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00:01Across France are thousands of breathtaking chateaux.
00:06Many fallen into ruin...
00:08Oh, wow. Oh, gosh.
00:10There will be a stretch of our skills.
00:14..are being restored by brave new owners.
00:18We've started now, so we can't stop.
00:21They're taking on the challenge...
00:25..of saving these forgotten buildings.
00:28It's just the trickiest room to work in.
00:33..creating incredible homes.
00:35Oh, wow. It works, doesn't it?
00:38It does.
00:39..and businesses.
00:42There'll be successes.
00:44That looks superb.
00:46High five.
00:47..and setbacks.
00:48I'll just watch as the giant hole opens up in our barn.
00:52But with great challenge...
00:54It's just peeling off.
00:56And I've never had this happen before.
00:57..comes great reward...
01:00It was a complete shell, and now it's becoming a home.
01:05Woo-hoo-hoo!
01:06..as they get to live the dream...
01:08Cheers!
01:09..as kings and queens of their very own castle.
01:17..today...
01:19..sparks fly on an epic bedroom makeover.
01:23I'm losing my mind.
01:24I caught you in the act!
01:25I'm just standing by it!
01:26I just caught you in the act!
01:27I'm not catching on the marble!
01:29..with a rising tide, it's sink or swim for this renovation.
01:35The water level's so high, I can't physically get outside
01:38just to finish the external face of this wall.
01:42And two eager home hunters...
01:44..very, very cute.
01:45Oh, wow.
01:46..get more than they bargained for.
01:49Whoa, look at the pink!
02:00Located in the fertile region of the Loire Valley...
02:05..is the stately 19th century Château de la Croix-Boisée.
02:10..with seven acres, it comprises 12 elegant rooms...
02:17..and an indoor pool and spa area.
02:21In 2019, it was bought by American artist Vivian...
02:27Hello!
02:28..wow, these look amazing!
02:30..and her British husband, Simon...
02:32Oh, you're so clever!
02:34..who have downsized from their first château
02:37and brought new ideas here.
02:40We definitely have a good team going.
02:42Yeah, we complement each other really well.
02:44What Vivian is really good at is painting the vision,
02:48creating the look of the room,
02:50and then giving it the artistic touches it needs
02:53to get that style.
02:54What I'm really good at is taking instructions,
02:58doing what I'm told,
03:00and then working out how to deliver on that vision
03:04if it's not clear to me.
03:07Prince Charming!
03:09Prince Charming!
03:13Just an hour's drive south of Le Mans,
03:16the history-loving couple bought the property
03:20for £716,000.
03:26And when we last saw them...
03:28Got it?
03:29Yeah, I got it, sweetie.
03:29Uh-oh!
03:31..they had taken the first steps
03:33to create an opulent, empire-inspired guest bedroom.
03:38Oh, wow, you gilded it.
03:39That looks really cool.
03:40..and so far, they've upcycled a four-poster bed,
03:45built a new curtain pelmet,
03:47and created a magnificent mirror.
03:50And all of a sudden, look how old that looks.
03:54But they need to crack on and get the room finished,
03:58so they can showcase it at their Regency costume party
04:02in just three weeks.
04:05OK, today is a really, really exciting day,
04:08because all of the pieces for the Empire Room
04:11are going into place.
04:13We've been busy building, we've been busy gilding,
04:15and today it's all going to come together.
04:16So, we're very, very thrilled.
04:20First on their list is to add some vital supports...
04:25..for Simon's curtain pelmet.
04:29..and lending a hand is daughter, Isabella.
04:33So, who should go up the ladder first?
04:35If you can go first.
04:37Right. Like that.
04:39OK, that's as high as it needs to go.
04:42Vivian, what do you think?
04:47Uh, the block is visible from back here.
04:50I think you should step back
04:52and look at what I'm looking at, please.
04:54OK, so, come here.
04:56Yeah. See?
04:57So, two things are going on.
04:58You can see the block,
04:59and the other thing that's happening
05:00is you can see the top of the moulding of the window.
05:04See, really, ideally,
05:05all of that would be concealed with the pelmet.
05:10Well, you're going to have curtain.
05:12Yes.
05:12I think you're...
05:13I think you're forgetting
05:14that the curtain's going to be in there.
05:15Yes, but unfortunately,
05:16what you've done is you've left
05:18this much of a gap
05:19with the ball and the side.
05:21What's going to happen is
05:22the curtains are going to open up
05:23and there's going to be this much gap
05:24on either side.
05:26How much further down
05:27does it need to go, then?
05:28About two centimetres.
05:34All right, so we'll just take it off
05:36and drop it down a couple of centimetres.
05:40All right.
05:48I need to take over the holding of that for you.
05:51You can step away, honey,
05:52because I think at this point
05:53you might be in the way.
05:55Okay.
05:56What's happening here?
05:57We're changing around ladder positions.
06:00I'm sorry, you're going to what now?
06:01I don't know.
06:03I'm going to take the pelmet from you.
06:05Okay.
06:06And you're going to...
06:07I'm going to start sweating really intensely.
06:09Okay, off you go.
06:10Down you go.
06:10Okay.
06:11And you push your ladder across the other side.
06:14Oh, my God.
06:15Really?
06:16No, no, you can't do that.
06:17No.
06:18This is going to end badly for everybody
06:20because we're standing down here.
06:21Hold the ladder if you want to.
06:22I'm going to stand back here, though.
06:24So there are no accidents.
06:29Good.
06:30That's in.
06:34Well, there you go.
06:36So that's it.
06:38Looks great.
06:39Well done, sweetheart.
06:41But I'm not sure it looks massively different
06:44from where I had it.
06:44But anyway...
06:45It doesn't look massively different.
06:47It just looks...
06:48Just the details that matter.
06:49Isn't that right?
06:50They do matter.
06:51They do.
06:51They matter a lot.
06:53They've averted a crisis.
06:56But with a chateau-sized mirror to put up
06:58and a grand soirée to prepare,
07:01there are more challenges ahead.
07:11Over two hours away in Brittany
07:15lies the once-abandoned 19th-century water mill,
07:19Moulin du Cuenon.
07:23This once-proud building stands on its own island
07:27between two medieval bridges
07:29and comes with five floors,
07:32enormous concrete silos,
07:34and a small stone jeet.
07:38Today, it's the latest project for Donna,
07:41a former property developer,
07:43and Paul, a retired construction manager.
07:47It's a lot for, you know, a couple of keen DIYers.
07:50I mean, we could do with a squad of 40 people.
07:52Yeah.
07:53But, you know, the plan is to do as much as we can ourself,
07:56and that's what we enjoy doing.
07:57So, you know, so it may take a bit longer to do,
08:00but that's not a problem, you know.
08:02Yeah.
08:02It's a nice place to be.
08:08Located just south-east of Saint-Malo,
08:10the couple bought the property in early 2024
08:14for less than £100,000.
08:17The French are extremely friendly
08:20and everybody knows the mill.
08:22So, even going into the shops when you're shopping,
08:25they kind of go,
08:26ah, you were the crazy Anglais who were doing the mill.
08:29It's like, yes, that's us.
08:31Since they moved in,
08:32they've replaced the roof
08:34and created a roof terrace.
08:39Inside, they've installed joists,
08:42added 18 aluminium windows
08:45and above the turbine.
08:47Oh.
08:48They've recently completed work.
08:50Told you it would go in.
08:52On a derelict shell,
08:54which they've remodelled into a stunning utility room.
08:59But that's just the beginning of its transformation
09:02from top to bottom.
09:06Today we're going to be working in the basement,
09:08which in France is the sous-sol.
09:09We're going to be working on the windows.
09:11There's some old metal windows
09:13that are damaged and broken
09:14and we've actually boarded them up.
09:16So we need to remove the temporary boards first.
09:19We need to then cut out the old metal frame windows.
09:22And then we need to effectively build some block work
09:24to reduce the existing size of the window
09:26to suit the new windows that we have.
09:29Donna and Paul plan to convert the basement
09:32into a swimming pool and gymnasium.
09:38God, they are heavy.
09:39First, though, they need to fix the infrastructure.
09:48Look at that view.
09:51Yeah, we haven't seen this view, have we?
09:53Because the windows have been dirty.
09:54I know.
09:56It's a fabulous view.
10:01We're obviously going to have windows all around
10:04and the pool will be in this area.
10:06But we're actually not overlooked at all
10:10because there's literally river over three sides.
10:13So it's very private.
10:15Yeah, I can kind of see myself that in this pool,
10:18just looking out down the river.
10:21Yeah, very nice.
10:28This room was pre-graffiti.
10:30There's only one small bit I added,
10:31which is that little love heart
10:33when Donna and I viewed the property.
10:35In fact, before we'd even purchased it,
10:38we made a little scribble on the wall,
10:39just in case the sale didn't go through
10:42so we could always be remembered
10:44until somebody renovated this property
10:45and painted over it.
10:48But that's now going to be us.
10:53But there's a long way to go
10:55before Paul and Donna will be decorating over their love heart.
11:01We've got a 1.2 window,
11:02so we need to block up left hand and right hand side.
11:05It's also about 1.3 high,
11:06so we'll probably need to cut a section out of the sale
11:08just so we can get the full height of the window in.
11:12Can you see that down there?
11:14Yeah.
11:14From a purely aesthetic point of view...
11:17You've got central.
11:18Donna and Paul want the new basement window
11:21in line with the ones above,
11:23even if it means altering the framework.
11:42We've managed to remove the old window in the glass.
11:44Hopefully get block work done tomorrow
11:46and then get that window fitted.
11:49It's going to look pretty stunning, isn't it?
11:51Yeah.
11:53Let's hope that Paul's got his measurements right.
12:02Coming up...
12:03OK, let's go.
12:04Will this couple find their new forever home?
12:07Squacky little rooms, aren't they?
12:09Yeah.
12:09It just makes it a bit more challenging
12:11to make the most out of it.
12:13Watch the mirror, honey.
12:14And could this be the fall of Vivian's empire creation?
12:17No.
12:19Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, ah!
12:21Oh!
12:29With thousands of available chateaux scattered across France,
12:34there's something for everyone.
12:39For France-based jewellery maker Eleanor from Hull
12:43and French hubby Ben, an IT director and part-time fireman...
12:48One euro's bargain.
12:49Mm-hm.
12:51The hunt for their very own Goldilocks castle is about to begin.
12:57Living in a chateau, for me, is like, yeah, keeping history alive.
13:02And it's just that extra charm, isn't it,
13:04of things that are not made anymore.
13:06Big thick walls.
13:08Fireplaces.
13:08Stairs, stairs, fireplaces.
13:10Chandeliers.
13:11I like chandeliers.
13:12Beautiful windows, shaped doors,
13:15and then riding the ride-on lawnmower.
13:17Yeah.
13:18That, you have to have that.
13:21Their dream chateau must accommodate them,
13:25their daughter Delilah,
13:27as well as Eleanor's retired parents,
13:29and paying guests.
13:32The plan over here is to get a jeet up and running,
13:35and then I was also a jeweller back in the UK,
13:38so I did make my own jewellery and sell it,
13:40and I want to get that up, back and running.
13:43Oh, sure.
13:44Well, come here.
13:44Yeah.
13:45A potential jewellery studio isn't the only thing on their tick list.
13:50So the must-have is a tower.
13:52Yeah.
13:52At least one.
13:53At least one.
13:54Two preferably.
13:57With a budget of £600,000, plus £200,000 for renovations,
14:05the couple will visit Four Chateaux,
14:07in the region of Occitanie,
14:10in the south-west of France.
14:14Their first stop is near the town of Heures,
14:18in the foothills of the Pyrenean peaks.
14:22Very, very cute.
14:23Oh, wow.
14:24Really cute.
14:26And there's two towers.
14:28You wanted two towers.
14:31This charming five-bedroom property is on the market for £484,000,
14:38leaving them over £300,000 for renovations.
14:43Okay, let's go.
14:45Waiting to meet them is Agent Axel.
14:48Hello.
14:49Hi.
14:50Hello, Ben.
14:51Hello, Elena.
14:52Hi, nice to meet you.
14:52Nice to meet you.
14:53I'm Axel.
14:54Ravie de faire votre connaissance
14:56et surtout de vous faire découvrir ce très beau château historique.
15:01Oui.
15:05Alors, nous voici dans le hall d'entrée.
15:09Superbe.
15:12Okay, donc je vous conduis dans la belle pièce de vie du château.
15:16Okay.
15:17Le grand salon.
15:19That's the main room, this?
15:20Oui, exactement.
15:21Wow.
15:22Yeah, it's a nice size.
15:24Et nous allons passer par la cuisine, cette fois.
15:29It's quite nice.
15:30Spacious enough.
15:31Yeah.
15:32It's quite a few little rooms, isn't it, everywhere?
15:34Yeah.
15:34Just in the size of the wall.
15:36Oh, gosh, yeah.
15:39I like all these little nooks and crannies.
15:41It just makes it a bit more challenging to you.
15:43To make the most out of it.
15:44Or find you when I'm shouting your teas with it.
15:49Yeah.
15:50Outside are nearly 3,000 square metres of château grounds.
15:55Oh, that's nice.
15:56Oh, that's pretty, isn't it?
15:57Oh, yeah.
15:58Little rose bushes.
15:59You can see the smell of the roses.
16:01Yeah, it's fairly sizable, isn't it?
16:03You don't realise.
16:04It's a good size, but it's not too big.
16:06Too big, yeah.
16:06It's not too overwhelming.
16:07Exactly.
16:09The garden's beautiful.
16:11It's really nice.
16:13And there's even a space that could be converted into Eleanor's jewellery workshop.
16:24Okay.
16:28It's a strong start.
16:30From the exterior, I would say the wow factor is 9 out of 10.
16:35Yeah, it's beautiful.
16:35It's kind of like that picture-perfect one that you have in your imagination that you want a château to
16:42be.
16:42It's very cute.
16:44Very cute.
16:45The château needs to house them, Eleanor's extended family, as well as Jeet guests.
16:52And so far, this one's looking positive.
17:02Eight hours north in the Loire Valley.
17:06Take it on its end, on its side.
17:08Like, okay.
17:09Simon and daughter Isabella have been challenged.
17:13We ready?
17:13Yep.
17:14Gotta go.
17:14Soon.
17:15With bringing Vivian's upcycled mirror up to the empire-themed bedroom.
17:21Oh, it's really heavy.
17:23I think I can get my right hand under it.
17:25Okay.
17:26Oh.
17:28How's that?
17:29That's better, yeah.
17:29Got it now?
17:30Yeah, that's stronger.
17:31Well done.
17:32As Mum has a sore back, Isabella has drawn the short straw.
17:37Bring it around.
17:38Back up.
17:41Oh.
17:42Watch the mirror, honey.
17:44Yeah.
17:44Oh.
17:45Up.
17:46That was you!
17:48Okay, now...
17:49It's just fun watching you guys do all the work.
17:50I know.
17:55So, okay, now...
17:58What we need you for is to ensure that we're central.
18:01Okay.
18:03So, let's see...
18:05Do you need my help?
18:06...get this up.
18:07Okay, have you got it, Isabella?
18:09Righty.
18:09No, no.
18:10Well, no, I haven't got it.
18:11I haven't got it.
18:12Okay, well, I guess I do.
18:14That's it.
18:15Okay.
18:15Up we go.
18:19Up we go.
18:22Up we go.
18:23Up.
18:23Up.
18:25Up.
18:27Up.
18:29Hold on.
18:29Watch my finger.
18:30Oh, my gosh.
18:32Your hand's under there.
18:34Okay.
18:35Okay.
18:35Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't.
18:37Ah!
18:39That actually looks pretty good.
18:41I am very happy.
18:44I'm going to jump up on the ladder.
18:49If you want it central on the mantelpiece,
18:51push it this way a little bit more.
18:53So, away from me?
18:54Yep, away from you.
18:55There.
18:55There.
18:57Well, that looks better on the top.
18:58It's pretty good.
19:00In keeping with the Empire style,
19:03Vivian has even sourced some antique urns
19:06to attach on top.
19:11Can I just stop you right there, please?
19:13Mm-hmm.
19:14Why on earth are you using the marble fireplace
19:18as your cutting station?
19:20I'm slightly...
19:21It's not my cutting station.
19:22I'm losing my mind right...
19:23I just want...
19:23I caught you in the act.
19:24I'm just standing by it.
19:25I just caught you in the act of money.
19:26I'm not cutting, I'm not cutting on the marble.
19:28Oh, my goodness.
19:29The whole thing could have broken.
19:31I love that you were more concerned about the fireplace.
19:34Your husband had little sparks
19:37flying towards his body.
19:39Sparks are always flying around your father.
19:43Oh, she's so corny.
19:51Papa, well done.
19:53That's beautiful.
19:54Does that look all right?
19:55So cool.
19:58Well, it's totally Empire.
20:00Yeah.
20:01Isn't it?
20:01Yes.
20:01It's totally Empire.
20:02That's exactly what we're shooting for.
20:03I was shooting for neoclassical.
20:05Yeah.
20:06And I think we got it.
20:08Mirror secured, they can now give the rest of the room a little chateau bling.
20:17This is the big unveiling.
20:20Oh, there we go.
20:22So we're nearly done.
20:23I am incredibly proud of Simon.
20:26He's such a good sport.
20:28When I come up with all these crazy ideas, he goes for it.
20:31Okay.
20:32Do you want to go turn it on, sweetie?
20:33See if that...
20:34Sure.
20:35I've got a bulb missing here, but we'll do that later.
20:39Wow.
20:40Look at that.
20:41So there's still quite a lot to do.
20:44We've really, I think, cracked it a bit today.
20:48We kind of can see the vision and we know what's happening.
20:51But with just weeks to get the room blinged up for the Grande Soiree,
20:56the clock is ticking.
21:05Further northwest in Brittany, Donna and Paul are busy installing a new window
21:12in their old basement.
21:16We now have running water inside.
21:19So I no longer have to go to either the rainwater butt or a bucket down into the river.
21:25So we're getting there.
21:37As they want the window to align with the ones above, Paul's rebuilding the frame.
21:45But he's soon distracted.
21:48Catching sight of a coipu or a ragandale just outside on the tree trunk.
21:54Brought over from South America in the 19th century, coipu can be found in virtually every region of France.
22:03I think the level of the river's risen this morning, so I think it's taking refuge in one of the
22:09taller branches out there.
22:10Yeah.
22:11Unless he's getting anything out of the mud at the bottom and...
22:14He's getting his belongings out of his flooded house.
22:17He's rescuing his home.
22:20Yeah.
22:20There aren't very many people that you look out your window and there's the river.
22:24I know.
22:24Only thankful at the moment we're not standing in the river.
22:27Yeah.
22:29Just got another two corsets.
22:31I may have to cut the top one just because of the height of the block.
22:35So we'll get these two done and then we'll start on this one.
22:46Working on an old building, though, has its drawbacks.
22:53My block works reasonably level, but I think the walls are off.
22:56I think that column's slightly squint and the lintel's not exactly square.
23:00So typical of buildings of this age.
23:06As well as creating a new window, Paul's blocking up an old one to the side.
23:12But today, it's a battle with nature.
23:15The water level's so high at this elevation that I can't...
23:18I can't physically get outside just to finish the external face of this wall.
23:22So I'll do what I can from the inside and as in when the water drops,
23:26I'll go and just finish the outside.
23:37OK, OK.
23:39Would it fit?
23:41Yeah, well, it's a thick, thickish mortar bed,
23:44then I need to try and get the mortar in over the top, so...
23:46Yeah.
23:48250, a full block, and then a cut.
24:10It's been a productive day.
24:14Well, that looks high to you, doesn't it?
24:16You don't want the window back in here now.
24:18No.
24:19But there's still a large gap to fill before the basement is weather-tight again.
24:29Still to come, Simon is feeling hemmed in.
24:34Can't you just take it up on the seam and pull it in and sew the seam again?
24:37That's how I would do it.
24:39I...
24:41Stop it!
24:42Straight back.
24:44And Donna tests her mettle.
24:47Are you struggling now?
24:48Your face is going red.
24:50It's blooming heavy.
24:58In the Loire Valley, Vivian and Simon's empire-themed bedroom is coming along.
25:07And the couple are preparing to play host and hostess.
25:12It's going to be a busy day because our friends are arriving tonight.
25:16And we're going to have an empire regency soiree.
25:20We've invited them to come in costume.
25:22We're making costumes for ourselves.
25:25And that's a lot to do today, as well as finishing their bedroom and getting it clean and getting it
25:30ready.
25:31Leaving the bedroom finessing to Simon, Vivian is turning her artistic talent to creating a Regency gown for daughter Isabella.
25:42You know, there was a little bit of madness involved with the plans for today.
25:47I think this whole thing germinated because Simon found a great hat and then he really, really wanted to wear
25:54his hat.
25:55So all of a sudden he said, well, we need to have an empire soiree and invite our friends.
26:01And somehow that got tied up with renovating the bedroom at the same time that we're throwing this party.
26:10So when we bought the chateau, one of the things we always hoped that we would do here, you know,
26:17is to have these period evenings and to have dress up costume based evenings with our friends.
26:26It's wonderful bringing these antiques out and getting ready and then doing these evenings with friends.
26:31That's fantastic fun.
26:33We all need costumes too.
26:34And we don't like to do things by halves either.
26:38But I do love to sew.
26:39So I'm very, very happy to be doing this project.
26:43I think everybody's going to look beautiful tonight.
26:45There we go.
26:48I'm pleased with that.
26:50Okay, come and have a look.
26:54The empire bedroom is nearly there.
26:57I haven't lost any weight.
26:58You're getting skinny on me.
27:00I don't think so.
27:00But Simon's costume for this evening needs a little je ne sais quoi.
27:05Are you tight?
27:06Yeah.
27:07We're tight in there?
27:07Okay.
27:08First thing we need is, I need to puncture you somehow.
27:12That doesn't sound good.
27:13You see, there we go.
27:15Let's pop that in like that.
27:18Now, sweetheart.
27:20Okay, good.
27:20I think I have the right figure for the Regency.
27:22I think you do.
27:25Just fill at the front here.
27:29There's a lot of volume.
27:31We need it to be more like that.
27:32Yeah.
27:32You see?
27:33Show off those fine calves of yours.
27:35Can't you just take it up on the seam and pull it in and sew the seam again?
27:38No.
27:38That's how I would do it.
27:42Stop it!
27:44I will take this in a little bit.
27:47Okay.
27:47To give you a nice form.
27:49A shapely turn of the leg, as they say.
27:51Shapely turn of the leg.
27:52And, um...
27:53You have a shapely turn of the leg.
27:56Yes.
28:00Here, turn around.
28:01Okay.
28:01Let me look.
28:02Does that give a good...
28:03It's better.
28:05I think that's nice.
28:06Yeah.
28:06I think that if you do the other one like that...
28:08I'll try.
28:09I think you've got it covered.
28:10Thanks.
28:12With this super seamstress on the case, Prince Charming shall go to the ball.
28:18But there's one or two chores still to be done.
28:28Meanwhile, near the Pyrenees, Chateau shoppers Ben and Eleanor
28:34are searching for an impressive new home.
28:38Does that need some work?
28:39Where there's enough room for Eleanor's extended family.
28:43So far, this chateau, with its bright, spacious master suite, has caught their attention.
28:57That's nice, isn't it?
28:58Yeah.
29:01It's like a secret passage.
29:02Yeah.
29:04And there are two further bedrooms on this floor.
29:07Oh, this is nice, isn't it?
29:09Alors, nous allons dans la troisième chambre du chateau.
29:13Oh, that's massive as well.
29:16There doesn't seem to be much work to be done, does there?
29:18No.
29:18Here, actually.
29:19You can just move in, really.
29:20Yeah.
29:20Yeah, you can definitely, like, move straight in.
29:22There's, like, a few little bits here and there.
29:25Up on the second floor.
29:27Voila.
29:29Really nice.
29:30I love the mirror and the fireplace and everything.
29:32There's the final two bedrooms.
29:36And a touch of luxury.
29:38Cette chambre profite d'une salle de bain magnifique.
29:42Oh, yeah, that's so pretty, isn't it?
29:44Yeah.
29:44Wow.
29:45I think I actually like the bedrooms downstairs.
29:47Yeah.
29:48But then to have the master bathroom, well, you can have the ensuite bathroom.
29:51Yeah, it's a bit strange, isn't it?
29:55I think the only problem I could see is because we want your mom and dad to be with us.
30:01Yeah, yeah.
30:02Really, we need to be able to split the property, almost, so we can have the two families living.
30:07Yeah, because as much as, like, I love my mom and dad and we all get on, we kind of
30:11don't want to be in each other's footsteps on top of each other.
30:15We both need our kind of, like, chill-time privacy, but enough so that we're still together as a family.
30:24It's given them food for thought.
30:26Thank you very much.
30:27Avec plaisir.
30:29Goodbye, Elena.
30:30Goodbye, Ben.
30:31Thank you so much.
30:33But there are still three chateaux to see, including this next one in Marinac.
30:43An hour and a half's drive from Toulouse.
30:46It comprises eight bedrooms, an enormous orangery, and Eleanor's longed-for fairytale turrets.
31:00Oh, this is pretty, actually.
31:02Over budget at £620,000, it leaves them with just £180,000 for renovations.
31:11But would that be enough for this property?
31:15Agent Frederick is waiting to show them around.
31:18Hi, bonjour.
31:21Frédéric, nice to meet you.
31:23Frédéric, nice to meet you.
31:23Frédéric, bonjour.
31:25Eh bien, on va aller voir l'intérieur?
31:27Oui, oui, oui, oui.
31:31Wow, look at the ceiling.
31:34Wow.
31:35Oh my gosh, it's beautiful.
31:38The original 18th century chateau was entirely rebuilt in the early 20th century, but still boasts
31:46many period features.
31:47Oh my gosh, that's amazing.
31:50The view you can see here is from the outside.
31:54Oh, okay.
31:54Yeah.
31:55They've taken the view from the outside.
31:57Oh, okay.
31:57Without the big dogs.
32:02Oh, I really like this chateau.
32:04This, yeah.
32:05This is kind of like the chateau that you have in your head.
32:10That's the chateau when you walk in and it's, yeah.
32:13Big ground inside and there's lots of room.
32:15Everything seems quite perfect.
32:17Yeah, yeah.
32:17About this one, actually.
32:20But will the bedrooms, the outbuildings and the orangery prove just as perfect?
32:32Back in Brittany at Donner and Paul's.
32:36With the heavy block work done, there's a 220 kilogram window to install.
32:42They are heavy, so they're going to be awkward to try and get in place.
32:45And before I did have assistance, this is Donner's second window installed, so I need to think about Donner's.
32:52It's when you've got to get it from there to there.
32:54I need to think about your lifting capacity.
32:59Right, so take that side.
33:01There's an easy carry handle on it.
33:04These ones don't open, so they're not as heavy.
33:07Yeah, well, you'd think they'd have put wheels on it, wouldn't you?
33:10Well, it's a window, not a car.
33:12Wheels would have been nice.
33:13Really?
33:14Tell me when.
33:15Straight back.
33:19It's easy.
33:20We can lift it and no problem.
33:23Don't drop it.
33:25You're struggling there?
33:26Your face is going red.
33:27It's blooming heavy.
33:29Which is front?
33:31Walk around.
33:32Yep.
33:35Right, I'll get the brackets on.
33:49So we've just bent these top brackets in just so when we offer the window up it doesn't actually fall
33:54out.
33:55Into the water.
33:56Yeah.
34:01Right, let's get it on the block.
34:04Tell me when you're ready.
34:05Okay.
34:10Higher.
34:11Higher.
34:14One, two, three.
34:20Ian, push that corner in.
34:26It's catching on the top.
34:28Right.
34:29You come down, hold the window, let me see.
34:35It's a nice tight fit.
34:38Wow, look at that.
34:41That wasn't too bad with the help of all my blocks.
34:44Yeah.
34:46Let's get some airbags under it.
34:48We have a window.
34:50These air wedges are great.
34:53Basically you slide them into the grooves there and you pump them up just to kind of level your window
35:01or door to allow you to then fix it.
35:04So we use them all the time.
35:05So we use them all the time.
35:06Pump it up.
35:12Spot on.
35:14Spot on.
35:15I like spot on.
35:23Bit of foam and then I sell on the outside and done.
35:28The difference it's made, every window we put in we're just, the light coming in, it's just a proper room
35:35now isn't it?
35:36Yeah, every window you put in you're opening up views that have never existed before.
35:40Do you think this was just mountains and mountains of grain?
35:43Yeah.
35:46Not anymore.
35:47Not anymore, no.
35:50Happy with their window, Donna and Paul are in for an even bigger challenge next, with a doorway to put
35:57in and a watertight wall to build.
36:05Coming up, will Ben and Eleanor's chateau expectations fall short?
36:10As you can see, there is a lot of work to do.
36:14And it's party time.
36:16And our guests of honour.
36:17But will the Empire Bedroom get the royal seal of approval?
36:21So excited.
36:29Near the Spanish border, in Marinac, Eleanor and Ben are exploring an impressive property.
36:40How many floors are there?
36:42There are four floors.
36:48That's the biggest one.
36:49Okay.
36:50Okay.
36:52I quite like the marble skirting parts though.
36:54It's a bit different.
36:56Encore a meubler.
36:58Yeah, we're not sure.
37:00C'est une histoire de goût.
37:01I really like the fireplace in here.
37:03It's nice.
37:05Next door, there are more divisive design choices.
37:10Whoa, look at the pink.
37:13Ça, c'est pour le plaisir des yeux.
37:14C'est pour le plaisir de madame.
37:16C'est ma couleur favorite.
37:17So, so.
37:19You can go.
37:20Come, come.
37:24Okay.
37:25It's good to talk bedroom.
37:26Simple room.
37:28But with eight bedrooms in total, there is plenty of room for them and Eleanor's family.
37:36And the views, at least, are to everyone's taste.
37:40Oh, it's amazing.
37:42Oh, that's so cool.
37:45The chateau is accompanied by several outbuildings, full of untapped potential, including an enormous orangery.
37:58So, as you can see, there is a lot of work to do.
38:02Something has been done yet.
38:03That's being refurbished by the current owner.
38:07Come, come, come.
38:10So, to just begin the work.
38:12That could be the kitchen.
38:14Wow.
38:15Wow.
38:15And the cherry on top.
38:19The mini castle.
38:22Oh, it's very cute.
38:27This quirky building has three bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen.
38:34Ideal for guest accommodation.
38:37Ah, the grande cuisine.
38:39Oh.
38:40Cute, isn't it?
38:41Yeah, no, that's great.
38:42It's perfect.
38:43You just have to put the units there.
38:45Yeah, yeah, it's just ideal for a little g.
38:47Yeah, yeah, that's all you kind of need, isn't it?
38:49Yeah, that's good.
38:51That's really cool, isn't it?
38:53This chateau has certainly piqued their interest.
38:57With ample space for their extended family, stunning original features,
39:02and huge grounds.
39:05It's just over budget, at £620,000.
39:09We like this chateau, don't we?
39:11Yeah, I like this chateau.
39:12Well, actually, this one has tipped a lot of boxes, hasn't it?
39:15There are enough rooms to be unmanageable,
39:18because if you can buy a chateau with 35 bedrooms,
39:20but then it becomes unmanageable.
39:22Things like the original features, we can add to it,
39:26and kind of, like, quite excited to sort of, like, finish those bit off,
39:30actually, and bring them bits back to life.
39:32Yeah.
39:32So, yeah, there is enough room to put your own.
39:34And definitely you want to remove the pink wallpaper on the ceiling.
39:37Yeah, definitely the ceiling part, anyway.
39:42They'll need to put the DIY plans on hold,
39:46as there are two more chateaux still to explore.
39:55Back in the Loire Valley,
39:58with the costumes completed for this evening's Regency party,
40:04Simon is adding the final flourish to the Empire-themed bedroom.
40:10If anything, tattoos are going well.
40:11I think we're going to be on schedule.
40:14I've just got a couple more things to do, really.
40:16Fluffing up the bed a little bit, and that's it.
40:24How's it going?
40:26Well, come and have a look.
40:27I think we're there.
40:28What do you think?
40:31Oh...
40:31Brilliant, isn't it?
40:32It looks incredible.
40:35Two months ago,
40:37Vivian and Simon's guest bedroom
40:39was a worn-down, bland, empty space.
40:46Now, it's a resplendent boudoir,
40:51inspired by ancient Egyptian and Roman style,
40:56with opulent golds, dark wood,
41:01and accents of black.
41:04Taking centre stage is the couple's upcycled bed,
41:10with Vivian's neoclassical-style mirror,
41:14sumptuous fabrics,
41:16and Simon's pelmet,
41:19completing the dazzling finished look.
41:27I love it!
41:29Are we ready for the guests?
41:30Well done.
41:30I think we're ready for our guests.
41:32All right, let's go.
41:32Okay.
41:34And with the room finally completed,
41:38it's time to get the party started.
41:42Tonight, close friends have been invited to a chic soirée,
41:46in true Regency fashion.
41:49Thank you for coming.
41:51I'm so happy you made it.
41:53Aw, you look beautiful, darling.
41:56It worked.
41:58It looks spectacular.
41:59For us outside.
42:01Welcome.
42:01Cheers.
42:02From across the pond.
42:04And our guests of honour.
42:06We're so delighted.
42:08Before the party begins,
42:10guests Steve and Sarah
42:12can't wait to get a preview of their room for the night.
42:17I'm so excited.
42:24Oh, my word!
42:29Wow.
42:29Wow.
42:30This is spectacular.
42:31Welcome to your empire suite.
42:37This is gorgeous.
42:38Well done, guys.
42:39Really, you really have outdone yourself.
42:41My word, this is gorgeous.
42:43Oh, everything.
42:43The details are just spectacular.
42:46The black and the gold everywhere is just...
42:48That armoire is just something else.
42:51And this is the same bed that was here
42:54when you were here before as well.
42:57So, the pelmet, is that new?
42:59Yes, I made that.
43:01Wow.
43:02To Vivian's design.
43:03It's just beautiful.
43:04Well done, guys.
43:05You nailed the empire style.
43:07Yeah.
43:07There was a concern that there might be too much bling,
43:10but you can't really go overboard in a chateau.
43:13No, you really can't.
43:15This is amazing, guys.
43:16Very well done.
43:17Congratulations.
43:18Cheers.
43:19Congratulations.
43:19An achievement.
43:21I'm going to toast you as well.
43:23Indeed, let's do that.
43:24Thank you very much.
43:29Downstairs, Isabella has some classical entertainment for the guests.
43:41So, I think, you know, if you own a chateau and you enter into it in the spirit in which
43:46you can,
43:47you can have a tremendous life living in a chateau.
43:50Yes, yes.
43:50It's hard work, but it's great fun too.
43:52Yes.
43:54I'm really delighted, and I'm so glad our friends are delighted.
43:59Cheers to you.
43:59Here's to you.
44:00Here's to you.
44:08Bravo.
44:12Next time, one owner goes above and beyond to get the chateau wedding ready.
44:18Oh, no!
44:20Everything's getting wet.
44:22It's the big squeeze for another couple.
44:25This room's too small.
44:27God, I know how Houdini felt.
44:30Bonjour.
44:30Bonjour.
44:31And Ben and Eleanor continue to search for their dream chateau.
44:36There will be a stretch of eye to eye with his skills.
45:07This room's too small, but it's been awesome.
45:07I don't know if it's not a person to leave.
45:07We'll see you later.
45:07Here you go.
45:07Here you go.
45:08There's our dream chateau.
45:08Here we go.
45:12Take care.
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