Shutters that get to live on, not just be replaced.
We build new and renovate French volets for Scandinavian homeowners in Languedoc, within an hour of Narbonne, from site visit to finished, painted shutter. You don't need to be on site during the work itself.
A small, personal team: David does the site visits, measuring and craftsmanship, Emelie handles the dialogue with you throughout the project. You get photos and updates along the way, not just an invoice draft at the end.
Every shutter gets the treatment it needs
From a quick refresh to a full renovation with new timber. The scope is decided at the site visit, not in advance from photos.
Inspection & pickup
Site visit with measurements, photos and damage assessment. The shutters are picked up and taken to our workshop. All work happens there, not at your home.
Washing & paint removal
Old paint and dirt are gently removed so the wood can breathe and the new treatment adheres properly.
Wood repair
Minor damage and cracks are repaired in wood that still has life left, instead of being thrown away.
Bottom section replacement
The rot-damaged bottom section, the part that usually suffers most, is replaced with new timber in a matching profile.
Priming & painting
Priming and painting in your chosen colour, with products suited to the southern French climate.
Fittings & delivery
Hinges and fittings are cleaned and treated, the shutters are delivered finished and adjusted, ready to be mounted.
How it works
The same six steps for every project, whether it's two shutters or the whole house.
Contact
You get in touch with photos, the number of shutters and the house address.
Site visit
David measures, assesses condition and photographs every shutter on site.
Quote
You get a clear proposal with scope, timeline and price.
Approval
You approve the quote, normally against a 50% deposit.
Work
The shutters are renovated per the quote, with photos along the way.
Delivery
The finished shutter is delivered ready and adjusted in its fittings, with before/after photos.
What does it cost, roughly?
Most shutters manage with a renovation per the process above: washing, minor repairs, replacing the rot-damaged bottom section and repainting. When the damage goes further than that, for example cracks running through the whole profile or large parts completely worn out, a patched shutter rarely lasts as long as a new one. In that case we recommend a new build instead, with the fittings from your old shutters reused. Which one suits best is always decided at the site visit, not in advance.
20% launch discount for the first 10 customers who book a site visit. Deducted directly in the quote, nothing to ask for.
Entirely new timber in a matching profile, the fittings from your old shutters are reused. About €600 more than renovation, for a shutter that lasts considerably longer.
Pickup, washing, minor wood repair, painting and fittings treatment. Best when the shutter is fundamentally sound.
An entirely new shutter door in a matching profile, the fittings from your old shutters are reused. About €900 more than renovation, for a shutter that lasts considerably longer.
Same process as a pair of shutters, scaled for the larger format. Best when the shutter is fundamentally sound.
The prices above exclude VAT and cover labour and normal contingency. Materials are additional and quoted separately once timber and fittings are assessed on site, since the cost varies with shutter type and availability. Which VAT rate applies (see below) is confirmed in the quote. Examples are for a fairly standard size and normal condition; actual cost depends on size, condition and access and is always confirmed in a written quote after the site visit.
Fixed price in the quote, never running hourly billing, and we keep the time we promise.
Tax and deductions
Which VAT rate applies?
VAT handling depends on how the job is set up and can differ between projects. Which rate applies is always confirmed in the quote and on the invoice, not here on the page.
Why not the Swedish ROT deduction?
The practical reason we don't offer ROT: we always take the shutters to our own workshop for the renovation. ROT requires that the labour cost can be tied to work carried out in or at the home, which our way of working doesn't always meet.
We take care of the house you can't always be at
David and Emelie previously built their house together on Vrångö in the Swedish archipelago. In 2026 they left the house and island life to test the dream of a life in France, and that's where the idea for Volets France came from: the same craftsmanship, a new place, one shutter at a time.
David has both designed and built houses, an outbuilding and a fully fitted-out guest cottage himself. On Vrångö they spent a lot of time making the house feel like a genuine old captain's villa, everything from proportions down to the smallest detail, a result they're still very proud of. It's with the same eye for authenticity and craftsmanship that carries into every shutter renovation.
David and Emelie Bergqvist run Volets France, based in Languedoc. We mainly take jobs within an hour of Narbonne, for Scandinavian homeowners who want to maintain their French shutters without having to travel there themselves for every job.
We'd rather build new than patch and repair when parts of a shutter are bad. It lasts longer and gives fewer surprises down the line. When the shutter is fundamentally sound, a renovation is enough. The whole job is documented along the way, so you see exactly what's been done.
Already have a house in the region and want to stop worrying when you're not there? We're also behind Duco Maison, regular home watching with photo reports and tradesperson coordination.
Ready for a site visit?
Send photos of the shutters, an approximate count and the house address, and we'll get back to you with a time for a site visit and a quote. We mainly take jobs within an hour of Narbonne in Languedoc. Further away we can sometimes work something out, get in touch and we'll check.
Pick a time for a site visit
Fill in your details, then optionally pick an available time on the right, a single button at the bottom sends it all.
Feel free to attach photos of the shutters in a separate email to jean-claude@ducomaison.fr after sending.
Product tips for a French house
A research-based list of products that suit life in a French house. The links are affiliate links, it costs you nothing extra but gives us a small share of the purchase.
Lighting & wrought iron
- Applique murale rétro industriel, fer forgé, cage diamant See product
- Applique murale extérieure fer forgé, IP44, E27, verre See product
- Lanterne extérieure rustique en fer forgé, design vintage See product
- Étagère murale ronde rétro en fer forgé industriel, 6 tiers See product
Table linen & textiles
- Nappe provençale, olivmotiv, 2m40 x 1m48, anti-tache See product
- Nappe provençale rund, anti-tache, 160 cm See product
- Nappe glycine et lavande, 2m40 x 1m50 See product
- Coussin lavande de Provence "Sweet Dreams" (2-pack) See product
Bed linen
- MATT & ROSE housse de couette 100 % lin lavé, 240x220 See product
- Homescapes parure de lit lin lavé, 200x200 + 2 taies See product
Kitchen & table
- Le Creuset cocotte fonte, rund, "Bleu Marseille", 22 cm See product
- vancasso BONBON table service in ceramic, 24 pieces, vintage rustic style See product
Garden & outdoor living
- Siena Conca Classica Toscana: XXL terracotta pot, frost-resistant See product
- Biscottini Orcio: terracotta amphora pot, 46x34x36 cm See product
- Fermob bistrostol, "Naturel" See product
- Fermob round bistro table, 96 cm, "Réglisse" See product
- Engelhart luxury petanque set in a wooden box, 6 balls See product
- XXL lounge set in synthetic rattan, TecTake, 6 seats, sofa+armchairs+table ~800-1200 EUR See product
- vidaXL 8-piece lounge set with cushions, synthetic rattan ~800-1200 EUR See product
Wall decor
- Vintage resposter "Provence France", canvas, 60x90 cm See product
- Vintage resposter "Aix en Provence", canvas, 50x75 cm See product
Bain nordique / wood-fired hot tub
The French equivalent of the sauna.
- FinnTherm bain nordique, 180x101 cm, 5-6 people, with steps ~1500-2500 EUR See product
- FinnTherm Bergen barrel bath, 160x110 cm, 22kW stainless steel stove, 3-4 people ~2000-3000 EUR See product
- Arebos inflatable spa, 6 people, 130 massage jets, heated ~500-800 EUR See product
Pool
- Piscine bois hors-sol K2O, 655x390x124 cm, with sand filter and ladder ~3000-5000 EUR See product
- Piscine bois Waterclip SABTANG, octagonal, 510x320x129 cm ~2500-4000 EUR See product
Pizza oven & plancha
The French answer to the barbecue.
- Parkland wood-fired outdoor oven, portable, pizza and BBQ ~150-300 EUR See product
- GYMAX pizza oven, wood/pellet, thermometer, up to 450°C ~150-250 EUR See product
- Royal Catering plancha gaz inox, professional, 60 cm, 2 zones ~300-600 EUR See product
- Happybuy plancha inox, 91x56 cm, universal with grease channel ~150-250 EUR See product
Fire pit (brasero)
- Brasero/plancha corten steel "Lou Provencau", wood storage, grill included ~250-450 EUR See product
- MOODZ corten steel brasero, Ø100 cm, 3mm thickness ~250-400 EUR See product
Bioclimatic pergola
- Bioclimatic pergola, sweeek, 3x3 m, adjustable louvres, aluminium/steel ~1500-2500 EUR See product
- Alice's Garden bioclimatic pergola, anthracite, 3x3 m, adjustable louvres ~1500-2500 EUR See product
Moroccan furnishings
Handmade leather poufs and mosaic tables.
- Pouf marrakchi, äkta läder, handmade in Marrakech by Moroccan craftsmen ~80-150 EUR See product
- ALMADIH Moroccan pouf, genuine leather, handmade in Marrakech ~80-150 EUR See product
- Casa Moro round mosaic table, enamelled black/white, wrought-iron stand, dining-table size ~250-450 EUR See product
- Casa Moro round mosaic table Ø60 cm, enamelled white ~150-250 EUR See product
- "Marrakech" round mosaic coffee table, Ø80 cm, blue/yellow ~150-250 EUR See product
- "Marrakech" foldable mosaic dining table, 120x80 cm, rectangular ~300-500 EUR See product
- albena Marokko Galerie round mosaic table Ø80 cm, green/white ~150-250 EUR See product
Wine fridge / wine cellar
- Kalamera wine fridge, 45 bottles, dual temperature zones, 120L ~300-450 EUR See product
- Cavist CVST24 wine fridge, 24 bottles, dual zones, stainless steel, UV-protected glass door ~250-400 EUR See product
Awning
- VEVOR manual awning, 4x2.4 m, crank-operated ~200-350 EUR See product
Heating & cooling
For Languedoc's hot summers and cold stone walls in winter.
- Klarstein Kraftwerk Smart portable air conditioner, 10,000 BTU, app & Alexa ~300-450 EUR See product
- Cecotec EnergySilence Aero 4850 ceiling fan, 122 cm, remote control, summer/winter mode ~80-130 EUR See product
- Purline RAFY 220 evaporativ luftkylare, high capacity for large rooms ~200-350 EUR See product
- Supra Leïos Pierre pelletskamin, automatisk temperaturreglering, vecko-/dagsprogrammering ~1500-2500 EUR See product
Smart controls
For when you're not always on site.
- Netatmo Thermostat Connecté, control the heating from your phone wherever you are ~150-200 EUR See product
- X-Sense wireless water leak detector with base station, larm + appnotis ~80-120 EUR See product
- TP-Link HS110 smart eluttag, wifi, scheduling and energy monitoring ~20-35 EUR See product
- TP-Link Tapo C310 utomhuskamera, wifi, 30m night vision, motion alerts in the app ~35-50 EUR See product
Building conservation
Breathable, traditional materials for old stone houses.
- PRB Fleur de Chaux, natural breathable lime render, 4 kg ~20-35 EUR See product
- Onyx wood linseed oil, 100% linseed, made in France, for shutters and outdoor wood ~15-30 EUR See product
- Arcane Industries Imperfacade Hydro, water repellent for stone/brick/render façades ~30-60 EUR See product
- Arcane Industries Badigeon à la chaux, traditional lime paint for indoor and outdoor use ~25-45 EUR See product
Ornaments
- Bougeoir mural in wrought iron, decorative candle holder See product
- TERESA'S COLLECTIONS ceramic vases, rustic style, set of 3 See product
- Guirlande guinguette outdoor 20m, LED, waterproof See product
- Miroir soleil in wrought iron, European style See product
Household essentials
No need to lug the heavy stuff home from the shop.
- La Compagnie de Provence: savon de Marseille, 400g bar See product
- MOLTONEL toilet paper, family pack, 18 rolls See product
- PERSIL liquid laundry detergent, Bouquet de Provence, 36 washes See product
- Bin bags 50L, pack of 200, reinforced quality See product
- Kitchen roll, 32 rolls See product
- PAIC washing-up liquid, jug See product
- Dish sponges, pack of 9, economy size See product