Chateau DIY Season 10 Episode 1
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00:00France is home to thousands of chateaux, with many left derelict and unloved.
00:11But some courageous individuals are reviving these old buildings, and bringing them back
00:23to life. It isn't always a smooth ride.
00:28I will never want to do this again ever in my life.
00:31When restoring historic castles.
00:33Now I can visualise more what it's going to be like.
00:36But there's a mountain to climb yet.
00:38Into fairytale homes.
00:41This is really stressful guys.
00:44And thriving businesses.
00:46I need a stitch.
00:47What a day for Tim to fall over.
00:50But those that have the ambition and drive.
00:53I'm relaxing.
00:56Often get to enjoy the rewards.
00:59Just take it all in there.
01:00No, it's beautiful.
01:01As they get to live out their dreams.
01:04It's hard to pick the one thing that made me fall in love with this place.
01:07As keepers.
01:09Cheers.
01:10Of their very own French chateau.
01:14Today.
01:17Ready to go.
01:18One couple tackle an ambitious tower project.
01:23I worry every time.
01:24I always get stressed when he goes out onto the roof.
01:27I just have to understand that.
01:28That's just part of this job.
01:30These two take on a gigantic new challenge.
01:34We're now standing in the swimming pool area.
01:37It's slightly overdressed.
01:38And this chateau pair face a risky renovation job.
01:43Wait a minute, wait a minute.
01:54In the Vendée département of Western France is the spectacular Chateau de Borneau.
02:03Set in 40 acres, this 19th century property has 55 rooms and sits in the middle of a majestic moat.
02:14The lucky owners are former anaesthetist Erin and her French born engineer husband JB.
02:23Who bought it for around £560,000 in 2018.
02:29I feel very privileged to live here.
02:31I still get this absolute thrill of opening the turret window of my bedroom and seeing the 16 hectares before me.
02:38It feels extremely strained.
02:39Everything's on a giant scale.
02:41We're quite proud of all work so far.
02:44It's a pleasure to see this place come back to life and I've got a great partner in Coyle.
02:53Located in the Paix-de-la-Loire region, Erin and JB run the chateau as an events venue.
03:01Wow!
03:03That's what I want to hear.
03:05And when we were last with them, they tackled one of the turret's damp and decrepit spiral staircases,
03:13which they transformed into a grand and inviting entrance space for guests.
03:20The changement is huge. We really see the difference.
03:24The tower is really beautiful. Erin has always a lot of taste and creativity.
03:30Well done. Good job. Good job.
03:37Before the season begins, Erin has a new challenge for JB.
03:42Only this time, it's at the top of the chateau's central tower, where she wants to create an arts and crafts studio.
03:52So, what's your vision exactly here? Something simple?
03:55I think it won't be too difficult to achieve.
03:58This is a sort of dream project of mine, to have a studio where I can enjoy the chateau
04:04and continue to create and paint and just hide away.
04:09Well, you have your man shed, so I have my Rapunzel tower. That's the only fire.
04:13I don't have towers. I don't have... It's a shed.
04:17I think it's quite unfair.
04:20Right. Shall we get on with it, then?
04:23First, the tower needs a good clear-out.
04:29What's all this stuff? It looks like something fallen off the chateau.
04:32You would be correct. Is it important? Should I be worried?
04:36Won't fall on anyone.
04:40The messy room was formerly used as a servant's quarter.
04:44And Erin can already see its potential.
04:49Now it's empty, at least we can see the space we have. It's not too bad, actually, as a floor print.
04:54As a floor print, yeah.
04:56You're still not convinced, are you?
04:58It's a lovely room, I know, but, yeah, there's a bit of work.
05:03So we'll see what the vision is.
05:06The first step is probably tackling the walls.
05:08There's all that old plaster work at the bottom that needs to be removed.
05:12I think actually having raw stone is nice.
05:15And this is how the room should have been.
05:17There's obviously holes that we can see the outside.
05:19What?
05:21We'll need to fill those in.
05:23And then the windows, you can see how bad the paintwork is.
05:28The frames haven't been touched in over half a century, so JB is eager to take a closer look.
05:36Bracket is still structural, so that's good.
05:39Can they open?
05:45Oh, they can open.
05:49Right, there's no more putty, the nails are falling out.
05:55The glass on this one is holding by magic, it seems.
05:58Uh, yeah, we need to reparty them all medically.
06:03Good!
06:04Lovely.
06:05He looks probably worse than he is.
06:08My short two-week project might be a bit longer if we have to do all the windows.
06:14That's the face of a happy man.
06:18I guess having an art studio for JB is not top on his list, but he will see.
06:25And then he won't keep complaining when I'm doing art things in the kitchen.
06:30Good fun.
06:32What started out as a small job, JB can only hope doesn't turn into a giant one.
06:39In southwest France stands the charming Chateau de Céserac.
06:54It has its own chapel, boasts a medieval tower, and comes with a Roman-inspired swimming pool.
07:03The building was sadly decimated by fire 14 years ago.
07:13But slowly, bringing it back to life, is Northamptonshire couple John and Carmen.
07:21We came here and actually fell in love with it.
07:24As we walked down the drive, we just said, this is us.
07:27We can see what this place will be like in a few years' time.
07:30To us, it just had to be done, didn't it?
07:33We put an offer on the next day and it was accepted.
07:35It was just such a wonderful place to be.
07:37We loved it.
07:39And still is.
07:39Yeah.
07:45Situated close to the city of Toulouse,
07:48John and Carmen bought the Chateau in 2022 for just £175,000 and are hoping to move in this year.
08:01They've already renovated the chapel into an elegant living space.
08:13Alongside a stylish bedroom.
08:15Here's to our first bedroom completed.
08:19Congratulations.
08:19And to you.
08:24Nine months on, John and Carmen's dream is moving a step closer as they've started work on a bathroom.
08:32But there's still plenty to do.
08:35It will be absolutely fantastic when it's finished.
08:38It's just going to make our life so much more normal.
08:41I just can't wait until I can get into the bath and have a lovely, hot, steamy champagne experience.
08:50Mind your head on your platform, John.
08:52Yeah.
08:53Today, Carmen's eager to start on the painting.
09:03Oh, this is dark.
09:05I love this colour.
09:06It's so dramatic.
09:16This is where Carmen wants her walk-in wardrobe.
09:18So you better come in through the bathroom and walk past the bath into a walk-in wardrobe.
09:24Now, here's the fun bit.
09:26There is no walk-in wardrobe behind this wall, just a big drop.
09:29So I'm going to precariously cut a hole in the wall to put a door in.
09:34It's a dicey job.
09:36And John is also uncomfortable with heights.
09:39OK.
09:40Right, so the platform seems to hold me, but I am stunning over quite a big drop,
09:44which even at the edge sort of scares me a bit, but it's OK.
09:47We're good.
09:52This is called the plasterboard shuffle.
09:55Right, we're in.
10:06There we go.
10:09Are you there?
10:10Are you there?
10:10Have you cut the hole in the right place?
10:12I hope so.
10:14I can see you.
10:15Hello.
10:15We have a hole.
10:16We have a hole.
10:18It's an encouraging start, but now John has another obstacle.
10:23This is a new door.
10:26The original one I measured for has gone out of stock and out of production.
10:30So I got the nearest I could and the length is a bit longer.
10:34I thought I could reach, but actually it's got to go a long way from where we are.
10:39Despite putting this platform in, I'm going to still have to get a ladder up here.
10:43Not my favourite thing to do.
10:47John's task has become even bigger.
10:50Can I walk through this still?
11:02Well, it's in a minute, yeah.
11:03Are you ready?
11:04Yeah.
11:04Oh, is that ready?
11:07Do you want me to?
11:10Wow, we have a door.
11:14How's that?
11:15I shall walk through the door.
11:17Ta-da!
11:19It's fantastic.
11:20Wow.
11:23Awesome.
11:25That's brilliant, John.
11:27Well done.
11:29John's making progress, but still has to face his fears to complete the job.
11:34I'm up a ladder, 15 foot or something off the ground.
11:40When somebody says to you it's romantic to buy a chateau.
11:43Not really.
11:45It could be a slow process, and with Carmen only halfway through the painting,
11:50they're still a long way from having a soak in the bath.
11:54Still to come, JB's problems go from bad to worse.
12:04This has been squashed.
12:06The water is probably splashing everywhere now.
12:09And it's crunch time for John and Carmen.
12:13If I drop this bath, this will end up being my coffin, won't it?
12:15Yeah. You better not drop it.
12:16Right.
12:25In the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Western France is the stunning 17th century Chateau de Sauget.
12:34Since 2018, it's been home to Donna and Paul, who have big news.
12:42As after years of transforming it into a luxury B&B, they have now sold up.
12:49I mean, we loved living there. It's the most idyllic place to be.
12:55But the businesses took off so much, we just didn't get any time to actually do any more renovation.
13:03It was the renovation that was our love.
13:05We love the process, and if it's something you enjoy doing, then why would you stop doing it?
13:14They've moved north for an even bigger challenge.
13:18It's a crumbling 19th century flower mill, which has been left abandoned for over 40 years.
13:35Inside, it's a total wreck and has been ransacked by vandals.
13:46The vast property is spread over five floors and has several outbuildings,
13:53including Ajit. Now Donna and Paul want to turn it into their new home,
14:02after picking it up for under £100,000.
14:05You made me fall in love with the building, the look of the building.
14:11Look how pretty this is or could be, you know, and look at the water.
14:16Look, that's exactly what you want.
14:18And then we opened the doors and went, oh, my God.
14:24They've only had the keys for three weeks and already have a plan.
14:29Over here is our kitchen, and over on the left will be our living room.
14:34It actually looks 100% better now because Paul's managed to rewire up the lights.
14:42So we've only ever seen it in torchlight.
14:46So we've only had the light in here a couple of days and only because we've got a generator going.
14:53I'll let you go down first.
14:55It's a colossal task, but in the basement, Paul's already earmarked his chill-out space.
15:03So we're now standing in the swimming pool area.
15:07Actually, slightly overdressed.
15:11The plan is to make it a swimming pool.
15:13And if we manage to create electricity with the water, which is one of the plans,
15:18then this will be a heated pool.
15:19But if we don't manage to do that, then it'll be great in July.
15:25Their aim is to create a palatial six-bedroom home and they've already begun to clear it out.
15:33This floor was absolutely full of equipment, of belts, of tubes.
15:40You could hardly move on it. You had a walkway and that was about it.
15:43So already it's kind of, yeah, you're seeing what it's going to become.
15:50Clearly, it's a massive undertaking.
15:52But yeah, I'm excited by the scale and I'm not daunted by it.
15:56So ask me again in 12 months.
15:59For now, though, they're hoping to move into the Gite, which is also in a state of disrepair.
16:09We're kind of under quite a bit of time pressure, basically, because we only have two and a half months
16:16left in our rented accommodation. So we need to be in here by then.
16:22We have no electricity, no water, no waste.
16:25We don't have a roof at the back.
16:29So there's a bit to do.
16:30Donna and Paul have a monumental challenge and with a new Gite and a massive mill to renovate,
16:41there's no time to waste.
16:51In south-west France, at Chateau de Césarac...
16:54I love my new door, John.
17:00It's rather nice, isn't it?
17:01It was so worth the three days it took.
17:04John and Carmen's new bathroom has come on in leaps and bounds.
17:10The door for the walk-in wardrobe is now in place and the room has been painted.
17:16We've worked really hard on this bathroom.
17:18It took three days to fit a door, which is ridiculous.
17:21Three days.
17:21It was a lot of jiggery-pokery to get it there, wasn't it?
17:24Having said that, it's a very sexy door.
17:28Today, they're eager to install their pièce de résistance.
17:33Today's the day, John, that we move my lovely bath into play.
17:38Which is a £12,000 copper and enamel bathtub.
17:43If I drop this bath, this will end up being my coffin, won't it?
17:46Yeah.
17:47You'd better not drop it.
17:48Right.
17:49I've waited a long, long time for this.
17:51I really wanted a bath because I love having a nice soak in the bath after we've been cycling.
17:57This is a bath made in Kent.
17:59We've had it specially commissioned and it's très expansif.
18:03And it will look very super in our new bathroom.
18:10The dilemma is how to get it up to the first floor bathroom.
18:15It's not that heavy, is it?
18:16It's not actually.
18:17You can manage this by yourself.
18:19I told you.
18:21I think we can get this up the stairs.
18:22I think you're over-complicating matters.
18:26I think the window's the best option because on the ladder, it will generally just slide.
18:31Up the stairs, it might just be a bit more challenging to get upstairs.
18:34On your head, John, because if it gets damaged, I'm not going to be very amused.
18:37Well, I'm not going to be amused either.
18:38Look, there's all these important notices telling you to be careful and you want to take it up a ladder.
18:47Doesn't make sense when we can just lift it up the stairs.
18:50I think we should try the ladder option first.
18:57Swing it round.
19:02Despite Carmen's concern, John's convinced his idea is the best way forward.
19:12OK.
19:15It's going to be a bit bendy with two people on there and a bath.
19:19You're going to be shaking.
19:22I think John's going to be nervous on this ladder.
19:25He doesn't like heights and this is really wobbly.
19:29So what are we going to put underneath it to make it a bit more stable?
19:33A bit of wood, I think.
19:35This is dangerous.
19:37Well, we know it's dangerous.
19:42To help things run more smoothly, they've roped in friend Tim.
19:46Not good, is it, Timmy?
19:50Well, problem.
19:53Tim suggested that they put two wooden legs on each one rather than one which John thought in the
19:59beginning to support it more.
20:01I am getting nervous now, so I'm really worried about this.
20:07That doesn't look very safe, that ladder structure to me.
20:11Tim doesn't look too sure, does he?
20:14Let's do it.
20:14This is a stupid idea.
20:27There's no going back now, so all John can hope for is that his master plan pays off.
20:34In western France, at Chateau de Borneau, Erin's in the tower, working on her arts and crafts studio.
20:53Some of this plaster is coming off quite easily, which is good, but actually a lot of it has been
20:58welded on over the years, so yeah, I think it's going to take a bit of time.
21:04Today, JB's hoping it will be a quicker job repairing the gap in the wall.
21:10I think I will be able to fill some of these gaps from the inside, but there might be more to be done
21:17outside, so for that I'm going to use a safety harness, just in case. It's not going very far,
21:22it shouldn't be dangerous, but it's just, you know, extra safety when you're working at heights.
21:27JB actually doesn't mind going out on the roof. I worry every time because I always kind of get
21:34stressed when he goes out onto the roof, but when you own a property like this, we can't always
21:38cool roofers in for small jobs, so we end up being quite self-sufficient, and he's very skilled
21:43and he's always safe, so I just have to understand that that's just part of this job.
21:49How's it work?
21:57Good, ready to go.
22:05JB will need to have his wits about him.
22:09Working 20 metres up from the ground.
22:14Someone did a bad job here.
22:17I can see the gap between the two stones.
22:21I think this is where the water is running off.
22:24I wonder if it's because of this has been squashed.
22:26The water is probably splashing everywhere now.
22:30And over time, the water running down must have worn out the joint.
22:35So there's a bit of pointing to be done, but it's not too bad.
22:38I should be able to do it from here, so it's good.
22:42It's a promising sign.
22:45While JB starts patching up,
22:49Erin's moved on to repairing one of the old window frames.
22:52We're basically just doing each window as they come and, you know,
22:56whatever problems come my way, I'll try and solve them.
23:01All these jobs take a lot longer than you think,
23:04and even though there's only five windows, which is better than our turret,
23:09which had ten, still five windows when, you know, all the putty is rotted,
23:13the bottoms are not in good condition, you know, you need to sand and paint them.
23:17These little jobs are always long jobs, but we're used to that now.
23:23Erin might not be making much headway, but JB's having better luck.
23:29It's mostly there now, so it was relatively quick, it turns out.
23:33I just pointed it out, but hopefully no more water and grass.
23:40Famous last words.
23:42Oh, done.
23:51Oh, well done.
23:53I can't see daylight anymore, so that's a win.
23:55That's a progress, yes.
23:56I just need a cosmetic joint here on the inside, but more importantly,
24:00the outside is fixed, so the water should not run in from now on, so, yeah.
24:06Well, one job partially done. Exactly, exactly.
24:10A few more hundreds to go, but, you know, we're making progress.
24:14We're only day one today, so well done.
24:16Well, thank you.
24:17JB's firmly in Erin's good books, but with the rest of the tower to get in shape,
24:24it might not last for long.
24:33Coming up, Paul starts to feel the heat.
24:36It looks like the place is on fire.
24:39While John gambles with a £12,000 bath...
24:43This is crazy.
24:45Breathe.
24:46..in south-west France...
24:55..it's a new day and we're going to move a bath.
25:00Whoopee!
25:01Carmen, John and friend Tim are preparing to move their expensive £12,000 bath
25:11up to the first floor en suite.
25:15Good.
25:19With John happy with the plan, it's the moment of truth.
25:24Good luck.
25:25We're going to do this.
25:27Let's go.
25:30That's fine.
25:32Which side do you want me?
25:35Just a little bit at a time.
25:37Yeah.
25:39Just lift it a bit.
25:46This is crazy.
25:48OK.
25:49Ah, it's on my foot.
25:51Pierre.
25:53Careful.
25:55OK, you can help lift it as well, Carmen.
25:57Let me help.
25:57OK.
25:58One, two, three.
26:00OK.
26:00Got over that big knob.
26:01Yeah, OK.
26:02Oh, dear.
26:03Scary, this is.
26:05Breathe.
26:06And...
26:08OK.
26:09Wait a minute, wait a minute.
26:14Oh, no!
26:15Oh, got it.
26:16I can go one more rung.
26:18Hang on.
26:18You go down.
26:19With a cloth.
26:20You get a cloth.
26:23The challenge now is getting it over the rail.
26:27Let me wipe your brow.
26:28You're sweating.
26:30You OK?
26:30No.
26:31No.
26:32We get to here, and then I come.
26:37OK.
26:39That's it.
26:39That's it.
26:44OK.
26:46OK.
26:49Yee-hoo!
26:50Woo-hoo!
26:51OK.
26:52Hey!
26:52A bit.
26:54Whoa-ho!
26:55Hey!
26:58We did it.
26:59I think I'm sweating a little bit here.
27:02That was a bit nerve-wracking.
27:04I'm so happy.
27:05But I just want to make sure it's not damaged.
27:07It'll be your end if there's any damage, John.
27:10There's no damage at all.
27:12Beautiful.
27:14With no harm done, it's been a triumph.
27:17Now their pride and joy just needs putting into place.
27:23Whoo!
27:25I love it.
27:26It's so big.
27:27Wow.
27:28Was that a sweaty moment, John?
27:30It's been a sweaty week thinking about it.
27:32Actually, I'm really relieved.
27:34I was a nervous wreck, and I'm not normally a nervous wreck,
27:36but this was so precious.
27:38Wow.
27:40It's been good.
27:42Looking forward to a bath.
27:44It's been a momentous day.
27:46Cheers!
27:47Cheers!
27:48They've battled obstacles and fear of heights,
27:51but they still don't yet have a fully functioning bathroom.
28:04In Brittany, at Moulin du Quenon,
28:07Donna and Paul are starting on the gite they need to have ready in two months.
28:13We're obviously going to replace the doors and the windows in here.
28:18We're going to have like a L-shaped galley kitchen in here,
28:23a door through there, and this will be a lounge.
28:29And then this will be the bedroom and a window there,
28:32so you can literally lay in bed and kind of look right out at the view there.
28:37There's so much to do, but first they need to create another doorway to make space for the kitchen.
28:47It would have been ideal to reuse the door, but it's just unfortunately the wrong position,
28:50so I need to just erect the scaffold now, and then we can mark the top lint all in,
28:55see if my sauce starts.
28:58It's an extra job Paul wasn't expecting, but Donna's in charge of the floor plan.
29:04He's only happy when he's demolishing something.
29:07That's not true. I'm more happy when I'm demolishing something.
29:13As a former construction boss, Paul certainly had plenty of practice.
29:28I'll view it from a safe distance. It's so dusty in there and there.
29:32I don't envy him that task at all.
29:36It looks like the place is on fire. There's so much smoke coming out of there.
29:45Donna has a little challenge of her own in their epic mill project next door,
29:52as she's eager to see if anything's worth salvaging.
29:55I want to try and retain as much of the mill's history as I possibly can.
30:03So I'm kind of working my way through each floor, seeing what I can save, think of ideas on how I can use them.
30:10These have caught my eye.
30:16These were part of a huge cupboard that was ceiling to floor.
30:22And these have the most wonderful contraption on the back of them.
30:27I have an idea they may go in the bar in the house so you can hang things from them.
30:35They're really quirky and I like quirky.
30:37There's obviously lots of belts here.
30:44Some of them are just the plain belts, but some of them have these wonderful, like, little catcher pockets on.
30:50I can imagine something like that on a wall in the terrace, you know, with maybe plants or something in here draping out over them.
31:00Once we can kind of get them out and get them power washed, I think they'll be great.
31:07Donna's imagination is starting to take hold.
31:11But with the mill a total wreck and the gite just a building site, they'll have their hands full for a long time to come.
31:20Over in Western France, work on Erin's arts and crafts studio has ground to a halt.
31:34Today with JB, she's off in search of inspiration for the space.
31:39And luckily, they don't have to go too far as one of their neighbors owns the prestigious and historic Chateau de Terre Neuve.
31:52This stunning Renaissance style property inspired the design of their own castle.
32:00It has 50 majestic rooms and was once the home of famous 19th century French artist Octave de Rochebrune,
32:09whose family still own it today.
32:15Oh, wow. All those torrets. It's absolutely beautiful.
32:19We are not adding statue to ours, darling.
32:22Don't you like all these statues, all the muses around the castle?
32:24They're great. But be on DIY level.
32:34Good, thank you.
32:35To give them a tour of the chateau is Viscount Guillaume and Viscountess Victoria,
32:43who are significant art collectors.
32:45Oh, wow. This is beautiful.
32:50So here we are in Grand Salon, where you have few pieces coming from Chambord, the castle of Chambord.
32:57Wow. So real royal chateau.
33:00Yeah. See those sons? We have ten sons in this room.
33:04Oh, yeah. That's wonderful.
33:06Those sons were inside the bedroom of Louis XIV.
33:10Wow. So the king's bedroom.
33:12Part of the king's bedroom is here.
33:16What history. It's amazing.
33:19Let's go, please.
33:20Oh, thank you.
33:21The chateau is a treasure trove, and most of the rooms were designed by their famous ancestor artist.
33:33Wow. This is absolutely magnificent, the ceiling in here.
33:36Yeah. So here we are in the, of course, now it's a dining room. Basically, he transformed this room
33:41and used it as a workshop until 1866.
33:45And I can't believe that this room was designed as an art and craft room as well.
33:49Yeah.
33:50Very much a different vibe to my arts and craft room.
33:53I can't imagine how much work it must have taken to install a ceiling as fabulous as this.
34:00Above your head right now, you have more or less nine tons of stone.
34:05Nine tons of stone. It does make our project of tiny room seem much more simple.
34:12We don't have to deal with nine tons worth of...
34:15No, and we won't.
34:18It's absolutely beautiful. I think we can get inspired by it.
34:21It's certainly given them plenty to think about,
34:24and the Viscount has also preserved Rochebrun's final art studio.
34:30So this was where he was working and producing his work?
34:34Yeah.
34:34Wow. I mean, his talent is incredible. I mean, absolutely. It's so fine, isn't it?
34:38It's like a big shot.
34:39It really is almost photographic.
34:41Yeah.
34:42It's absolutely stunning. This vaulted ceiling is so surprising. It's really wonderful.
34:48I can see why this beautiful, light and airy place was a perfect studio for him.
34:53Although, JB's probably a bit anxious.
34:56Yeah, I'm starting to worry now, really, of, like, what ideas you will come up with.
35:01Yeah, I'm not sure we can emulate this amazing arted ceiling.
35:05Good, because we can't.
35:08With the tour now over, Erin and JB have lots to ponder.
35:14Chateau de Ternove is absolutely splendid. It's amazing. It's really inspiring.
35:19They're definitely a model that we're going to try to emulate.
35:22Maybe a little intimidating, but really, really incredible to see. So we feel
35:27very privileged to be able to have a look into this world.
35:30It's been a worthwhile visit. Now, Erin and JB have to formulate a plan for their own chateau.
35:39Still to come, John has another mountain to climb.
35:47Whoever invented spiral staircases? They're the worst things in the world.
35:52And Donna and Paul get an unwelcome surprise.
35:57It's going to kill us. Not happy.
36:00In Brittany, in northern France...
36:10They seem to be cautious.
36:12..Paul and Donna are beginning to make progress in the chate.
36:18..you kind of start to see your vision materialising a bit.
36:25So this is quite exciting.
36:27Yeah.
36:38And at the bedroom.
36:39The new doorway.
36:43It's ideal, isn't it?
36:44Yeah, it's all right.
36:45Yeah.
36:46Well, it'll be good when all the rubble's kind of gone like, won't it?
36:49Dona needn't worry, as there's a ready-made disposal unit.
36:57There's a huge hole.
36:59I mean, huge.
37:00We couldn't see anything in it other than it being a hole.
37:03Which is great for rubble.
37:07See if it's doing runs to the tip.
37:09They've doubled, yeah.
37:13All right, that's made relatively short work of that.
37:15Yeah.
37:16You're certainly not going in the house looking like that.
37:21I am in the house looking like this.
37:22Look at the state.
37:25Gosh.
37:25Eat omelette and eggs, sweetheart.
37:27Omelette and eggs.
37:31There's no time to rest, as today they have a big delivery of materials
37:37to unload for the next part of the build.
37:40So we've got some block, sand, cement, insulation, plasterboard rails,
37:45past the board.
37:46I'm hoping they can at least get it partially in here.
37:52Can you push it?
37:53Dunno.
37:55Probably not.
37:56Can you push it from the other end in?
37:57I doubt it.
37:58It'll bust.
38:01You're going to be busy this afternoon, so...
38:04Yeah.
38:05Every time.
38:07It's going to take us four hours to move everything.
38:11It's going to kill us.
38:14Not happy.
38:16Well, there's no point threatening about it.
38:18I mean, he's not going to get it any further, so...
38:22It's a job they could do without.
38:24We should be used to it by now.
38:31While Donna's filling up the outbuilding,
38:35Paul tackles another load at the jeet.
38:38The only consolation...
38:43..is that they're hollow.
38:50Having fun?
38:51No!
38:55I look like Arnold Schwarzenegger after I've moved all this.
38:57Being seasoned pros,
39:01they manage to make light work of it.
39:09Gosh, the arms are tired.
39:16We haven't done bad for time, actually, have we?
39:17It's probably taking us about an hour and a quarter, to be honest.
39:20Really?
39:20So that's not too bad.
39:21That's not bad at all. Gosh.
39:23Shall I phone up and bring some more?
39:24I'm nearly too tired to talk.
39:30It's been a good day.
39:31And with Donna and Paul now having the building blocks in place,
39:35it will need to be full steam ahead
39:38to get the jeet ready in the next two months.
39:51Down in south-west France...
39:53Let's test that.
39:55..un, deux, trois.
39:56Whee!
39:57Oh, wow!
39:58It's very bright. I love it.
39:59This is really nice.
40:01John and Carmen are close to finishing off their first bathroom.
40:06This is the exciting bit now, putting everything in
40:08and making it look pretty.
40:11There's been no expense spared, but there's still a few jobs left to do.
40:15I'm just unpacking the taps for the bath, which are rather lovely.
40:24They're antique brass, and they're all handmade.
40:29They're pretty special.
40:31They sit on these poles which come up the side of the bath.
40:34We've owned the chateau for a year and a half now.
40:40We've had cold showers outside, no electricity, no water.
40:44So to get this bath in is going to be absolute luxury.
40:48The only missing piece of the jigsaw is a chateau-sized antique mirror.
40:56Carmen thought this would be easy just to get up the stairs,
40:58but after the bath, I think it's actually quite difficult.
41:01The problem is it's got a mirror in it, and I'm really worried that
41:05hauling it round the staircase with the mirror in
41:07is all right to break the mirror.
41:09I think we should just take it out, just safe.
41:10You'd better not break this, taking it out.
41:13Hold the glass.
41:14I've got it all. Voila.
41:17Right. I'm going to just take this upstairs.
41:19OK, be careful, because it would be easy to bang it on the corners.
41:24I just think John complicates things sometimes.
41:27Taking the whole glass out of this frame and then putting it back in again.
41:32I don't want seven years' bad luck.
41:34Just take it one step at a time.
41:38Whoever invented spiral staircases?
41:41They're the worst things in the world.
41:44Just take it steady all the way.
41:47And we're up.
41:50Having avoided a catastrophe...
41:52I got it. Got it?
41:54You sure? Yes.
41:55You happy there? I got it.
41:57John's just hoping the frame will be plain sailing.
42:01OK, I reckon we'll just go over the top here now.
42:02OK.
42:03Let it rest on there.
42:06I've got it here.
42:07You got it?
42:08Yeah.
42:08Right, I'm going to just put it over my head and then come up behind it, OK?
42:10You got it level.
42:15That's it.
42:19Told you be easy, didn't I?
42:20It's been another successful mission, and with the mirror put back in, they're almost done.
42:29Very good. I will be able to see ourselves that in the bar.
42:33That's a scary thought.
42:34Now, it just needs some last-minute finishing touches.
42:46Wow. Looks fantastic.
42:48It's perfect, John.
42:50It's taken three months to turn this run-down basic space into a majestic and stylish bathroom.
42:59With lavish lighting, tasteful decor and decorative antiques, the space feels grand and opulent,
43:10while the crowning glory of their stunning copper bath makes it fit for kings and queens.
43:17And John and Carmen waste no time in trying it out.
43:24Oh, it's so big. It's huge. It's huge.
43:31I haven't sat in it yet. Look at that. Wow.
43:34It's massive.
43:34That's incredible.
43:44Cheers.
43:46I can't believe we've done it.
43:48Ah, it's just amazing, isn't it?
43:50I'm so proud of you getting up that ladder with my precious bath.
43:56It's a really important milestone for us, isn't it?
43:58Because this is going to be our house, so this is the start of our transition into proper French life.
44:05Yeah, it means we're going to actually be able to live here in comfort and style.
44:12This is what I call chateau life.
44:14It's been a successful few days.
44:17Now, John and Carmen's dream is inching ever closer.
44:28Next time.
44:28Oh, God, next.
44:30What's wrong?
44:30A chateau owner's vision turns to dust.
44:34It's like a cracker.
44:36JB starts to feel the strain.
44:39I can feel the burn in the shoulders.
44:41OK, just move it slightly up.
44:42Can I put them down?
44:43Yeah, you can put them down.
44:44Good, thank you.
44:44Yeah, so on.
44:47And Donna and Paul get cracking with the windows.