- 5 hours ago
Chateau DIY - Season 11 Episode 26
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00:01Across France, there are thousands of spectacular chateaux.
00:07Many are neglected and run down.
00:11Up and over.
00:13Now, they're being revived by intrepid owners.
00:19It's all a bit Wild West, in my opinion.
00:22Perfect is the goal.
00:24Who are taking huge risks...
00:27That's not very strong.
00:28..to restore these precious buildings...
00:33..creating beautiful homes...
00:36Oh!
00:37Incredible!
00:39..and businesses.
00:41Look at this, belly rubs!
00:44..there'll be triumphs...
00:46We're in. We're in.
00:48..and tribulations.
00:50This is the bit I was worried about.
00:53..but despite the challenges...
00:55It's not sticking.
00:56It's not sticking.
00:58..those who have made the leap...
01:01I'm liking the look of this...
01:03..get to live the dream...
01:04First place.
01:05Thank you very much again.
01:06Thank you very much.
01:07..as custodians...
01:09Congratulations.
01:10..of their very own magnificent castle.
01:16Today...
01:18Oh, gosh!
01:20..wedding preparations come unstuck...
01:23Oh, it was going well up until this point.
01:26..a spa renovation takes an unusual turn...
01:30..should really use a welding torch on it,
01:32but I haven't got one at the moment.
01:33So we've got to improvise with kitchen utensils.
01:36And it's one step forward, two steps backwards for this pair.
01:40I think the pieces of wood are the wrong way round.
01:43We should have mucked up the boards more effectively.
01:46MUSIC PLAYS
01:52Perched on the banks of the River Lotte in south-west France
01:56is the remarkable 15th-century Chateau de Céserac.
02:04Built on medieval foundations, it boasts several bedrooms,
02:11a unique 1,000-year-old tower, and a Roman-inspired swimming pool.
02:19After being destroyed by fire, it had lain derelict for 15 years
02:25before entrepreneurs John and Carmen snapped it up for £175,000 in 2022
02:35and began transforming it into a boutique hotel.
02:40I think we're a great team.
02:42What you don't do, I do, and vice versa, and it just works.
02:45We do it to as high a standard as we can.
02:48It is the last home we're going to ever do,
02:50so we want to do it properly
02:51and we want guests to experience something very, very special.
02:58Located just a two-hour drive from Bordeaux,
03:02the Chateau.
03:02Last time we saw them,
03:04the couple were preparing the Chateau grounds
03:06for their own upcoming wedding.
03:10High five.
03:11I'm going to glide down the aisle now, John.
03:13Glide.
03:14Glide, like swans on the water.
03:16With a new path built and a fountain relocated,
03:21they can now turn their attention
03:22to the area where they'll take their vows.
03:26Yeah, we're going to put a patio in.
03:27It's about three metres wide.
03:29So that's going to be fun.
03:30It is.
03:36The couple are hoping to lay their new circular patio
03:40at the end of the wedding path.
03:43We want to be 150.
03:48Squirt that there.
03:51Did you do it from that very corner?
03:53Yeah.
03:54But it's not quite measuring up.
03:57That can't be the centre.
03:59You're never going to fit that in there.
04:00I'm sorry?
04:01If that's the centre of that circle, no way.
04:04It doesn't look right.
04:10I'll just show you what I'm thinking.
04:14If this goes here, right?
04:17That will go there.
04:18That patio looks too big to fit in these lines.
04:22If we look at this, from the centre here to the edge,
04:25it's exactly 1.5 metres.
04:28So from the centre of here to here is 1.5 metres.
04:35But I don't know if I want that.
04:37Where do you want it?
04:38Further back.
04:40It will look odd, surely.
04:42However far back it goes, it will cut into the path this way.
04:45From a width point of view, it will only come out to just beyond it.
04:50Oh, wow.
04:50This doesn't come out far.
04:51No.
04:52It's only 3 metres.
04:53Hmm.
04:54OK then.
04:55The path is 2.2 metres.
04:57Spot on.
04:58With Carmen still unsure of the end results,
05:02the pair plough on by laying gravel and trying out the slabs in place.
05:08Oh, nice fit.
05:10Feel free to help me, John.
05:11I'm really good at watching.
05:12I know.
05:13I'll help you.
05:14Especially when there's manual work involved.
05:17He's an office boy.
05:18The word keyboard warrior has been used before.
05:22I'm a doer.
05:24Carmen and I are very similar in that we're very, very meticulous
05:26about what we do and how we do it.
05:28There's a spare one there, John, if we need to change any.
05:31The gap's too big here.
05:33John is a perfectionist.
05:35It'll be millimetre perfect, believe me.
05:38There's no point rushing it.
05:39As much as there's always a pressure to try and rush things.
05:42This line here should hit the centre of that.
05:46Yeah.
05:47They all actually should go over a little bit.
05:51If we put this one more in the middle.
05:54In the middle there.
05:55Yeah.
05:56Yeah, that's it.
05:57And then like...
05:57Does that one line up though, John?
05:59Is that straight in the middle?
06:00That's my first choice, really.
06:02Well, let's...
06:02Let's get to take measure and just measure that out.
06:03OK.
06:04Oh, gosh!
06:06So one, one, five, so the centre is there.
06:09OK, well, so...
06:10That's the centre line there.
06:11OK, well, move that so that the join is in the centre line.
06:16John and Carmen want every last detail to be perfect for their big day.
06:23But with a pergola still to build and the 24-metre path to lay with gravel, they need to pick
06:31up the pace.
06:36Next.
06:40Nestled near the Normandy coast in northern France is the elegant 19th century Chateau Trois-Cloches, meaning three bells.
06:52Set in several acres, this impressive property boasts 20 rooms, a magnificent bell tower and stunning Orangerie.
07:06The lucky owners are celebrity assistant Chris and husband Jolyon, a civil servant who have thrown themselves into a hands
07:15-on renovation.
07:17We've achieved an awful lot.
07:19Yeah, it's not until you kind of stop and sit down and you realise how much you've actually done.
07:23You have to kind of give yourself a pat on the back now and again.
07:26It does work really well. We both lean into our strengths.
07:28I take a real pleasure from doing joinery and Chris is really very good at the aesthetic and creating a
07:35vision.
07:35Quite often he will come up with some ambitious plan and I quite enjoy then working out how I'm going
07:41to solve the problem.
07:46Located a short drive from the coastal town of Le Havre, Chris and Jolyon bought the Chateau in 2022 for
07:55£520,000 and run it as an events venue.
08:02In the three years they've owned the property, Chris and Jolyon have been honing their DIY skills.
08:09I don't think you've got the right ones.
08:10So far, they've transformed six of their eight guest bedrooms and revamped their Grand Salon into an inviting and luxurious
08:22space for entertaining.
08:25This year, they've got a final bedroom project to tackle, a two-room family suite with a twist.
08:34We've got quite ambitious plans.
08:36The latest kind of challenge for Jolyon is their bookcase door.
08:41The key thing for me is I don't want to notice a door.
08:44And we've already done a secret door on the Orangry, which is amazing.
08:47This is like the next level, so that's the challenge.
08:50And I think you're up for it, aren't you?
08:52Yeah, I'm up for the challenge.
08:56Before work can start on their hidden door, the pair need to finish insulating the walls in the larger bedroom.
09:07There we go.
09:08That's very easy.
09:13It's very satisfying, isn't it, knowing you're improving the building and the wall.
09:18It really makes a big difference as well to the temperature.
09:21Yeah.
09:21It's like wrapping it up.
09:27With the bedroom space comprising three draughty external walls, filling every gap is crucial.
09:37We are saving the planet one strip of insulation at the time.
09:48We've got the mineral wool in, and now it's just a case of putting the plasterboard on.
09:54There we go.
10:02Since the last time we plasterboarded a room, I think our skills have come on probably about 50%.
10:08So I feel like we're better, quicker.
10:09We're definitely quicker.
10:11Are we good?
10:12But the final board is testing their skills.
10:17It's probably too thick for this wall, isn't it?
10:19Is that okay?
10:21Keep the pressure on.
10:23I'm just a dead weight.
10:24You're a very useful dead weight.
10:26It's always the last one that's the most awkward.
10:29I mean, that's partly because we left it.
10:31That's for that reason.
10:33We always save the hardest to last.
10:39We have a wall again.
10:40Yay!
10:44With the bedroom better shielded from the unpredictable French weather, the pair are one step closer to completing these last
10:53two rooms.
10:55But with all the decoration and the secret doorway still to tackle, there's a lot of work ahead.
11:07Coming up, a much needed spa makeover.
11:11The sensory experience I'm getting at the moment is cleaning slime.
11:15Lovely.
11:16And wedding worries.
11:18I better not fall off this ladder and break my leg because I can't walk down that long oil with
11:22a broken leg.
11:29Amongst the world-famous vineyards of the Loire Valley in Western France lies the elegant 19th century Chateau La Grande
11:40Maison.
11:43This magnificent property is set within three acres of secluded woodland and boasts 45 rooms.
11:53Once home to a renowned French botanist who built its remarkable ballroom and orangery.
12:03Since 2011, it's been lovingly brought back to life by professional musicians Ben and Billy and their daughter Ella.
12:14It's impossible to estimate how long it's going to take to restore a chateau.
12:18Our skills have had to improve massively since we've come here.
12:21Everything is on another level.
12:24Luckily, the love is still there because if you didn't love the place, you wouldn't do it.
12:34Located 100 miles south of Le Mans, last time we saw them...
12:40Yay! Take that, big glamble!
12:44Ben and Billy transformed the chateau's overgrown riverbank into a tranquil waterside retreat.
12:54Oh, this is paradise!
12:57I couldn't be more delighted. I love it.
12:59I feel really reconnected to this part of the land. It's just heaven.
13:04As part of their evolving vision for the place, today the pair are turning the Orangerie into another serene new
13:12space.
13:14The Orangerie is what we use for events. It's such a beautiful, incredible building to have.
13:20But we want to kind of define what it's used for in between a fence.
13:24We want to turn the space into like a well-being space.
13:29So you walk in and it'll be a place to relax, a place to read, a place to eat healthy
13:33food, listen to the fountain and just be.
13:37Our intention is to get it ready for the summer season before all the guests come, so it's another new
13:42feature.
13:47Do it with a bit of oil on it, couldn't it?
13:48Oh, yeah.
13:50It's like ours is a bit creaky in the joints, isn't it?
13:53First up, restoring comfort to an antique day bed.
13:57This piece here is slightly bent. We need to heat it sort of there and then just sort of bend
14:05it just that way.
14:07It's high risk though, Ben. If you push it too far and it snaps, we can have a three-legged
14:11bed.
14:12True, it's not ideal.
14:14Do you know where the creme brulee blowtorch is?
14:16Yeah.
14:17Should really use a welding torch on it, but I haven't got on at the moment.
14:20So we've got to improvise with kitchen utensils.
14:24Hoping it's a sweet solution for the wonky bed leg?
14:28Maybe a little bit down.
14:30It's time to see if the torch is up to the task.
14:34OK.
14:35OK.
14:40Oh, gosh.
14:42Whoa.
14:44Oh, yes, OK.
14:46I think don't do it any more.
14:47I'm happy with that.
14:48That worked quite well.
14:49It's just got a slight charm about the leg now instead of a total bend.
14:58Day bed levelled, attention turns to reviving their neglected water feature.
15:05The sensory experience I'm getting at the moment is cleaning slime.
15:09Lovely.
15:12Before Billy heads outside in search of some lush foliage.
15:17With the focus on wellbeing, it'd be nice to bring nature right into the orangery.
15:22So I'm going to dig some canna plants out of the garden here.
15:26They should come up in these big sort of tropical leaves for the summer.
15:30So it will feel quite jungly and exotic in there.
15:37There you go.
15:38Right, I think that's plenty for one pot.
15:42Right.
15:45These look like just little harmless plants but they're going to be big drama queens when they come out fully.
15:53The orangery was only built to house the exotic species that the botanist had.
15:58So we've got to keep the spirit of the orangery alive.
16:02The first steps to reimagine the orangery as a peaceful wellbeing space are taking shape.
16:11But with a busy summer on the horizon, there's no time for relaxing just yet.
16:25Over in southwest France, John and Carmen are preparing the Chateau Grounds for their own upcoming wedding.
16:33With the patio now finished, their next task is to build the pergola under which they'll take their vows.
16:42Do you like my hat, John?
16:43Oh, very nice.
16:43My wedding hat.
16:44Can you just hold this card?
16:46Yeah.
16:46Go and make yourself useful.
16:48Got it?
16:49Yeah.
16:52The ornate metal pergola has come in many pieces.
16:56There you go.
16:57Bit of a challenge.
16:58But, you know, that's the fun and games, isn't it?
17:00This stuff.
17:01I'm sure we'll work it out.
17:02Yeah.
17:02It doesn't quite reach but...
17:04There we go.
17:04How's that?
17:05You can come over and give me a kiss if you like.
17:09Charming.
17:10Right.
17:10Shall we put the top on?
17:13Hold on.
17:14Just let me climb up the steps.
17:17You got it?
17:17Yeah.
17:21Oh, that's heavy.
17:24I better not fall off this ladder and break my leg because I can't walk down that long aisle with
17:28a broken leg.
17:30Nice one.
17:31Oh, it's not in yet.
17:32Can you just keep it still rather than...
17:35All right, well, I've got to...
17:38Oh, gosh!
17:40That's damn heavy.
17:45It's just not lined up properly.
17:47No.
17:47Wait a minute, I'm pushing it really hard to try and get it lined up.
17:51This is not working.
17:52I can't let go of this side, that's the problem.
17:57Every time you pull it, it comes out of mine.
18:00But I can't...
18:00This end...
18:02I need to support.
18:03All right, you put yours in and I'll get mine in last because you're going to keep pulling it out.
18:08I've got to go this...
18:09You get yours in and then I'll get mine in at the end.
18:12Right, don't move anything.
18:13I'm going to let go.
18:15The pergola is proving trickier than anticipated.
18:19Oh!
18:20It was going well up until this point.
18:23And with the whole 24-metre path still to gravel...
18:27Lift it back up again.
18:29This fairytale wedding...
18:31Oh!
18:32You all right?
18:33Is still far, far away.
18:43Back in Normandy, with both rooms plasterboarded in their new family guest suite, Chris and Julian are hoping to add
18:52a little magic.
18:54So, when I was a kid, I always used to love Narnia and the whole, like, witch and wardrobe and
18:58the secret door going through to the other world.
19:01So, I thought, as this is a kid's bedroom, it would be really nice and fun to have, like, a
19:04secret door.
19:05You don't own a chateau without wanting to have a bit of fun with it, so it's a bit of
19:09a challenge as well, but I think we'll get there.
19:15Last week, we created the outside of the door frame, so we kind of had an idea of what size
19:20the bookcase was going to be itself.
19:24We've got more space in the orangery, so I've made all of the bits of wood, cut them to size
19:28down there, and now it's just a case of assembling it and then hoping that it fits in the hole
19:33that we've made.
19:34But it's definitely going to be quite tight.
19:36Do I have space?
19:38Mmm.
19:39I don't know if that's justified.
19:47Their first task is to remember what goes where.
19:53What are these?
19:54I'm getting...
19:55Ah, those are the shells.
19:59I wish I'd marked them up a bit better.
20:03While Jolyon's been making this, I've had a rather more fun job of actually going and finding old books, so
20:08we found some at the local tip and a old charity bookshop in Bloomsbury.
20:14It's really old, nice, kind of worn books with, like, leather-bound, and some have got beautiful embossing on the
20:19front of them, so it would be quite nice to showcase them.
20:23Where's the wood glue gone?
20:25I hope we've got enough.
20:33All right, let's do this.
20:35How can I be your, like, joinery assistant? What can I do?
20:38If you can just, um, pop the pieces together.
20:41Yeah.
20:41It's going to be a bit tricky because the wood's got some warp in it, so, um, we'll have to
20:46put it semi in place and then clamp it before we start nailing it together.
20:52A little bit. Jeez.
20:53Yeah.
20:55How are you doing it if the clamp's too small?
20:58Um, you've just got to be creative.
21:00We're short on long clamps, so we're having to hook one to the other, because we really need four clamps
21:05in total, two on each end.
21:08There we go. Yeah, that's cool.
21:10Yeah?
21:14There we go.
21:14Now, there's just the other end to tackle.
21:17I think the pieces of wood are the wrong way round.
21:19We should have mucked up the boards more effectively.
21:23Sweat.
21:25Right, undo them all.
21:29It's one step forward, two steps back, and they're running short of supplies.
21:36So I was having to cut the top off the glue because we're literally scraping the barrel.
21:39We've got hardly anything left, but I think it's important to use it.
21:43With the last of the glue applied, the pair will have to hope it's enough to secure the boards as
21:49they reposition the clamps onto the frame.
21:52We haven't got anything long enough to do the ends.
21:55They also need to increase the pressure on the warped wood.
22:00What about the ratchet strap for the car that we've got?
22:03Ah, genius idea. Yeah, that's much better.
22:10Yeah, it should be all right.
22:18There we go. Ah, that'll do.
22:20You never say that.
22:22Right, we've got it braced up and clamped up and everything.
22:25Now we just need to get some screws in it to hold it all together whilst the glue dries.
22:33There we go.
22:37It's an innovative fix.
22:39But the pair will need to wait and see if the previously wonky bookshelf casing manages to hold its new
22:47shape.
22:52Still to come.
22:54Contrasting approaches.
22:56He's so exact about it.
22:59Oh, I just go, oh, that looks about right.
23:01And it's make or break for Chris and Julian.
23:05If I get this wrong, well, I don't really know how I fix it.
23:16Down in southwest France.
23:21Yes!
23:24Preparations are underway for John and Carmen's big day.
23:28With the wedding pergola finally assembled, they're turning their attention back to the path.
23:36Just in time.
23:38So today you're going to be bringing the calcare in.
23:41Whoa!
23:41And I'm going to be doing all the hard work as usual, raking all the calcare.
23:51The 65 tonnes of limestone need to be evenly spread.
23:57I always get the manual jobs, the hard jobs.
24:00But I like it, it keeps me fit.
24:04After all, I've got a wedding dress to get into very soon.
24:07And once the last load has been delivered...
24:10Bit more, bit more.
24:12...John has to slip away to deal with an unwanted guest in the pool area.
24:20Right, where are you, Freddie?
24:23Where are you?
24:27We've got a visitor here now.
24:28Thought we got rid of all the frogs when we cleaned out the pool originally.
24:31But one's come back.
24:33We call him Freddie the Frog.
24:34And he's in there, somewhere around here.
24:37He hides.
24:38Really, really well.
24:40How weird.
24:44There we go, found him.
24:45He's hiding in the corner.
24:49Here he is.
24:52See?
24:54Ah, see, I can't quite get him.
24:58I mean, how do they live in this sort of water?
25:00I just don't get it.
25:01I really don't.
25:03Right, let's box them off into a corner.
25:08Got him!
25:15We're saving him.
25:16I'm saving him.
25:17Salt water's not good for him.
25:19It damages skin, so he needs to go.
25:21Anyway, he's safe now.
25:22Which is the good news.
25:27With the intruder dealt with...
25:30That's looking good.
25:31John can now return to the task at hand.
25:35I've no idea what she's going to look like, because she hasn't shared with me what the dress is like.
25:38So, I know it's white.
25:40Ivory, darling.
25:41You see, this is...
25:43It'll be exciting.
25:44It'll match the cow care, that's for sure.
25:46You better look good, because I've gone to a lot of effort on this wedding aisle.
25:50I always look good.
25:51I always look good.
25:52I want you to look the business.
25:53I'm always looking the business.
25:58You need some sparkly shoes to be walking down this special aisle.
26:01What colour?
26:02Gold.
26:03Gold sparkly shoes?
26:04OK, it's a deal.
26:05It's a deal.
26:06OK.
26:07I'll get some.
26:09The wedding aisle is taking shape.
26:13But with plenty more tasks to tick off their list...
26:17How are we looking?
26:18...shoe shopping, we'll have to take a back seat for now.
26:32430 miles north in Normandy, it's the moment of truth for Chris and Jolyon, as they see if their twisted
26:40secret door frame has been pulled into shape.
26:45So now we're just going to take the straps off, but that piece of wood was quite warped, so I'm
26:49hoping it's going to still hold together.
26:53I can never work out how to do these things.
26:55There we go.
26:58It seems to be holding, yeah, so it looks like it's worked.
27:02That one's going to be the real test, though.
27:05That was so warped.
27:06Uh-huh.
27:08This one's holding.
27:09Looks good.
27:10It looks like the ratchet has come to the rescue.
27:14Next, Jolyon needs to carefully align and secure the backboard to the frame.
27:23Does it last?
27:24Oh, yeah, I might have actually made it to the shape, so maybe it only fits one way.
27:41It's pretty good, actually.
27:43I sound surprised.
27:46I'm not that interested in power tools.
27:48Give me a paintbrush any day.
27:56You can both lift it that side.
27:57You can probably take that off.
28:00This is the moment of truth.
28:08All nails in exactly the right place.
28:10Well done.
28:11I wouldn't have done that.
28:12You would have.
28:13We've almost got a bookcase.
28:15It's very exciting.
28:16It's really coming together.
28:18So, what's next?
28:20Well, it's all going to hinge on the next stage.
28:23The heavy, book-filled shells will need special fixings to work as a door.
28:29Lift it.
28:30Can't use normal hinges on it.
28:32So, I've got this fancy little hinge mechanism here, which has a ball bearing in it.
28:36And once that's on top, it can hold a huge amount of weight.
28:42You got it?
28:44The hinge has to be fitted at a precise angle to open smoothly.
28:49This is quite a nerve-wracking moment, because if I get this wrong, well, I don't really know how I
28:55fix it.
28:56So, I can only really do this once.
28:59So, I hope all of my calculations are right.
29:04All right, here goes.
29:12That's very close to the edge, isn't it?
29:15I just worry it's going to split the wood there.
29:17Yeah.
29:17Yeah.
29:18I'm just nervous it's not in the right place, but do you feel quite adamant?
29:21I'm fairly confident.
29:25I can't cross my fingers.
29:28All right, here goes.
29:29Nothing.
29:30Nope.
29:35Does that fit in?
29:39All right, shall we try?
29:40All right.
29:45Watch your fingers.
29:47Ah, I think it's on.
29:49It's too high.
29:51It's not down yet.
29:52No, it's stuck at the top.
29:56It's too tall.
30:01There was enough clearance.
30:03I think we do it without my plate.
30:07The packing block I put in has lifted it too high, so I can't quite get the bookshelf on top
30:13of it at the moment because of how much the hinge sticks up.
30:17They will have to fix the hinge directly into the floor to see if that solves the issue.
30:24I've got it if you want me to.
30:26I think you might.
30:26It's quite heavy.
30:28My foot.
30:30Is it the actual thing that's catching now?
30:34It's still looking like a tight squeeze.
30:38It's caught.
30:39But with some careful manoeuvring.
30:43Is that in?
30:44It's done something.
30:45Yeah, I think it's in.
30:50Ready?
30:51The bookcase finally pivots into place.
30:55Woohoo!
30:55Perfect.
30:56Well, perfect's a stretch.
30:58That is perfect.
31:00When you saw the door swinging, you actually see the vision come to life.
31:05So, well done.
31:06You should be proud.
31:07Yeah, it's getting there.
31:10The secret door may be successfully fitted, but with an intricate chinoiserie wallpaper still to hang, and a bespoke bunk
31:19bed to build, their challenges are far from over.
31:29Back in the Loire Valley, Ben and Billy's efforts to shape the Orangerie into a serene wellbeing space are underway.
31:39This is going to be lovely.
31:41While Billy polishes up the day bed's rusty iron frame.
31:45Can't wait to have a lie down on here with a book.
31:48Maybe some herbal tea or a glass of wine.
31:53Ben is preparing to display a set of vintage botanical prints on the walls.
32:00Opposite each window is going to be a fresco of a beautiful garden.
32:05We've also used them in the botanist suite, but we want to share them with all our guests and create
32:09this sort of feeling of symmetry in the room.
32:11So, everywhere you look, there'll be a garden scene.
32:17We've got five prints to go up on the wall, so I need to make five frames.
32:25It's particularly nice doing your carpentry outside with all the birdsong.
32:28I've got a plan to go down in the garden with a tape recorder and record some of the sounds
32:33and maybe incorporate it into a soundtrack for the wellbeing space.
32:41This Orangerie, it's a really, really special place.
32:44It's everything to do with nature.
32:46You know, the light comes in here and floods through the green leaves.
32:50It's just absolutely beautiful.
32:51And part of the wellbeing feeling that we want to create in here is sort of making sure it's going
32:56to really connect you in nature.
33:04Oh, well done with the frame. That's very skilled.
33:07They look pretty.
33:08And good timing, because the bed's ready for the mattress.
33:18Do you think I've got too much spare this in?
33:21I remember hospital corners.
33:24We need Orangerie corners, which is slightly different.
33:28Okay.
33:28I think if that goes like that, and that goes underneath like that.
33:31Right.
33:32And then that comes straight down like that.
33:33I love a man that can make a good bed.
33:40Ah.
33:42And relax.
33:44Yeah, that's good.
33:45Let me know when you've finished all the other jobs.
33:48Now I need a hand.
33:50Come on then.
33:50I need my glamorous assistant.
33:52I'll go and get that.
33:53I'll go and get that.
33:56With no time for rest, attention turns to finding the perfect spot for a grand ornate mirror to shine.
34:07I just leave all of this to Ben, because he's so exact about it.
34:12I'll just go, oh, that looks about right.
34:15So that's 98.
34:18It's a little bit tricky, because the wall is actually plasterboard stuck onto a stone wall made of small stones.
34:25So when I drill, I can put the drill through here and hold this against the wall.
34:29So the end of the drill is going to try and drift through the little stones.
34:33Oh, yes.
34:33But hopefully this will hold it still.
34:36Fingers crossed.
34:42If it was just plasterboard wall, it wouldn't be strong enough to hold this mirror.
34:46No, true.
34:47So it swings them round abouts.
34:53One, two, three.
34:55Two, three.
34:58Yep.
34:59I've got contact.
35:01Shall we let go?
35:01It's on, yep.
35:04Let go?
35:04I don't want to let go.
35:07Nice one.
35:08Excellent.
35:11That is looking beautiful, isn't it?
35:13It's beautiful.
35:14When we bought the mirror, I thought, that is absolutely huge.
35:17And you put it in a space like that, and it looks just about the right size.
35:21Fantastic.
35:21I think I can have a lovely ancient garden in the pictures, and then the mirror reflects our garden.
35:27So it's like this lovely symmetry.
35:28Every window is going to have a window into another garden.
35:33We've got our day bed, we've got our mirror.
35:35Got to build the rest of those frames now.
35:38Yeah.
35:39It's been a productive day, but with the artwork to finish, and relaxing spa touches to layer in, Ben and
35:47Billy need to press on before they can unwind in their new space.
35:57Coming up, John and Carmen have their differences.
36:02I measure stuff and things, and Carmen just does it.
36:04Exactly. Just get the damn lights up.
36:07And it's the final push for Ben and Billy.
36:10It looks very spa-y.
36:18Down in the Lott Valley, John and Carmen are putting the finishing touches to their wedding pergola.
36:26Let's make this thing twinkle, John.
36:31We're going to make this pergola have some lovely subtle lighting on it.
36:36Yeah, just basically it's brightening up so when it's night time it'll be rather pretty.
36:40Fairy lights.
36:42We need to work out how we're going to do this.
36:44So, if I stand up here, you can run round with the lights.
36:47I could do some maths, if you want.
36:50Where are you going to go, though? Are you going to run across the top?
36:52Around the top.
36:53No, I'm just going round.
36:54Just around the top.
36:54I don't think we'll have enough to put them over the top, will we?
36:55Well, if we knew the length of it, I could work it out, because, you know, pi r squared and
36:59all that will tell us.
37:00Oh, he's such a mathematician.
37:02The simple way of working out how long they are.
37:04Just put them up and see where you get to?
37:06Yeah.
37:06Is that what you're saying?
37:07Yeah.
37:08This is the difference between Carmen and me.
37:10I measure stuff and things, and Carmen just does it.
37:12No need for complex mathematics.
37:14Exactly.
37:14Just get the damn lights up.
37:16Get them out and get them up.
37:22I fancy getting married in France.
37:24I know.
37:24How romantic is that?
37:25It's good, isn't it?
37:26It was obvious, really, once we'd got a chateau.
37:30This was the place to get married?
37:31It's such an amazing, beautiful place.
37:33It was so obvious that we should get married here.
37:35But people won't come unless we get his fairy lights up, though, will they?
37:37All right, move along, then, so I can move my chair.
37:41Where are you going, then, John?
37:43Well, if somebody needs to hold it, don't they?
37:44No, the other way, you fool.
37:45It's quite easy work in the respect of what we've done here in the past.
37:50I love this, being on the chair together.
37:54Is that right?
37:55Yeah.
37:55It makes a huge difference to the outside space of the chateau.
37:59It just pulls it all together and makes it absolutely lovely.
38:05I think we're about done, aren't we?
38:15Two months ago, this area was made up of an unimpressive path and a weathered and worn fountain.
38:28It has now been transformed into a crisp, clean, lavender-lined wedding aisle, complete with perfectly laid patio and show
38:41-stopping pergola, where John and Carmen can say, I do.
38:51And as night falls, the sparkling lights add a touch of fairytale magic.
38:59Yay!
39:01Oh, yeah!
39:02Oh, look at that!
39:04Oh, my gosh!
39:06Let it fly up to the sky!
39:09Woo!
39:10Woo!
39:11How's that?
39:12Perfect, I would say.
39:18I mean, where else would you want to get married?
39:20This, John, is a dream.
39:22I love it.
39:22Exactly.
39:23It's incredible.
39:23It's perfect.
39:24Yeah.
39:25The wedding aisle has been a labour of love.
39:29I can't believe we're actually stood here because we've just been working so hard.
39:33Yeah, but the hard work pays off, right?
39:36It certainly does.
39:37Now John and Carmen.
39:39Here's to you.
39:40Here's to you, my lord.
39:41Love you.
39:42Mwah!
39:43Can look forward to their big day.
39:59Back in Western France, Ben and Billy are pulling together the final elements for their Orangerie makeover.
40:07So the centre of the wellbeing space is going to be this amazing cushion.
40:11And you lie in the middle of it and you're just asleep in five minutes.
40:15It's amazing.
40:16We just want to make that really zen in there and a lovely place to hang out.
40:19Our daughter has just got home, so we're going to let her be the first person to try it all
40:24out.
40:27Having given the frames a lick of gold paint.
40:30Okay.
40:31Shall we look?
40:32Yeah.
40:36Oh, lovely Ben.
40:38Okay.
40:39Ben's botanical prints are now ready to take pride of place.
40:44All right.
40:46Yeah.
40:46Okay.
40:47Come down.
40:48So nice.
40:49Look at the colours in here.
40:51It's gorgeous.
40:52We've got oranges in the Orangerie.
40:54Yay!
41:00Décor done, Ben adds some sensory touches, crafting a bespoke stand to house their oil diffuser.
41:10It looks very spa-y, but it's an important part of the sensual experience because it's the sense of smell.
41:19While Billy has concocted a refreshing mint and rosemary spa drink.
41:24Isn't that beautiful colour?
41:26I just think that looks so lovely.
41:42Outside of events, the Orangerie was previously an overlooked space.
41:51Now Ben and Billy have created a tranquil haven their guests can enjoy all year round.
42:00Vintage botanical prints adorn the walls.
42:05Alongside lush tropical canna plants.
42:08While their large ornate mirror brings the outside in.
42:13With their antique day bed and relaxation cushion offering a cosy spot to unwind.
42:22Essential oils, trickling fountain and composed soundscape fill the senses.
42:30Making the Orangerie a calming sanctuary of rest and relaxation.
42:37And first to try it out is daughter Ella.
42:40Home from university for the summer.
42:44Hi Ella!
42:45Hi Ella!
42:46Welcome!
42:48Wow!
42:49It looks really good!
42:52Oh my gosh, you've done such an amazing job!
42:54I love it!
42:55I love the colours!
42:57Oh, it's so magical!
42:58It's beautiful!
42:59Well done!
43:00Thank you darling!
43:01You've worked so hard this year at uni!
43:04You deserve to have a nice...
43:06You've worked so hard!
43:07You deserve to have a nice relax!
43:10Want to have a relaxing cushion or you can read your books on the day bed.
43:14It's beautiful, I love the artwork.
43:16Oh, and the mirror's gorgeous.
43:18The fountain.
43:20See mum's plants?
43:21Yeah.
43:21They're shut up.
43:22They were that big when they went in.
43:24Well...
43:27Nice music, composed right here in the studio.
43:30For your very talented father.
43:32Amazing!
43:36Yeah.
43:37It's nice.
43:37A real showcase of all your talents.
43:40Aw, thank you Ella.
43:42Cheers!
43:42To relaxing!
43:43To relaxing!
43:44And wellbeing.
43:46Looks really good.
43:51I'll probably say this every time but it's my favourite room in the chateau now.
43:54It's absolutely beautiful.
43:59It's just a go-to place now to relax, read a book, have something healthy to eat or drink.
44:05Just, you know, revive yourself.
44:09So, better go and use it.
44:11Yeah, can we relax now?
44:12Yeah, yeah.
44:13Come on.
44:13With their new wellbeing space, Ben and Billy have added to the chateau's charm, creating a peaceful retreat where guests
44:23can truly unwind.
44:30Next time, Chris and Jolyon face a daunting DIY challenge.
44:35There's part of me that does wonder whether it would have been easier to get a flat pack.
44:39A big event is thrown into doubt.
44:42We've had the most biblical storm overnight, so we're going to pray for some sunshine.
44:47And one chateau couple take on a risky renovation job.
44:52Once this thing starts to move, it's not going to take any prisoners.
44:56I'm sorry, guys.
44:58I'm sorry.
45:12That's a really good question, I'm sorry.
45:14If you would have to touch the, bit of a short window here.
45:15I'm sorry, but I'm sorry.
45:17You're not sure.
45:17I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
45:17But I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
45:19I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
45:21I'm sorry.
45:21And I'm sorry, but I'm sorry.
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