Hi there & welcome to edition #6

Why? It’s time to celebrate the recent launch of our newsletter, Adventures & Ateliers, and to share more widely the wonders (!) of Domaine Les Plonges. Maybe you have friends who’d like a vacation rental in SW France or who’d be keen to register for our forthcoming ateliers? With your help I’m looking to spread the word and broaden our audience. In return I’m offering you the chance to come and stay for free : )

What? A three night stay in La Petite Maison for two people. Our perfectly proportioned little house is an ideal rural retreat, deep in the heart of the Perigord Noir, SW France. With one double bedroom, an open-plan living and dining area, bathroom, private terrace and parking it is suitable for one or two guests.

How? To be eligible for entry, I’m asking participants to subscribe, follow and share. As an existing subscriber, it’s still possible for you to enter (except for family and friends, sorry!) by following and sharing via Instagram as per the competition rules AND referring one new subscriber via the referral button below. Visit this page for full competition details.

Meanwhile, in other news…

Alethea x

Purple, yellow & green

In this part of the world, it’s all about a purple and yellow colour palette at the moment!

The wisteria, irises and lilac are in full flower, the scent is amazing and the bees are very happy. Meanwhile, the fields sway with beautiful wildflowers and the wild orchids are on their way 💜💛 

With Spring comes the proper start of brocante and vide-grenier season. I’ve only managed one so far (head recovery limitations) and it was browsing only but it’s always worth going: these events are as much about the social aspect, bumping into friends and neighbours, as they are about the finds.

Over time, I’ve learnt it’s helpful to keep a little list on your phone for those odd bits and bobs you’re missing but aren’t in any rush for. Things like curtain pole finials or tie-backs. It’s incredibly satisfying when you spot what you need, ready to be re-used and re-loved, all for the grand total of a euro or two ♻️ 

More Snapshots of the Domaine Les Plonges ‘journey’ every edition.

Let’s talk renovation #2 | “Mais le probleme est…”

It’s month two of the big renovation, and the phrase: “Mais, le probleme est…” has now been uttered approximately 20 times in the space of half an hour. And yet, the problem is… never actually explained. At least, despite my questions, not to me.

The (original) maitre d’oeuvre, two representatives from the chauffage et clim company and a potential plumber are here for a client site meeting. Said client, me, is growing increasingly irritated. Frankly, I’m fed up of being ignored.

From the very beginning of this renovation I knew that, as a woman, and a foreigner there would most likely be some additional challenges. This isn’t my first solo renovation rodeo - now a total of five across three countries. But with construction, and all the associated trades, typically a majority male domain, I’ve encountered my fair share of eye-roll-worthy mansplaining over the years.

Apparently, I cannot have a bathroom where I want one. It’s too complicated for the drainage. But I know this is not true, another plumber has already confirmed it is possible. Still, the maitre d’oeuvre is rattling off an alternative solution: to place the bathroom in the centre of the floor, with no natural light, in order to avoid a ‘difficult’ beam. Sketches are made, and a consensus is reached. By them. Not me.

I finally manage to interject: “No, that really doesn’t work, it has to be here.” My words are swept aside with the universal ‘don’t interrupt’ hand gesture. The plans on the maitre d’oeuvre’s clipboard are altered regardless. What?!

Again, I object, calmly, at first. I explain that this is not what I want and that the other plumber already confirmed my plan works. The four men carry on their discussion, fixing a problem that isn’t actually a problem. I may as well be invisible. I am fuming.

Everyone has a line, that moment when enough is enough. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt one too many times. But once that line is crossed, that’s it. The shutters come down. I am out.

“I need you to listen to me now, please.”

Still nothing. I am not proud of what came next, but I snapped and shouted: “Will you stop talking and listen to me!” This gets their attention, momentarily. Then predictably: “Mais, le probleme est…”

I’ve been told that when I’m angry, my French grammar tends to evaporate! However, in this case, my angry tone definitely aides their understanding. By now I am practically yelling at them: “This is my house. My project. My money. I am the client. Stop ignoring me.”

Finally, the four men actually look at me. The maitre d’oeuvre tries to apologise but makes it worse: “you won’t understand why this way won’t work”. I actually have to stand there and tell them, in barely uncontained rage, that this is not how you speak to a client. That it’s their job to figure out how to make things work, not to simply default to the easiest route because they don’t think I’ll notice or understand. Aargh.

For the past six weeks, a gnawing gut feeling has been growing. Casual 10-20k budget additions, blithely waved away (and not by me!). The absurd suggestion, and quote, for hiring a helicopter to drop in equipment for the pool renovation. The ongoing refusal to provide a clear project plan or clear timeline or solid budget. An altogether ‘fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants’ approach in so many respects, ridiculous artisan quotes and more. And to top it off, the ongoing dismissal of me, the actual client, from my own project. But this was the moment that line was irrevocably crossed.

As I left the meeting, I finally did the one thing I should have done sooner: I listened to my gut. It was time to fire the maitre d’oeuvre.

Ps: Needless to say, it was possible to locate the bathroom where I wanted it and it’s now perfect!

Pps: And yes, this did have serious repercussions on the timeline but I dread to think what the budget would have ended up as if I hadn’t taken action at this point.

Possibly you found your way here via Instagram? @domainelesplonges? If so, an extra Bienvenue! You’ll already know I love a good visual. So here I’ll share others and a little more context behind the images…

Whether it’s discovering unique work by artists and designers from near and far or rummaging through vide greniers, brocantes, and hidden treasure troves, I’m always on the lookout! I’ll be sharing my favourite artists, designers and sourcing spots here 😄 

Warehouse bonanza

Managing a renovation of this scale, and timeframe (18m), especially in an ancient property full of surprises, inevitably plays havoc with your budget. I couldn’t cut corners on the core building work: the materials (yikes, so expensive these days), the endless groundworks, and of course, the artisan’s expertise. All the foundational stuff that’s vital, largely invisible, and absolutely non-negotiable. Unsurprisingly that part of the budget ballooned way beyond what I’d planned. Which meant when it came to the decor elements, I had to get seriously resourceful.

Fortunately, I’ve had years of training (!) in tracking down bargains, in both fashion and interiors. My trusty partner in crime for all things thrifty is my oldest friend, L. Her skills far exceed mine. If there’s a sample sale, discount or designer deal to be found, she will find it!

It probably helped that both of our mothers were enthusiastic bargain hunters. Long before the internet, they were carting us off to (what felt like, at the time) painfully boring auctions in small market towns, early morning car boot sales and sample sale roadtrips that seemed to last forever.

That upbringing definitely left its mark. I may never match my mother’s eye for antique glassware – she’s renowned for unearthing Victorian wine glasses for pennies that turn our to be worth hundreds – but I’m not bad. Meanwhile, L’s mother is the undisputed queen of the deal!

Our pattern tends to follow the same familiar rhythm: months of research, a close eye on annual sales, and then, once we’ve finally tracked down the ‘thing’ (often after a bit of travel) the rest of the day is spent with proud refrains like: “Ooh, didn’t we do well” and “We’ll be wearing / using that for years!”

Naturally, these expeditions are peppered with frequent recaps of our greatest hits over the years. Like the Mulberry wallets we bought as teenagers for GBP5 each at the original shed version (before it got fancy) of the Mulberry warehouse in Shepton Mallet, UK. The incredible hangar near Ath, Belgium, found randomly, re-visited often, brimming with antique furniture at extraordinarily low prices. The pottery we endlessly lugged back from Raposeira, Portugal. The annual Nina Campbell / Osborne & Little sales at Battersea Arts Centre, London, UK. And, of course, the legendary day trip to Woodbury Common, New Jersey, USA, where we found All-Clad cookware for USD10 a piece. Deal!

All of which brings me back to this renovation, and more specifically, the three new bathrooms on the top floor of the main property.

Last Summer, I was visiting L and her family in the UK for a long weekend. On the itinerary a relaxed few days of catching-up with everyone and general low-key faffing around the local neighbourhood. That was until a chance encounter in the local town set off L’s bargain antennae: she’d been alerted to a massive Fired Earth warehouse sale the very next day. Only 2.5 hours away.

A bit of quick research confirmed this was their annual end of line sale. Plans were amended! L, N and I were all very much up for the tile sale of the century (!), fifteen year old H, slightly less so!

Initially, I was just along for the ride, helping them find tiles for their bathroom. I assumed, with post-Brexit shipping and import charges, that buying anything for my project would still be expensive and a huge amount of hassle.

On arrival, it didn’t take long for the maths to whirr… I soon realised I could kit out two whole bathrooms for just 10% of the retail price. The Fired Earth team even provided an on the spot international shipping quote – and yes, it would still be cheaper than sourcing the cheapest m2 of tiles at Bricomarche.

Suddenly, I’d found: 40 m2 of tiles, at €9 m2, total tile spend €360, shipping and taxes €185, all in at €13 m2, for some seriously beautiful Fired Earth tiles. There was no way I’d find something comparable, let along something I loved, at that price. Between us, we sourced all the tiles for three bathrooms, and enjoyed a lot of satisfactory “Ooh, didn’t we do well“ chats 😄 

Becoming ‘the story’

The PR adage I have abided by my entire career is that a good PR is never ‘the story’. Perhaps that’s less relevant now than it was when I started working in the mid-90’s, but it’s a mindset that’s become deeply ingrained. I think it’s also why so many brilliant communications professionals, certainly from my generation, can be so dire at promoting themselves or their own projects 🤦‍♀️

So, putting my work hat on to promote my own big project here at Domaine Les Plonges, and stepping out from behind the scenes, doesn’t come naturally to me. I know what to do (you’d hope so by now!) but it feels oddly nerve-wracking when it’s for my thing.

I’m forcing myself to branch out into what I’ve always considered ‘client’ territory: launching this newsletter, ramping up our Instagram, stepping into the world of traditional media with some upcoming features, accepting my first podcast invitation, and even launching a competition. Surreal tentative steps to seriously treating this project (and mysefl!) as an actual client.

Anyone else recognise this scenario? And if so, have you got any brilliant tips on how to ‘get over’ this self-promotion / personal project promotion fear? 

Ps: In case you missed it, here’s the first editorial feature: As seen in | Martha Stewart 😄 

Shortly, I’m recording for my friend Noelle’s brilliant podcast: Journeys Through Change - Inspiration for women to create a life they love. Established two years ago, and now with over 100 episodes, Noelle’s podcast has a loyal listener base and great back catalogue - check it out! Given the pressure, I’ll probably end up talking about the dog! 🤣 

There are also two artist / artisan interviews ‘en cours’ and in true French style, they will be ready when they are ready! I look forward to sharing their brilliance with you soon!

Stay with us! La Petite Maison vacation rental

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