The Tiny French Farmhouse: Sleeping 9 people in <800 sqft
NOTE: This entry was written as a response to one of the most commonly asked questions about the farmhouse: “Where does everyone sleep?!”
Our <800 sqft farmhouse residence, which is shared between five adults and four young kids, was listed as a 2 bedroom / 1 bathroom online.
Thankfully, upon receiving the private link to the full property listing, we discovered that there was also an unlisted half-bath — or “WC”— upstairs between the little bedrooms. We rejoiced heartily over this. (We still do.)
While the surprise WC solved the most pressing space-related problem we’d anticipated (one toilet for nine people was clearly not going to suffice), there was still the significant, runner-up spacial issue of the need for a third bedroom. As we’re three parties who intended to overlap frequently during both our short and long-term stays, creating an additional, dedicated sleep space was promptly added to our list of restoration and renovation projects. We marked it as non-urgent, but a high priority.
As you can imagine (and see for yourself via my photos), our repair + to-do list is very long. The farmhouse and its outbuildings were constructed in the mid-1800s, and adapted mindfully but inexpertly over time. Some of the our list’s entries are essential. Some are aspirational. Some need to be done for regulatory purposes. Others are constantly being erased and re-written to reflect our families’ evolving needs as life unfolds in the unexpected ways it does.
This past summer was our first with all three parties / nine folks together in the residence at once…
Tiny French Farmhouse: Repairing the 2nd Floor Ceilings
When we and our partners purchased the Tiny French Farmhouse on the final day of 2020, we knew we’d have to tackle the repair of the 2nd floor ceilings as soon as possible. The water damage within them was evident from the realtor photos, and after visiting the property in our stead, our surrogates in the region confirmed the rot was indeed extensive.
Luckily our neighbors and friends are highly skilled in various areas of both home construction and repair, and are knowledgable about the specific materials commonly used throughout older homes in the Aveyron region.
When our family was finally able to visit the property last year, we connected with our neighbors, who generously agreed to handle with the removal of the toxic ceilings as part of the roof restoration for which we’d hired them.
The process was layered, but here’s the gist:
The low, rotted ceiling panels of the upper floor were removed
The aged and water-logged insulation was removed and safely discarded
In select areas, drywall and plaster were replaced or added
In certain spots, electrical wires were reorganized in safer arrangements
As part of the roof restoration, three VELUX skylights were cut-in and installed— one in both bedrooms, and one above the dark stairwell
As of now, the ceilings of the second floor — including the beams that were once fully or partially wrapped — remain unfinished. After seeing it first-hand, we’ll determine next steps.
Even unfinished, it is already greatly improved. Areas that were previously filled with soggy overhead boards (that encouraged bending and stooping) are now vaulted and spacious.
We’re not anticipating dramatic temperature changes within the home without the interior insulation. The roof now provides insulation via numerous materials / layers beneath its original stones, and the home is so small that it isn’t difficult to heat with the built-in system or petite space heaters left by the previous owners. Plus the large fireplace sits beneath half of the upper floor, and its chimney extends upwards throughout the main bedroom and 1/2-bath walls.
Of course, only time will tell! But since we’re in this project for the long haul, we’re unhurried and, currently, quite content.