The Ultimate Fixer Upper: A Ruined Stone Building Reborn Into A Home

When you see the term “fixer-upper” in a home for sale your left to wonder what exactly that means. While most folks aren’t afraid to tackle a home renovation project, they might think twice when they learn it’s a decrepit, crumbling stone mill that dated back to the early 1800s. And yet that’s what Anthony and Gillian Blee bargained for when they obtained this property in France.

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Sure, it looks great now, but when they first set foot on the property the place was in total disrepair, bearing closer resemblance to an ancient ruin than a vacation escape. That didn’t stop them as they set to work replacing missing stones in the walls and firming up the 215-square-foot structure into a safe and modern place to call home.

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Given the remote location, solar power was a must, and they installed a set of PV panels off to the side.

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A recessed stove heats the small cabin, and also serves as a water heater.

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New tile work retains an old world feel while bringing a much needed update to the bathroom.

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Photos by Sarah Blee | h/t tinyhouseswoon, dwell

“We really wanted to capture the ruinous quality of this old building rather than do something overtly new”

It’s safe to say this family earned their stripes and did a marvelous job with the reconstruction of this once uninhabitable stone mill. They managed to both preserve the original structure’s integrity and add their own spin on a once forgotten landmark. Hopefully it lasts for another couple centuries.

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