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00:01Across France, there are thousands of magnificent chateaux.
00:08Many lie derelict and dilapidated.
00:12I don't know if they've ever had glass then.
00:16But now they're being revived.
00:19Let there be light!
00:20By fearless owners.
00:22I love a bit of manual labour.
00:24Who are transforming these architectural gems
00:29Back into spectacular homes.
00:32That bathtub, oh, I want to get in it now.
00:35And businesses.
00:37Oh, she looks stunning!
00:40Along with the highs.
00:42Yay! No drafts, no gaps, and it's double glazed.
00:46And lows.
00:50I think I got away with it.
00:52Every daring deed.
00:54I feel like Whitney.
00:56Takes them a step closer.
00:58You're going through the jungle.
01:01To living the dream.
01:03You're the queen of the castle. You go first.
01:05Cheers!
01:07As keepers of their very own chateau.
01:16Today.
01:17Shout out if you see a drill coming through the wall, Billy.
01:19Okay.
01:20One couple's renovation job goes awry.
01:24Oh!
01:25The mirror just moved.
01:26Oh, wow.
01:27This pair tackle the ultimate grand entrance makeover.
01:31You know, we've dreamt about the terrace for a good few years.
01:35And one family's latest project splits the household.
01:40I wasn't too sure about the colour.
01:42It colours almost the same as my shirt.
01:45But that's why I use it as a work shirt.
01:47Is that rude?
01:48Yeah.
01:54In the beautiful Roi Valley in Western France lies the charming 19th century Chateau La Grande Maison.
02:05This stunning property boasts 45 stylish rooms, including a magnificent ballroom.
02:15The proud owners are Ben and Billy from Brighton,
02:19who, along with daughter Ella, have been lovingly restoring it since 2011.
02:27We fell head over heels in love with the chateau when we saw it.
02:30It's been an incredible journey.
02:32It's great having so much space, isn't it?
02:35Yeah, it's really satisfying.
02:36But, you know, huge building and big land, it means a lot of jobs that always need doing.
02:42So, yeah.
02:43Quite a lot of work.
02:44It demands quite a lot from us, but we get a lot back.
02:53Located near the town of Saumur, Ben and Billy run the chateau as a luxury B&B
03:00and events venue.
03:08Over the last three years, they've been upgrading their guest apartment block
03:15and have so far transformed the bland lobby into a stylish botanical entrance hall
03:24and turned the lifeless ground floor into a luxurious kitchen diner.
03:30This is, like, next-level amazing.
03:34Thank you, Harry.
03:37With guests already booked in for their first event of the new season,
03:43they're eager to complete the task by updating the two bedrooms and bathroom upstairs.
03:51We're very fond of this suite because it was the second bit of accommodation we got open
03:56when we first moved here.
03:57And it really was the difference between sort of making a living and not making a living.
04:02It's been lovely, it's been functional, but we want to bring it up to the level of downstairs.
04:07So we've got some upgrading to do.
04:09Yeah.
04:13Let's move everything over to this side, then, and I can start there.
04:17OK.
04:18Billy has lots of grand ideas to rejuvenate the space
04:22and wants to start with the walls.
04:26Lovely colour.
04:27There's a theory that blue is the best colour for bedrooms because it's calming.
04:30Basically, I need as much blue as possible in my life.
04:34Keep me calm.
04:36So, here we go.
04:40There.
04:41How lovely.
04:43It's actually really nice just putting paint on the wall
04:46because you get instant satisfaction.
04:50Meanwhile, Ben already faces a challenge to transform the dated bathroom.
04:56We've changed the actual design of the tiling plan.
05:01So, we actually need to tile on top of the tiles.
05:03We also need to tile where we have no tiles.
05:07What we need to do is fill this gap here.
05:10So, I bought this special board.
05:14So, that's going to sit in there.
05:16So, when we tile across, there'll be no problem in this space.
05:21Just have one flat surface tile all the way along.
05:26Having come up with the theory, Ben just needs to put it into practice.
05:33Shout out if you see a drill coming through the wall, Billy.
05:36OK.
05:43Oh, yeah.
05:44That has come through.
05:46No.
05:47Yes, it has.
05:49It's under the mirror.
05:50The mirror just moved.
05:51Oh, wow.
05:52You're not supposed to do that.
05:54No.
05:55Well, luckily for you, there's a mirror there.
05:57We could leave a mirror in the same place.
05:58But I don't think you're supposed to have holes in the walls from one room to another.
06:04Whoops.
06:05OK, I'll be careful.
06:10I'll repair that tomorrow.
06:13It's far from the ideal start.
06:17And with a hole of the bathroom to tile, and two bedrooms to fully decorate, they can only hope there
06:25are no more holes in their ideas.
06:39Down in the Dordogne département of southwest France is the historic 14th century Chateau des Vieilles Vignes.
06:49Abandoned for over a decade, this former limestone monastery comprises 35 neglected rooms and comes with a medieval tower.
07:02Determined to bring it back to life, our wellness company owners Nick and Nicole, who live here with 22-month
07:12-old Noah.
07:14I do remember that I definitely wasn't enamored with this place initially.
07:18And you had to drag me kicking and screaming to come and see it.
07:21But then you also made me promise to look at it with rose tinted glasses, which I did and then
07:25fell in love with it also.
07:26And it worked.
07:28My evil plot.
07:29Yes.
07:30And now here we are.
07:36Located 60 miles east of Bordeaux, Nick and Nicole bought the Chateau in 2021 for £195,000
07:48and turned the cellar into a cosy apartment to temporarily live in.
07:55But all that changed in 2024 when they transformed the upstairs, creating a cosy living room.
08:06A beautiful bedroom.
08:09And a spacious, stylish family kitchen.
08:15Success.
08:16I'm really happy.
08:17Yeah.
08:18Yeah?
08:18Really, really happy.
08:21This season, they're turning their attention to the outside, where they're planning to create a grand entrance, complete with huge
08:30staircase and big terrace.
08:33This is going to be the facelift that this place needs.
08:36I think it's just going to transform the entire facade of the chateau.
08:40And it's going to really start feeding and looking like a chateau from the outside, which is going to be,
08:45yeah, nice.
08:47It's set to be a colossal project.
08:50But before they can get started, Nick has one last job to do.
08:56Today I have the joyous task of filling in the trench that we'd opened up for the gas line that
09:02we've put in.
09:03The big project we've got, we've got a whole load of livers coming in.
09:05So we just need to fill it up to make sure that things can get through again.
09:12The staircase, the terrace, it's been there, patiently waiting to be realised for a good few years.
09:21So to get to the stage where we can actually get the job done is incredible.
09:27Very, very excited.
09:29You know, we've dreamt about just being able to sit on the terrace, kind of overlooking beautiful countryside and vines.
09:37Hopefully by late spring, maybe early summer.
09:40That's going to be really good.
09:42Ah, someone's shining down on me.
09:46It's nice.
09:50Nick, this oregano is amazing.
09:52I just need to find another place for it now.
09:55Nicole, meanwhile, is on a mission to save her precious herbs.
10:00We are taking down the stairs and I really don't want all the herbs to go with them.
10:06So I'm just going to replant them in the garden.
10:09OK, I'm going to go and dig a hole.
10:10Baba, are you going to come and help Mama do the digging?
10:14Fortunately, she has a trusty little helper.
10:18No.
10:19This is going to take a while.
10:24Did you just laugh at my digging skills, Noah?
10:30Two, one, go!
10:34Can you make sure I don't smack him with a...
10:39Look at that!
10:40No, you don't like it?
10:44Why not?
10:45Is it the wrong way?
10:46Yeah.
10:47No, OK.
10:47Is that better?
10:48That's much better.
10:49Is that better?
10:50No!
10:51How about this?
10:53No!
10:54No?
10:55Bam!
10:56No!
10:57OK, this is going here now.
10:59This is a good position.
11:02Are you happy with Mama's done?
11:04Yeah.
11:04Yeah.
11:07Having finally got Noah's approval...
11:10OK, we're going to do this one now.
11:13...they are well on their way to clearing the space.
11:16But much bigger challenges lie ahead
11:20when they start their huge rebuild tomorrow.
11:27Still to come.
11:29One family's plans divide opinion...
11:32Whichever way you put it up, Terry, I don't like it.
11:35You can put it here, that's better.
11:37That way.
11:38..and Ben gets tied in knots.
11:41I thought this would be a doddle.
11:42I've got no idea what I'm doing.
11:51I've got no idea what I'm doing.
11:52Set amongst the lush countryside of Normandy in northern France
11:56is the majestic 18th-century Chateau de Lalaselle.
12:01It boasts 25 impressive rooms...
12:06..its own turret tower...
12:10..and comes with over 20 acres.
12:15It lay derelict for 40 years until Middlesbrough couple Terry and Ashley
12:21bought it for £250,000 in 2020.
12:27When we started the project of the Chateau, there was a list of 100,000 long.
12:32It's overwhelming.
12:33But if you break each job down one by one, every job you do is a step forward.
12:37You just have to do it piece by piece.
12:39There's so many jobs to do.
12:40We've all picked up different skills and we're all good at different things.
12:44And we just come together as a team and we make it work somehow.
12:48Yeah, it has to be done.
12:57Located an hour's drive from Le Mans,
13:01Terry and Ashley want to run the Chateau as a luxury holiday let's business.
13:07They live here with Terry's mum, Tracy...
13:11..and nephew, Jonathan.
13:17This year they're building their biggest and grandest suite yet.
13:23So far they've created two lavish guest bedrooms.
13:27And an elegant salon.
13:30We've used quite a lot of inspiration from the Titanic
13:33because they had a lot of Louis XV, Edwardian and Regency style rooms.
13:39When we last saw them, they'd begun work in the bathroom.
13:44By adding a mosaic tiled floor.
13:47And enhance the walls with panels just made from plasterboard.
13:53Just doing things so simple, it gives a fantastic look
13:58and a fraction of the cost as well.
14:00So it's a win-win.
14:04With their friends arriving to stay in a few days,
14:08the pressure is starting to mount.
14:11The bathroom is still far from finished
14:14and the fixtures and fittings have yet to be installed.
14:18The next stage that we need to do is start getting the first coat of paint on
14:22and bringing it all together as one uniform colour.
14:25Right, let's get started.
14:27Nice.
14:27Get all painted.
14:28Mm-hmm.
14:29I'm looking forward to this.
14:31Today, Terry is hoping with Tracey's help it will speed up the task.
14:37I wasn't too sure about the colour of it when Terry first opened it.
14:41The colour's almost the same as my shirt.
14:44But that's why I use it as a work shirt.
14:49Rude.
14:50No, I love it.
14:52I love it.
14:52I love the colour.
14:53It's really nice.
14:54To be fair, it's a colour I would choose.
14:58They're eager to ensure the bathroom is as opulent as the rest of the suite.
15:04And Ashley hopes the antique lights they picked up at a brocante will enhance its grandeur.
15:13I've got the joyous job of just polishing up these wall sconces.
15:19I'm not looking to polish them up perfectly.
15:21The whole look we want on them is aged,
15:24so it's just basically to get all the dirt and grime out of them that we can,
15:28but still leave it with enough so that they still look nice and old so they'll fit their room.
15:38I think once we get the bathroom in and all the accessories with it,
15:43I think it'll look lovely.
15:48Definitely perfect for the room.
15:56First coat of the paint, all on.
15:58It's looking fantastic.
16:00Absolutely love the colour.
16:01Now we've got it all on.
16:02It's starting to dry in places and it's just giving it that sort of rich, elegant look that we're trying
16:07to create.
16:08I love it against the Corbin, the white, it looks amazing.
16:12Yeah.
16:12I think it looks lovely.
16:14Having got a big thumbs up...
16:17I think that's as good as they're going to get.
16:19I'll go and see what they think.
16:21Ashley is praying the vintage lights also prove a winner.
16:26It'll be good to see what they're like compared to the colour then, the contrast.
16:30Yeah, see them all.
16:31Yeah.
16:32So, putting all about there.
16:34Mm-hmm.
16:34Yeah.
16:35Really nice.
16:36It's really going to fit well in here, isn't it?
16:38It's just the style, it's perfect.
16:39Yeah.
16:42Their grand vision is slowly coming together, but with the fixtures to add, more decorating to do, and the rest
16:51of the suite to finish dressing, they have to hope they have enough time before their friends arrive.
17:07In the Dardogne, at Chateau des Vieilles Vignes, work on Nick and Nicole's grand entrance has begun.
17:16The old staircase has been removed, and the concrete blocks have arrived for the massive rebuild.
17:25This is very exciting.
17:27The main focus of today is to just start work on the terrace aspect.
17:31Once we've got the terrace at the right level, we can then work backwards for the staircase after.
17:36John?
17:36Yes?
17:37Blocks need to go here, as Brian's rightly pointed out.
17:41It's a huge job, so to help construct it, they've roped in Nick's stepdad, John, and handyman friend, Brian, who
17:51are starting to create the three-metre-high terrace walls.
17:57Already starting to get a bit of a sense of the scale of it, and how it's going to feel
18:01in terms of the space that we'll have to be able to just have a few tables and chairs as
18:06we kind of sip a beautiful glass of wine overlooking the vines and things.
18:09So, yeah, no, I'm really excited.
18:11So, how much do you put, kind of, down?
18:15Although he has never built a terrace before, Nick's eager to get his hands dirty.
18:21Just make sure that this point here on the right side is at the bottom.
18:25Yeah.
18:25And move the top.
18:26Bit low there, maybe.
18:28Is that low there?
18:29It's OK.
18:31Perfect.
18:32All right.
18:36It's quite nice to get involved in each kind of stage of the renovation, right, because it means that we
18:42can kind of look back on it when we're enjoying it and go, you know what, we actually, we helped
18:46create that.
18:47But as long as I don't get told off by Brian for doing something wrong.
18:51Brian, do you want to double check?
18:53Perfect, eh?
18:54Yeah?
18:54Yeah, it's all right?
18:58How about that?
19:01He's being kind.
19:02It's definitely not perfect.
19:05Despite being a novice, Nick's getting into the groove.
19:09One block at a time, right?
19:10We're going to make it.
19:13So you just need to make sure that you're swearing everything up and that it's not going wonky as you're
19:17building it.
19:18So you need to pay a bit of attention, but yeah, relatively straightforward.
19:21And within a couple of hours, they're making good progress.
19:27You're building your way up too fast, Brian. Slow down, slow down.
19:30Brian's doing better.
19:31He's already up to almost my height, which is 180.
19:35I'm a little bit lower down.
19:37Look.
19:38I think he's cheating.
19:40Hello.
19:41Hey.
19:42This is incredible.
19:44You've done this whole wall and it's level?
19:46Hopefully.
19:47Maybe we don't want to look.
19:51Oh no, that's pretty spot on.
19:54That's actually perfect.
19:55I am so impressed.
19:58Yeah, it's really coming on.
19:59It's a case of so far so good, but with an entire terrace to create and a grand staircase to
20:08construct, Nick's block building days have only just begun.
20:22In the Loire Valley at Chateau La Grande Maison.
20:27At least we don't have to do down here, Ben.
20:29At least we don't have to do down here, Ben.
20:29No, exactly.
20:30It's less than a fortnight till Ben and Billy's first event of the season.
20:36And their guest apartment is getting a luxurious makeover.
20:41Most of the bathroom has crisp white marble tiles and Billy's giving the second bedroom her serene blue colour scheme.
20:52So it's starting to feel like we're really making progress now, but obviously we've still got a lot to do
20:56within the time.
20:58I love how the bathroom's looking. Ben's doing a great job with the tiles. It looks really, really good.
21:04Today, while Billy carries on with the walls...
21:08If I had a pound, every time I was painting in this place, I'd have a lot of pounds.
21:14Ben is on flat pack duty.
21:17We're building a bathroom cabinet that the sink sits on top and it's got two drawers for storage.
21:22I've built two of these before and I thought this would be a doddle, but in the company's infinite wisdom,
21:28they've completely changed the design.
21:29So I've got no idea what I'm doing.
21:32I like building flat pack furniture.
21:34It reminds me of sort of playing with various construction kits when I was a kid.
21:41It's all in the planning.
21:49I quite like this film being left on right to the last minute.
21:54Something quite satisfying about when you decide it's finished, you take it all off and it's finished.
22:00That's it.
22:04Starting to look a lot like a cabinet.
22:07With Ben getting a handle on things, Billy has a unique idea to bring a little La Dolce Vita to
22:17the bedrooms.
22:18We went to Italy and I've been a massive fan of a fresco that was discovered in Rome.
22:25It is 2,000 years old.
22:27It was a subterranean room in a palace and the fresco took up the whole room and I absolutely love
22:36it.
22:36These pictures were supposed to evoke like a fresh garden at dawn.
22:41So you can imagine just escaping the Italian heat and sitting in a lovely cool room with this fresh garden
22:47scene.
22:48The prints are actual photographs taken by Ben, which Billy is eager to showcase.
22:57I've got a lovely brother-in-law who happens to work at a wallpaper company and he has organised prints
23:03for us.
23:03Big versions of these that are going to be three on the back wall here to make the feature wall
23:09behind the bed.
23:10I just can't wait to put them up. I think they're going to really make the whole space.
23:15Billy's vision is taking shape and with Ben's sink unit coming together, their plans are moving a step closer.
23:25But it's actually not far off the height because there's legs going at the front but it supports at the
23:30back with the screws.
23:31Yeah.
23:32But because this wall's not that thick, I don't want to let it support all the weight.
23:37I know this wall's thin because you drilled through my wall on the other side.
23:42No, we don't need to talk about that anymore.
23:45Ben is not out of the woods yet.
23:48With the rest of the fittings to add, tiles to finish and bedrooms to dress, it could be a long
23:57couple of weeks.
24:05Coming up, it's all hands to the pump for Nick.
24:09I'm coming, Brian.
24:12And it's a recipe for disaster for this chateau pair.
24:18Oh!
24:28In the region of Normandy, at Chateau de la Lasselle,
24:34Terry and Ashley's bathroom for their elegant new guest suite is nearly complete.
24:41The fixtures and fittings have been installed.
24:44And Tracy is just adding a few decorative touches.
24:49Everything's coming out, you know, and it's fantastic.
24:52I love it.
24:52With their friends due in a couple of hours, Terry's hoping to add a final bit of character to the
25:00salon by restoring some antique pictures he picked up at a brocante.
25:07This beautiful picture frame, it's got quite a lot of damage on it.
25:11So, at the minute, I'm just sanding down all of the plaster that we've put on.
25:15So, we're building certain sections up with plaster just so we can get the same profile as the original.
25:25I think I picked this one up for €10 and it's got a fantastic picture, which we call him Mr.
25:31Moustache.
25:32We're going to keep the actual original picture.
25:34To buy something like this in the shop, we're going to be looking €500, €600 for a decent frame with
25:40a decent picture.
25:47And there's quite a lot of the decorative trim around the end that's been missing.
25:52Obviously, it's just fell off over the years.
25:53So, we've created a replica mould of the original trim and we've taken some resin casts from it.
26:00And all we're going to do is stick them down and then we can add a bit of plaster in
26:05to finish the actual detailing off on it.
26:11So, I've just got our adhesive on. I'm just going to put our resin moulds on now.
26:16Doing stuff like this, it does take a lot of time and effort to bring it back to life, really.
26:21But this is saving a piece of history. It can live on for generations more.
26:28With the initial prep work done, Terry is eager to test out the ones he's already finished.
26:36So, that one...
26:37I like that. For now, until you get a different picture in this.
26:40Yeah. Of this painting.
26:44Fans don't like that one. Whichever way you put it up, Terry, I don't like it.
26:49You can put it here. That's better. That way.
26:51Yeah.
26:53I've got a big gold square one.
26:55Picture or painting?
26:57No, it's a picture. It's a picture of, like, a French street.
27:00All right. Get that then. Try that.
27:01Two seconds.
27:03Mm-hm.
27:05Now and again, you'll put something... Or you'll try and throw something in and I'll be like, no.
27:10That's better. That's far better.
27:12Option three.
27:13Yes. That is far better.
27:16Absolutely. Yeah. That's far on.
27:17Yeah? Yeah.
27:19Right.
27:19Having finally got the thumbs up, it's all systems go.
27:24With their friends arriving soon, there's no time to hang around.
27:39Chateau living bestows many great joys, especially as most castles also have the space and opportunity to grow fresh fruit
27:50and vegetables.
27:52Fresh-cut robot.
27:54Oh, I love that smell.
27:55By harvesting their own crops, chateau owners not only save money, but they can also serve their guests authentic homegrown
28:05produce.
28:06It's a lovely thing to do, and I think they enjoyed it too.
28:10And in the Languedoc region of southern France, at Chateau du Puy-et-Prince, Tim and avid gardener, Sasha, love
28:22nothing more than living off the land.
28:25And today, it's Tim's turn to make a special treat for the whole family.
28:33I'm picking grapefruit this morning, and I want to make some marmalade.
28:38My daughter taught me how to do this about four years ago, so I'm hopefully following in her footsteps because
28:44it was very successful.
28:46Ooh!
28:47So, here we go.
28:53They're coming off very easily, which means they're just perfect for making marmalade.
29:00I've always loved grapefruit, but in England, you see them in supermarkets and accept them for what they are.
29:06To actually have your own grapefruit tree is great fun.
29:11This will be enough for today.
29:14There's another one of these still on the tree.
29:17To start with, Tim needs to zest the fruit, and with so many of them, he has a cunning plan.
29:26I've come up with a very high-tech method, and it consists of basically my drill, being careful not to
29:35impale my hand.
29:36And then I wiggle it on, and then...
29:42Oh!
29:46Some grapefruit need to feel the need to eject.
29:50But the problem is, I had the drill going in the wrong direction.
29:54Oh, God.
29:55So, here we go.
29:58Bit wobbly.
30:01You see how quick that is?
30:03It's very innovative.
30:04I'm not so sure it's genius.
30:09Thank you for your support.
30:11This is high-tech.
30:13High-tech!
30:19OK.
30:20Job done.
30:22Having proved something of a success,
30:24Tim combines the flesh of the fruits with sugar to start creating the marmalade.
30:32Now I've got to wait for that to come up to boil.
30:35All that's left to add is his finely-drilled zest.
30:40So, here we go into the mixture.
30:43And this will add amazing flavour.
30:46The marmalade needs to simmer for a couple of hours, so Tim has also baked some homemade bread.
30:54There's my baby.
30:58I'm going to be a little careful because this gets very hot.
31:04And with his fruity creation ready, despite still being warm, he's eager to serve up.
31:13Well, it's very difficult to not spill any of this.
31:21This will, as it cools down, become more solid.
31:26I hope they like it.
31:30Outside, the whole family have gathered for a taste.
31:37Well...
31:38Look at this!
31:39Wow, that looks incredible.
31:43Um, it's not exactly set.
31:46It doesn't need to be set to taste the flavour.
31:50We can't taste it if it falls off the toast.
31:54They are so mean to you, Tim.
31:56You've been working really hard doing this.
32:01Delicious.
32:03Jokes aside from these two, it's not too sweet.
32:06Thank you, Luke.
32:06It's still got a very nice tartness to it.
32:08And I value your judgement more than anyone's.
32:11This is why I'm the centre of the panel.
32:13Cheers.
32:14Cheers.
32:16Thank you, Tim.
32:17It's proved to be a triumph, and with lots more grapefruit in the garden, Tim will be able to perfect
32:24his marmalade for many years to come.
32:37In the Dordogne region of southern France, Nick and Nicole's grand entrance is slowly coming together.
32:47The terrace structure has been fully built, and they're ready to lay the concrete floor.
32:54It's a really big day today. We're doing a cement pour.
32:56We've had to start super early. It's going to be a very hot day.
33:00And so we took the decision to kind of basically try and get everything done this morning before the heat
33:04really, really ramps up.
33:05And the trucks are supposed to be here any minute now.
33:11It's a specialist job, as the only way to pour in the concrete is by using a giant crane arm.
33:23I'm coming, Brian.
33:24Thankfully, handyman Brian is on hand to help navigate the free-flowing cement.
33:31Get it all on as flat as we can, right, because I'm laying tiles directly on.
33:37Like, we've been dreaming of this roof terrace for, like, four years.
33:42Like, ever since we got it, we're like, we know what we want to do.
33:44So, to actually have this happening is super exciting.
33:49Having made light work with the pour,
33:53perfectionist Nick is eager to ensure the rest of it goes just as smoothly.
33:59I've just got this bit that I would like to...
34:06And then we'll come back over it.
34:08If we can come back with this to up to my thing.
34:11Amazing.
34:12Cool.
34:14Again, yeah.
34:16Oh, wait. Sorry, I'm caught on something.
34:18Just, yeah, I'm good.
34:20It's looking fantastic. We're super happy.
34:22This is the big one for us, though, because, I mean, it's going to completely change how we use this
34:27space.
34:28Come out here for a coffee in the morning, you know, watch the sunrise.
34:32It's going to be brilliant.
34:35All it needs is Nicole's seal of approval.
34:38This looks amazing.
34:41Wow.
34:42Yeah, such a difference.
34:44Amazing.
34:45I'm really impressed.
34:47Yeah, I don't know how you did that.
34:48I cannot wait to go out here and have our first drink.
34:53It's been a busy morning.
34:56But they can't crack open the bubbly just yet, as there's a huge grand staircase still to build.
35:06Having obviously helped build the terrace with Brian, I think I should probably help him with the staircase as well.
35:11Yeah, I don't even want to think about the ratio between Brian and my block laying.
35:15It's probably a ratio of ten to one.
35:18Optimistic.
35:21Nick's stepdad, John, has helped with the design and has sketched out the ambitious plan.
35:28This is just my artist's impression from the side and what it hopefully will look like.
35:35And it'll all be faced in stone with a new archway entrance.
35:43And then it'll start to look chateau-esque.
35:46Right, I'm going to get another block on there.
35:50It's a mammoth project, with a three-metre-high staircase to build and a giant archway entrance to create.
35:59All Nick and Nicole can hope is they'll get there, brick by brick.
36:08Still to come.
36:10It's a race against time for Ashley, Terry and Tracy.
36:15It's panic stations at the minute.
36:17And Ben and Billy take on a risky new project.
36:21It's one chance to get it right.
36:23We don't have spares.
36:25Ah, nerve-wrecking.
36:33In the Loire Valley in central France, Ben has finally finished giving the apartment bathroom its luxurious marble makeover.
36:44We're really pleased with these tiles.
36:47It really makes the place feel substantial.
36:50And with Billy having completed painting the bedroom, their new grand suite is starting to come together.
37:00So I just need to roll these out.
37:03Today, the custom wallpaper for Billy's Roman-inspired feature wall has arrived.
37:10And keen photographer Ben is eager to see his super-sized prints.
37:16I am so happy with these.
37:18It's absolutely incredible.
37:19I always wanted to do something with my photography.
37:22And it's such a buzz to see.
37:23A photo that you took turned into an amazing piece of wall art.
37:27And so the first thing is to make up some picture frames.
37:31I cannot make one mistake or it's going to turn out terrible.
37:35Not prepared to take any chances, Ben ropes in Billy as the frames are custom made.
37:44What's my role?
37:45You're going to be the one holding it all together.
37:47Holding everything together.
37:48That's my normal job around here, isn't it?
37:50That's pretty good.
37:51Once we've got one perfect, we can make the other five.
38:01All these little jobs take time, don't they?
38:03They do.
38:08All right, then.
38:10Last one.
38:18That's looking good, isn't it?
38:19Yeah, very good.
38:21Having made light work of the frame, they need to carefully ensure the print is seamlessly glued to the board.
38:30It's one chance to get it right.
38:32Maybe I'll be perfect by the sixth one.
38:34We don't have spares.
38:36It's got to go right the first time.
38:39Ah, nerve wracking.
38:46That's it, that's good.
38:47Going on.
38:52Oh, did it reach the edge.
38:55Yay!
38:56That looks lovely.
38:58Yeah, I love that.
38:59I think that's worked nicely.
39:01Can I have a look with the frame?
39:02Yes, why not?
39:04Right.
39:06Oh.
39:09That is lovely.
39:12That is absolutely beautiful.
39:15Oh.
39:16From Rome to Chateau Le Grand Maison.
39:18I can't believe what a difference that frame makes.
39:20It turns it into a work of art.
39:22That is absolutely brilliant.
39:26The Italian artwork is picture perfect and another stylish touch.
39:32But with guests checking in next week for their first event of the season, Ben and Billy don't have much
39:39time to make everything else shine.
39:48In the Normandy region of North West France, it's all hands on deck.
39:55Ashley is outside tidying the garden.
39:59While inside the chateau, Terry and Tracy are racing to finish off their new suite before their friends arrive.
40:09I'll just give it a quick dust.
40:14Last bits to go on.
40:17Right, one job done.
40:19On to the next one.
40:21With their guests due any minute, they want to ensure everything is in place.
40:27I'd better give them another one, just in case.
40:30I still haven't checked the time yet, so I haven't got a clue.
40:33All the clocks that I buy are all broke, cos they're all antique ones.
40:40It's panic stations at the minute.
40:45I think that's the last thing to do in here.
40:47Last bit.
40:50All done.
40:51OK.
40:52Brilliant.
40:57A year ago, the West Wing's first floor was filled with run-down, crumbling and unloved rooms.
41:10Now, it's been transformed into a stunning and majestic guest suite.
41:18With Terry and Ashley's craftsmanship and eye for detail, they've created two stunning bedrooms.
41:28Which are filled with the charm and character of the 18th century.
41:34While the addition of an opulent grand salon and luxurious bathroom gives it that extra layer of sophistication ensuring it's
41:48fit for kings and queens.
41:56Hello!
41:59With their friends having just arrived from the U.S.
42:02Very good.
42:03I hope you're impressed with what we've done.
42:05It's time to see if their hard work has paid off.
42:09Here we have the wood room.
42:12This is your wood room tonight, Shane.
42:14Oh, my God.
42:16Yeah.
42:19It's amazing.
42:20This is exciting.
42:21That is incredible.
42:24Wow.
42:25The gold medallions there with the outside lining is just perfect.
42:31I mean, it looks like you worked a decade on this room.
42:33I think it could use a little more detail.
42:36I mean.
42:40Here you go, Karen.
42:42Oh.
42:43This is your bedroom.
42:44Oh.
42:47Holy chandelier.
42:48Wow.
42:50This is just phenomenal.
42:54Seeing them work in here, we've gone over the top with it.
42:57You think?
42:59Well, you have to.
43:00I thought I had the opulence.
43:02I think this is opulent.
43:07And here's the bathroom.
43:11I love the color, guys.
43:14Ooh.
43:15I like the view.
43:18Check this out, Shane.
43:20Oh, man.
43:21That is so cool.
43:23Great job on the tiles.
43:25Yeah.
43:25Beautiful.
43:26Mm-hmm.
43:27You look all right, don't you?
43:28Pretty much, Johan, so it was a paint-by-numbus for you.
43:33You're like, you're doing a good job.
43:34It looks fantastic.
43:37It is amazing.
43:38It's the level of detail and the amount of work they've put in.
43:43It's pretty spectacular.
43:45I can hardly wait to show the pictures of this is where I got to sleep in a palace, you
43:51know?
43:52It's crazy.
43:54Having them see it and their reaction, it made it all worthwhile.
43:58I've surprised myself with what we've been able to create as a family.
44:01Obviously, we've pushed our boundaries with our skill sets and our talent.
44:06Yeah.
44:06And the results are fantastic.
44:08We've set out to create a set of rooms that are going to wow people.
44:12It's done exactly that.
44:13Yeah.
44:14It's wowed everyone.
44:15Definitely.
44:16Terry, Ashley and Tracy have done a spectacular job.
44:22Now, with the addition of another magnificent guest suite,
44:25their luxury holiday let's business is truly up and running.
44:35Next time.
44:37Get as many as you can.
44:38A super-sized paint job gets perilous.
44:41Someone's going to have to put a rope on to get out on that roof.
44:45Captain.
44:47Billy doesn't miss a trick.
44:49It's going to look like it's been there since the place was built, hopefully.
44:53And a chatlam breaks new ground.
44:57Stop.
44:57Oh, yes.
44:59It's not bad.
45:15Not literally.
45:26I'm happy, Alan.
45:26I'm happy.
45:26They're called on games.
45:26blue.
45:34They're called Randall and I'm her son.
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