I absolutely love how real you've always been and still are, no pretence, no catalogue soulless content, real beauty, real life, thank you, your videos are a breath of fresh air and I'm looking forward to the renovation ones as these had been my guilty pleasure for quite some time, thank you for inviting us on this journey 😊
I agree. Its so irritating to get halfway through a video to realise its all been designed around an advert for a mattress or a food delivery company. "I love my kitchen...and thats why Ive been using greenwave cleaning products for 5 days. Green wave have kindly sponsered this video"...etc etc
Thank you for being so kind to the previous owners by not trashing or mocking their design choices. As you were showing us the bathroom and kitchen, I had a fleeting moment of the excitement and joy they must have felt when their upgrades were new. This is going to be a very exciting project/hobby for you. Enjoy!
I appreciate that you don’t plan to make your home look like a photo shoot when you vlog. By showing your home as you live in it, you convey a bit of your personality and taste. We are able to feel the warmth, which makes your videos all the more enjoyable to watch.
Justine please continue to keep us up to date with your project. It will be wonderful to see this house morph into the home of your dreams. Thank you very much for bringing us along with you on this exciting time in your life. 💚
For your pasty pigeons, I hang bird repellent wind twisting, birds flash tape, and stainless steel glazing balls I put in a stainless steel designer bowl to place on my outdoor coffee table. All these suggestions have worked for me. God bless your new home. 💜
Farmers here in Japan recycle old CDs to keep birds off their fields. They hang them on string, so they turn in the wind and sparkle in the sun, which is startling to birds, I guess! Your house looks lovely, I can't wait for you to have the gorgeous bathroom you're envisioning.
We do that too in Greece! (I've tried everything!) But it's not working for a long time! They're getting use to it and they see its harmless! And after a while the CD's are loosing their shine, they break, they fall... Ah! 😌
Having lived for 40 years in Amsterdam, we're used to pigeons. We call them 'flying rats' over here. The spikes work well! Spikes don't hurt them, but simply prevend them from landing there. In stead, they land on the roof or tree. ;-) Hope it helps
@@sdraper2011 I second that. The spikes aren't really sharp, just uncomfortable for pigeons to walk and sit on. We tried the fake owls and the pigeons seemed to like them, used them as a sort of wind break or back rest or friend - we were never sure which - but for us the fake owls were the opposite of effective.
@@rudarudzik9483 I don't know what spikes the French use, but ours are plastic and not very sharp. Pigeons are urban birds, their feet walk on many things. Our spikes are not the worst of them. Just uncomfortable enough to make them select another location to do whatever they do.
Justine you're literally glowing from within! So delighted for you and so looking forward to seeing your renovation process. Even just seeing that particular French shaped window in your kitchen panged my heart with longing to return to France.
It is a pleasure in surprise and anticipation. The fun part for us is that we needn’t worry about any of the work. The fun part for Justine is that she’s able to enjoy the fruit of her labours.
Hi Justine, I struggled with pigeons for five, six years until I found the right solution. I tried things that did not work: moving fake owls, fake ravens, colourful shiny bands, shiny balloons, sticky bands, cinnamon powder, bird repellent powders/liquids /sprays (natural and chemical). What finally worked for me was using nets, very slim ones. I cover the borders of my balcony so that they cannot enter. It does not look the best, but I am relieved of cleaning after the pigeons. Some of my neighbours are also using spikes; it seems like working for them. It was not an option for me to cover every other piece of landing space, so I did not choose spikes. By the way, I have observed many pigeons over the years ( hahahah what a life ); pigeons are very smart and do not land on the spikes. Finally, the net I am using may not be the most elegant looking, but it is not also visible from a distance. I hope this helps. Good luck with your new adventure it is very inspiring. I hope I can also do something similar one day.
i did not expect this to make me so sad. it's absolutely gorgeous - in ireland, housing has been a crisis for decades now, and during the pandemic my young family and i were evicted and our home rented out from under us... actually owning a house like this would be an unimaginable luxury here. i can't imagine how safe ye must feel. my family is lucky we have a home at all
I'm so sorry! Have worked for Opera Theatres all my life: limited contracts, frequent moves, repeated times of unemployment, one daughter, three marriages, no parental home (as in property), so there were times I feared my next home would be under a bridge... Terrible! So you have a place to stay now? Pandemic found us high and dry in my husbands parental farm, so I'm grateful. Wishing you all the best from Austria! Barbara
We were illegally thrown out during the pandemic too. Homeless for a year and a half and finally own an RV trailer. So many Americans were turned out of their homes too; we feel blessed and lucky. 🙏
In Puerto Rico at my uncle’s condo he used fishing line attached to go from one side of the window to the other. This is to deter the pigeons from landing on the sill and it doesn’t bother the view. Congratulations on your new home. I can’t wait to see how the renovations go. :)
Dear Justine, I have never seen you so happy and excited. I can’t wait to see what you do with the bathroom and kitchen. I love the outside charm of the house, the entrance with roses is beautiful! Following your journey from Canada, BC.
If you still don’t have natural light in your bathroom after the renovation, Benjamin Moore paint in the colour Muslin is very flattering. It's a beige that must have a peach undertone because I look 10 years younger in that bathroom ! I finished the bathroom with Crema Marfil marble. 20 years later, I still love that bathroom. I continue to look great in that room 😄 It's the greatest paint
Wow Justine your house looks so beautiful!! An old house in the south of France and the resources to renovate it beautifully; what an absolute dream 🥰 I can't wait to see what you do with it!
Greetings Justine 😊 Sorry, I know nothing about pigeons, but in the Midwest USA we have issues with crows. The plastic owl is effective here, but we also use pinwheels with great success. Get shiny ones to put in the sun to create weird reflections as well as constant movement. You can expect to employ this technique each year at the beginning of summer for just a few weeks. Good luck with the renovation.
That was also my understanding, until i saw pigeons penetrated by the spikes in a building. I don't get why they're recommended by RSPB. After seeing that, I would never take that risk.
I've never seen a pigeon pierced by the spikes and we have them on most buildings in my city. Therefore, I'd conclude it's quite rare. But, Justine, if you choose not to risk it - my neighbor unfortunately lives with a flock of pigeons on the roof and around her house at all times. She puts plastic bags around her bedroom window. So that they make noise and discourage the pigeons from landing. I've seen her try the noise making machines, but the birds just get used to the 'pew pew' and 'shoo shoo', so the relief is short lived. The moving objects have worked alright from what I've observed. She puts the bags on a stick through a slightly opened window, but I'm pretty sure you could easily find a way to attach them outside. Also, if you ever happen to have a balcony that gets claimed by the pigeons, then sadly putting up a net around the whole space is the only option that has worked in my experience. They're very stubborn little munchkins.
@@alexia86gr Strange, I live in a city full of spikes and I have never seen a pigeon pierced with spike. Pigeons are light and spikes are not sharp, so the only way I could see this happening is insanely strong and very directed wind or cruel human (unfortunately, I would bet on the latter :( )
In my city people usually install plastic crows (the owl you have is way more aesthetically pleasing) and hang few CDs so they reflect light and disturb the pigeons. Not very aesthetic also.
@@alexia86gr pigeons? Multiple? That's so weird, almost pysically impossible. Those spikes are not sharp. They have a flat top. Something must have smashed them violently for them to get hurt.
I'm glad you're exited about your home renos . I love the creative process ! We moved a couple of months ago and told very few people that we were moving to a new city to avoid all the questions and mostly negative comments that seem to come with every decision we make . It is very freeing and awakens the soul to come to a new place . Wrought iron spikes to keep the birds from landing is commonly used and does not hurt them - they'll just go elsewhere . Some people use netting . I've read of putting vaseline on steel surfaces to keep them from landing there but imagine it leaves a mess to clean up at some point . You're so fortunate to be living in beautiful southern France !
I have also seen folks who hire falconers to come by and have their falcons fly around the property a few times per month to encourage them to find a new home elsewhere. The falcons are well trained and don’t kill any pigeons while on their hired flights, but naturally the pigeons see them as predators and move to find another home.
hi Justine! best advice about pigeons I received from my Aix en provence neighbour: buy a few inexpensive plastic toy snakes (realistic size) and attach them with fishing line wherever you think it's needed. leave the line a bit loose so that the snake will have movement in the wind. i attached mine close to the gutters, shutters, roof etc.. it works wonders, no more poop or noise and it's harmless =)
TheYgernependragon Yes, correct i love pigeons and doves intelligent birds ( crows and ravens and perroquets are on top of the list of intelligence ) if you have a car, do not forget to put one or two plastic snakes on the roof of your car... Thank you so much for not harming my beloved birds. stay all safe Hello and Santé "a megapinte " of french savourous red wine, from a french in the south west of france
Can't wait to see what you're gonna do with this house - it definitely has a lot of potential. By the way, you look wonderful, Justine - Provence really suits you! :)
As an archaeologist specialized in Archaeology of Architecture (the many moments of construction of a certain place), it is wonderful to know that you plan to keep those moments of construction of your house. Most people want to destroy them 😔 So I appalud you! About the pigeons, in Portugal we have way to many... those pikes don't really work, they always find a way to land in that place and even built their nests without getting hurt. I know that falcons keep them at bay, in many public places, we have hired people with falcons so the pigeons don't get near. Consider getting one in plastic that moves (like the owl), maybe it will work!
We use them in Scandinavia to keep seagulls from pooping on jetties and boats, and it works if you use the ones with long telescopic pole that sortof hovers in a circle. Seagulls are much more aggressive and sneaky, so it should work very well for pigeons I think!
@@carolinewjordan my friends out in the archapelago do too! I was there the other day and was a little startled at first glance, twice i almost went "look, a..." So I can totallt see why birds would be unnerved by them lol. 😂
I think it's fantastic that you intend to show your home the way you live in it and not as if it's a photo shoot. That's what I call authentic, and relatable. All the best to you on your exciting plans!
There are falconer that will bring their raptors to fly around your property every few months. They don't try to catch/ kill the pigeons, just scares them into thinking if they live here, we don't want to stay. Josie and Charlie from Fashion Mumbler Utube channel have used them and it's been very successful. I love your new home and am so excited to see your renovations. I also appreciate that you show real life, not staged life.
Hi Sophie, you could get a plastic hawk kite that’s tied on something and it will move in the wind. I have seen those in Helsinki on café and restaurant terraces.
Bonjour Justine, fellow French with pigeon problem here. Spikes are the way to go : it's super efficient and does not cause any harm since it only blocks the space. Do not bother trying the ultrason gadget you find at Brico to repell them, it absolutly does not work and makes a horrendous skreeky noise. Best of luck with the canicule and congrats on your gorgeous bouse. Welcome back ;)
The region of Provence is absolutely breathtaking, the house looks like it has a lot of potential. With time, patience, and artistic vision it could be turned into something special. I love how helpful the librarian was when asked about something she never had to look for before
I just love that you’re vlogging this process. I’ve been a kitchen and bath designer for the last 20 years and would be so excited to work on a project like this. I can’t wait to see the renovations once they’re done!
In my childhood home we had pigeon problems for several years. They favorite place was that balcony's planter. My mom did EVERYTHING to get rid of them. Do you know what was the solution? My sister was working in a school project by painting red and blue spirals around a broomstick. She accidentally dropped it in the planter, and as we lived in a 11th floor, it was imposible to get it again. The pigeons were never seen again. Then, somebody told us that maybe the pigeons confused the painted broomstick with a snake.
👍This might work for people with fruit trees that are damaged by birds or fruit bats without hurting them. You can buy fake rubber snakes..if not colourful enough just paint a couple of bright stripes on and place on a branch...!! Cheap idea to try.... Greetings from Aus...
I wonder if it was the colour, pattern or form? You could experiment and see if simply painting colourful stripes on your window sills deterred them or if it was actually the shape of the broomstick that could of been snake like. Often in nature bright colours signify toxins so birds shy away from eating brightly coloured insects and fruits.
We were advised to get a plastic snake to prevent the birds from eating the strawberries. It really worked. But one evening a neighbor was checking the house while we were on vacation and saw it and nearly had a heart attack - we have rattlesnakes here. He nearly killed it with a hoe before he realized it wasn't moving. Now it's a great story to remember.
Changing from a place like Berlin to Provence wow, must feel a little like you’ve come home. Most French people who still live in Europe are pretty loyal still to their old country roots. Imagine the garden potential there too. Growing sunflowers, herbs de Provence and lavender
You are a rare find on RU-vid Justine! I have really appreciated your advices on every single video that you shared, you are one of my favourites!!! I wish you well in Provence!!! I live on a Greek island, so I perfectly understand all about heatwave and pigeons hahaha! For the heat do get those cool ceiling fans, there is nothing like them. And I would also advise my dad's old trick: open windows after sunset until 09.00 am maximum, so that fresh air gets in, everything closed for the rest of the day, when it gets warm, to keep the inside temperature low. My dad was even half-closing the window shutters when it was really hot, just to allow a little light in but also give this soothing shadow feeling inside the house. As for the pigeons, most people I know in Greece use those spiky things and the birds are smart enough to simply not land on them. You might want to get a couple of cats to scare them away as well. Your house is so beautiful, I can't wait to see how the renovation will turn out! Do give us a full home tour! 🤩
For central heating: The 'modern' way (which the romans already used over 2000 years ago) is to put hot water pipes in the floor and that heat would rise and warm you up right up from your toes. All pipes are hidden and the central 'stove' hidden wherever you prefer so... nice. The only consideration is if you have old floors that you won't remove.
Ahahaha. Usually, when I see people's 'before' picture, I'm like: 'Hey, that looks like a perfectly fine bathroom/kitchen to me! Why would you rip all of that out and replace it needlessly?' But...well. Let's just say I agree, yours needs a real make over 😅
My brother and I renovated our little old house in a small town in Sardinia. It was really both an enthusiastic and stressful time, but the final results have been rewarding❤️❤️❤️. I wish you to enjoy both the renovating process and your renovated house and I cannot wait for the results❤️❤️❤️
Not sure if someone else has posted this, but the not-island in your kitchen is a peninsula. I love that you plan to update while keeping the feel of the house's original era!
As a former architecture major, I sympathize with your "designer's revulsion" at certain elements of the interior architecture and finishes! I'm really excited to see what you do with this place; it has a great deal of potential and was sturdily built. Good bones count for a lot! As for the pigeons, dummy owls and a few yard cats should do the job. Thanks for posting!
@@veronikavysoudilova9697 We don't have many pigeons in the area but I found out that our outside cats actually ate one. After living 10 years in this house, I don't see any birds on the ground anymore 🤷
Where I live the city built comfortable guarded homes for the pigeons - and exchange part of their eggs against artificial ones so that the numbers get controlled. But that's a serious community effort. I'm very happy for you with your new surroundings! Fingers crossed you pass the million soon! 🤗
@@SweetOsoka for city pigeons (hated by society, not taken care of by anyone, often treated brutally and always on the verge of starving) that's the only way to minimize suffering because they are bred to breed basically constantly, way more than any wild bird.
@@hengwin Exchanging eggs and feeding them at several regularly cleaned and guarded pigeon homes turned out to be the only somewhat reliable way to prevent some people to feed them their sugary and fatty garbage and some other people to catch them for a free meal - and the pigeon numbers to explode. We tried lots of things. People are usually the greater problem ...
The fireplace mantel in the background is gorgeous also kitchen ceiling is a knock out. Sorry about the pigeons, the spikes are really the only thing that works.
So beautiful! As for the birds, I believe things that make sudden noises like wind chimes can deter pigeons and well as things that reflect light. Some businesses in my city in the US will set up something like a speaker that will periodically make the call of a predator bird such as an owl to also scare them away.
Please, please, please show us the renovation process 🙏 oftentimes I feel like new homes or renovated homes completely lack soul. It's so refreshing to see someone who wants to incorporate the history of the land into their home ❤️
Your new house looks like any creative person's dream to live in! I can see the excitement and inspiration in your eyes already ☺️ can't wait to see the process, and I don't mind if your videos are not all fashion related. Just love seeing you on your journey!
There are lots of ways to deter pigeons. Using a falconer could be an option. The hawks don’t kill but the pigeons will scatter and leave when they see a bird of prey. There are also audio / sonic systems which keep pigeons at bay. There is an falconer near Avignon. Cedric Toubas who has a website which explains the method.
Anecdotally, we live in an urban area with a lot of doves and pigeons but there are a couple of types of raptors that hang out in the courtyard area between our buildings and they significantly reduce the number of pigeons hanging out on our fire escape while they are in residence. Sometimes the raptors eat the pigeons but mostly they just head for cover when the bird birds are around.
Wonderful to see you again! Very excited to share in your renovation journey. My parents couldn't believe we bought the house we did but a year later they enjoyed the transformation. We were young and worked hard with talented friends to create what we envisioned. The house became a home and a source of happiness and pride. I just love your laugh and sense of humor.
In Finland, we nail a piece of black cord on piers by the beaches It's supposed to look like a snake, which will keep birds away. Maybe there's something in that idea that you can use? Looking forward to seeing more of your house journey 🤗💕
Merci Justine for inviting us into your new house soon to become your soulful home...you are already starting to infuse your energy into it.. I LOVE renovations and I really enjoy your process of taking us through it...best wishes, may this new space give you much happiness and fulfillment 🌷
Hi Justine, The pigeon thing…. well those spikes don’t hurt the birds. It really works. They will not land on them Pigeons like to live in little nooks. They usually coo, are sure you’re not hear roosters 😆 . Another idea; hang a hawk figure/ shape. That is their predator. I live in Australia and have friends that live In Marseille, so I feel your heat. 😊 I can’t wait to see your new renovations Helene xx
A new beginning! Congratulations…it’s transformative, refreshing and (at times) terrifying. I recently relocated from Seattle, WA to Santa Fe, NM…and can appreciate the need for shade! Look forward to seeing the house renovations.
I absolutely love the South of France. I am originally from Normandie and my parents often took us to the south of France for a holiday. I just loved it, especially the beautiful houses and their flowers, the sun etc... and it makes me feel so homesick. I live in Australia now! I am so looking forward to your renovations and enjoy the process as much as you can.😘
Regarding the pidgeons: the spikes are a good solution, here are a few more suggestions 1) there are ultrasound machines that give away a sound irritating to pidgeons that humans can not hear 2) crow "statues" on the roof or balkony should also help keeping pidgeons at a distance 3) also helpful are silvery chimes or windmills or anything that is reflecting light while moving 3) pidgeons allegedly despise scents like dogs, cats, carnations, vinegar - but they also get used to scents quickly. Getting a cat when you live in an old house & a rural area might be a good idea in general to deal with mice and other rodents. 4) You can hire a falconer to hunt some pidgeons but that is better done by the village council. You don't want to upset neighbours who are breeding pidgeons for a hobby and this is only recommended if there is a severe over population. Pidgeon waste is actually quite good as fertilizer, so they do contribute more than one might think I hope you find peace, love and inspiration in your new home, it looks amazing and I look forward to watching more videos on the renovation progress. (I love the south of france, Arles being one of my favourite cities in Europe)
Congrats on your new home ! I’ve been having a problem with a woodpecker pecking on my house. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought these beautiful pinwheels and put them on the side of the house where it’s been pecking and it seems to be working. Being it’s windy where you live it might work for you. They’re very pretty to watch also. Good luck with all your renovations and enjoy your new home !
I’m excited to see how you transform the house into a dreamy home - it looks wonderful and ready for some tlc!!! I fell in love as soon as I saw the roses at the front door 😍
Oh my. I first watched you a few yeas ago, just for French dressing. Here again, makeup, now Covid adjustment, experience, moving on and Provence where I used to summer quite a bit, but in the mountains near Lodeve. I love listening to your RU-vid sharing. We are now dealing more and more with “reality.” The real thing; limits of goods, opportunities etc. Thank you. It’s lovely “grounded” with inspiration and hope. So GOOD for the soul!
!!!! So excited for you. House renovations are exhausting but inspiring, they push your creativity -yes, just picking door handles can keep you up at night! But it’s so rewarding. Shows me how much I want to make a similar move myself. All the best in this new journey!! 💫💫💫
Looking forward to following your renovation journey in such a beautiful old house and lovely part of the world too! Vicariously enjoying the sun and heat also as it’s winter here in New Zealand. 😊
I never felt this excited about seeing anyone’s place and can only wish you a blessed journey filled with those beautiful spaces of time of nostalgia, creative ideas, and enjoying the little things in life. Can’t think of a better place and so happy to be able to get a glimpse of your new life.
Pigeom problem,most of us in Greece have the same problem😍We use old CD's hanging from the ceilings in our terraces,so they shine as they move with the slightest breeze🥰 I hope i' ve help u! Hugs from Thessaloniki
I look forward to seeing your renovations. We are currently renovating here too. I found Pinterest and Instagram very helpful in determining how I wanted my space to look. As for the spikes for the pigeons, I don’t think they hurt them, they just make it uncomfortable for them to sit, nest, and perch on your house, encouraging them to move on to somewhere more comfortable.
Justin , I really love your content because they are real , straight to the point, practical and helpful . I hope you never lose inspiration to make these helpful videos . Lots of love 🥀✨🥀
Wow how much this channel has grown, and Justine is nearly at 1MIL subs!! 👏🙌😊 I've been watching since pretty close to the beginning of it all, and it's so wonderful to see how it's progressed. I'm a big fan of home builds, renovations and interior design (e.g like Ana White channel), so I can't wait to see all the home updates!! 🏡
Provence looks real good on you! Your house has so many amazing details and architectural features, I'm sure it will turn out great. That goofy owl really cracked me up! I hope it helps a little bit 🦉
Hi Justine and congratulations on the beautiful house! It's truly gorgeous and I'm beyond excited to see the whole renovation process. I like that you want to respect the spirit of the house and I really like that you are doing research before starting the renovation process. I dream of living in south of France some day... (well actually I had the pleasure to live there in my late 20s but it was for a short period of time). About the pigeons - sadly I can't offer a reasonable solution. In Milan we also have a huge problem with the pigeons landing on the terraces and most people use those spikes. I believe it doesn't hurt them. They are used to it and never come when they see them but it doesn't look good. I have a problem of one of my terraces and I ended up putting a net that prevents them from coming (but again not pretty). If someone has a better solution I would love to know too. xoxo
If you can install window boxes you can plant garlic or rub garlic or other essential oils on surfaces. Birds and squirrels will be deterred by smells we like but they don’t.
I don't know why I feel this will be a critical point for your development as a designer. I feel like this is your magical place, absolutely love Provenza Justine hehe best of wishes from Colombia
So happy for you. I know you appreciate Berlin but France is blessed to have you back. Your home will be lovely, practical, and functional and we look forward seeing it evolve. Congratulations.
Chère Justine, I'm genuinely happy to see this! So happy in fact that I can't even be jealous (though I love that house so much). There are celebrities whose homes I don't enjoy seeing (as someone who, even in a couple, can't afford a house in her thirties, I can't bare to watch the Kardashians etc showing off their wealth disparity and expecting us to give them a thumbs up for having such insane riches) but you, I'm really truly happy to see that you have found this beautiful place, and that you're able to do a renovation. You are a special RU-vidr. You share your creativity and inspirational nature with the world and shine a light on its problems. You give solutions and you educate people. I have a very different relationship to clothing than I once did because I watch your channel. Thank you for caring about the world, thank you for always being sincere (I agree about showing the state of the house the way it really is day-to-day, not staging it for a shoot) and thank you for still being down-to-earth despite being so well known. It makes me happy to see your success. Mes sincères félicitations, tu en mérites bien, tu es superbe !
I never knew I could truly enjoy watching someone on RU-vid that also looks truly genuine and impulses me to be better, to learn to no be scared of changes! God bless you Justine, I look forward to all your content 🤍🤗
Hey Justine!!! I've been following you for years but I rarely comment (one of those silent subscribers), I'm actually French like you and what a surprise to see your renovation vlogs and realize that you came back in France and in my own town actually: eh oui j'habite Orange moi aussi, comme toi! Welcome to Vaucluse and Orange: I've been loving this town, I've been living here for 10 years: hope you'll love it too !
