Bought dark fixer-upper. Turned it into dream home (before/after)

Three years ago, we embarked on a family project. We found a derelict (and affordable) country home located in a tiny, well-maintained castle hamlet 1 hour outside Barcelona, Spain. We began renovation with the help of a young architecture studio based in Antoni Gaudí's birthplace, Reus.
Can houses be honest with both their surroundings and inhabitants? What does it take to create a timeless home? Can a home remodel celebrate the layers of past, present, and future? Do homes know how to grow old in good shape?
Without knowing it, we began an enriching conversation about the layers of a timeless building that projects into the future: the bottom floor's bareness was respected; the first floor gathers all the house's living services; whereas the second floor opens to the natural surroundings.
There's a gradient between the 3 floors of the house, bottom to top: from more primitive to more sophisticated, from less intervention to more intervention, from colder materials to warmer elements, from more protection/seclusion to the display of the Mediterranean, unspoiled surroundings.
We want to share this video with you as the first step towards a series of 3 documentaries that will explain the house in depth from three different perspectives.
In our second video ( • We needed simple furni... ), we explain how we came with low-tech solutions that perform very well with climate, inhabitants, and the surroundings (from materials to openings, and of course, furniture).
The third video will celebrate our collaboration with David Tapias (leading architect), Ricard Pau (assistant architect), Gerard Marmolejo (transforming furniture design), and more. Stay tuned.
-Aixopluc Architects: aixopluc.net/
-Read the article by Dwell+ on House Among Portals: "In Spain, an Edgy Renovation Uses Off-the-Shelf Materials in Surprising Ways": www.dwell.com/...
On *faircompanies: faircompanies....

[@shortymcsteve]

I love this channel so much. I’ve been following for a very long time now and this particular video was so nice to see. I’m so happy for you and your family to have such a wonderful home in a building with many stories to tell, and if anyone deserves to own and take care of such a building it’s the both of you! I hope you enjoy it for many years to come.

[@velvetindigonight]

Beautifuly said/writen and agreed! Enjoy

[@Duca915]

Absolutely amazing! I wondered if you had your own creation. This space is brilliant not for only the interior but the location, views, activity at street level and views to the castle. Austere yes but so adaptable to the environment and potential future alterations. Marvelous work Kirsten Nic and your 3 lovely kids. Great job - I wish I had that place...

[@shawbaws]

Life is looking good

[@jimjimgl3]

That was such an enjoyable 33:31 minutes spent. Your new home seems so well-suited to you and your family. The best part for me, after of course seeing the way you approached the renovation, was watching how you and your children interact.

[@kristinaginorio1344]

All the varied houses you've shown us, everything you've learned along the way, have informed your decisions. Trusting an architect was a smart move. You're saving the property and transforming it into a treasured HOME.

[@karenknowles1537]

I think the birds are swallows. They are nesting high in the castle.

[@andrewwoodgate3769]

Housemartins, I think

[@leighharron]

@@andrewwoodgate3769 I agree, housemartins.

[@georgedoolittle7574]

*AND LIEBNIZ DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE!* *"THE GREEKS ARE GOING MAD! THE GREEKS ARE GOING MAD!*

[@RickSterling]

yes .. they eat flying insects ...

[@mathill66]

African or European Swallows?

[@johndoesen1718]

That is a brilliant home you and your family got yourselves there, and what a beautiful location. Congratulations. I'm looking forward to see the next two videos of the project. :)

[@canyonhaverfield2201]

Looking over these responses from viewers, its alarming as to the percentage who challenge ..be it the design, interior choices, even as to Kirsten & Nicolas choice to include their 3 children along as they travel extensively exposing these novel home sites. Come on people ! Place aside your personal view of child rearing, discussions regarding lighting methods, how the family may interact...for this is not your window for making character assignations or in any way critiquing or analyzing a family's lifestyle choices. Nicolas, Kirsten & their 3 children have braved placing their passions & curiosity for travel, personalities, architecture & history on the line. That requires a tremendous level of confidence & trust in humanity ! The very least we can do is to view with curiosity minus our trivial personal views regarding choices pertaining to the structure featured & definitely not going anywhere near the subject matter of parenting. Keep that to yourself, amongst your family & friends. Neither Nicolas or Kirsten are needing advise as to how to parent. My god, I find that impossible to get my head around, for I view this family as heroes in these times when increasingly, children around the world eat alone, seldom travel, seldom partake in philosophical conversations pertaining to object positioning, history, landscape, communication & creativity on various scales. My own parents taught me this golden rule- if you can't say something nice, don't say it.

[@kirstendirksen]

Hello Canyon, Thanks for the comment. You are very generous with your words. I am rarely offended when someone discusses my camerawork or even childrearing as I have no pretensions regarding the former and feel the latter is quite subjective. I hope all is well for you. - Kirsten

[@canyonhaverfield2201]

@@kirstendirksen I will make an effort at following that style of yours.. Healthier + doesn't require me to feel so dependent upon others certain response..thank you for the therapy

[@hamradiojim6788]

Your channel has always educated and enlightened me with your stories about people's personal living spaces...you provided the window, and they told their stories. Now, it is so exciting to experience the storyteller's own story. What a beautiful site you chose and a challenging structure to improve. Can't wait to see what develops.

[@grandpasidehustles]

i love this channel especially for us seniors watching kirsten and family in their adventures. as if im also there and see the culture there like Spain for free. thanks KZbin and kirsten.

[@velvetindigonight]

Agreed! Soo love KZbin it's opened up the world and as I don't like to travel much has made an experience of everywhwere available to me that I would not normaly have! Enjoy

[@allegrosotto2126]

Amazing thoughtful transformation, loved seeing the process this way.

[@batwood]

Love it in every way. The architectural philosophy of "truth in materials" is so satisfying to see in practice. Looking forward to seeing more. Thanks for sharing.

[@Ashlee1985]

I get so nervous seeing the kids on ledges. I'm afraid of heights lol Beautiful house though!

[@JoySilla]

I know! That made me anxious just seeing the daughter there

[@rebeccapettifer6553]

Oh my how beautiful your home is going to be! Not fancy but beautiful and everlasting. So happy for you all. Yes everyone needs a place to go home to and this wonderful place is yours!

[@nicatnight70]

This is fantastic! A great distillation of your exploration of home. Thank you for all the great work you do and for sharing your own homemaking process with us. So thrilled to be a part of your journey!!

[@SoCalFreelance]

I'm pretty sure one of the unwritten rules of being a KZbinr is never show where you live. I've seen on another channel where the channel owner actually had to make a video explaining he was not open to random people just stopping by.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Thanks. We thought about this. So far the ones who know us (like you) are very respectful. It’s a risk, that’s pretty sure. The village is small and we have very good friends, we’ll take care of each other.

[@nicolasboullosa]

@@actontreadway1168 Thanks.

[@SoCalFreelance]

@@nicolasboullosa I'll also offer an alternative viewpoint. You actually encourage people to stop by the house to peruse your well stocked merch shop set up on the lower level. Might be a nice side hu$tle. 🙂

[@andrewshoe6832]

@@SoCalFreelance I'm sure the quiet town would love that.

[@scottb5420]

AGREED- cool to show the house but I personally wouldn't show the location or town details. I hope all that follow this channel are respectful of others privacy, and behave accordingly.

[@rebeccawellington2633]

I really like your vlog style videos these days, it’s nice getting to know your family and how you move through life in your beautiful way. Cheers from Seattle, Wa. 💜

[@josh_prada]

Beautiful Spain. It never disappoints!

[@smileyhappyradio]

This is one of the first channels I joined when I found youtube, thank you for sharing so much so many years. Anyone asks me about what I watch, I always say your channel. Your films always inspire me, and also thank you for showing us your own home. I hope I pick the best name!

[@the_str4ng3r]

Stunning home, Kirsten! Great reimagining of the space!

[@kirstendirksen]

Thanks!

[@laura-yu3kh]

Beautifully adapted to today’s needs and expectations while preserving the original footprint. Congratulations on a wonderful home you can return to...¡Saludos!

[@Turitea]

You have given this building a new life without spoiling it. Well done.

[@mrJMD]

Wow! Looks fantastic! Well done, all of you. Those views are incredible, every single one.

[@JP-bv7bf]

So happy for you and your family to be able to get such a wonderful fixer upper that is going to be great! well done, nice to see the kids really enjoying it. pease show us the finish home. Beautiful site. BC Canada

[@kimhaas7586]

Those opening shots had me singing “sigh not so, ladies” like the opening of Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing. Even the location from a historical perspective is just about right. If not Much Ado, then Othello.

[@chinguchimp1357]

Oh yes, I agree, this place has a "Much ado about nothing" vibe! :D

[@victoriajohnson5304]

COULD THE BIRDS BE SWALLOWS?🌻 ❤FROM DALLAS TEXAS

[@kirstendirksen]

Until that moment I hadn't realized just how urban we can be. I could only think of pigeons and my kids were making up names.

[@antonomaseapophasis5142]

I’m from NYC and I can tell you those are so very not pigeons. I am also not a birder, but it is truly hard to tell you how much they are not crows, at all... no. I am placing my bet on swallow.

[@Martyr217]

I was thinking wee wagtails going by the tail feathers when they were on the cable. I could be wrong I have hundreds of the blasted things sitting above my car (in Scotland) normally twice a year for a week each time. lol

[@a697ag]

Hooligans! lol

[@StephenColes]

Yes, they are swallows.

[@stevem815]

The old world has such an interesting base to work from. It's very rare to have something like this in Australia. We're mostly building from scratch or doing renovations of 1950's stick framed asbestos cottages. We can do cool things but rarely anything like this, it's like having your turn on an artwork that people have been contributing to for centuries. It sucks that the building regulations are so strict, but it's also understandable when you see the monstrosities that a lot of architects will produce when given free reign. It's a difficult problem to solve everywhere, the balance between innovation and preservation.

[@k1awdttt]

The switching of before and after footages can get a bit disorienting since they aren't marked or labelled anyway. I do like that the channel is experimenting a different editing style but it could be a bit more guided like ome of your other ones. Going by the area definitely works but can be more poblished.

[@andrewshoe6832]

Yeah, the content of this video is lovely, but the ordering is really a mess.

[@wendyannh]

What a beautiful, sensitive renovation - and OMG, that location, and the views! To die for, all of it. May you all have many happy years together there.

[@wilhelmthewoodcutter3428]

looking forward to this castle. All your videos are amazing. One day I hope to be interesting enough to be on your channel.

[@kirstendirksen]

Hope to see a project of yours one day!

[@nathan1459]

Bold use of the concrete block, especially street facing in such a historic setting.

[@emilianomarquez1629]

I always thought about if you guys actually lived somewhere. After all of those years the kids must be excited to have a place to grow roots and have friends. (But I'm guessing you're still gonna take them travelling)

[@sroberts605]

I'm glad the planning department (whatever it is there) was willing to work with you in creative compromise. I was thinking how here (UK), the equivalent, English Heritage, can be more restrictive than is useful.

[@Lee-xs4dj]

Yeah they'd rather the country was covered in ruins than compromise at all with the restoration

[@sroberts605]

@@Lee-xs4dj It's not that, it's just that there's a balance, and in my estimation the balance in England favours least alteration to an existing structure, no matter how good or creative the modernisation, and perhaps more importantly, no regard to costs!

[@johnmichael7983]

This home is Alchemy, a brilliant Fusion of Portals between past and present. I became entranced by the conversion of this space, so honorable to both its origins and current provisions. And I'll add my utmost respect for those who can elegantly juggle a marriage, children, international travel, business entrepreneurship, and a renovation...and keep it all together! Thank you for this glimpse into your privacy, as well as all the ideas and hope you've provided me over the years. Getting ready to sell a very special place, my beloved home, and move on to the simpler cabin life you've helped me believe I can achieve.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Thank you for your words Michael; it's been a team's work with so many people generously contributing to it. Hopefully, a more technical second video in some weeks/months from now will honor those who helped us in this particular endeavor.

[@rossrreyes]

Its amazing how bigger the kids have gotten from when you first got this house

[@nicolasboullosa]

Wake up call for us all. Entropy and time are real. Let’s take the nice side of it if we all agree. Let’s evolve and celebrate.

[@sroberts605]

@@nicolasboullosa Lol, were you in a philosophical frame of mind by any chance?

[@nicolasboullosa]

@@sroberts605 maybe we undersell the YT comments section, it can be a cesspool of bad faith but it also keeps us ticking if we know how to use it.

[@sroberts605]

@@nicolasboullosa Your comment took me zooming off to the end of the universe... and right back to appreciating the present. Carry on inspiring :)

[@barrybodiongan6684]

I love this home. Im very impressed with the sensitivity to keeping some of the old features of the home without completely changing the feel of what it was and is to become. In saying that I would prefer to plaster the walls of the Ground floor in lime wash only exposing the old lime wall of the headboard which is beautiful and the side of the black fireplace. I would also paint the cement blocks white. I think this would brighten the ground floor and make it cohesive. Im also conflicted with the kitchen it seems tight and pushed in the corner and not connected to the dining room. Few questions, does the fireplace in the kitchen need to stay there to warm the place? If not, could it be removed to put kitchen sink and possibly have more counter space and possibly make the the walkway to the dining room/bathroom bigger? All and all, its coming along so beautifully.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Very thoughtful comment Barry, appreciated.

[@petricefrost1874]

Love it, so envious of the beautiful home you have created. Love the architects work on the property, your views and the old world charm you have kept/included in your family home. Well done!!

[@jackl.8343]

A win on so many levels, especially as it chronicles and informs what you do. Superb. Thanks for sharing! Btw, more stuff from Greece, please! ;)

[@raynoladominguez4730]

What a warm and inviting home. I really appreciate this channel, but this episode in particular; I love.

[@BUEAU]

@28:00 yeah good call Kirsten, that space needs work. It looks, sounds and feels like a rest-stop bathroom along the highway. So much potential in that place tho!

[@nicolasboullosa]

LOL.

[@greatboniwanker]

Congratulations! Oh My, what a beautiful spot! Really, really excited for you (& the kids)!

[@30dayride67]

I LOVE IT! The natural simplicity is so refreshing and oh my gosh what gorgeous views! Beyond the structure I was so taken by the children. Their curiosity and appreciation of the natural world that surrounds them. I remember way back when my children were like that and I couldn't help thinking how lucky they all are to be raised in such an environment. I can't help thinking about all the children in the world that don't have a safe place outdoors to play much less a green space. How much better would this world be if every child had a safe green space to grow up in? If they all had access to a natural environment to explore and appreciate all that nature offers that can't be found in a video game or on the streets where violence reigns.

[@lalineaa]

Can't wait to see once it's completely done! Beautiful house.

[@mayito9100]

As an enthusiastic architect I have always had a taste for Spanish Architecture. I wish I could work and renovate a project like this. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@snterp]

Awesome! I live 15 minutes from here! Who does the subtitles? I am a professional subtitler and would be happy to help. I often notice imperfect, awkward, or wrong translations of portions of your videos in French and Spanish, though the overall translation is still pretty decent.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Yes, sometimes it’s hard to try to balance everything, there’s not much time to edit, translate and everything *after* shooting/producing. Cheers.

[@ltandrepants]

this is fantastic! i renovate old homes in new orleans and love when i discover something that was covered up. finding that arch is amazing! i also love the different textures of time!

[@sunnyseabrook9136]

You guys NEVER cease to amaze me! Kudos for your never ending enthusiasm and creativity!! Hoping to see you in the not too distant future... AUnt SUnny

[@nicolasboullosa]

Hi Sunny, how are you? BTW you are invited to visit any time you want as family. Letting Kirsten know you commented. Hope all is well!

[@kimhaas7586]

Wow. I can’t wait for the next two parts.

[@charnestours1948]

If I understand right the parents sleep in a dark, somewhat dank basement, while the kids sleep on the top floor with its beautiful light and views. I call that good parenting.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Underrated comment right here, LOL. I guess you have kids too, so no need for more context. Cheers.

[@AMYV3]

My twin sons are out of the home now just my teen daughter with me. And she has had the master bedroom since it’s just been her and I. ( 5 years ) and Why not. She will spend more time in her room then myself. I have a lot of people question why I would do that 😏🤣. It’s easy, my children are my WORLD !!! ❤️♥️🇨🇦

[@stevem815]

It's strategic, no-one is sneaking out at night.

[@issecret1]

@@stevem815 does that happen often to parents? No one I grew up with sneaked out at night

[@stevem815]

@@issecret1 maybe it depends where you live. I used to jump out my window to go skateboarding down the big hills on roads that were too busy during the day.

[@juliemac5604]

Kirsten, I’m curious to see how you finish/decorate it. I know you are minimalists, but a home is so much more than just walls and floors.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Definitely some rags, books, furniture. They’ll come with time.

[@adrianmcnally6006]

A well deserved place to connect with each other and the earth, enjoy : )

[@Chapsu911]

Sorry for being nosy, but how much did it cost all together? The House + renovation. Love your videos, thanks.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Home: 100K; renovation: 200K. That’s euros.

[@808v1]

The architects (I'm sure with your family's input) did a fantastic transformation of this building, it's wonderfully done. Such an intelligent and pleasing mix of modern materials and concepts with the old-world construction. I love it. EDIT: And the location and surrounding area is almost beyond words :)

[@clayed]

Corner windows are the best. They allow for amazing views without sacrificing large amounts of valuable wall space.

[@oscarportillotenorio3772]

I'am so happy to see your proyect!!! Congratulations!!! you really found a wonderful place to make your proyect its a beautiful house in a historic place. This is what a house is about :) cant wait to see the end result, hugs for all the family

[@jaurequi25]

It's amazing someone can still find empty landscape views in such small countries in Europe.

[@ittybittykittyrescue4843]

❤️❤️❤️❤️ Absolutely love what you did to the house. Just stunning! Congrats!

[@samsthomas]

This is amazing. I have a bit more than a tinge of envy. I would love to find something like this. I love how you are renovating a building with such a rich history while maintaining its character and context.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Appreciate your honesty. Will try to share some pictures eventually, as well as a video more focused on technical questions (less personal therefore, we aren’t used to it and not sure if I love it; prefer to hear others talking). It may take some time, but Kirsten sees it happening too. We left so much stuff out.

[@samsthomas]

@@nicolasboullosa Thank you. I hope to see more of your lovely home in the future. It was very nice to see the transformation of the interior spaces in immediate succession in this video. I especially liked the transformation of the attic space and the kitchen space. Your home truly is a special place.

[@indirakuriyan9366]

Black birds :- swifts White one :- common white egrets

[@sustainablenetwork]

This is one of my favorite episodes. I'm excited for you and your family. Your home turned out gorgeous the the location is amazing.

[@pipipi682]

My congratulations! Love Catalonia and their architecture! And you've made a real house of a dream! Just... WOW!

[@dionoliveira4058]

Funny how at about 2min no one seems to know the swallow one of the most travelled birds on our planet

[@gnarbeljo8980]

Stunning! Great job! There’s a very good point to having the glass broken up into windowframes in a location like this with a sensitive biotop, not just for the character: birds tend to not see wide expanese of glass, especially under the eves of a roof, so they fly into it and break their necks constantly. I’ve experienced it to the point of gathering beautiful dead songbirds every morning and it was the saddest thing ever.

[@BUEAU]

@23:44 cement beams?? Ummm, wow I'm no engineer or architect but those cement beams cannot have the structural integrity to support a floor that way? I could see them just crack and crumbling at too much weight. Scary.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Top floor was redone with wood partly to reduce load. But the carrying walls have us covered. Two feet wide in key points, which is church level of structural soundness.

[@NotSureJoeBauers]

I'm impressed by how the architect was able to blend modern conventional (and economical!) construction with the timeless old world craftsmanship. The renovation doesn't hide _what_ it is, the space is very honest about being new, but very modest in its new-ness

[@Sorcom]

We have been to that little village a couple of times. It is very charming. Difficult to find lunch at 15,00 on a Sunday. Hope to tour the castle next time. We live in Sitges.

[@DHROMAR]

Thanks for sharing. I am very happy for your family! Enjoy!

[@WolvesinFrance]

what was the basse price of the building? The guys voice sounds like golfer Seve B... I suppose this house will be ANOTHER LOCK UP AND LEAVE AKA 2ND HOME AND PARTICIPATING IN ANOTHER GHOST TOWN OF 2ND PLUS HOMEOWNERS... SO GLAD THAT FRANCE IS TAKING A BIG STANCE ON THIS... DERELICT YES, RENO YES, 2ND PLUS HOMEOWNERS WHERE THE BUILDING IS SHUTTERED UP FOR 11.5 MONTHS PER YR FOR ME IS A NO NO.... CORSICA HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA... KICK OUT THE 2ND HOME OWNERS, WE DON'T NEED YOU!

[@melissadull1594]

What a beautiful home for your family! Wonderful job. In the beginning after the roof was gone, I have to admit I immediately thought "wouldn't it have been a beautiful open rooftop garden with the views, a telescope to enjoy your tremendous sky. Your vision is brilliant! Thank you for sharing this and your insight! I'm trying to develop beautiful affordable housing for families having to start over after losing a spouse, natural disaster, or traumatic events. Everyone deserves to own a little piece of heaven to call their own 💜Many blessings to you all 🙏

[@nullplus_space]

Amazing to see how they used the wood for the restoration!!

[@maodonimega]

Great to see your lovely home, and how you've improved it. Big fan of your channel, as it has encouraged and inspired me in my own self build...an off grid mountain hideaway in Central Portugal.( When are you coming..haha!) Also great to hear your husband's perspective.

[@oriolporcar]

Ostres!!! L'última vegada que vaig passar per allà en moto em va cridar molt l'atenció aquesta casa... I resulta que és la vostra!!! Quin món més petit :D Preciosa!!!!

[@nicolasboullosa]

Gràcies per no mencionar el lloc. Salutations

[@jimhagler2242]

Love it. Wish we could do the same. Thanks for sharing.

[@joselito7776]

Beautiful space, full of character, in a environment with so much history, you can almost touch it. Congratulations. Its well deserved, Im sure.

[@nicolasboullosa]

+1.

[@Vaidd4]

The contrast between apparent rock on the outside, the OSB panels here and there and all the bricks IS stunning. And I'm not even talking about all the openings.

[@rneustel388]

This is such a beautiful home, and I can’t wait to see the little documentaries about creating it.

[@wendydee3007]

Fantastic video, and fantastic house. I live in a 3 storey house to the north, in the Garrotxa. We have no foundations, we have to live with the damp on the ground floor, you just have to change your point of view and accept what you previously could not accept. If you ever get the time, come visit the Garrotxa. We have amazing places too, lake Banyoles, Besalu, Santa Pau, Olot, plus all the mountain villages and scenery. Your new home is so beautiful, and the location too...enjoy!!!! :o)

[@mildredmartinez8041]

Thank you very much for sharing your home, it is beautiful. I have watched your channel for years.

[@Johnny-rj9on]

That is one gnarly algae bloom going on in that lake. Someone needs to introduce some new species and/or find out where the pollution is coming from.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Good eye.

[@agn855]

Must have been very hard not to mention the towns name, but showing the towns city-limit plate right in the video - kinda priceless (interesting Wikipedia page about the Castle btw). Looks like you'll need a bunch of surveillance equipment now to keep "visitors" outside of your home while being away.

[@vasopel]

24:41 "is very honest" ? you mean cheap and fast,just the way I like my electric cables to be ;-)

[@brucecggallagher1949]

Congratulations! I have been watching for years now...what an interesting and inspiring project. I look forward to seeing all the episodes and especially as they are for your own family.

[@1999GGO]

Me and my mom a couple of years ago considered buying the house in the corner of the castle square as a second residence.

[@victorkreig6089]

You couldn't have chosen a place that fits your family and lifestyle better if you tried So many different directions you could have gone with it and the one you chose was excellent. I also have a sneaking suspicion that this is probably one of if not THE most enjoyable build your architect has ever undertaken

[@imari2305]

Congratulations!! I always wondered where "home" for you all was. Beautiful house and the views are stunning!!

[@davidiglesiasgomez7616]

How cool is that?!?! Finally we can see your how home and in my home land Catalunya! Us està quedant de conya!

[@nicolasboullosa]

Gràcies. No sabíem si era bona idea compartir-ho per diferents raons, però al final ha pesat la responsabilitat de dir les coses bones de casa, que també n’hi ha.

[@HenJack-vl5cb]

Uno de los mejores proyectos vistos en KZbin.El lugar, el trabajo,los materiales ,la estética ...Un gusto impecable.Enhorabuena!

[@ABC-rh7zc]

Wonderful location! The whole village is in great shape and feels original. Very nice.

[@elainefarr3155]

What an amazing place!! I love the remodel you've done, and the beautiful surroundings and small town is great for a family. Thanks for sharing, it's beautiful

[@badapple65]

I love the Frank Lloyd Wright style inside corner and outside corner glass no seams. A hot rod speed boat would complete all of the fun.

[@jeffstumpf9129]

Yes, FLW solution for a window. Where did I see that? Spring Green, Wisconsin. Talieson?

[@pharder1234]

There's lots of corner windows in falling water too

[@lilrask9464]

The drone shots were very cool

[@indranibaxter897]

Congratulations on your home! I love this channel and it is lovely to see your own home transformation. Love it so much and that area, and the view, stunning. The children look very happy there.Thank you for sharing.❤️🤗

[@roncox5512]

This is awesome. So happy for you!

[@julianongpin7181]

We all really admire and respect your work. Happy to see you happy and this project coming along. All the best!

[@araceliedwards9323]

What a beautiful, peaceful and natural home. I love it!

[@navyak1915]

Kristen I am coming here after ages Didn't know you got your own paradise and were renovating it.. Love the area.. So happy for you After following you for years.. I feel so happy to see this..

[@misterosc]

I don't know if I could live with that kind of raw or unfinished look, but I think it's a great renovation, really respectful to the place, nice and minimal. I wold love to see how the house evolves with you and what things you decide to change. Being Spanish and not having blinds or curtains I don't know if i could manage that 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@nicolasboullosa]

Lol, 2 great points, so thank you for being brave and bringing 2 important things. I know, downstairs is raw, but I recognize it grows in you with time, I feel like we bought a huge painting by Tàpies. Blinds: working on something low-tech, eco and interesting to hopefully show you some day. It won’t be regular blinds.

[@PerfectSpainValencia]

@@nicolasboullosa I always joke about the "air conditioning" in old Valencian homes, Persianas Alicantinas, rolling external wood blinds thrown over the balcony rail to block the suns rays and allow a breeze. They do work to a point. With the heat sink of the stone something simple to block direct sun could work.

[@PerfectSpainValencia]

Also your village is lovely.

[@nicolasboullosa]

@@PerfectSpainValencia Notice that País Valencià, especially from Valencia province down, is significantly more humid and hot in July and August than the Catalonia closest to the sea (not to talk about the Pyrenées, with chilly nights in the middle of summer due to altitude). In this case, insulation, airflow, and thermal mass, as well as the proximity of a big body of forest+water, will do part of the trick due to evaporation and thermal difference indoors-outdoors. If you are familiar with the "botijo", we'll do that at a big scale: airflow and thermal inertia will keep the house cool, and we'll add an "original" mechanism for blinding the big windows in the hot summer middays. Let me keep the specs of that protective low-tech solution for the future since it hasn't happened yet.

[@kaygee301]

Wow the view. Dream house and location

[@dianorrington]

Stark is the New Black. Simplicity is Divine. The interior surface of your new walls on the top floor remind me of my old home in Kyoto. SUPER cool and so ahead of their time. Not to mention the absence of industrial construction chemicals in your new space. Brilliant! Looking forward to seeing more about it.

[@christinaleutscher7846]

The many different views, just mesmerising, especially overlooking the water reservoir. Reminds me a little of Kenya. Well done. 👏

[@nicolasboullosa]

Want to visit Kenya, hopefully soon. We were invited but couldn't go. Next time.