Budget Farmhouse Kitchen Chaos: One Small Job Goes Very Wrong
Renovating an old farmhouse in France on a small budget always sounds romantic, but reality has a habit of getting involved. In this project, what should have been a simple kitchen window replacement quickly spiralled into a full-blown lesson in traditional building techniques, cement damage, and why old stone walls need to breathe. If you’re planning a rural property renovation in France, or already knee-deep in one, this video shows exactly how quickly things can escalate.
Opening an Old Window That Hadn’t Moved in 40 Years
The job started innocently enough, because all we wanted to do was open a kitchen window that hadn’t been touched for decades. Below the frame were holes, vents, and plenty of cold air, so double glazing seemed like a sensible upgrade. But once we started investigating, it became clear that this was no ordinary window job, and the wall behind it was hiding far more than expected.
Old Stone Walls, Cracks, and Cement Repairs
As soon as work began, cracks appeared everywhere, and previous repairs became painfully obvious. Parts of the wall had been rendered with hard cement rather than lime mortar, which is common in abandoned house renovations across France. Cement might look solid, but it traps moisture in stone walls, so damp problems were inevitable. Because of this, removing the cement became unavoidable, even though it meant far more work.
Damp, Chimneys, and Walls That Can’t Breathe
Moisture was a major issue in this kitchen, and paint was flaking because water had nowhere to escape. An old chimney once sat behind the wall, and water had travelled through 75cm of stone only to hit an impermeable cement layer. So the wall stayed wet, condensation formed, and mould began to appear. This is exactly why lime mortar repair matters in traditional buildings, especially in rural French farmhouses.
Storms, Setbacks, and Budget Renovation Reality
Just as progress slowed, storms rolled in, and rain started blowing horizontally through the open wall. Lightning, leaking windows, and a kitchen half demolished aren’t ideal conditions, but this is often the reality of a budget renovation project. Decisions had to be made quickly, because stopping halfway would only make the problems worse.
Going Too Far: When One Wall Becomes Two
Removing the cement revealed just how bad the situation really was, so cupboards came out, tiles were removed, and even the cooker had to go. That’s when you know you’ve gone too far, but turning back wasn’t an option. Behind the units, black mould and rotten fixings showed years of trapped moisture, and suddenly restoring stone walls became the priority rather than installing a window.
Traditional Building Techniques and Lime Mortar Lessons
With the cement finally gone, the stone walls began drying almost immediately, and the damp smell disappeared. This is why traditional building techniques still matter today, and why lime mortar is essential for old houses in France. Exposed stone started to look intentional rather than accidental, and what began as a problem slowly turned into a feature.
A Finished Kitchen, Just in Time for Winter
After a lot of effort, teamwork, and more than a few biscuits for dinner, the window finally went back in for the first time in 40 years. The extractor fan was installed, tiles were reused, and the kitchen was made warm and usable again. It’s not perfect, but it’s dry, breathable, and full of character, which is exactly what a French farmhouse kitchen should be.
If you’re interested in renovating in France, restoring stone walls, or learning from real-life renovation mistakes, this video shows what happens when you tackle an old house on a tight budget—and why understanding traditional materials can save you from much bigger problems later.
00:00 Adding a wind… or crashing into the cave? Renovation risk!
01:46 Caught Mandy planning double glazing 😬 More work!
04:04 Renovation nightmare: cement wall discovered!
04:37 Thunder, lightning & rain halt the renovation chaos
05:00 Uh oh… I removed too much cement 😳
05:20 Exploring a failing wall in our French farmhouse
06:34 Kitchen meltdown: cooker out, cupboards doomed!
08:20 Biscuits for dinner in a budget renovation fail
10:03 Where do we stop? Another wall torn apart?!
11:12 All cement removed… window still not in 😅
12:52 Ceiling mystery: terracotta or lath and plaster?
13:57 Traditional French plaster holding the window in
14:20 What’s holding this window? Dust and cobwebs!
15:21 Carefully lowering a 40-year-old kitchen window
16:03 Double glazing install begins… it’s heavy!
17:52 Wine rack installed in freezing renovation weather
19:02 DIY oak window seat using garden brackets
19:34 Lime mortar inspected by Chateau de Montmagner
20:21 Finally fitting the fume extractor (promise kept)
20:39 Cupboards don’t fit after wall restoration 😬
20:56 Original tiles saved! One renovation win
21:27 Window fitted just as snow arrives ❄️
21:43 Kitchen looks done… but tweaks never end!
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