- 16 minutes ago
Chateau DIY S06E15
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00:00Across France are thousands of breathtaking chateaux.
00:06Many fallen into rack and ruin.
00:09Oh my goodness.
00:10They weren't in the state of it.
00:12Now being brought back to life by plucky new owners.
00:17Careful!
00:18He doesn't have any idea of danger.
00:21They're taking on the challenge.
00:24These floorboards are gone.
00:25The only thing they're good for is the fire.
00:27To transform these once unloved buildings.
00:31Hands down, recommend a cherry picker to anyone.
00:34Back into incredible homes.
00:37Holy chandelier!
00:39This is just phenomenal.
00:42And businesses.
00:43Thank you so much. You're welcome.
00:46There'll be successes.
00:48I'm a bit giddy.
00:49Giddy? Giddy?
00:51And setbacks.
00:52Oh my God, what's that? It's a bat.
00:54But however hard the going gets.
00:58Oh my poor Patio.
01:00These intrepid DIYers.
01:02No, not on the...
01:04I know, I know.
01:05Get to live the dream.
01:07Cheers!
01:08As kings and queens of their very own castle.
01:15Today.
01:17That must be Darren.
01:18No.
01:19You said it was number nine.
01:20One couple take on a colossal project.
01:24Look at our lace.
01:25We could be here forever just putting one unit together.
01:28These two Chatelains face an ambitious new challenge.
01:33Did I mention I'm terrible at DIY?
01:35Which is why you are putting little toy houses together whilst I do the complex painting jobs.
01:41And tempers flare for this pair.
01:45I'm going to paint it there.
01:46If you don't like it, you can paint it again yourself.
01:54In the beautiful region of Brittany in northwest France lies the dilapidated Moulin du Cuenon.
02:03This historic building has parts dating back to the 13th century and has been neglected for over 40 years.
02:14Spreaded over five floors, this crumbling former flour mill used to store tons of grain and comes with its own
02:22gite.
02:25Taking on the challenge of bringing the property back to life are experienced chateau renovators Donna and Paul.
02:35Ready?
02:36Yep.
02:36Un, deux, trois.
02:39It's going to be a home.
02:41And being in Brittany, it means we are far closer to the UK, so our families can come across and
02:47spend time here.
02:48So that's really important to us as well.
02:51Although they don't want to come across at the moment because they're frightened they might get a job, which they
02:55would.
02:56Yeah, that's too much work for them at the moment.
03:03Located 30 miles southeast of Saint-Malo, Donna and Paul bought the property for under £100,000 in 2024 and
03:16have so far transformed the derelict gite into a habitable place to temporarily live.
03:26The last time we saw them, they began creating a utility room in the main building.
03:33We do want to be in the mill as soon as possible, even though we will be camping in it.
03:38So if we use that utility area as a kitchen for now, it'll be fine, won't it?
03:43Yep.
03:44So far, they've ripped out the old decaying floorboards.
03:49I'm going to throw you this tape.
03:54Oh, you are kidding me.
03:57And despite a mishap with the tape measure, successfully installed a brand new floor.
04:04I can't get over how big it looks now.
04:07Looks good?
04:08Looks very good.
04:12Today, with the foundations in place, Donna has everything else meticulously planned.
04:20So I'm going to have the dishwasher here.
04:24Yep.
04:24Next to the sink.
04:30So dishwasher there.
04:32Sockets next.
04:33Yep.
04:34So I've got my blue marker.
04:37So if I put a double here.
04:41Yep.
04:43So another double there.
04:44Okay.
04:45The main issue is that obviously the wall's not straight by any means, but that's kind of Paul's issue as
04:50normal.
04:51I just kind of talk about the finished result.
04:56Despite being given the short straw again, experienced builder Paul loves a challenge.
05:04I'm just creating some strips so we can then glue them to the wall and take out the belly.
05:11Just hold it there.
05:12Yep.
05:12...
05:19Paul hopes to straighten the wall using plasterboard, but first wants to add strips to even out the wonkiest areas.
05:30It does need to be perfect then.
05:32Starting by here?
05:34Yeah, you need to push it in a lot.
05:36Keep going, still see the line.
05:42We've taken out the worst of the dip, which is at the top of the wall,
05:45so we've obviously put some strips of board on
05:48and we've dabbed it onto the wall.
05:49We're ready to start plasterboarding now.
05:59Today's the start of the excitement.
06:01This is where we start to create what the rooms are going to look like.
06:05I've been planning each and every room in my head
06:08and on paper for so many months now.
06:11I can already see where the units are going to go
06:14and what equipment's going to go in here
06:16and how it's going to be used.
06:19I kind of really want to keep Paul focused on this room now
06:22so I can kind of get it done.
06:34That's kind of the miracle cover, isn't it?
06:37It hides all of the rubbish.
06:40Yeah.
06:41It's surprising how quick it kind of comes together, doesn't it?
06:58I think we made a good start.
06:59We managed to get, what, three, four boards up.
07:01Yeah.
07:02And then the first fix is electrics, which is a bit of a bonus.
07:04And then once we get this wall done, then we can get the ceiling
07:07and then...
07:07Yeah.
07:08..it'll be done.
07:09Hoo-hoo!
07:12Donna and Paul have made a good start.
07:16But with the fixtures to add, walls to finish
07:19and a kitchen to install, they won't be moving in any time soon.
07:35In the stunning Loire Valley in central France
07:39lies the magical Chateau de la Lande.
07:44Dating back to the 16th century,
07:47this majestic turreted property comprises 50 flamboyantly decorated rooms.
07:56And comes with over 60 acres,
07:59including a formal courtyard
08:02and its own wedding chapel.
08:07The lucky owner is former opera singer Stephanie,
08:12who lives here with fiancé Philip.
08:15Ever since I was a little girl, I had desperately wanted to live in a chateau.
08:19The exterior is so perfect, with the sort of fairytale towers as well.
08:25I think there's something special in the area in a chateau.
08:27All those layers of history just attracts wonderful people.
08:30I even found love because of this chateau.
08:32My fiancé arrived as a volunteer to help out here and we fell in love.
08:36So, La Lande's doing most of the work.
08:43Located 60 miles from the city of Limoges,
08:48Stephanie bought the chateau with a friend in 2005 for £600,000
08:54and runs it as a thriving luxury B&B business.
08:59Yeah.
09:01All right, here we go.
09:02And when we saw them last summer,
09:06they upgraded the tired, cluttered kitchen corridor.
09:11I love it.
09:12It looks as though it's always been there.
09:13Yeah.
09:15By transforming it into an inviting space to welcome friends and family.
09:21Oh, it's delightful.
09:25Oh, that is lovely.
09:27You see there's a spot for your hat coming?
09:28Yes, it's wonderful.
09:30Oh, lovely.
09:35Today, with a new season almost upon them,
09:39Stephanie and Philip are turning their attention to the outside
09:42where they want to upgrade and start reusing
09:45their tired, chateau-sized chicken coop.
09:49It feels so weird not having chickens here
09:51because we had chickens for the last 20 years.
09:53They were always really safe because they're in the walled garden
09:55and then suddenly, I don't know how,
09:57the fox has worked out how to get into the walled garden
10:00until we built Chicken Fort Knox, which has been done,
10:04but I feel that it's not up to chicken standards yet.
10:08It needs a bit of blinging up.
10:10The chicken run may be safe and secure,
10:13but the huge hen house hasn't been touched in years
10:17and Stephanie and Philip have lots of grand ideas.
10:23I'm going to paint the doors, the windows.
10:25Good.
10:25You've got the nesting boxes.
10:26I mean, this is what we actually have to have for them.
10:28I do.
10:28But then I'm thinking curtains.
10:31That'd be adorable.
10:33OK, let's get this blinged up.
10:37This is not the way to mix paint,
10:39but I can't be bothered to go into the chateau
10:41to get something to mix it with,
10:42so I found a twig on the ground.
10:44We are going for a perfect rustic finish, though.
10:53I am not very good at painting.
10:55I'm very impatient.
10:57The only thing I'm quite good at is freehand edging.
11:01And you go over anyway.
11:03I never go over the lines.
11:06Actually, Philip.
11:08How does one always have spare parts?
11:11Did I mention I'm terrible at DIY?
11:14All I'm saying, Philip,
11:15is that we've divided the jobs according to skill levels,
11:19which is why you are putting little toy houses together
11:21whilst I do the complex painting jobs.
11:25If you were dividing this amongst our skill level,
11:27then I would definitely not be doing this.
11:32I think that having chickens,
11:34if you've got any sort of nice outdoor space,
11:37it just brings the whole home to life.
11:39To be able to go and get your own eggs in the morning,
11:40once you're used to that, it's really hard to go back.
11:42I love the Polish ones with the big hairdos
11:45and the ones with the big fluffy feet as well, different colours,
11:49and also the ones that lay pale blue eggs.
11:52They are very, very cool.
11:53But we'll see what we can find.
11:57There we go.
11:59The coop may be coming together.
12:02I think it's getting there.
12:04Fit for the world's poshest chickens.
12:05But it could take a good while
12:08to turn it into the poultry palace
12:11Stephanie and Philip are hoping for.
12:19Coming up, Donna and Paul's problems start to mount.
12:23It doesn't mention any shelves,
12:25and we don't seem to have any fixings.
12:28And this couple take on a fragile restoration project.
12:33It doesn't look very healthy, does it?
12:35I think it's pretty darn rotten.
12:44In the region of Occitanie in the south of France
12:48is the delightful Chateau de la Fare.
12:53Set in a charming woodland,
12:56the property boasts 35 rooms
12:59and is built around an impressive 12th-century tower.
13:05It's home to Australian-born Janet and husband Philip,
13:10a former senior coachman at Buckingham Palace,
13:15who are gradually restoring it to its former glory.
13:20We are essentially preserving French history.
13:25So many local people who have travelled up and down this road
13:28for the last 30, 40, 50 years
13:30now write to us and say,
13:32the Chateau is coming back to life.
13:35And I think it looks truly magical.
13:42Located near the city of Nîmes,
13:45Janet and Philip bought the Chateau in 2012 for £318,000,
13:52and last summer transformed the whole of the derelict tower suite
13:58into an elegant guest apartment,
14:02complete with an impressive kitchen-diner
14:06and stylish salon.
14:10What we've managed to achieve here, I think, is incredible,
14:14considering what we started with.
14:15I'm actually really excited by it.
14:18Hmm.
14:21This year, before the new season starts,
14:24they're planning a lavish afternoon tea party for their friends
14:28and want to restore the tired dining room,
14:32which hasn't been touched in over a century.
14:36What makes this dining room unique
14:39is that it has a beautiful barrel-vaulted ceiling,
14:42which is hand-painted.
14:43We want to preserve it.
14:45It's a bit of a specialist job.
14:47That's one of the big challenges.
14:49With only a week to make the ceiling shine,
14:53they don't have much time.
14:55Now for the test a few patches
14:57and see if I can make it work.
15:01Janet's just hoping she's chosen the right colours to match.
15:06This is where I really wish I was an artist,
15:09but I knew about paint tones.
15:13So this will be a first coat,
15:15and then there'll be obviously another layer.
15:19I've basically got to go the whole way round and patch things up.
15:24To think that I'm restoring anything that is part of the heart and soul of this chateau
15:30is a fantastic feeling.
15:37I'm actually pretty happy with the colour match.
15:43It looks really good.
15:46Absolutely it is.
15:47Yeah.
15:48Absolutely.
15:49Shall we give a, have a go at this skirting here?
15:53Yeah.
15:54The original skirting boards are decaying and all need to be replaced.
16:01OK, you can do the first blow.
16:03I'm hoping that it comes off.
16:07Oh, gee, it's not very, um...
16:09OK, I reckon I can do that.
16:13Probably just pull it now.
16:15Wow, Phil.
16:16Did I do a good job or what?
16:20It doesn't look very healthy, does it?
16:23In actual fact, I think it's pretty darn rotten.
16:30Look, one spell blow.
16:32This is your sort of job, isn't it?
16:35Absolutely.
16:40It's a very satisfying mess.
16:45Having made an initial impact,
16:48handyman Philip wants to begin creating new ones.
16:52I've done this technique before, so it's worked fine.
16:58I'm going to glue this piece of timber onto here
17:01and screw it on to mimic the skirting that was there before.
17:05What could go wrong?
17:08It's so far running like clockwork.
17:12But with the whole room to restore, dress and furnish,
17:17Janet and Philip just have to hope they're not cutting things fine.
17:33It's so far.
17:34In Brittany at Moulin du Cuenon,
17:37the plasterboarding in Donna and Paul's utility room
17:40is gradually progressing.
17:43The back wall is complete
17:45and the ceiling is almost done.
17:53So, you're going to, what, continue with the beam?
17:56Yeah.
17:56I've got three quarts of it done.
17:58I need to do the last section there.
18:00I'll put at least another sheet on,
18:02then I can set the slight point.
18:04OK.
18:05There's a lovely orc beam
18:07with some kind of old metal hooks it's sat on, isn't it?
18:10So, I'm actually restoring that
18:12because it would be such a crime to kind of cover that up.
18:18While Paul carries on with the new ceiling,
18:25Donna's eager to finish off her mini restoration project.
18:29We're obviously trying to, you know,
18:32retain as much of the character of the building as possible
18:35and against, you know, a brand-new kitchen.
18:38Just keep that history in this room.
18:46Can't see, actually, any holes in it.
18:48Like, wormholes, you know?
18:50Well, it's oak.
18:51They need big gnashers to chew through that.
18:53Yeah, it's in great condition.
18:55I'm really pleased with it.
18:56It looks really pretty.
18:58In the hope of preserving it for centuries to come,
19:02Donna wants to give it a new layer of protection.
19:07I'm using one of my favourite products,
19:09which is beeswax.
19:11Previously, I've used it on slate and things like that,
19:14and it really brings kind of the lustre back into the material.
19:18I'm looking forward to this bit.
19:20This is the best bit.
19:32Look at that.
19:35All this, uh, indentations are showing,
19:39and the different colours of the wood are coming out,
19:41so it's looking really pretty.
19:44What do you think, Paul?
19:47Yeah, it looks great.
19:48Taking years off it, like a facelift.
19:54With Paul almost done with the plasterboards,
19:57their utility room is inching a little closer.
20:08You can see where areas are starting to kind of dry in,
20:11so over the next few days we'll kind of see how it goes,
20:14but otherwise I'm really, really pleased with it.
20:17It's a case of so far, so good,
20:20but with the fittings still to install,
20:23kitchen units to build,
20:25and the room to decorate.
20:28They're set to be busy bees for a good while yet.
20:41In central France, at Chateau Lalande,
20:44it's all systems go.
20:48Stephanie has almost finished freshening up the chicken coop,
20:53and Philip's eager to add his own stamp.
20:57Look, Steph.
20:58In the form of a Royal Mail bird box.
21:01Oh, that is adorable!
21:04Do you think they're going to have a lot of correspondence?
21:06It's for egg spreads delivery.
21:08So where are you thinking?
21:09Well, either here,
21:11but I think it's a bit cramped maybe.
21:13Yeah, it's cramped.
21:13So then, here?
21:15I love it.
21:17And also, the curtains I'm making are red gingham.
21:24The moment of truth.
21:30That is absolutely adorable.
21:32Isn't that cute?
21:33Adorable.
21:34I love it. It's perfect. It's perfect.
21:36It'll look really good with the curtains.
21:38Yeah.
21:39Their unique vision is taking shape.
21:42And Stephanie has come up with a novel way of creating the curtains.
21:48Here I've got a beautiful gingham tablecloth.
21:51I'm just going to cut it in half along here.
21:54That will give me two panels.
21:56And then, if I just hem this edge, and then along the top, make a little pocket that can go
22:04over the wire above the window.
22:06It's going to be the simplest sort of curtain you can possibly make, but chickens love simplicity.
22:14We are all so excited about getting chickens.
22:17There's nothing nicer than walking out to the vegetable garden, collecting some eggs, maybe even picking a bit of sorrel
22:23on your way back in and making a quick sorrel omelette.
22:25It's just, it's heaven.
22:33There we go.
22:35With the curtains complete, they just need trying out for size.
22:41I made it far longer than we need so that we can just adjust it in place.
22:46They look so pretty.
22:47Do you think so?
22:49Right.
22:51I think it's done.
22:53Look, darling.
22:53Look at that.
22:54They look really pretty.
22:55They are amazing.
22:57I love it.
22:58Let's go and see that side.
23:02Oh, that looks really cute.
23:04It's perfect.
23:05Just a few little things and we're done.
23:06We're nearly there.
23:11And that's my way of doing it.
23:14All right.
23:16Well, good luck spraying that.
23:17Come on.
23:18This is the fun bit, Philip.
23:21There we go.
23:23Done.
23:24There.
23:25Is that safe?
23:26Yeah, that's safe.
23:27That's solid.
23:28And now the finishing touch in here.
23:31I have been saving this portrait that someone sent of me.
23:36Really, it looks a little bit like Marie Antoinette here.
23:39And it made me think the minute I saw it of Marie Antoinette's Petit Amour, the little toy farm that
23:44she had.
23:45And so I've been saving it because we've been looking forward to this chicken coop for years.
23:49And now that we have it, she is going to have pride of place in here, watching over the chickens
23:56so that she can make sure that they are laying in the morning.
24:00I am so happy with the result.
24:02I think it is the cutest chicken coop in the world.
24:04I'm going to put that out there.
24:05It's adorable.
24:06And I can't wait to get the chickens tomorrow.
24:08It's only taken them a couple of hours to transform the space.
24:13And with their chateau coop now fully blinged up, all that's left is for their chickens to check in.
24:26Still to come, Donna and Paul get tied in knots.
24:31It's trial and error until we get used to the poet instructions.
24:35And this chateau pair take on a risky new challenge.
24:39I wish I could help, Lee, but I can't, can I really?
24:49In the south of France, at Chateau de la Farre...
24:54I think we're almost there.
24:56Philip and Janet are making great strides restoring their dining room.
25:01For an afternoon tea party, they're hosting for friends.
25:06Philip never ceases to amaze me with what he can do.
25:10He can make it look original.
25:15Now we're finished.
25:18Looks good.
25:22With the new skirting boards in place and the vaulted ceiling fully repaired,
25:30today's challenge is to spruce up its original rose.
25:34You can see it's too white.
25:37And it doesn't gel well with the rest of the colours on the roof.
25:41If it was similar to the colour there, the light colour there, that would be good, I think.
25:47OK, Mr Clever Clogs.
25:48Can you reproduce that for me then?
25:50No, but that's where you come in.
25:52Thanks, darling.
25:54With such a subtle change of colour, Janet is hoping her leftover paint will be enough to please Philip.
26:03This just looks creamy white, but I know it's what I painted the walls and it's definitely got sort of
26:10a bit of a buttery colour to it.
26:13I think it needs to be a bit darker.
26:17A little bit of acrylic to deepen it slightly.
26:21I might just put a bit on there and just see if I can even see a difference.
26:28It doesn't look any different whatsoever.
26:31That looks almost exactly the same.
26:36Well, I've mixed what I think is the perfect colour.
26:40That looks pretty good, actually.
26:42Which bit have I painted then?
26:45You haven't painted any yet.
26:46It's a trick question, isn't it?
26:48No, it wasn't a trick question.
26:50I've painted a little bit.
26:52Oh, around the outside you have.
26:53Just a little bit.
26:54It's a fraction more creamy.
26:56But that's OK.
26:56It's not stark white.
26:58Well, it wasn't stark white to start with.
27:00I am going to deepen it just slightly.
27:02OK.
27:03Because I'm not getting this thing done and then you saying you don't like it.
27:07I need more yellow in it.
27:11I think that's just got a shade more depth to it.
27:20This is more like a creamy, putty colour.
27:24I prefer the colour you put on firstly from the big paint tin.
27:28That colour.
27:29Not this beautiful, luxurious colour that I mixed up.
27:32Correct.
27:34Yeah.
27:34Great.
27:36This is the colour I think is best.
27:39Yeah?
27:39I'm going to paint it that.
27:40If you don't like it, you can paint it again yourself.
27:46Having eventually won the battle,
27:49Janet can only hope Philip will come around to her way of thinking.
28:01Taking on the task of maintaining and restoring French Chateau is not always for the faint hearted.
28:09Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
28:11I'm afraid I can't even look at it now.
28:13The sheer scale.
28:15The sheer scale of these colossal castles often means even the simplest of jobs take a lot of effort.
28:23See the size of this place and that's the size of my brush.
28:26And in the Viennes region at Chateau Marais, owner Lee has the epic challenge of repairing the huge front doorbell.
28:37The bell was actually up there and it was working at one point.
28:41The arm that went through had stopped rotating like this, which is what causes the bell to swing.
28:46And the reason was, you can see the wood is actually completely rotten.
28:50I'm 90% sure what I'm going to do is going to be okay.
28:54But until it's actually up there and it's working, you don't know.
28:59It's a complex task, which Lee has spent weeks carefully planning.
29:05What I'm going to do is take this upper ladder and the idea is that the bell fits in this
29:12hole.
29:14This bolt goes through the hole and straight through the bell.
29:19The chain hangs there and as the chain pulls, this does that.
29:26And the bell is captured in here so the bell also swings with it and rings.
29:30That's the hope.
29:32While Lee fine-tunes his master plan.
29:37In the kitchen, wife Belinda is planning a surprise treat.
29:41By making him one of his favourite puddings using peaches picked last year.
29:48I'm going to make a sort of peachy puree with them and then I'm going to make some ice cream
29:53for dessert.
29:54I'm just trying to take some of the skins off these because the skins are quite tough.
30:00So the peaches came from a neighbour who had an enormous glut.
30:05I took as many as I possibly could.
30:11With the fruit skinned and chopped, Belinda adds in sugar, lemon zest and juice.
30:19Put that in.
30:21And that shouldn't need much more. We'll just make a nice peach compote.
30:26While the mixture is left to simmer, she has a cunning plan for the ice cream.
30:32This is a real cheats ice cream, making it with condensed milk, which is a very easy way of doing
30:37it.
30:37No eggs, no faffing about.
30:40I've got a teaspoon of vanilla and some salt.
30:45After adding double cream, it's all whisked together, ready to pour into the ice cream maker.
30:54It's looking good, isn't it? Looking good!
30:58With everything running smoothly, Lee hopes installing the bell will be just as simple.
31:06I'm just now concentrating on just getting this piece done before I start worrying about how I'm going to get
31:16the bell up here.
31:17It's so heavy.
31:19There you go.
31:21That's not going to go anywhere.
31:25With framework in place...
31:28Let's get this baby up there.
31:31..it's the moment of truth.
31:35I wish I could help, Lee, but I can't, can I really?
31:44I think I've got it.
31:46I've just got to bolt this up now.
31:48That was a feat of engineering.
31:51Do you know what?
31:52Last week I couldn't spell engineer and now I are one.
31:55Ha, ha, ha, ha!
31:56That's really good, Lee. I'm really impressed.
31:59Well done. Fantastic.
32:02All that's left is to try it out.
32:06Give it a tug.
32:07Is anybody home?
32:09Ooh!
32:10Ha, ha, ha, ha!
32:12Go on, give it a good tug again.
32:14Oh! Ha, ha, ha!
32:19The bell has tolled and hopefully that'll last for another 300 years now.
32:26I've actually had a lot of fun and enjoyed it and I'm a bit worried because I may have invented
32:30something that enables Belinda to call me at will.
32:34Now she knows that there's a bell there and I'm going to hear the bell.
32:38That's a really good idea.
32:39Yeah, no, it's not a good idea.
32:41It's been a job well done and it definitely deserves a tasty treat.
32:48Mmm.
32:49Wonderful.
32:51And no matter how the bell is used in the future, one thing is for sure, it will be ringing
32:59proudly for many years to come.
33:10In Brittany in North West France, Donna and Paul have a new mission.
33:18With their utility room taking shape, today they want to start constructing the shelving units.
33:27There's no instructions, there must be another path to it.
33:30Of course there is, they need the shelves and side bits and the kit of parts.
33:36Despite being experienced builders and having already dismantled most of the building, they're struggling with the flat pack guidelines.
33:4613 must be the end panel.
33:48That's this end.
33:49Yeah, I was thinking it was, that must be their end.
33:52No, she said it was number nine.
33:54That's going here.
33:56But they're all the same.
33:58They're all cupboards.
34:03So that's the other side.
34:04I'll just have a look and find out which one fits.
34:08Realising they're missing the shelves...
34:11It's got to be one of these.
34:13It's back to the drawing board.
34:17They're drawers.
34:20We don't make it easy, do they?
34:22We should have some shelves.
34:23But it doesn't mention any shelves.
34:27And we don't seem to have any fixings.
34:32There's four of them here.
34:34That's them.
34:36Underneath the sink.
34:38With the puzzle finally solved, the much bigger challenge...
34:43My God.
34:44..is to figure out how to put the unit together.
34:49We're all less.
34:51It's like, we could be here forever just putting one unit together.
34:56G's are either end.
34:58And then F in there, F there.
35:01Put them in.
35:03Can't you need to hammer them.
35:08Is there an up or down now?
35:14Possibly.
35:15Because this is the back, yeah?
35:17Yeah, but which is the top?
35:18Is it this one or the other one?
35:20Because there's a finished side on that.
35:21Do you see the map?
35:24It's trial and error on this first one until we get used to,
35:27kind of the poet instructions.
35:34Despite a few teething problems, the battle is almost won.
35:41This back could come to me a bit more.
35:49Got it?
35:50Yeah.
35:50Right.
35:56Yay!
35:57Of course it's tall, isn't it?
35:59You need a step ladder to get up there.
36:01I will, I'll need a little pair of ladders.
36:03I'll put all the expensive stuff at the back so you can't reach it.
36:06A roll of chocolate up there.
36:08Shall we put it roughly where it's going to go?
36:09Yeah.
36:11It may have proved more complicated than they'd hoped,
36:15but at least it takes them another step closer to moving in.
36:21You can now kind of get a feel of what it's going to look like.
36:25I would love to be actually in the mail, probably by summer.
36:29Hopefully.
36:30Which one?
36:32I always think a deadline's good to aim for.
36:36They're gradually heading in the right direction.
36:39But with more units to build, walls to paint, and fixtures to install,
36:46Donna's dream is still a long way off.
36:56Coming up, the alarm bell rings for Stephanie.
36:59I'm getting quite panicky. I haven't seen any chickens.
37:01I'm sure they'll be around.
37:02And it's showtime for Janet and Philip.
37:05Ladies and gentlemen, would you come into the Salamancher soupee?
37:17In the stunning Loire Valley in central France,
37:22it's a big moment for Stephanie and Philip,
37:25as today, with their blinged-up chicken coop complete,
37:30they're finally hoping to add some feathered friends.
37:35We're about to go to the market in Saint-Hout,
37:37which is a local market here, which actually we've never been to.
37:40We're looking for fluffy feet.
37:42Fluffy hairs. Fluffy heads.
37:44Amazing, like little wigs.
37:46Also personality, very important in a chicken.
37:48You don't want a chicken without personality? No.
37:56I'm so excited.
37:58Me too. We'll finally have chickens again.
38:00They're heading just 20 miles away,
38:03where for more than a century,
38:05stallholders gather weekly from all over the region.
38:10I love herbs, I love vegetables, but where are the chickens?
38:13I'm getting quite panicky. I haven't seen any chickens.
38:15I'm sure they'll be around.
38:17Despite its vast size, it doesn't take long to seek them out.
38:24Hello.
38:25Hello. They're perfect.
38:27Absolutely adorable.
38:29You have the silkies.
38:32Yes, yes.
38:34I don't know what it is.
38:36A viandote.
38:37A viandote.
38:38It's only a poule.
38:41It's important.
38:43And this one?
38:44It's of the Pékin.
38:46The Pékin 1000 fleurs.
38:48It's of the green or brown, so it's of the egg.
38:51But they're absolutely adorable.
38:53I think I'd like to take them all if it's possible.
38:56I bought all the chickens.
38:58Look at what they are the cutest chickens on the planet.
39:01And there's only nine of them.
39:03And we did say ten was our max.
39:05We've got silkies.
39:07We've got a viandote.
39:08She's tiny and adorable.
39:10We've got two leg horns,
39:12which apparently lay white egg-shelled eggs,
39:16which is going to be gorgeous.
39:17And we also have three Pékins.
39:19They're perfect.
39:26Having sealed the deal,
39:28and with the chickens safely boxed up...
39:31Voilà.
39:32Merci beaucoup.
39:32Boop.
39:33It's back to the chateau,
39:35to introduce them to their extravagant new abode.
39:40This is it, ladies.
39:42Welcome home.
39:45What do you think of them?
39:47They're adorable.
39:49I'm so happy.
39:51The chateau is complete again.
39:53And we have to leave them in there for 24 hours
39:56before we can open the door to their run,
39:58so they learn to roost in there.
40:00And that means that in future,
40:02when we open the door to their run,
40:03they'll automatically come back at night.
40:05They'll know it's their home.
40:06And I think, well,
40:08in a few days' time,
40:09we might start to get our first egg.
40:11With the chickens already starting to settle,
40:15it's been a seamless transition
40:17to a successful project.
40:20And with Stephanie and Philip
40:22having a new family to look after,
40:24it's another feather in their chateau.
40:35a new cap.
40:37In the region of Occitanie in the south of France...
40:41I think it looks good.
40:43It now matches the tones of the rest of the roof.
40:47Janet's finally won over Philip
40:49after repainting the ceiling rose in the dining room.
40:54There was only a small disagreement about the chateau
40:57and, luckily, for my sake, I agree with my wife.
41:03Because, of course, I was right.
41:05Which is just as well as their afternoon tea party
41:10starts in a couple of hours
41:12and they still need to dress the room.
41:15OK. Yep.
41:17Which they want to fill with second-hand antique treasures
41:22and nods to their past royal working life.
41:26These are actually really sweet little commemorative plates
41:29of both the Queen's 90th birthday
41:32and the Diamond Jubilee.
41:34They were gifts to us as staff members from the Queen
41:37and we cherish them.
41:41This actually happens to be wedding cake
41:44from William and Catherine's wedding.
41:47And this is actually a piece of cake
41:51from the Queen and Prince Philip's 60th wedding anniversary.
41:56So, they're just really, for us,
41:59wonderful mementos of our life at the palace.
42:03It's a lovely personal touch
42:06and a chateau afternoon tea party
42:10wouldn't be complete
42:11without some mouth-watering delicacies
42:15befitting kings and queens.
42:19That looks good.
42:23Just a week ago, their dining room was dark, dire and dated
42:29with rotten skirting boards and peeling paint.
42:36Now, it's been transformed into a light, bright and inviting space to eat
42:44with freshly painted walls and a fully restored vaulted ceiling.
42:50Bringing back the charm and character.
42:54With the addition of unique furnishings,
42:57special memories
42:59and a sumptuous table display
43:02making it the perfect setting to host any party.
43:08With the guests arriving,
43:11it's time to find out if their hard work has paid off.
43:16Ladies and gentlemen,
43:17would you come into the Salamanger, s'il vous plaît?
43:21Wow!
43:22Come in.
43:23Come right in.
43:24Come in.
43:25What do you think?
43:27Super, so much lighter.
43:29So, the roof has been repaired.
43:32Skirting was rotten, so we've replaced all the skirting.
43:35Oh!
43:37Oh!
43:37Marvellous!
43:39Oh!
43:40Incredible!
43:53The room has been restored perfectly.
43:58We are very happy you're here.
44:01We're really pleased with the result.
44:02So, let's just raise a cup of tea,
44:05in a very English fashion,
44:08to restoration.
44:10Cheers!
44:13I am very, very proud.
44:16This little response from the people there
44:18just makes it all great.
44:20The main aim for us was to retain the dining room's authenticity.
44:24We just wanted to bring it back to life.
44:27Now, I feel like that dining room is shining again.
44:30Hmm.
44:32It's proved to be a triumph,
44:34and with a new season almost upon them,
44:37Janet and Philip have all the ingredients
44:40for another successful year.
44:49Next time.
44:50So, you'll have to be very careful when you dig in.
44:53One couple are in for a shock.
44:55It can be lethal when you've got electric,
44:57so I'll have to be careful
44:58and just make sure I don't hit any power lines.
45:01Donna and Paul are on the brink of a breakthrough.
45:04For us, it's the first room that we'll complete.
45:08It's the start of a new life for us.
45:10It's really nice down here, though, isn't it?
45:12Yeah.
45:12And two new Chatelain, strike gold.
45:15We have 11,500 bottles of this.
45:47We got a new photo.
45:48And two newistine ship for us,
45:49we have a newquel beach for us.
45:52You're right.
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