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(17)

Help with renovation of an old river side miller's house into an artist and music studio near Nantes, France

France
Last activity : 19 Apr 2024

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Host rating
80 %
Last replied
17 Jan 2022
Feedback
35
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Availability

2024

Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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What's this?

Details

Description
If you enjoy building or gardening, this project is ideal for you. A charming old stone building is being slowly transformed into an artist and music studio. Generally skilled work is the theme so anyone good with their hands or enjoy complex challenges will enjoy our project. I will teach you anything you need to learn here and there's no shortage of carpentry, wood work, masonry or gardening techniques and traditions to learn !

Interested in culture, film, philosophy, psychology, science, music and artisanal knowledge, we will share good times and enjoy the surrounding beauty of this riverside hamlet. Above all, I love to meet people and let this project grow with shared experiences and cultural exchange.

I can teach you and involve you in whichever techniques are of most interest or to your skillset. I will welcome you and make you feel at home. You can stay from two or three weeks to a few more or just play it by ear.

SOYEZ LES BIENVENUES dans ce projet d'eco construction. Avoir un interet ou être experimenté en charpente, constuction terre paille, electricité, plomberlie ou masonerie, vous serez bien acceilli dans cette dependance de moulin ancien. Echanger et apprendre à se connaitre c'est un plaisir dans le cadre de ce projet.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help with Eco Projects
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
- I am Irish-French and have lived all over, I love to share experiences !
- Determined to achieve this renovation learning ancient techniques and using eco friendly materials, valuable lessons in building and teamwork.
- Mainly french & english spoken in the house.
- A creative environment, with many tools, instruments and space to use.
- Make short films ! Or just video and/or photography together.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Here are the general tasks I will be performing, 'I've added stars out of 5 to show difficulty level ! :

*️️️️*️️️️*️️️️*️️️️ Electric & plumbing tasks
*️️️️*️️️️ Insulation between floors and on walls with straw & earth or other materials.
*️️️️*️️️️*️️️️*️️️️*️️️️ Plasterboard and wooden ceilings formed for acoustic rooms.
*️️️️*️️️️*️️️️ Door framing, flooring and stud wall building, oh and also an old barn door!
*️️️️*️️️️ Garden landscaping and vegetable growing
*️️️️*️️️️ Painting and rendering with traditional lime-based paint techniques

This project is especially interesting for those interested in eco-construction or traditional and modern building techniques. A lot of creativity is required . Step one of this self-renovation project is to create three bedrooms and two studio rooms totaling around 190m2... on a tight budget. The hours are flexible and the atmosphere is very laid back here. Visitors live with us for cooking and cleaning and other basic living. I share all I can to ensure you are comfortable.

All profiles are welcome and we've enjoyed meeting many different people through workaway. If you are involved in a short film, photography and/or music we can collaborate with the rudimentary equipment we have here or take your own with you! There have been a fair few collaborations here in a spontaneous way!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
Accommodation
- One large double bedroom which is very calm !
- Full access to the garden and living spaces, any tools or facilities you need to do what you like.
- Plenty of private space with WIFI in most areas.
What else ...
- Surrounding area - Nort sur Erdre - is stunning. With river in the back garden for fishing or canoeing.
- Lots of regional sites to visit including the beaches 45 mins away.
- Nightlife with trains to and from our town into Nantes city, one of the most trendy cities to visit for music & culture.
- Local transport, trains & buses only 3 miles down road, a bike ride away or a 30 min walk
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 995167688828

Feedback (17)

23 Aug 2019

Left by Workawayer (seanwestern) for host

A great time here. Never have I spent so much time hanging out with the host, but rarely have I met someone with so many of the same interests. Well looked after I was, Many thanks for wine, beer and bacon as well as for showing me around the local sights and for having the patience to jam with me.

(Excellent )

2 Aug 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (MINA)

Mina was great to have around, she was willing to learn anything. Being an artist she spent a lot of time involved in our two week limewash & pigment research frenzy. She also learnt and helped out several days with plaster walls in preparation for the final limewash, plastering is not easy but her patience yielded good results. Around the house… read more

(Excellent )

1 Aug 2018

Left by Workawayer (MINA) for host

It was wonderful 2 weeks for me , thanks for that Xavier. The projet is interesting and i was glad to learn something about that because of good teacher. In that project, Xavier is good leader .Observing the progression and participating in there is really dynamic i think. As my first experience of workaway, it was fist time to work together and… read more

(Excellent )

1 Aug 2018

Left by Workawayer (Kelly Jane) for host

I had an excellent time at Xavier's. Despite my epic fail at plastering we learnt loads together, had ridiculous fun doing it and did succeed in making lime paint. This is a lovely place but you will need a strong work ethic, adaptability and a certain level of independence and initiative....you must also like cats! Once the rest of the walls and… read more

(Excellent )

1 Aug 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Kelly Jane)

Kelly brought us a wealth of knowledge and I ended up putting other work on hold to focus on lime rendering and limewash painting. We created many samples together which will be used to determine exactly which processes the final painting of our rooms and studio will be. This type of work was possible thanks to Kelly, and we had a great laugh… read more

(Excellent )

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23 Aug 2019

Left by Workawayer (seanwestern) for host

(Excellent)

2 Aug 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (MINA)

(Excellent)

1 Aug 2018

Left by Workawayer (MINA) for host

(Excellent)

1 Aug 2018

Left by Workawayer (Kelly Jane) for host

(Excellent)

1 Aug 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Kelly Jane)

(Excellent)

28 Jul 2018

Left by Workawayer (Mark & Gail) for host

We initially only meant to stay for two weeks but we immediately felt at home here and ended up staying for six weeks.
We were both quite nervous as this was our first workaway experience and being a little older than our hosts, we were a little anxious on our arrival but Xavier and Johan put us at ease straight away.
The project is quite an… read more

(Excellent)

11 Jul 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Mark & Gail)

Mark & Gail came initially for a couple of weeks from their camping expedition in Britany, they ended up staying for 6 weeks! We became good friends and enjoyed each others company in work and play. Between them they have so much knowledge and experience there's never a dull moment. Tree clearing, gardening, setting up a veg patch, making door… read more

(Excellent)

25 Jul 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Ollie)

Ollie was a great guy to have around. A skilled fellow, he applied himself to gardening, woodwork, cob walling and landscaping with very little need for managing. All round solid bloke! Good company & always positive within the group. I'm sorry I didn't have more time together and you're always welcome back here Ollie. Safe travels!

(Excellent)

27 Mar 2018

Left by Workawayer (Alison) for host

I spent month with Xavier and Oisin and I enjoyed it so much I’m going back! The hosts are incredibly welcoming and fun, the conversation is always interesting, and the building project itself provides endless opportunities to learn cool new (aka old) methods of bio-construction, insulation and finishing. The labor can often be quite physical and… read more

(Excellent)

27 Mar 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Alison)

Alison was great to have around and has lots of skills with her hands, not least musical. It's been great sharing life stories and experiences as her cultural background is so far from ours but so close. She was a serious fighter on our work site and was as good alone as in teams. She integrated the house team really well and stayed long enough to… read more

(Excellent)

26 Feb 2018

Left by Workawayer (Víctor) for host

Xavier and Oisín are two very interesting people, quite well read and travelled who enjoy profound conversations, but they are also quite laid-back and like a good laugh. They are taking over a big reconstruction project; there´s still a lot of work to do but they are definetly more than capable to get it done.
There´s plenty of different tasks to… read more

(Excellent)

25 Feb 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Víctor)

Victor is the ideal workawayer. He is hard working and enjoys a lot of the technical sides to building. He was good company and we had a good laugh together over his three-week stay. He did all woodwork with us, instaling a wood frame between roof beams in order to support future plasterboard and insulation. He also installed a vertical stud wall… read more

(Excellent)

7 Jan 2018

Left by Workawayer (Guilherme) for host

Amazing, the whole experience. I loved the four weeks I stayed here, listening to Xav's and Oisín's stories and thoughts, and learning some pretty cool new skills. Xav is very thoughtful and a great teacher, both on construction skills and philosophical subjects, and Oisín besides being a great cook and a very generous guy is himself a living… read more

(Excellent)

4 Jan 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Guilherme)

Gui was a diamond geezer! Most of the time I had to pull him away from work as he got into it without other consideration. As a result after around four weeks with us he has picked up lots of skills. Preparing lime into useable traditional mortar base. Mixing up traditional mortars. Laying cobble stones and following tricky designs. Lime based… read more

(Excellent)

7 Jan 2018

Left by Workawayer (Max) for host

Xav and Oisin hosted me for two weeks in December. Their old mill and soon-to-be artist residence looks like a place straight out of a fairytale: An old stone house with a big garden, a cozy fireplace and a calm creek right behind the property. We spent our working hours mostly outside; mortaring and painting walls, paving cobblestone artwork and… read more

(Excellent)

4 Jan 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Max)

It was great to have Max with us and I wish him all the best in his new job. In between jobs Max decided to join us through some pretty hard going weeks of winter work on the artist residence. He picked up traditional lime based painting and mortaring including carefully excavating stone wall areas which would later be re-masoned. He also helped… read more

(Excellent)

5 Jan 2018

Left by Workawayer (Ashleigh) for host

This was my first ever workaway and it was great. I only stayed a week as I had a short break in between jobs back home, but I wouldn't hesitate to go back. Xav and Oisin were great hosts and I really enjoyed my time with them. They're both really laid back and interesting to talk to, and really helpful with tips on what to see in my spare time.… read more

(Excellent)

4 Jan 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Ashleigh)

This was Ashleigh's first workaway and she was great ! A pro in all things lighting design she was able to advise on the lighting for our project. Though her stay was fairly short she tackled a woodwork job in the artist bedrooms which she managed to finish before leaving. Handling wood working tools and design and measurement of a ceiling frame,… read more

(Excellent)

4 Jan 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Wyatt)

Wyatt is a rare fellow. Considering he had no real clue about building in general, he took to it really well and was eager to see it through once he got stuck in. He learned quite a bit about laying traditional cobble stones, also about lime mortaring. The whole time he was here we created a cobbled entrance to the music studio outside.
Wyatt… read more

(Excellent)

2 Jan 2018

Left by Workawayer (Wyatt) for host

I had an awesome time with Xav and Oisin. Both are incredibly accommodating, thoughtful guys, who constantly went out of their way to ensure everything went well during my three-week stay. Personally, I had very little experience building before going, but Xav was a patient and always jovial teacher. It would've been a disservice to myself and… read more

(Excellent)

28 Nov 2017

Left by Workawayer (Murielle) for host

Un grand MERCI à Xavier et Oisin qui m ont généreusement accueillie et aidée . Attentionnés et à l' écoute, l'un apporte précision technique architecturale l'autre culinaire et , chacun , de belles discussions.
Un espace vert au bord de l eau qui bientôt tout organisé de notes et de pas de danse rayonnera encore plus fort:dancer:. Olé!!:hugging:

(Excellent)

19 Nov 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Murielle)

Murielle came for 3 weeks and helped us out so much ! It was great to have her with us and we were able to help her out too. She was a skilled worker and even did some interior design for us ! Thanks for all your help Murielle.

(Excellent)

21 Nov 2017

Left by Workawayer (Javier) for host

It was a real pleasure to stay with Xavier and Oisin. This kind of projects for me give sense to a workaway experience, because I could find there people working and believing in their dreams and trying to create something that they love. It was really amazing get to know them, they are generous, kind and extremely interesting people. I could… read more

(Excellent)

19 Nov 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Javier)

Javier stayed for a week with us after a stay at a monastery in Germany, it was great to meet and get some extra help in October. He was kind and especially interested in good conversation. He learned quickly even though his stay was a bit short. See you again sometime !

(Excellent)

20 Nov 2017

Left by Workawayer (Samuel) for host

Working with Xander was an awesome experience, and I wish I'd had more time there. I'm definitely planning to go back when I get a chance to see how the project is progressing.

This summer, the work was mostly masonry and carpentry. I learned how to mix mortar and apply it to the walls using the traditional construction methods that were used to… read more

(Excellent)

6 Sep 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Samuel)

Hi Sam it was great to have you here, shame it was a bit short in the end. You were really willing to try anything out which I appreciated a lot and I hope you had a good time in the next workaway in Italy. You're always welcome back here if you need/want, we'll be moving onto woodwork soon, amongst other tasks. Take care !

(Very good)

16 Sep 2017

Left by Workawayer (Douglas) for host

The 3 weeks I spent with Oisin and Xavier were great. I felt welcomed and comfortable as soon as I arrived and met them both. The work was physical but very rewarding and, as workers we were always given the opportunity to choose what the content of our work would be. I was also always given apt directions so I never felt out of my depth. I got on… read more

(Excellent)

6 Sep 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Douglas)

Douglas stayed around 3 weeks which was great. We had a lot in common, namely love of film and the desire to make one ! He was the perfect coworker on site as he wasn't afraid to propose ideas, to question his own work, learn new tasks. He took his time to do his best job and left us with some quality results. We had a great laugh together and I… read more

(Excellent)

14 Sep 2017

Left by Workawayer (Uliana) for host

I had a great time with Oisin and Xavier, I stayed for 3 weeks and didn't want to leave in the end.The house and surroundings are beautiful, real French countryside and Nantes is really close. The work can be a little bit tough sometimes, but most of the time is just fun and there is plenty to do around the house. Xav and Oisin are very laid back… read more

(Excellent)

6 Sep 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Uliana)

Uliana it was great to have you here I wish you all the best back in Holland ! You're welcome back anytime and thanks for all your help, it wasn't easy work and you took it in your stride. We shared some great moments and conversations and i'm you'd fit in anywhere with your easy going personality. Hope to you again !

(Excellent)

6 Sep 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Daisy)

Hi Daisy, it was great to welcome you here and despite being a true city dweller you adapted well to our countryside building site. I think you will never quite look at a wall in the same way after all that mortaring ! I promise if you ever return you can do some wood work or painting or something less messy. Come to think of it you did manage to… read more

(Excellent)

25 May 2017

Left by Workawayer (Benedicte & Kalpesh) for host

Thank you Xavier and Oisin for the fantastic 3 weeks spent in your company and in a beautiful area. We very much appreciated the time you spent explaining us your work and the techniques used. Not to mention the good meal and valuable discussion shared. We hope to come back some times this year or next to give you a hand and see how the project is… read more

(Excellent)

21 May 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Benedicte & Kalpesh)

Benedicte and Kalpesh helped us so much over the last three weeks, despite the work being hard going. We shared a lot of stories, food recipes, ideas and all with great humour. They were independent with the work and even with jobs they hadn't learnt before, which was a great value. I hope you enjoyed your time with us and you are always welcome!… read more

(Excellent)

21 May 2017

Left by Workawayer (Norbert) for host

Xavier and Oisin are great hosts and good friends, I am grateful for the chances they gave me to work independently and try out myself in different tasks which can be useful anytime in my life.
The meals were also great as they are excellent cooks. However the work can be hard sometimes, but it is pleasure to work on this project with these… read more

(Excellent)

21 May 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Norbert)

It was great to have Norbi with us on this building project. He learnt quickly and helped with all kinds of work on site. He enjoyed the instruments lying around and I wish we'd had more time to play together! Very easy going and hard working, hope to see you again Norbi.

(Excellent)

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Help with renovation of an old river side miller's house into an artist and music studio near Nantes, France

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Feedback

Facebook verified

Email verified

Badges (3)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Projects involving children

Help

Languages spoken

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

How many Workawayers can stay?

Hours expected

Feedback (17)

Photos

Feedback