villagevlog #villagelifestylevlog #housetransformation

[@virsanib]

So much harmony and beauty in your videos, your speech,your kindness. Thank your, guys!

[@charenteliving]

Aw thank you so much.

[@patriciapadgett4696]

Love the wallpaper, and even though you are both perfectionists, remember its an old house thats stunningly beautiful with its imperfections. Don't try too hard. Love it ! ♥️

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much Patricia for the lovely words!

[@beiderbecke1927]

That shade of green will make a nice background for displaying paintings, prints, and objects, and no one will notice any irregularities in the surface beneath the paper. Lots of exciting projects for next spring. I'm looking forward to seeing things progress. All the best to you.

[@charenteliving]

Yes we are hoping to put up many prints and paintings. Thank you for your comment.

[@M15Guys]

I think the room is looking fabulous. The slight imperfections in the wall should be celebrated. They add to the natural beauty of the house xxxx

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much, we agree too!

[@kefaad]

Lovely choice of wallpaper! The marble fireplace is stunning! I am sure is going to be an elegant and cozy sitting room!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much, yes looking forward to completing it.

[@TheCrowsNest1950]

Hi Robert and Jyrki, Only you know the condition of the walls under the lovely wallpaper. Once the picture rail is installed, the wall above it is painted and all the details are in place, and the room is finished, the walls will recede far into the back ground and hardly be noticed. Artwork and pictures will certainly hide and more importantly distract from any imperfections. Keep up the great work on the house. Mark & Scott

[@charenteliving]

Thanks guys, sorry for delayed response. Greetings to you both!

[@peterwhite9261]

Hi guys. I love the wallpaper. Also the plants look really nice. I look forward to seeing the room done.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Peter, looking forward to getting it done also.

[@williamfahey6066]

It looks really good. That color green really compliments the the pink tones the Fireplace Mantel. And the upholstered furniture looks really pretty with the green background. Jeff❤

[@charenteliving]

Glad you liked it!

[@christiandouriaud5630]

Wow...! Superb, this soft and very relaxing green color...Congratulations. 👌👍🤩 from Burgundy.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Christian!!

[@susanbradford4543]

To disguise your rough walls, use a wallpaper liner first before putting on the decorative green paper.

[@j.c4007]

Yes, this special 1st wall paper has a special name in French, but I forgot it.

[@charenteliving]

Yes Susan, we would have needed it. We got too hopeful with this wallpaper as it was textured and thicker than wallpaper we have used in the past. Good learning experience!!

[@thechatelaine]

It is looking beautiful and so relaxing that colour....Great Job!

[@charenteliving]

It is a lovely colour we must admit, thank you so much!

[@mariaetheridge8343]

Wow! You know how to wallpaper! That's a good job! And that vine... more than 2 meters!!! I'm looking forward to seeing your progress - lovely to watch. Oh, bougainvillia does NOT like a lot of water...

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Maria.

[@figencebe9287]

I enjoy so much what interesting solutions you find and I would never think of …

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Figen.

[@Michael_Sheldon]

Clearly, you guys can do anything. 🙌

[@charenteliving]

Haha not sure about that, but thank you very much!!

[@antoinelemarier3567]

Votre jardin sera magnifique. Le choix des plantes fort judicieux. Bravo!

[@charenteliving]

Merci beaucoup!!

[@mattyj198]

I planted an Agave plant at our house in Charante about 10 years ago. Our gardener said it would not survive. The main plant is looking very sad but it has sprouted MANY babies that seem to be doing very well.

[@charenteliving]

Oh good to know, glad you have lots of offsprings!

[@jbart5260]

Your garden is beautiful. I love the sage green textured wall paper.

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much, glad you like it.

[@eamonnohalloran2254]

Calmness had rested in your spirits after a summer and fall of French country living.The plants are snuggling in for their winter rest and the new green wallpaper absorbs the historlcal energy from the walls its laid on. Ready to come forth in the room's completion next year .Irish turns and flurishes slip easily from Jyrki's conversation now .A pot-purri of sounds,tastes and flavours adding to mix. Hibernation seems closer now .not in the Land of Sleep or Mists but in the Land of Winter Snow to the North. Roll on new Projects and Events at Charente Living next Year.

[@charenteliving]

Eamonn your words are always inspiring and so wonderful to read. Thank you for taking the time to write such beautiful things!!

[@eamonnohalloran2254]

Thank you@@charenteliving

[@j.c4007]

Bonjour, Si vous êtes toujours à Angoulême, peut-être vous faudrait-il protéger vos plantes de l'hiver, si vous ne revenez pas de sitôt. Vous pouvez couvrir la terre avec des copeaux de chanvre ou de lin : ça s'achète dans les jardineries en très gros sac (gamvert, jardiland, truffault, etc.) 😊

[@charenteliving]

Merci pour ces merveilleux conseils.

[@nativetexson]

Nice start to the room. Well done, gents.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Glen!!

[@torxsal7008]

I hadn't seen this video. Always very interesting with lovely music. I hope your plants survived the winter well. It was not very cold but rainy. If your bougainvillea ever suffers, there is a variety called “Violet de Mèze” which is very resistant to cold (perhaps it is yours). The room looks very pretty in green.

[@charenteliving]

Oh that is our variety actually. Hoping it blooms again now in the summer. Thankfully all in garden has survived so far, with it being dreadfully wet all winter.

[@torxsal7008]

@@charentelivingNormally no worries because this plant is very floriferous. Yes, a lot of rain this year, much more than other winters. The spring is coming ! enjoy your lovely home.

[@neutonrenda2303]

I love the colour, always looks great with wood as well.👍

[@charenteliving]

Yes it is a lovely colour and very calming in the space. Always a shame it's so hard to get the true colour on film.

[@LaReynedEpee]

You’ll struggle to paper over such walls, the only answer is lots of filling and sanding, tedious though it is! But if you can accept and live with the imperfections, you'll probably be happier! It doesn't look too bad. 😊

[@charenteliving]

Yes we were over hopeful with the wallpaper haha!

[@libertyblueskyes2564]

You needed to have selected a bold floral or pattern to hide the imperfections. Also I just find a green room gloomy.@@charenteliving

[@glennmartin346]

Hi guys. Keep an eye in your succulent. That type actually likes to become root boind and the roots, like most succulents tend to be very small. The issue might be the soil, as they require aoild developed for succulents that doesnt hild moisture and drains quickly and well. Keep up the great work!❤

[@charenteliving]

Oh thank you Glenn. Will keep an eye on this!!

[@adelinefinlay1582]

Love the wallpaper!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Adeline!!

[@libertyblueskyes2564]

You can brine the olives or make a jar of tapenade.

[@charenteliving]

Oh just love tapenade!! Great idea.

[@MarianneInmarsilia]

Wallpaper looks fab….I’ve never done it myself. Bravo ! ….you can make a salty brine for your olives and eat them at an aperitif 😉

[@charenteliving]

Thank you Marianne. Yes would be great to take advantage of our vast olive crop.

[@albertpeckham8708]

Great choice of wallpaper.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Albert!

[@Shmule]

Always check your aquarium and pet store for sand or gravel products

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Stephen.

[@davidmiller-br4bu]

Brilliant job boys😊

[@charenteliving]

Thanks David!!

[@jelsner5077]

Beautiful video!

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much!

[@torrerobb2238]

little by little you are getting there, love the colour of the wallpaper however with you saying about the walls being uneven you probably would have been better with a patterned paper, in saying that it looks great and makes the room feel a bit more cozy and homely... hope you guys are doing well. You mentioned in a messsage regarding the flooring in the atic space that the floor boards could not be saved so maybe there is a website in France where people can sell off un used, stock clearance or discontinued product lines where you could get more affordable flooring.. just an idea to look out for.. Take care guys Robb Torremolinos Spain xxx

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Robb so much. Yes we have definitely learned with this wallpaper experience for sure. But onwards and upwards as they say. Great idea about the attic flooring, will look into that option for sure. Hope Spain is still warm, compared to here!!

[@christianeblanchard1486]

Le jardin pousse très bien avec vos soins. Bientôt de l'huile d'olive 😂

[@charenteliving]

Merci beaucoup. Oui nous nous demandons quand investir dans le pressoir à olives. haha

[@fredbear72ify]

Might be a good idea to mulch the plant with gravel looks more natural.

[@charenteliving]

Great idea.

[@libertyblueskyes2564]

A PRINT wall paper will hide more flaws in the wall and to ditto Susan use a wallpaper liner.

[@charenteliving]

Yes a learning curve for sure. Lots of pictures will do the trick for now anyway.

[@francoisleyrat8659]

Re your plants : the bougainvillea is too frost sensitive, even against a wall, to endure Charente winters, where it does freeze, even if it's not Finland! It's really for the riviera. On the other hand, the Washingtonia, the olive trees can endure moderate frost .

[@charenteliving]

Thanks for your kind message and advice! We were lucky to find this Bougainvillea Violet de Mèze which is hardy till -8 degrees even. In our part of Charente it doesn't get often colder than -3, so we hope these plants would be okay for the winter.

[@fishermann1102]

nice

[@charenteliving]

Thank you!

[@50Street21]

Great choice of wallpaper--both colour and of course texture. I was impressed how it brought your fireplace mantel to life. Cheers! Darryl

[@charenteliving]

Thank you! It was a great colour to really bring the mantel to life.

[@mlomarechal6877]

Oh vous êtes aux Puces de Charente ! j'y vais régulièrement pour y chercher de la vaisselle "Le Renoleau" (faïencerie d'Angoulême).

[@charenteliving]

C'est un belle magasin! Je n'ai jamais entendu parler de cette faïence. Nous devons le rechercher.

[@mlomarechal6877]

@@charenteliving La faïencerie a fermé en 2017 après 120 ans d'existence (faïencerie d'Art d'Angoulême). C'est de la vaisselle assez décorative. J'en trouve aux "Puces de Charente", aux "Compagnons d'Emmaüs" (à Angoulême la Couronne), ou bien sur "eBay".

[@neilschipper3741]

Nice choice on the wallpaper. The plants you have chosen for your garden grow the same here in Clearwater Florida. Pineapples grow great also and you do not need to water that much. Just twist off the top and put the meaty part in water for about 2 weeks and in two years or less you will have a pineapple. Avocados, papayas, bananas are easy to start and grow great.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Neil!! Must think of those fruits for next year. Thank you.

[@eileencronk7520]

It’s all coming together so nice! The plants are looking great!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Eileen.

[@michelelavender1967]

I see fungus spots on it,you need a sprat to kill it,either biological or normal,ask in the garden centre

[@charenteliving]

Thanks for this, will definitely look into it!!

[@Celeste0415]

I love your choice of wallpaper. Beautiful ❤

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Celeste!

[@lesley2110]

Please rid your stone wall of that ivy as it will destroy it!

[@charenteliving]

Yes we will have to make sure its not too invasive.