NEW LIVING ROOM FLOOR & TRIP TO THE BEACH | How to renovate an abandoned house in rural France

Back at renovations in our French house. We needed to lay a new floor in our living room in anticipation for a new arrival next week. Join us also as we take a trip to the coast and visit the charming sea side town of Royan, one of the old resort towns of the South West coast. We bring our friend Minna on some nice walks in the villages nearby.
We are Robert and Jyrki - two artists living in Helsinki, Finland. With no renovation experience, but lots of enthusiasm and passion we take on the big challenge of renovating a property abroad. Get inspired by the French lifestyle in beautiful South West of France!
Follow us also on our Instagram @charenteliving
Music by Epidemic Sound:
In a French Bar in Stockholm by Franz Gordon
Prescient by Howard Harper-Barnes
Aubedoir by Franz Gordon
#france #oldhouse #diy #charente #renovation #frenchhouse #rural #countryside #farmlife #lifestyle #lifestylevlog #lifeinfrance

[@Michael_Sheldon]

I’m reminded of a quote attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: “He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” I think you both see art in all you do. 😘

[@charenteliving]

What a beautiful comment to read this morning. Thank you so much!!!

[@markclemens3409]

Royan a beaucoup souffert pendant la deuxième guerre mondiale, donc on a reconstruit dans un style plus moderne. Je trouve ce style sympa, comme vous dites, mélangé avec les villas 19e. Mais il faut dire que cette architecture moderne balnéaire à Royan est à l'échelle plus humaine que dans les grandes agglomérations. Trois ou quatres étages, oui--vingts, non merci.

[@bobolpatrick3789]

beau travail,c'est très beau félicitation

[@charenteliving]

Merci beaucoup!

[@francoisleyrat8659]

The centre of Royan was flattened by allied bombings in 1945 (the Royan pocket), but the residential villa neighbourhoods around mostly survived. The city centre was rebuilt in the 1950's, it's even listed now as a testimony of mid century architecture.

[@charenteliving]

Its a beautiful place, we just loved it. The cathedral in the centre in stunning, but we only saw that on our next visit after this video.

[@jaymurtagh]

Wow your floor turned out fabulous. Also loved your littlwmtrip to beach. Beautiful place. Another great video guys❤

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Jay. Glad you're enjoying!!

[@angielu3273]

So charming everything including your guest. Watch the toes though!

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much. Will mind the toes on the project haha

[@lawrencebaker2318]

The floor looks great! It is so nice to have company and take a little break to the seaside, too!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Lawrence!

[@jameswilliamson6665]

The floor is beautiful! 😊

[@charenteliving]

Thanks James!!

[@nadjaparssinen5085]

I loved the talk about the neigborhoods❤😂

[@charenteliving]

So glad you enjoyed it Nadja!

[@elsalumby1]

What a kind, sweet friend Mina is. 💙

[@charenteliving]

She is just great!!!

[@jbart5260]

The floor is so beautiful, even on the video. Also, thank you for taking us on your excursions. We can live vicariously through your vlog. It is on my bucket list to visit France again. So excited to see what you do with the living room decor.

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much. Glad you liked it. Hope you get to visit France again soon!

[@mariaetheridge8343]

Lovely! Here in the Eastern Meditereanean I envy you that glorious SANDY beach! But, our sea is warmer than the Atlantic! The floor looks great!!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Maria. Yes the Atlantic is definitely cooler. Eastern Med must be beautiful too!

[@shirleygraham6229]

The floor looks lovely. I wasn't sure with the dark colour, to begin with, but you have judged it well. Enjoyed your trips as well, thankyou. Best wishes.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Shirley, glad you like it!

[@kefaad]

You are both so talended and skillful! You've done amazing job with flooring!

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much!

[@peterwhite9261]

The floor looks great, but I worry over time the nails may come up. I guess you can just hammer them down. Lovely beach trip. ❤

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Peter. Yes we will nail them down if they ever start to come up, certainly won't be for a while yet!

[@torxsal7008]

Nice video - Beautiful work at home and romantic trip to Royan near i live - you can find beautiful wild beaches with dunes and Forest north of ROYAN - near Coubre lighthouse

[@charenteliving]

We really look forward to exploring the beaches further north. Do you know of any dog friendly beaches during the summer months?

[@torxsal7008]

Hello, Here is what I found on the internet and translated for you about dogs: "Enjoy the beach located between two towns: La Tremblade and Royan, in Charente-Maritime. Wild beach of 20 kms where you can bathe, you pose with your dogs. However, do not go to the supervised bathing areas, stay well within the 20 km authorized for dogs in all seasons. Don't forget to equip yourself with poop bags all the same. And maybe a trash bag because there are no public trash cans anywhere. I also specify that you will be surrounded by the forest of La Coubre which extends over more than 7,000 hectares. Be sure to respect the rules in force everywhere, and be master of your dog, think of other holidaymakers 😉" This is what I found! It is our favorite beach. These beaches are beautiful, some parts are also nudist and gay. Beware of baïnes which are dangerous. Avoid passing where swimming is supervised, there is plenty of access through the forest which is huge - do not get lost and find access by google map for example - The parking lots which are very large are sometimes crowded but the beach is 20 km along! Enjoy !

[@conniebaldino1081]

I was sorry to see you did the floor dark...I had dark floors in my first house and was so sorry. They show every speck of dust!♥️♥️♥️♥️😘

[@charenteliving]

I must say we love the colour from an aesthetic point of view so cleaning regularly will have to be the consequence.

[@mathewhalpin]

Beautiful work guys. I love the dark colour and that seaside town wow!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Matthew!

[@charmees6637]

The Beach has hardly any people it’s amazing and looks very inviting very nice. Our Beaches here in Sydney get too crowded. The floorboards look amazing by the way 👍

[@charenteliving]

Yes it wasn't so busy at all. Greetings to you in Sydney!

[@ouririshcountrylife591]

BEAUTIFUL FLOOR GUYS, LOVE FROM IRELAND💚💚

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much lads!!!

[@lucillecooper3600]

Next timd you will be fetching Lucille from South Africa! Not Nina fromHelsinki! Lovely lovely video!!!

[@charenteliving]

Definitely Lucille!

[@denisew1916]

Great video guys. Loved the diy, the seaside trip, the walks, the music, lovely kitty and your beautiful friend keeping you well nourished while doing all that work…beautiful!!!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Denise. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@figencebe9287]

love the music ❤ as usual … and love how you film …

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Figen!

[@torrerobb2238]

Floor looks good.. I would have stained the boards before laying them, but end result is great..😊 Robb Torremolinos Spain xxx

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Robb. We love the outcome too.

[@heathermcrobert9779]

Nice!!!!!

[@charenteliving]

Thank you!

[@nativetexson]

You guys had a productive week. Well done with the floor. 👏👏 I'm sipping chilled Blanquette here in Occitanie while watching the vlog. Cheers-

[@charenteliving]

Thank you Glen and cheers to you!

[@neilschipper3741]

Wow guys... great job on the floor! You guys are in such a beautiful area. I would really like to explore that area sometime, thanks for sharing it on your videos.😊

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Neil. Hope you do get to Charente sometime. It is really lovely here!

[@williamfahey6066]

Your new floor looks great. Really great video. Kitty seems to like the new floor. Great video. Jeff❤

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Jeff!

[@ianwonnacott3320]

I love your travelogues, too - as much as watching you renovate la maison ! And I particularly liked the accompanying music to this vlog. Merci.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Ian, so glad you like them!

[@thechatelaine]

Beautiful Vlog... Really enjoyed it.

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much!

[@rodolfogarcia4359]

Lovely to share your home with the family and friends. They all get to see and feel all that you've done to make this home inviting. You could of used one of your boards as a tester for the stain to see how much to put on. Sometimes not wiping it off too soon to let it absorb more into the wood will help from using a second coat. If it goes to dark you can sand it to remove some to lighten it. Great job!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Rodolfo for the good tips. We had tested it before hand so thankfully we knew it would somehow be the colour we wanted.

[@adelinefinlay1582]

Another nice mixture…. Thanks again for sharing your restoration journey with us!x

[@charenteliving]

Our pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@jerrygodwin9084]

The floor came out beautifully. Great video guys

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Jerry!

[@judiklettenmeijer854]

Hi guys, I like your floor, but next time stain the wood first on all sides, then install. Much easier and more practical

[@judiklettenmeijer854]

And I forgot to say to use a pre stain treatment. It will help the stain go on easier and without stripes, especially with new wood

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much for all the tips!

[@joaocorreia3728]

thank you for your last recepi of elderflower lemonade, i made and is fab

[@charenteliving]

Oh so happy you made it and liked it!

[@stewartcraig3312]

Thank you for your videos! We are really enjoying your enjoyment of the Charente, an area where we too have fallen in love with. We particularly enjoyed your stroll through Verteuil-sur-Charente which is a stones throw from our masion secondaire. So familiar yet so far away this moment. Can't wait to return soon!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Stuart. So happy we can bring a little Charente to you while you're away. Glad you'll be getting back soon!! Verteuil is really fabulous!

[@stewartcraig3312]

@@charenteliving If you haven't been already, I suggest having a drink at La Sénéchalerie in Verteuil......😉

[@lynnmk2384]

Loveeeeeeeee yr floor

[@charenteliving]

Thank you, we were delighted with it!

[@veronicarunge2241]

That was a huge job laying the floor and varnishing - well done. Enjoyed the seaside visit. Thank you for sharing from Australia.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Veronica, greetings to Australia!

[@desireeismail3092]

Well done, the new flooring in the living room is so beautiful. Excited to see the new decor in there. The seaside town you went to looked lovely. Thoroughly enjoyed this video and waiting impatiently for the next new video. Hugs to Kitty. Enjoy your weekend.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Desiree! So glad you like it!

[@eprohoda]

Charente! what a well trip, 🤚

[@charenteliving]

Its beautiful here!

[@reillybb1]

Beautiful job on the floor, was hoping for lighter but it is lovely.

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much. The colour was chosen to match with the planned decor and furniture so do hope you like it when you see it all together.

[@reillybb1]

Love the floor, will you leave the light color with just a protective coating? I don’t think anything is straight in an old house.

[@jelsner5077]

I would've stained the wood before laying them. You could've done it up on sawhorses and saved your backs!

[@LaReynedEpee]

I was thinking the same 😄

[@charenteliving]

Thankfully it didn't take too too long, although bit stiff the next day.

[@jelsner5077]

@@charenteliving If the wood shrinks, you might have some bare wood stripes showing, but I guess you could touch those up. You might wish to pick up some kneepads for that kind of work --they are a lifesaver, erm, kneesaver!

[@charenteliving]

@@jelsner5077 Haha yes we will definitely will invest!

[@robbietresvant3300]

'Promo SM' 😔