Our house was built in 1951, so of course it’s only normal for it to have character and charm. Like in today’s exhibit we’ll call New House WTF #1…
Read on and see pic!
Exposed wires
Since I’m not French and am relatively new in France, I take a lot of things for face value and with a grain of salt. I nod my head and take things in and process them later. No need to get all worked up if something doesn’t fit perfectly into my American framework of what’s normal and what’s not. In the case of buying a house in France, there were many things that I found different, but regardless, everything worked out in the end because WE’RE NOW IN OUR NEW HOUSE!!
BUT it wouldn’t be France if everything just made sense. Let’s take my light “fixtures,” for instance. Look at this beauty that adorns the ceiling in the family room!
WTF IS THAT????
The exposed wires have so much character, right? Red, blue and yellow — yellow being the ground wire (I think) just flapping there in the breeze with no cap on the end. Is that normal?? No, no it’s not, says the American. But the French say that’s totally normal in older homes until you buy light fixtures to cover the exposed wires. In fact, we have nine bulbs like that in our new home all exposed and waiting for a new covering. This naked bulb look strikes me as extremely weird and even dangerous although I’ve been told it’s not (unless you touch it). The French are fans of taking light fixtures with them when they move, I guess. And I’m a fan of having covered light bulbs, so as soon as these get dressed up all pretty, I think I’ll sleep better.
Do these exposed wires strike you as weird? Have you ever bought a house that had things that made you scratch your head?
Note: The electircity was all redone in the home several years ago so the wires (although exposed in some cases!) are not faulty in the wall or anything like that.
Note 2: The first pic above is not a pic of our actual house. Not posting those on my blog — ya know, privacy and all.
the exposed wire look is reall classy!
exactly my thoughts — gives it a real industrial feel hahaha
“The French are fans of taking light fixtures”
Yes you got it right. That’s a normal behavior in France but NOT to let exposed wires except the yellow/green which is safe (ground indeed). When they leave, people are expected to replace their light fixtures by temporary cheap ones with a bulb (same as on your picture).
… and congratulation for your new home sweet home by the way.
Be thankful you weren’t buying in Germany, where there might be nothing at all in the kitchen. If you are lucky, the cupboards and benchtops will be there, but no appliances or sink.
Yeah, I don’t think I’d be too happy w/a rental in Germany! I mean the thing is if you own a place you can do what you want. The trouble in our apt was that it was a rental and what was there when Tom originally signed the lease was what he got. But nothing is forever when you buy thankfully. So appreciative of my fridge and cabinets now! ;-))))
hi. I really like your blog. this post made me lough. i’m a belgian but that’s the same here. i didn’t even notice it but now it’s seems so obvious that it’s weird.
Thank you! Glad you got a laugh out of the post. So there are naked bulbs in Belgium too?
thanks for your reply. absolutely there naked bubls here. hehe
We’re in the hunt for a house also — quite a different and frustrating process. However, it seems like many of the houses we look at now are “amenege/equipe” generally having an american style kitchen — which seems to be an advertising bonus.
But you’re right — the exposed wires give us the creeps.
Fun! In what area are you looking to buy? Most of the newer or renovated homes do have more of an American-style kitchen, or at least cabinets! Absolutely a bonus in my eyes — the French realized what they’ve been missing!
Love your site! We have had a modest ancient house in France for 14 years.(it would be less modest if we could afford to remodel all the other various spaces and rooms !). I was looking for French style screens for the windows. I have one but it is old and is the usual cheaply made french stuff.In the past I have bought window hardware from J C Penney as they cover Canada who have the same interior opening windows. But now I am ‘denied access’..I suspect it is protectionism, but then my family do say I wear a tin foil hat ! I will keep looking and trying to find window screens that not only accommodate inward opening windows but also outward opening shutters.