- 8 hours ago
Chateau DIY - Season 11 - Episode 05
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00:00Across France, there are thousands of breathtaking chateaux.
00:06Many forgotten and crumbling into disrepair are now being brought back to life by adventurous
00:15new owners.
00:16The plan for here is a swimming pool.
00:18We are, yeah.
00:20They're taking on monumental challenges.
00:23Nice and slowly.
00:24Restoring history while building homes, wow, I think they've outdone Versailles, and thriving
00:32businesses.
00:33Squeeze in, much tighter.
00:36There'll be triumphs, welcome to the tower suite, oh my god, and setbacks, I wish you hadn't
00:44come up with this sort of thing, what a nightmare, but for those who dare, I love all this, I
00:51absolutely love all this.
00:53The rewards are extraordinary.
00:56Today is a very good day, very, very good day, I'm really happy.
01:00Because this isn't just restoration.
01:03The best thing about having a chateau is being able to gather all the people you love.
01:07It's the chance to become custodians of their very own castles.
01:16Today, one couple make a risky business decision.
01:20I'm really nervous because it's our first tour ever.
01:24Another has a bit too much fun.
01:27As a family, we quite like constructing things.
01:30Not as much as we like breaking things.
01:32Hopefully, that's going to work.
01:35And you, Shetla, have great expectations.
01:38No pressure.
01:47Surrounded by the delights of the Dordogne is Domaine de la Barde.
01:54Once a high-end hotel, it comes with 32 rooms, several outbuildings, and manicured gardens.
02:06Today, professional chef Tim, his wife Chris, and their two sons Oli and Owen call it home.
02:16What's wonderful for us is that it's a human-sized chateau,
02:20so it's not palatial.
02:21It's a very big family home.
02:23And that's what we need.
02:24We need a family home that's beautiful for us, and we need it big enough to accommodate a business as
02:28well.
02:32Located less than an hour from the vineyards of Bergerac, the chateau was abandoned when Tim and Chris bought it
02:40in 2020.
02:42Since then, they've worked hard to bring it up to spec and now offer accommodation for up to 24 guests.
02:51But they're not stopping there.
02:55We plan to expand the business, so we want to touch on tours, weekend packages, and get away for our
03:03guests.
03:04And the first tour group that we have this year are very much food and wine enthusiasts.
03:12And we do have a room round the back, which is a very nice ambient temperature.
03:18So the whole plan is to make a very nice, lovely wine cellar.
03:25So far, Tim has started building new racks.
03:29It's not bad, is it?
03:30Already that looks quite good.
03:32And removed an old concrete door frame...
03:39..revealing some of the chateau's original 14th century stone.
03:45Bringing this back to life is amazing for me.
03:50Today, it's Chris who is helping turn the old storerooms into a wine lover's paradise.
04:01I think this is going to be really, really beautiful and a good thing to have as well, business-wise.
04:07Because, you know, people, when they go to big properties like this, they kind of expect to find a room
04:14like this in a big chateau or a big property.
04:16So, yeah, I can tell.
04:18We've got that.
04:19We've got a wine cellar as well.
04:22The very first look of paint on this wine cellar.
04:27I think it's going to look really, really elegant, lush, beautiful.
04:36Oh.
04:37Hello.
04:38It looks lighter, doesn't it?
04:40Do you like it?
04:41Yeah.
04:42Once it's all painted one colour and that, it's going to look really quite nice.
04:47Yeah.
04:47Yeah.
04:47I haven't seen your lights for this.
04:50Ah, yes.
04:50What colour is it?
04:53Uh, they're kind of brassy, bronzy gold.
04:56Like, you know, like picture lights.
04:57Okay.
04:58So, I think it would be nice if they're just sort of, it would be more decorative.
05:02Yeah.
05:03Yeah.
05:03Very nice.
05:05Very lovely.
05:06Lovely job.
05:06Yeah, it's going to look really, it's going to look really luxurious too.
05:10There is another light, though, that Tim and Chris would like to have in pride of place.
05:17It's a nice light.
05:18It's got a bit of meaning to it.
05:20It was one of the things that they kept from Chris's family home before it was sold.
05:27And, er, it's quite a nice sort of statement piece, I think.
05:33Their plan is for it to hang over the main tasting area.
05:39I'll hold the light and you, er, you basically tell me.
05:44Yeah?
05:45Where the light wants to hang.
05:50Just a wee bit more.
05:52That will be better.
05:54Really?
05:55You sure?
05:56Yeah.
05:56Yeah.
06:02As soon as Tim has cut the chain, Chris's family heirloom can be put on display.
06:10Seems a very small bit of chain.
06:12Just want to see if it'll be...
06:15That's all right as well.
06:19I was thinking we'd have, like, a barrel over here.
06:22There's stools around it.
06:24You can sit, have a drink of wine.
06:27Maybe try and everything.
06:28Yeah.
06:28Yeah.
06:28That'll be right.
06:29So, the personal touch has also added more than just character.
06:34I've not got a lot that represents my side of the family.
06:40So, having my mum's light up in the wine cellar, there's a part of my heritage being part of this
06:47property.
06:47So, I'm very, very ecstatic and very, very happy that we're doing this.
06:52But, like a new wine, there's a long way to go before any tasting can be done.
07:06200 miles away, among the volcanic hills of the Auvergne, are the ruins of the 14th century Chateau d'Azerain.
07:16All that remains intact of this once formidable fortress is a magnificent great hall, a medieval kitchen, and an elegant
07:30dining room, decorated with stunning 16th century frescoes.
07:39In 2022, Oxfordshire-based antique dealers Catherine and Steve rode to its rescue and snapped it up for under £100
07:51,000.
07:53We were already spending a lot of time in France, and living in a small Cotswolds cottage in the UK
08:00limits us from our crazy oversized items that we have.
08:06It's kind of almost like a theatre backdrop to us, isn't it?
08:10It is. It is. It's the whole scale of the building as well.
08:14It gives us the opportunity to do things that you just couldn't decorate in the same way in a normal
08:19sized house.
08:24Located under 150 miles from Lyon, experienced renovators Catherine and Steve are keen to retain the castle's history, but keep
08:36their creature comforts.
08:37And today, they're focusing on the 700-year-old kitchen.
08:43We've come a long way with the kitchen so far, but there's lots and lots of finishing off to do.
08:49We have the flooring to finish, we being you.
08:53Yes.
08:53The earth floor would have once been covered in straw or rushes.
08:59Hopefully, that's going to work.
09:01Catherine and Steve, though, have opted for reclaimed limestone.
09:06Having this flooring done will be monumental.
09:09I think it will help suppress some of the dirt as well that keeps on being churned up on the
09:15original floor.
09:16Might need to take a little bit more off that slide.
09:20It would be great.
09:22Yeah.
09:22No pressure.
09:31All right, that's that side of fireplace done.
09:34Two cuts over there and getting there.
09:40These cuts, it just takes so much time and effort to do it.
09:48This is the crucial bit.
09:51Is it going to break or is it going to go where I don't want it to?
09:57Not bad.
09:58Nearly.
10:02Perfect.
10:08Happy with that one.
10:11Right, now I just need to find an off cut for that last corner.
10:17Is it going to fit?
10:20Yeah.
10:21No.
10:23Not until I've cleared some of that corner out.
10:26Nothing is ever easy.
10:33Hopefully, that will be fine.
10:39Yeah.
10:42Looks really good.
10:43It's going to look really good.
10:46I love it when a plan comes together.
10:48Just the plan is enormous.
10:51The plan is the size of a house.
10:54Next on Catherine and Steve's to-do list is transforming a dull kitchen into an exotic antique.
11:09Coming up, there's some bad behaviour.
11:13Becky's a bit of a hooligan when it comes to DIY.
11:17And Catherine and Steve make a daring decision.
11:21Fingers crossed that it's actually going to work when it's finished.
11:30In the idyllic countryside of southwest France, stands Chateau de Ségonville.
11:39The 17th century building has 42 rooms.
11:45Several outbuildings.
11:47Is surrounded by five acres.
11:51And belongs to music teacher, Becky, and civil engineer, Mark.
11:57After initially using it as a holiday home, they moved here permanently in 2020 along with daughters Charlotte and Sophia.
12:06Becky's father, George, soon joined them to help turn this chateau into a real family home.
12:14We drove up the hill to find it.
12:17The views, first of all, were the first thing that hit you.
12:20And then the fact that you could see the chateau itself as we went up was a beautiful sight to
12:26be seen.
12:27It was just an amazing house.
12:31I never tired of looking at the chateau.
12:34I never tired of looking at the views from the chateau.
12:38Just an hour's drive from the city of Toulouse, Becky and Mark bought the chateau in 2018 for £645,000.
12:49Since they moved in, the couple have been busy renovating the rooms.
12:55Three, two, one.
13:01That worked.
13:02And executing ambitious engineering projects.
13:07It's tight.
13:08Hold on.
13:09To turn the outbuildings into luxury jeet.
13:13We're in!
13:15We've got the stairs in without any hitches.
13:18Which they now rent out to paying guests.
13:24Their next outbuilding project, though, is a family affair.
13:29My father was the first person that came here after we bought the house and it's been harder for him
13:34to go up and down the stairs.
13:36And we felt it would be nice for him to have his own place and be independent from myself and
13:41the girls and all the hubbub that goes on in the chateau itself.
13:46So far, what we've done is knock down a few walls, rebuild those in stud partition.
13:53Painting's gone on, the plasterboard is all finished, and now one of the key tasks left is to give him
13:59a kitchen.
14:00Let's go.
14:01Mark splits his time between France and Saudi Arabia, where he works.
14:07Let's see what boxes we can attack first.
14:10And as he's returning to the Middle East today, Sofia and Grandpa George are pitching in to help.
14:20Ah, that would be a sink, wouldn't it?
14:30It actually is exciting to see all these changes.
14:35And I'm sort of wandering around and seeing what I can do to help and to see what's going to
14:41happen in what will be my room.
14:47Hello.
14:48Hi.
14:49How are you getting on?
14:50All right.
14:52As a family, we quite like constructing things, so we've got lots of building blocks.
14:57Not as much as we like breaking things.
15:00Speak for yourself, I like building things.
15:02Becky's approach to DIY is just rip open the packets, build it and don't worry about the spare parts afterwards.
15:11So she's a bit of a hooligan when it comes to DIY.
15:14He's not wrong, but I tend to get it right.
15:19They've made a start.
15:21But with Mark about to leave for work in the Middle East, they'll have to keep up the pace to
15:26get George's kitchen complete.
15:36Up in the Auvergne, antique dealers Steve and Catherine want the convenience of a modern kitchen.
15:44Right, all yours.
15:47So basically what you've made is giant Jenga?
15:50Yeah.
15:51But the looks of an unusual antique.
15:55A friend of ours found a base of an old apothecary shop and then they stripped layers and layers of
16:02paint off and revealed the most beautiful.
16:04It's stunning. It's amazing.
16:06So there are sort of scrolls on each drawer front with a different ingredient on and it's just beautifully aged,
16:15lovely thing.
16:16So I just took that as inspiration and the plan is to try and replicate it.
16:24In our own way.
16:26It's like a jigsaw puzzle.
16:29And keep our fingers crossed that it's actually going to work when it's finished.
16:32Yeah.
16:33To transform a 21st century kitchen into a 19th century chemist, we'll need a little bit of magic or 40
16:43fake drawer fronts.
16:45So, while Steve cuts out the framework, Catherine conjures up a plan.
16:54All of the black bits have several layers to it.
16:58Going to do a base layer of paint, then it will have gold size, then it will have gold leaf,
17:05then it will have the sign writing and then they will each have a crystal knob put on.
17:22It's a really difficult thing to try to not make it too perfect.
17:28There's a lot of painting to be done overall.
17:31There's just an enormous amount of work going into it.
17:36Be worth it.
17:39Creating a set of fake apothecary drawers shows real commitment.
17:45As does renovating a crumbling castle.
17:48I know it's not for everybody.
17:50Some people look at it and they look at the walls and they think, how can you be in that
17:54space?
17:55But for us, it's just a magical way to live.
18:02Inside, Catherine prepares stage two of their ambitious idea.
18:08This is the template for drilling the holes for the knobs.
18:12There's the knob.
18:14We need the knob to be about here.
18:23I actually think the shape's fine.
18:26A few, just lots of painting and faulty drawer fonts to do.
18:31It's clear that Catherine and Steve are determined to create an extraordinary home,
18:38even if it means hours of detailed decorating.
18:49Further west in the Dordogne, Tim and Chris are hoping to add a bit of spirit to their wine carve.
18:58Wine cellar is getting very close now.
19:00Chris has put a lot of paint on.
19:03I've got a few finishing touches that I want to get on with.
19:07Just to try and punch a bit of character in.
19:10Give the room a little bit of judging.
19:13Tim has got this brilliant idea of, basically it's a trompe l'eye.
19:18You're in wine cellar in La Bargue.
19:20Trompe l'eye.
19:21It's playing with your eyes.
19:24So you think it's something, but it's something else.
19:26He's got this picture of the Chateau Mont-Basiac, which is a local, very, very famous chateau in the Mont
19:34-Basiac vineyard in Bergerac.
19:37And when you're sitting in our wine cellar, it'll make you feel like you're in the vineyards of Bergerac.
19:43So that's the feeling we're going to go with this trompe l'eye.
19:49But to get a view of a chateau almost 30 miles away is going to take some creativity.
19:57So I'm thinking upon the wall, sort of here-ish, we'll put like a sort of fake window.
20:05And that'll all look quite nice.
20:10So, while Chris turns some of the old chateau window frames into new fake ones...
20:16Here we go.
20:20..Tim prepares a base for his backdrop.
20:25Once the glue's on, it's time to set the scene.
20:31OK, sounds cool. So I've got a bit of excess.
20:38Oh!
20:40God, it's fiddly, no?
20:44One down, two parts to go.
20:49And then put it upside down.
20:51The last thing Tim needs is a panorama drama.
20:56It is very fiddly.
21:00I'm kind of aware that I haven't got, sort of, ten does at it.
21:06I've got to get it...
21:08Oh!
21:09See, like that.
21:10I don't want to get paste onto the picture.
21:17Because it's so big.
21:27First step complete.
21:32Next, Tim needs to bring the outside in.
21:38So hopefully my picture will sit on there.
21:42Then I'll put the frame around it.
21:45That'll get screwed in the wall as well.
21:46And put a couple of screws through.
21:56It's going to be pretty much something like that.
22:09Yeah, looks OK.
22:16Chris's window frames will hopefully complete Tim's illusion.
22:21So pretty much, they will go right back.
22:36As well as the frames, Tim's upcycling an old handle.
22:41I would like it there, because that's where it would be on a window.
22:44It would be low.
22:51Yeah, looks pretty good, doesn't it?
22:57I didn't know better.
23:00I'm in Bergerac.
23:01I'm in a vineyard.
23:03But with the shelves still empty and a tall group on its way,
23:08Tim really needs to make his wine cellar a reality.
23:17Still to come, Becky has a hard time.
23:22You just never know when you drill a hole around here
23:25whether you're going to get something solid or not.
23:28And Catherine and Steve perform some real magic.
23:33It's coming to life.
23:34Yeah.
23:41In the Haute-Garonne region of southwest France,
23:45Mark and Becky are in a rush to fit Becky's father's cottage kitchen.
23:51We've managed to finish putting the cabinets together.
23:54The only thing with this is that Mark's due to catch a flight in a little while,
23:58so we'll get this done quickly and make sure he's all packed and get ready to go.
24:05And as Mark is chief DIYer, there's no time for mistakes.
24:12Right, so...
24:13Because we were trying to save money,
24:15we didn't channel out for putting the wiring into the wall for the electrics,
24:21so we're going to have to do something clever in order to bring the units out a little bit
24:27so that we can fix them to the wall, which is what's needed.
24:35Hopefully this works.
24:36You just never know when you drill a hole around here whether you're going to get something solid or not.
24:46Mark's only been here a short while this time.
24:48He's only had, what's he had, seven, eight days?
24:52It's not really very long.
24:54It's very difficult to try and sort of balance the time out,
24:58so we hope that the phone doesn't ring
25:00and that he's able to give us a bit more of his time,
25:04especially for the girls, it's so important.
25:06We would like him with us full-time.
25:11So, after a bit of a struggle, we've managed to secure the rail to the wall,
25:17such that it won't fall out.
25:20So the next thing is to put the cabinets on and see if they fit.
25:25OK.
25:25Yes?
25:27This goes onto the rail, doesn't it?
25:29It does.
25:30OK, so lift.
25:33There you go. That's pretty good.
25:35Oh, one unit down.
25:40It comes across a bit.
25:41There you go, that's in the right place.
25:43A teeny bit more, not much.
25:45Where?
25:45At the end, I would say.
25:48Yep, you're pretty good, darling.
25:50Right, let's get the workshop on.
25:56That's it from my side.
25:58That's perfect.
26:00That looks good, doesn't it?
26:01It does look good.
26:02Doesn't it suddenly sort of change things?
26:05Yes, it does.
26:06No, that's great.
26:08I think we've done quite well.
26:10We've managed to put all three units in.
26:12Suddenly we've got a little kitchenette.
26:13It's very important that my father has a nice space for himself.
26:18Nice for him to be able to sit and look out and see his garden and enjoy the greenery.
26:23Yep.
26:24I wasn't sure if we'd get as far as this because of the challenges of getting the fixing of the
26:29rail on the wall.
26:30But in the end, that came out not bad.
26:32Oh, no, it's great.
26:33And we managed to get it in, so that's fantastic.
26:36All right, I think we'd better go and catch a plank.
26:39Let's go.
26:39Yeah, that's good.
26:41With Mark now heading straight back to the Middle East for work, it's up to Becky to look after the
26:48chateau and make progress on her father's cosy cottage.
27:01Living in a rural French chateau means being faced with all sorts of unusual problems.
27:09My sandblasting experience is pretty limited. This is real big boy stuff.
27:13And Chatelain are constantly having to learn new skills.
27:19It's always daunting.
27:20You know, am I qualified? Well, I'm definitely not qualified to do this.
27:24In the Pyrenees, at her 14th century hunting lodge, Connecticut-born Trish has a woodworking challenge.
27:33Today, I am going to rebuild a gate.
27:36This is a gate that keeps the sheep on their side of the field.
27:41The thing doesn't swing. It's really heavy. It's falling apart.
27:45I want a gate that swings.
27:49Since she moved into her six-bedroom chateau, Trish has picked up an enormous amount of know-how.
27:57So the first step is really just deconstruction, which is always the fun part.
28:06This is very therapeutic if you've had a stressful day.
28:13The gate's wood, though, won't be wasted, as it will be reused to build the new one.
28:21Now comes the scary part, the table saw. That thing scares the hell out of me.
28:27To add strength, Trish has decided to remake the gate with overlapping joints, something she's only just learnt.
28:36What I saw on the video is that you put the blade at about half the width of your board
28:43and then you just kind of do little slivers and then you can chunk it off.
28:50And now the idea is just to remove these bits.
28:55Never imagined I'd be doing some of this type of stuff, but I really enjoy it.
29:00It's gratifying when you create something, even if it's not perfect, you know, just to think, oh, I did that.
29:07All right. One down, 15 to go.
29:13Once all her planks are prepared, it's time for Trish to put her jigsaw back together again.
29:20This is my bottom.
29:23Let's start with this side.
29:25That's looking pretty good.
29:28And then what I'm going to do is just drill some holes and then put a little wood glue on
29:34it and hope for the best.
29:39She might have only just learnt what to do.
29:42Which side was which.
29:45But Trish is always happy to have a go.
29:49That looks pretty good.
29:51Not quite.
29:53Might need a little bit of a...
29:57I have a number of projects that are not one person jobs that I try to make one person jobs
30:04and things go a lot slower.
30:06But that's okay.
30:07It's a beautiful day outside. I'm happy to be spending the day outside.
30:10So life is good.
30:13It's not long before Trish has assembled the second gate too.
30:21She even adds a crossbar for extra stability.
30:27We got an X.
30:30Look at that.
30:33It's not too shabby.
30:36All right.
30:37It swings.
30:41It's a little uneven.
30:45Unfortunately, this side's a little too high.
30:49Five centimeters.
30:51So I think what I'm going to do is just take out the hinges in the post and just move
30:57them down five centimeters rather than dismantling this whole bit.
31:02After a quick adjustment.
31:05Oh, I hope this works.
31:11It swings.
31:12This one swings.
31:14Hey!
31:16They're now even.
31:18It's turned out pretty good.
31:20I've applied some new skills.
31:22That's always a good thing.
31:22Yeah.
31:23I mean, I'm happy with it.
31:25It's got a little overlap, but it's better than a gap.
31:29I think I'm pleased with what I've done in a day's work and it's beer o'clock.
31:34It's yet another job well done.
31:37And once the remaining gaps are filled, Trish's land should be safe from sheep.
31:44But when you own an ancient chateau, every day's a school day.
31:56In the Auvergne, Catherine and Steve are hoping to disguise their modern kitchen behind a false set of drawers.
32:07It looks a lot more of apothecary already if you step away from it.
32:13So it's got the lovely faded black, the crystal knob, the spot where it would be gold leafed and then
32:21black sign written on top.
32:23I think it's going to look amazing.
32:25It's just a long old slog to get there.
32:30But Catherine isn't the only one keen to bring back the past.
32:35So I'm just going to finish off taking the last of the loose lime mortar off the walls and then
32:43it'll be ready to get the first coat of the lime mortar on.
32:49Made from limestone or chalk, the popularity of lime mortar only declined after the introduction of Portland cement in the
32:5919th century.
33:01If you leave too much of this loose ducky stuff on, when you try and get the new lime mortar
33:07up, it sticks to that dust and then pulls away from the wall.
33:12As it's both breathable and aesthetic, it's still the choice of most chatelains.
33:18I love to get on with lots of projects.
33:22Sometimes I reach a point where I've had enough of one and I want to start something else.
33:27But with the nature of the building and with a lot of the materials that you use, especially the things
33:32like the lime mortaring, it's quite an old technique and it requires time and layers.
33:37We like things to look lived in.
33:39So I don't want to, I don't want to be in a museum and I don't want to sort of
33:45have modern living.
33:46I want a sort of comfortable between the two.
33:51That's not looking too bad.
33:54I think we'll see how we go from there.
34:01First though, there are 40 fake handles to put on 40 fake drawers.
34:09I'm hoping every time somebody comes in the kitchen for the first time, they're going to try and open the
34:13drawers.
34:15Is that what you hope?
34:16Well, that would be the perfect thing to happen, wouldn't it?
34:20I really like the glint of the crystal knobs. It's coming to life.
34:25Yeah.
34:26It's brilliant. Love it.
34:28I absolutely love it.
34:32Huge progress on the kitchen cover fronts today.
34:37Our slightly crazy production line, I think, has paid dividends for us.
34:43And all the walls are now prepped for the first coat of lime plaster.
34:48With so much to do here, it's clear Catherine and Steve's adventures have only just begun.
34:58People say that, you know, buildings talk to them and this chateau certainly spoke to us.
35:05Yes.
35:07It's so personal to us, this building, and I think it shows.
35:13When you really, really love what you're doing, I think it shines through and it makes everything happier, better.
35:22It's very, very special.
35:25For now, though, they can at least celebrate their new stone floor.
35:31Perfect ending to a perfect day.
35:40Coming up.
35:41Right, let's go.
35:44Becky and Mark race to finish Grandpa George's new home.
35:48It's all actually very exciting.
35:51And Chris is at crisis point.
35:54I've been biting my nails thinking we're not going to get it all done.
36:03In southwest France, at Chateau de Ségonville, Mark's back.
36:09Right, let's go.
36:11Last few knockings in the coachman's cottage.
36:15And keen to complete Grandpa George's new home.
36:18So we're at the stage now where it's down to us to do the finishing touches.
36:23So it's things like curtains, we've got lights to hang.
36:27So, yeah, it's all hands to deck and let's see if we can get the final push.
36:32The thing that I'm really pleased about is that it's done in time for my father's birthday.
36:37He's 80 and so we can celebrate in his place.
36:42Hopefully this will be quite easy.
36:44We've got a different type of curtain header.
36:47Ah, yes.
36:50It should go up.
36:52In there.
36:53Clicks in.
36:54Clicks in.
36:55The joy of not having such high ceilings.
36:59Let's see what it looks like when we open the curtains.
37:02There we go.
37:02That looks good.
37:03It's the right length too.
37:04That's great.
37:05That's nice.
37:06Just outside, George is tending to his garden.
37:11It's as hard as bricks.
37:13While he waits for the big reveal.
37:16It's all actually very exciting.
37:21It's not quite what I expected of having such grandeur.
37:28But yes, it's lovely.
37:29I shall be only too happy when it's all off and going.
37:37Inside, Becky's dug up something particularly special.
37:42This is rather a lovely letter that my father received from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
37:49It's a recognition of his work overseas setting up British schools.
37:54So he was awarded an MBE.
37:57So it's rather nice to see that up.
38:00It's incredibly positive for my father to move into this area.
38:05Though we love each other dearly, it's very important that we've got each other's space.
38:10He'll be able to do all his own cooking and just be a lot more independent.
38:15And it's nice for the girls as well to have grandpa still very close by.
38:20It's just across the courtyard now, which is nice.
38:23And when Mark gets the lights secure...
38:25A couple more turns and we should be good.
38:29Let's see if the lights work.
38:32Yay!
38:34George's cottage is finally complete.
38:38They actually look quite nice as well.
38:40Brilliant!
38:43A few months ago, this chateau outbuilding was empty and cold.
38:49Now, it's been transformed into a warm and cosy home.
38:56A simple but modern kitchenette has been fitted and tiled.
39:00With enough space to entertain.
39:04Special mementos adorning the walls.
39:08And a calm green colour scheme, reflecting the view of his beloved garden.
39:16Are you going to come and have a look, Pa?
39:18Yeah!
39:19So, here you go, this is it.
39:22Wow!
39:24I thought it would be nice to put some of your pictures and things up.
39:27So, we've got some of the photos up and all your crockery.
39:30And you've got a sink, drawers, you've got...
39:33A little kitchenette.
39:34A little hob.
39:35Oh, very good.
39:36What a lucky man I am.
39:38And it's not long before the whole family are round for tea.
39:44I think Pa's pleased with that, don't you?
39:46I think the fact that we've used his favourite colours
39:48and put his lovely bits and pieces around and about always helps.
39:52It's a nice little area.
39:54So, it's an absolute win, in my opinion.
39:56He's got his independence, but he's also got the security
39:59of still being within the family home.
40:00Which is lovely for us as well, having him close by as always.
40:05Yeah.
40:05But it's nice.
40:06It's a lovely place to be.
40:09Once I've got everything fixed up in the right places,
40:13I shall start inviting some people round
40:16of my own age, which is good.
40:18It's the way I'd like it.
40:20For Becky and Mark,
40:22it's a project that has ended on a very sweet note.
40:33Over in the Dark Dine, Tim and Chris are on tenterhooks.
40:38We've got a really busy day today and I'm really nervous
40:42because it's our first tour ever.
40:45Luckily, Tim is almost ready for them.
40:49The wine cellar is pretty much there now.
40:52We've got some lighting to put up and wine racks to fit,
40:55but then we're really on the home straight.
40:57The lighting may be last minute,
40:59but Tim still makes sure it's just right.
41:04I thought if we'll ever have picture lights,
41:06then it will be able to light at least the front
41:10and it will get some light down as well to the lower things.
41:13So that will be quite cool.
41:15And it looks quite nice, they're quite classy.
41:22Yeah, that's pretty moody. I like it, I like it.
41:28As soon as Tim finishes fitting the racks,
41:35Chris has just a few hours
41:37to fill them with their collection of 300 wines.
41:44There's a lot of pressure to make everything perfect,
41:47but we were able to finish everything in time,
41:50so I'm really happy because I've been biting my nails
41:54thinking we're not going to get it all done in time.
42:00What was once a dusty dumping ground?
42:05Cluttered and chaotic.
42:08Unused and ignored.
42:11Is today a connoisseur's cave.
42:16The ancient stone walls proudly displayed.
42:20Rows of wine racks resting inside handmade alcoves.
42:26Soft lighting showcasing a carefully curated selection of fine wines.
42:33A family heirloom giving it a personal touch.
42:39And a magnificent view for everyone to enjoy.
42:44All of it, creating a wine cellar worthy of the most discerning guests.
42:54It's all going very well.
42:56Everyone's having a lovely time.
42:58Terence and Monica are the tour group organisers for all of this.
43:02They're also really, really, really big wine snobs.
43:04They know their wine, so I've got someone fit to show my wine cave to.
43:09So I'm really excited that they're going to be the first people to see it.
43:12So Terence and Monica, I would like you to come and choose the first bottle of wine from our wine
43:18cellar.
43:18Purposely built for this very occasion.
43:21I wish you could have seen it before.
43:23It very much was an absolute awful place to be.
43:27But yeah, now we've got Chateau Mont-Basillac.
43:30Mont-Basillac, yeah.
43:32And a selection of local wines.
43:34Local wines.
43:35Come on through and see if there's anything there that you'd like.
43:39I think there's probably many things that I like.
43:42Chateau Cirogrande, 2022.
43:44Direct from the chateau.
43:45We only buy direct.
43:46That's what we were tasting this afternoon.
43:47Exactly.
43:48The chateau, yeah.
43:51These are all original stone walls, which I love.
43:54This was dumping ground, like so many different parts of the chateau.
43:57We used to just store things, you know, and it was absolutely ruined.
44:01So I made all these cases.
44:03I refurbished the old wine racks from the hotel.
44:06And then, yeah, we've just got a bit of everything just to keep it right.
44:09Oh, this is great.
44:09This is a great start.
44:10Isn't it? Isn't it?
44:11I'm really happy with this.
44:12We're very happy with it also.
44:14Now it has an aficionado's seal of approval, Tim's dream is finally fulfilled.
44:22I think Terence loved the wine cellar.
44:25These groups are very specifically about being exposed to the food and the wine of this region.
44:31And now they've come back and round it all off with a visit to our own wine cellar.
44:35It's quite magical.
44:36And Tim's done a really good job.
44:39So, yeah, happy days.
44:41But Tim and Chris won't have time to enjoy the fruits of their labour because it'll soon be the start
44:50of the holiday season.
44:58Next time, who's DIY magic for a damaged staircase?
45:04I sadly missed my opportunity to go to wizarding school.
45:08So I'd like to mix potions up in my spare time.
45:11Steve tackles a 700-year-old mystery.
45:14I don't know if they've ever had glass things.
45:17And pre-wedding jitters for a novice florist.
45:21The ceremony is looming, so I'm getting a bit nervous.
45:27That's just a bit of a newspirit.
45:31It's fun to be.
45:38Whether I could meet a new CEO or I'm having a new filming,
45:39I wish I can out of the new accessories.
45:40To my dad's father and the mother,
45:41You can see the new life.
45:42I've only got one night.
45:42I've been a dream that I'm having a normal life.
45:43Hi, I'm going my best.
45:43I've never done a dream of this.
45:46But I've never had come over with the new one who's in the next episode.
45:47I'm still hoping to me.
45:52And I've never happened to be the new life for a new life.
45:52I am a dream that I've never been good for that.
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