Chantale Boulé checking out wall coloursNothing like panic to help one focus on finding really good professional help. “Team Cottage” has been expanded this week to include Chantale Boulé, a woman who has great ideas and contacts and is also terrific fun. She owns a fabulous shop and decorating business, La Vie de Campagne, and has helped others (including the McEntyres and the Hugh Blakelys) with planning and refurbishing. She is as keen as we are to recycle, reuse, restore and keep to a restricted budget. Best of all, she understands the difference between ‘cottage’ and ‘house’ and is herself a ‘cottage’ person. We are so grateful that she agreed to put herself in our corner along with Jean-Marc (and the Duvals), Michael Werleman and all of you out there.
Chantale and I arrived yesterday to find the porch floors being constructed and the inside walls being taped and plastered. With Chantale's and Jean-Marc's help, the primary wall colour was chosen - it's most appropriately called “birch bark”. We decided on the stain and finish for the wood flooring, and figured out (along with Helen Rutledge who came by) where to store a lot (though not all) of the things that will need a home. And, there was much stress-reducing discussion about the myriad of the other decisions looming. To cap it all off, I bought a salvaged bathtub on claws en route home, and was able to make arrangements to have it restored.
The happy result is that we’re actually beginning to believe that the cottage will be ready enough to host the first church service on July 12th, as planned!
Porch closest to the McEntyres
The to-be-screened-in porch
Helen had lots of great storage ideas
Taping and plastering the master bedroom
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