Chateau DIY Season 10 Episode 19
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00:00Across France, there are thousands of awe-inspiring chateaux.
00:06Many lying in a state of disrepair.
00:10Oh my gosh, look!
00:14In desperate need of loving restoration.
00:18What do you feel?
00:19Are being brought back to life by courageous new owners
00:23who are turning them into incredible homes.
00:27Beautiful.
00:28And businesses.
00:31Might as well just give it a kick.
00:34They'll face daunting challenges.
00:37Huge progress.
00:39They're so pretty.
00:40With highs.
00:42Wow, it's amazing, seriously.
00:44So you really like it?
00:45Yeah.
00:46As well as moves.
00:48This is by far the highest I've ever seen, eh?
00:50But with hard work.
00:52Imagine this is what it's going to be like,
00:54sat under the tree, enjoying the pool.
00:56Comes great joy.
00:59Oh, it's delightful!
01:02As they get to live the dream.
01:05Oh wow, yes.
01:07As custodians of their very own chateau.
01:11Today, one couple waits to finish a bedroom before their guests arrive.
01:23We are flying and almost pouring this stuff on the floor.
01:27This is awkward, isn't it?
01:32Another find themselves in a tight spot.
01:35Without not working in tarot.
01:38They're rushing it to get it shifted.
01:41And there's a £25,000 disaster waiting to happen.
01:46This is really concerning me.
01:58Just a few miles from the Normandy coast
02:01is the elegantly designed Chateau Trois-Cloches.
02:10With eight colourful bedrooms.
02:14A sunlit orangery.
02:18And a bell tower.
02:20Its ongoing restoration is the passion project
02:25for Chris and Jolyon.
02:30I think we first started kind of thinking about the idea
02:33of buying a chateau about ten years ago
02:35and stumbled across Chateau Trois-Cloches
02:38and fell in love immediately.
02:40I remember walking into here
02:42and I was trying to hold back my, like, wow factor
02:46so the estate agent wouldn't have a clue
02:48that we were that interested in it.
02:54Located just 14 miles east of Le Havre,
02:59Chris and Jolyon bought the 19th century Chateau in 2022
03:04for £520,000.
03:08This year's a big year for us.
03:10We finally started to rent it out
03:12to big groups of people and it's exciting.
03:15It's like we feel like we're actually achieving
03:17the dream of it.
03:20The last time we saw them.
03:22OK, here we go.
03:24Chris and Jolyon were completing their dining room.
03:28Look at you, you pray.
03:31With a custom-made mural for the ceiling.
03:35I'm so glad it's sort of come together.
03:38Yeah, well done on us.
03:39She'll be very proud, I think.
03:44Today, they're upstairs,
03:47focusing their attention on the sixth
03:50of the Chateau's eight bedrooms,
03:52which they need to get ready for a friend's birthday.
03:55We've still got to strip a lot of wallpaper off
03:59and tidy up bits of plaster that are blown
04:02and sand the floor so we can re-arnish it,
04:08repaint, anything else.
04:10That's about the size of it.
04:12Yeah.
04:12In charge of its overall look is Chris.
04:17So I think we're probably going to try
04:19and leave some of it on,
04:21leave all of the imperfections, the dents,
04:22but fill big things like that, fill that up.
04:25And then we'll see what we're left with.
04:28Even though Chris would like to leave the walls a bit rough
04:43and ready, there is a limit.
04:47You can hear that it's making a hollow sound.
04:50It means that it's coming away from the wall
04:51and there's no point just painting over it
04:55because it'll end up cracking and falling away eventually.
04:57So it's better to get it out now,
05:01refill it, and then it'll be solid for a lot longer.
05:14You always make quite a little mess
05:16when you're putting, doing pointing.
05:21You might just have to do this in two batches.
05:27You'll put some on.
05:29It'll then give the next load something to stick to.
05:38Yeah!
05:42That's what I live for.
05:46Restoring an enormous chateau, though,
05:49can sometimes feel a bit too much.
05:52Yeah, I feel like we've made some progress,
05:54but I feel like there's three steps.
05:55It's like one step, like, oh, my God, what have we done?
05:57Are we never going to finish?
05:59Number two is like, oh, OK, yeah, I'm seeing the difference.
06:01And then number three...
06:02Finishing.
06:03Finishing.
06:04Yeah, we did it.
06:05On to the next one.
06:06Seems, three seems quite a long way away at the moment.
06:09With so much still to do in the bedroom,
06:11Chris and Julian can only hope they don't suffer any nightmares.
06:24400 miles south, in Lotte-Garonne,
06:28is the majestic 19th-century Chateau du Cadre.
06:35It comes with an incredible 17 bedrooms,
06:4021 acres,
06:42and stunning views.
06:45Since 2021,
06:48it's been the home of design enthusiast Debbie
06:50and her builder husband, Paul.
06:53What's lovely about the Chateau
06:57is when you drive from a distance,
07:00you see it up on the hill there,
07:02and you think, oh, wow, we own that.
07:06That's really beautiful.
07:07There's not a bad angle from the Chateau.
07:10We're lucky enough to have three terraces,
07:12a north terrace, an east terrace,
07:15and a south terrace.
07:16Gut, there's no west terrace.
07:18Well, there is, it's just very small.
07:20It's just very small, yeah,
07:21and it leads to the toilet.
07:24Located just 40 miles south-east of Bergerac,
07:28Debbie and Paul run their Chateau
07:30as a luxury B&B and events business.
07:36Last time we saw them,
07:37they were renovating their huge stairwell,
07:41insulating and plastering the ceiling...
07:44I'll sleep all right,
07:45knowing there's insulation up there.
07:47..and adding bold wallpaper.
07:49Yeah, it's been worth it, hasn't it?
07:55I'm pleased with it.
07:58This morning, Paul's hoping to fit a square peg
08:01into a round hole.
08:03The next project is a bathroom to fit in the second turret.
08:11Obviously, there are challenges
08:13in fitting a bathroom in a round turret,
08:17because shower enclosures,
08:19vanity units, basins,
08:21like to sit against the flat wall,
08:23and that doesn't happen in a turret,
08:25cos they're round.
08:27Paul, though, has a cunning plan.
08:29What we have to do is batten out across this
08:34to give it a flat edge,
08:36which will allow us to fit our shower enclosure.
08:38Then we'll also put a flat wall here
08:42so the sink can sit against it
08:45and you haven't got any nasty little gaps.
08:47But all the stonework, Debbie and I decided we'd keep,
08:51just cos it's something different.
08:54Paul's first job is tiling the turret.
09:04The floor is so uneven.
09:08Quite a lot of adhesive.
09:11It's some sort of level.
09:12While Paul's busy tackling the tiling,
09:23Debbie's in the kitchen,
09:27creating something much more appetising.
09:31So we've got a little bit of a nice event coming up,
09:34because we don't know all of them,
09:36but we've got a few friends
09:37who do a tour with classic cars.
09:40So my friend asked me if he could come here
09:43and if I could make a light lunch.
09:47So for the main course,
09:48I'm going to make some quiches with a salad
09:51and a potato salad to go with it as well.
09:54Into the flour.
09:56As we all know, you know,
09:57when people eat, they always get happy.
10:01And if you've made that happen,
10:03it's kind of like quite satisfying and heartwarming.
10:06As lunchtime approaches,
10:10Paul puts work in the turret on Paul's.
10:13Staying up there.
10:15All the windows are shut,
10:17so it won't blow any dust through, hopefully.
10:21Downstairs, Debbie's lunch plans are coming together.
10:25They look all right.
10:27So, yeah, they're all nice.
10:29The pastry looks nice and crisp.
10:32All right for a first attempt.
10:33As well as timed to perfection.
10:39Bonjour, Paul.
10:41Oh, good to see you.
10:42The food was superb.
10:56It's been absolutely fabulous.
10:57It's the most amazing venue.
10:59The lunch for the car enthusiasts
11:02is a huge success.
11:05Paul and Debbie can only hope
11:07their bathroom renovation
11:08is also a classic.
11:15Coming up...
11:17It's wet, it's soggy.
11:19It looks like we're going to have to offload it where it is.
11:22A couple's fantasy of owning a swimming pool
11:24goes horribly wrong.
11:27A problem.
11:28A real problem.
11:29There's a clever bit of upcycling...
11:33Isn't it lovely?
11:35And can Chris and Jolyon pull off a miracle?
11:39We need to leave our obsession with perfection behind us.
11:42No comment.
11:43Surrounded by the forests of Limousin
11:54in central France
11:55is the fairy tale
11:57Chateau de la Gruyère.
11:59The 19th-century castle
12:04comes with 12 elegant bedrooms,
12:09two grands salons,
12:11and over 10 acres.
12:16It was bought in 2022
12:19by Sharon and Tim
12:21who snapped it up
12:23fully furnished
12:24from an elderly gentleman
12:25for £500,000.
12:29I don't think much was known about him
12:32or the Chateau.
12:33He was a very private man.
12:34But he left here
12:36and went to a property
12:38that he owns in Madagascar.
12:39And he went there with two suitcases
12:41and never, ever returned.
12:43So the property still had bathrobes,
12:47toothbrushes, clothing...
12:48Clothes.
12:49Everything that you see in here
12:51is his.
12:52He walked out with two suitcases
12:53and we moved in with two suitcases.
12:55Two suitcases.
12:55Located just half an hour
13:01from Limoges,
13:03they've so far
13:05started renovating
13:06eight rooms.
13:09Just be aggressive with it.
13:12Including two
13:13of the Chateau's
13:14nine bathrooms.
13:17Last time we saw them,
13:19they and their handyman, Ian,
13:21were removing a large yew tree.
13:23Hey, good job.
13:26It's come down
13:26where you wanted it.
13:28And creating a pit
13:29for the Chateau's
13:30new 10-metre-long
13:32swimming pool.
13:33I think I might have to
13:34get myself a diving platform.
13:36Now, it's D-Day.
13:40We've got a big plastic pool
13:42come at the driveway today.
13:43Huge, actually.
13:44I think I'll be shocked
13:45at how big it will look.
13:48I'm sure it's going to be fine,
13:49but I can feel
13:50as, you know,
13:51your level of anxiety.
13:52Yeah, I'm just more nervous
13:53than getting up the driveway.
13:55Heavy rain over
13:56the last few days...
13:58Something's just arrived
13:59up the driveway, I think.
14:01...means their
14:02600-metre-long drive
14:04has turned to mud.
14:10Ground is so wet,
14:12they said he can't get it
14:13all the way around here,
14:13so it looks like
14:14we may have to drop
14:15the pool here
14:16and we might have to
14:17find another way
14:18of getting the pool
14:18into the hole
14:19because it's just so wet.
14:22So, a problem.
14:24A real problem.
14:27Even with Ian's help,
14:29the lorry can only go so far.
14:33Whoa!
14:35Yeah, he can't get up.
14:38All that rain we had.
14:39Last week, he'd have been perfect,
14:41but all that rain,
14:43got no chance.
14:46It looks like we're going
14:47to have to offload it
14:48where it is
14:49and look as an alternative
14:50way of getting it
14:51up to the pool.
14:52I think that's all
14:53we can do, really.
14:54That looks so much bigger
14:56than the hole
14:57that's been dug.
14:59I wasn't nervous,
15:00but now I'm quite nervous
15:01of this being moved
15:03onto here.
15:10Nonetheless,
15:11the truck's specialist
15:13equipment makes light work
15:15of unloading it.
15:17Not quite where I wanted it,
15:19but we've got a pool.
15:21Goodness me.
15:21It looks like the Titanic
15:22from here.
15:24Unfortunately,
15:25the one tonne,
15:2640 square metre pool
15:28is over 100 metres
15:30from where it should be.
15:33So, what we're just
15:34discussing at the minute
15:34is whether we can
15:35actually drag it
15:37through up the Lord
15:38and up to the pool area.
15:40But with more rain
15:41on the way,
15:42a decision needs
15:44to be made now.
15:46Before it fills up
15:46with water,
15:47because it fills the water,
15:48we're in all sorts
15:48of problems,
15:49so we need to get it moved.
15:51The day has only
15:52just begun
15:53and Tim and Sharon
15:56are already
15:57out of their depth.
15:59100 miles south-west
16:08at Chateau de Cadray,
16:11Paul has not only
16:12tiled the turret room floor,
16:15but also fitted
16:17a shower tray.
16:20Now,
16:20they want to upcycle
16:21something old
16:22to use
16:23in their new bathroom.
16:26So we've got
16:26a little chest of drawers
16:28that's been in a barn
16:30for quite some years
16:32and we've now
16:33found a home for it,
16:34but it's not going
16:35to be a chest of drawers
16:37anymore,
16:37it's going to be
16:38a vanity unit.
16:40Yeah, so anyway,
16:41after this coffee,
16:41I'm going to
16:42jog on up there.
16:44Yeah, I should look forward
16:44to seeing it in place.
16:46Yeah, I will need
16:46your assistance
16:47and guidance,
16:48of course.
16:49True to his word,
16:50Paul soon gets to work.
16:53Nearly there.
16:55A little bit more to do.
16:58And with just a few
17:00trims and adjustments,
17:02the unit is fitted.
17:05It's gone in.
17:06See?
17:07Everyone was worried,
17:08but I wasn't.
17:10I'll go and get the sink
17:11then.
17:12All right.
17:12Hello.
17:20Oh, well done.
17:24Can we go on the angle?
17:26I quite like the dimple
17:27at the front.
17:29Yeah, it's quite a rustic room.
17:31It's probably one of the
17:32only rustic rooms
17:34in the whole of the chateau
17:35because it's got
17:36the exposed stone,
17:37so it's nice
17:39because it makes a change.
17:40I just want you
17:42to be able to get
17:42your hand in
17:43and clean it.
17:45Well, you could
17:45clean it, couldn't you?
17:46Well, you make
17:47more mess than me.
17:49The vanity unit
17:51isn't the only thing
17:52coming out of storage.
17:54So, this is a funny one
17:55because it doesn't
17:56match the shower.
17:57We bought this
17:58ages and ages ago
18:00and the shower is chrome,
18:02but as it's our bathroom,
18:03we don't worry too much.
18:04Yeah?
18:11Yeah.
18:12You happy me there?
18:12Yeah, perfect.
18:18Try a tap.
18:21It's got no water in it.
18:22I know.
18:23You've got to pretend.
18:24But now the new pipes
18:33are in,
18:35Paul needs to adjust
18:36his drawers.
18:38I'm just going to mark
18:39up where I need to cut
18:41just across like that.
18:44Just take a nibble
18:45out of there.
18:46Isn't it lovely?
18:59With the back of the drawer
19:01cut to fit the pipes,
19:03the vanity unit's
19:05conversion is complete.
19:08All said and done,
19:09a good day.
19:11The unit looks nice in there.
19:12It's been a little bit
19:13more work than I anticipated,
19:15but hey-ho,
19:17we'll get there.
19:18Still a little mileage to go.
19:20You've got to neaten it up
19:22so when it opens
19:23it looks professional
19:24because at the moment
19:25it looks a little bit
19:25like it's been butchered.
19:28Well, there's nothing
19:28neat for that, is there?
19:30Nothing neat for that.
19:32They may have finished
19:33one meaty job,
19:35but Debbie and Paul's
19:36renovation is far
19:38from done.
19:45More than 400 miles away
19:48in Normandy,
19:50Chris and Jolian
19:51need to finish
19:52their guest suite
19:53in time for a friend's
19:55birthday party
19:56this weekend.
20:00We've filled in
20:00some holes in the wall
20:01so we thought we could
20:02start painting.
20:03Yeah, I'm really excited
20:04because it's a beautiful
20:06green that we've got
20:07so this room's going
20:08to be a bit adventurous,
20:09I think.
20:11It's not just the colour
20:12that's causing a stir.
20:15When we stripped
20:16off the wallpaper,
20:16the plaster underneath
20:17was really uneven
20:18and broken
20:19and I thought,
20:19well, it's an old chate,
20:20let's just embrace it
20:21as it is.
20:22So we're going to run
20:23with it and we're going
20:24to have a kind of
20:25faded glory look.
20:26That's what we're going for.
20:28What about the little bits
20:29of paper that we haven't
20:30properly got off the wall?
20:32We've run rolling.
20:34Let's roll over.
20:34It's weird, it goes
20:45against everything
20:46you're told about DLI.
20:50I remember seeing
20:51this old building
20:52which had lots of paint
20:54flaking off
20:55and it just looked
20:56so beautiful.
20:57Yeah, I think there's
20:58real beauty in it.
21:01I mean, it probably
21:02wouldn't work in like
21:03a new build or something
21:04but this place is out.
21:08Maybe it's like
21:09a metaphor for life, Jolie.
21:10We need to leave
21:11our obsession
21:12with perfection behind her.
21:14No comment.
21:19Once the walls are painted,
21:22Jolien prepares
21:23to treat the floor
21:24for woodworm.
21:27Unfortunately,
21:28a regular job
21:30to open an ancient chateau.
21:31Right.
21:32There you go.
21:38While Jolien's busy upstairs,
21:41Chris starts work
21:43on the bedroom's fixtures
21:44and furnishings.
21:46This will be the first time
21:48I've tried to hem a curtain
21:50or anything like it.
21:51so I'm hoping
21:52it's super easy
21:54and quick.
21:56With eight curtains
21:57to shorten
21:58and very little time
22:01or experience,
22:03Chris has decided
22:04to play safe
22:05and use hemming tape.
22:08I think it's basically
22:09like fabric glue
22:10in a strip.
22:11No skill required.
22:18The instructions said
22:20a pressing action
22:21and not an ironing action.
22:23And it's a good job
22:23I don't know how to iron
22:24anyway.
22:31The moment of truth
22:33has it stuck.
22:34Let's see.
22:36Oh, it definitely has.
22:39I can't even get
22:39my fingernail under there.
22:40So, very happy with that.
22:42That's a nice skill learnt
22:43and, if you can call it a skill,
22:45so that means
22:46I can get on
22:47the rest of the curtains now.
22:48Hi.
22:50Have a look.
22:51Oh, wow.
22:51The first hem
22:52of the curtains.
22:53I didn't know you could see.
22:54I can't.
22:55Very clever.
22:57No, it's amazing stuff.
22:58It's like sticky-backed plastic.
23:01It looks really neat.
23:02You're doing a great job.
23:03And it's stuck.
23:04Isn't it amazing?
23:06Gosh.
23:06And saves so much time as well.
23:08Have a look at my hem.
23:09Oh, it's beautiful.
23:11One down,
23:12what, seven to go?
23:13Oh, God.
23:14You've got loads more to do?
23:15Yeah.
23:16That'll keep you busy tonight.
23:17Yeah, but a new skill learnt.
23:19Very good.
23:20Well done.
23:20Thanks.
23:20But as well as curtains to shorten,
23:25there's a long to-do list to tick off
23:27before the bedroom
23:29will be anywhere near ready
23:31for guests.
23:35Still to come,
23:37Tim and Sharon's day
23:39goes from bad to worse.
23:41You've cracked it here.
23:43Yeah.
23:43Oh, my God.
23:46Will Debbie's designer touch
23:48bring out the best in their bathroom?
23:51I'm very happy that this room
23:52is nearly finished.
23:54And can Chris and Julian
23:56give an old card table
23:58new life?
24:00Do you know what you're doing?
24:01No, to be honest.
24:10In Limousin,
24:11at Sharon and Tim's,
24:13their 10-metre,
24:15one-tonne swimming pool
24:16is still lying over 100 metres
24:19from its hole.
24:21But they've had good news.
24:22In the next 20 minutes,
24:26the local farmer's coming
24:27with a telehandler
24:28that's hopefully going to be able
24:29to lift the pool
24:30into the pool hole.
24:32Happy days.
24:33Absolutely.
24:33And, you know,
24:34and this is a lot of what you find
24:35about the French people.
24:36French people are very helpful.
24:37And they're kind.
24:38Everyone we've come across.
24:39They're very kind.
24:40They'll try and help you
24:40as much as they can.
24:46The cabaret arrived,
24:48which is highly exciting.
24:49It's the first time
24:50we've met our French neighbour.
24:52The rain is threatening,
24:56so sooner rather than later.
25:07Dragging it, though,
25:08risks an even bigger problem.
25:11This pool cost around 25,000 pounds.
25:17And I'm frightened
25:18I'm going to end up
25:19with a hole in the bottom.
25:22So, instead,
25:24they've decided to carry it.
25:26They've cracked it here.
25:42Yeah.
25:42Oh, my God.
25:44I would much prefer them
25:51leave it
25:52and let's think about it
25:55because I think
25:55they're rushing it
25:56to get it shifted
25:57and I would rather
25:58just leave it.
26:01But with the impending rain
26:03threatening to make the pool
26:05even heavier,
26:07they've no option
26:08but to keep moving.
26:10We will smile.
26:13No, we won't.
26:15We'll not smile
26:15when it's in place
26:16and we can breathe
26:17the sigh of relief.
26:19I'll smile.
26:24Now we're trying
26:24to get it closer
26:25to the way we need it to go
26:26so that when we do lift
26:28it's the minimum amount
26:29of distance to lift.
26:30This is really stressful.
26:37This is really concerning me.
26:53Because the ground's so slippy
26:55if it gets any closer
26:55it's going to go in.
26:57What we can't do
26:57is get any closer
26:58because the sidewalls
26:59will fall in
27:00and if the sidewall falls in
27:01we're all sorts of problems.
27:02So we've got to now
27:03lift vertically
27:04and drop it in the pool.
27:07Don't let it go over.
27:10Stop!
27:13It's almost unbearable
27:15to watch.
27:17After several
27:18nerve-wracking hours
27:19the pool is almost there.
27:22They've just got to work out
27:24how to get it
27:25in the hole.
27:35Up on the Normandy coast
27:37the guest room floor
27:39has been treated
27:40for woodworm
27:41and while it dries
27:43Chris and Jolyon
27:45hope to tick off
27:46another job
27:47transforming an old desk.
27:51OK.
27:51Got enough space?
27:52Yeah, perfect.
27:54Into a stylish
27:55dressing table.
27:57This desk
27:58I picked up
27:59at Pricant
27:59when you were
28:00busy elsewhere.
28:02100 euros
28:02so yeah, working.
28:05It's quite expensive
28:05for what we normally
28:06find in Pricant
28:07but all it really needs
28:09is a new top to it.
28:10Do you know
28:11what you're doing?
28:11No.
28:12To be honest.
28:14But I think
28:14we rip it off
28:15and see what's underneath.
28:16Right.
28:18Perfect.
28:19Right, that's that bit done.
28:21What about this one?
28:23Yeah, it seems to be
28:24coming up OK.
28:31I didn't think
28:32the green felt
28:32was that bad.
28:35Yeah, but it needs
28:36to be white proof
28:37doesn't it?
28:37It's like a
28:38make-up
28:39tape.
28:39Yeah, that's true.
28:40The remaining glue
28:45though proves
28:46to be a sticky
28:47problem.
28:49I certainly wish
28:50we did it in there.
28:52Just putting the leather
28:53over the top
28:53of the other one
28:54feels like it would be
28:55a lot easier.
28:56At least it would be
28:57more flush.
28:58Yeah, you'll get
28:58a nice flat edge
28:59to it.
29:00Chris and
29:01Jolyon
29:02stick with it
29:03and their tenacious
29:05spirit
29:06eventually
29:07pays off.
29:09I think that's as much
29:10as we can do
29:11need to do.
29:22And now
29:23we've got this
29:24lovely leather
29:25or faux leather
29:26top.
29:27Real leather actually.
29:28Is it real?
29:28Yeah.
29:29Very nice.
29:30So we just need
29:30to glue it down.
29:32Yeah, get it right
29:33into the edges.
29:40This is like
29:42strong glue.
29:43Should be good
29:44for this job.
29:45Hi, Chris.
29:46I don't know
29:47how big it is
29:48but
29:48we're out blue now
29:50so that's
29:51going to be enough.
29:53Once Jolyon
29:54smoothed it out
29:55it's time
29:57to trim.
29:58It doesn't matter
29:59too much
30:00if you mess
30:00up
30:00because
30:01we're putting
30:02braiding over it.
30:08Hopefully
30:09it should hide
30:10our
30:10wavy lines
30:12and also
30:13keep the leather
30:13down as well
30:14so
30:14yeah,
30:15multi-purpose.
30:19For sure.
30:30there we go.
30:32There we go.
30:32Right, now we just
30:33need loads of glue
30:34in there.
30:40It's looking
30:40very nice.
30:41Yeah, I mean
30:42there's a tiny few
30:43imperfections
30:43but I mean
30:44it makes it look
30:44old and part
30:45of the original
30:46desk so
30:46I'm super happy
30:48with it.
30:49The job though
30:51took far longer
30:52than planned
30:53and with guests
30:54on their way
30:55Chris and Jolyon
30:56really do
30:57need to get
30:58a move on.
31:08Down in the
31:09south of France
31:10Right, what
31:12we're going to
31:12be doing
31:13is fitting
31:14the shower
31:15enclosure.
31:16Paul and
31:16Debbie are
31:17still working
31:18inside the
31:19turret shower
31:20room.
31:20Nine out of
31:21ten shower
31:22doors leak
31:22because they're
31:23not installed
31:23properly.
31:25After successfully
31:26putting together
31:27the shower
31:27unit
31:28Oh, there
31:29we are.
31:31Looking
31:32pretty good.
31:33They're now
31:34ready for the
31:36final touches.
31:38Right, so
31:39I've found
31:40some curtains
31:41to put up
31:43but I don't
31:44have three
31:44of the same
31:45so I'm
31:48going to have
31:48to be very
31:48clever about
31:49how I'm
31:50going to
31:50arrange them.
31:53They're
31:53typical
31:54French
31:55I think
31:57they're quite
31:58nice because
31:58they go with
31:59the stones
32:00quite French.
32:07This is
32:08awkward,
32:08doesn't it?
32:09Oh, yeah.
32:12Right, I think
32:13I'll go.
32:16I think you'll
32:17be too far
32:18away.
32:18No.
32:23I'm very happy
32:24that this room
32:25is nearly
32:25finished.
32:27I don't know
32:28working in
32:28turrets.
32:29It's lovely
32:34with the grey
32:35actually, the grey
32:36mirror.
32:38I think it
32:38looks nice.
32:40So French,
32:41isn't it?
32:42I think these
32:43have been rattling
32:43around in our
32:45possession for
32:4630 years.
32:49Are you not
32:50going to have it
32:50like that?
32:51No.
32:51So that it
32:52hooks in and
32:53pulls around?
32:53No.
32:54I want it like
32:55that.
32:56Oh.
32:57I know they're
32:58old and they're
32:59really hard to
33:00come by, but I
33:01think they've
33:02come back in
33:03fashion again,
33:04actually.
33:04put it the
33:11right way.
33:15Perfect.
33:16Perfect.
33:18Once
33:19everything's in
33:20place, Debbie
33:21can finally stand
33:22back and admire
33:24their work.
33:25Come together
33:26cute.
33:27It's nice.
33:28It looks really
33:28sweet.
33:29It's got a nice
33:30feel to it.
33:31What used to
33:35be an awkward
33:36unused bear
33:37turret with
33:39dusty floorboards
33:40and blocked
33:42out windows has
33:47now been
33:47transformed into
33:49an enchanting
33:50circular shower
33:51room.
33:53New tiles and
33:56flowing curtains
33:57complement the
33:59exposed stonework.
34:01while the
34:03modern shower,
34:05upcycled vanity
34:06unit and stone
34:07sink give the
34:09small space a
34:11big personality.
34:14And everything
34:15is finished off
34:16with Debbie's
34:17imaginative touches.
34:20The turret has
34:21not been without
34:22its problems.
34:24Turrets are bad
34:25enough when
34:25they're plastered.
34:27This turret was
34:28particularly difficult
34:29because it's all
34:30exposed stonework.
34:32So it's taken
34:33probably twice as
34:34long.
34:35But if you need a
34:36turret done,
34:37I'm your man now.
34:39I think it's all
34:40come together quite
34:41nicely actually given
34:42that it has just
34:45been bits here and
34:46bits there and
34:47stuff knocking about
34:48and upcycled.
34:50So yeah, I'm quite
34:51pleased with it.
34:52It's been very low
34:53budget and it looks
34:55really stylish, I think.
34:56It's another job well
34:59done for Debbie and
35:01Paul.
35:02But for these
35:02renovation enthusiasts,
35:05the next big project
35:06will never be far
35:08away.
35:15Coming up, will
35:18Chris and Jolian
35:18manage to hit their
35:20deadline?
35:20Yeah, we've got an
35:22awful lot to do
35:23before Leon and
35:26everyone arrives.
35:27I'm just going to
35:27swing to you, mate.
35:29And it's crunch time.
35:31Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
35:32whoa, whoa, whoa.
35:32Whoa, whoa, whoa.
35:33For Sharon and Tim.
35:35I'm afraid I can't even
35:36look at it now.
35:38That's an awful lot of
35:38money.
35:39In central France, at
35:48Sharon and Tim's, their
35:51£25,000 swimming pool
35:54still needs lifting into
35:56its hole.
35:58To stop the fiberglass from
36:00twisting and cracking, Tim
36:02and a team of locals have
36:04built a brace out of the
36:06trees cut down last week.
36:09Everything's just going to
36:10lift vertically, it's the
36:11plant.
36:11So it's going to lift it
36:12from these points upside.
36:14We're just going to lift it
36:14up, take it across and
36:16just lower it, it's the
36:17plant, straight in the
36:19hole.
36:27Stop.
36:27Stop.
36:29I'm afraid I can't even
36:30look at it now.
36:32That's an awful lot of
36:33money.
36:34It's just going to swing to
36:34you, mate.
36:36Right.
36:37Whoa, whoa, whoa,
36:38whoa, whoa.
36:39Whoa, whoa, whoa.
36:40Turn my back for a second
36:41and I've turned around and
36:42it's like it is.
36:45But with all the
36:46manoeuvring, the earth's
36:48sidewall starts to give
36:49way.
36:50No, I can't believe it's
36:52collapsed.
36:52What a nightmare.
36:55As the soil needs to be
36:56removed before the pool can
36:59go in, it's all hands on
37:01deck.
37:01slowly, slowly, slowly, slowly.
37:17Watch your leg.
37:19Just ten minutes later, Tim,
37:22Sharon and their neighbours
37:23are back to work.
37:25I can't tell you how relieved I am to see that
37:48horizontal.
37:53As soon as the pool's safe, there's a collective sigh of relief.
37:59I can feel my stress levels going down now.
38:03My adrenaline's just calming down.
38:06full party at mine in
38:162028 when I've recovered.
38:20Merci.
38:21Merci beaucoup.
38:22Merci beaucoup.
38:23Merci beaucoup.
38:24What a day.
38:34What a day.
38:35Yeah.
38:35It was a bit touch and go and I think our nerves were a little bit frayed by the end of
38:39today.
38:40But the pool's in situ now.
38:43I don't think it's damaged.
38:44It looks okay.
38:45Yeah.
38:45And it was traumatic experience.
38:48Yeah.
38:48But we've done it.
38:49We've got through it.
38:51We've had some help from some neighbours which have been wonderful.
38:53Brilliant.
38:54It's a huge piece of equipment.
38:57But it's so fragile.
38:59It wasn't robust.
39:00It wasn't like you could just bring it up and put it in.
39:03It was like dealing with a Fabergé egg as it were.
39:06Everything was against us today but...
39:08It's in.
39:09It's in.
39:11And it's a sigh of relief.
39:12My shoulders are suddenly going to go down.
39:16It may have been a hard, stressful day but Tim and Sharon finally have their swimming pool.
39:23Now the hard work of plumbing it in and building a new pool house can begin.
39:30Over 300 miles further north, Chris and Jolien are racing to finish their guest suite.
39:42Are you ready, Jolien?
39:44I'm always ready.
39:45I'm always ready.
39:46I was born ready.
39:47The walls may be painted and the woodworm treated.
39:53But Chris and Jolien are a long way from home.
39:58So it's a big day today.
40:00We have until about 5 o'clock until we've got the guests arriving.
40:04Yeah.
40:04And they're actually sleeping in this room so we've got a lot to do.
40:09So we've got to put the varnish on and that's the main thing.
40:12We've got to then let it dry, put a second coat on and then it's basically going to be dressing the room.
40:17So, yeah, it'll be quite a lot to do.
40:28Yeah, we've got an awful lot to do before Leon and everyone arrives.
40:34So, literally, we are flying and almost pouring this stuff on the floor.
40:40I wonder if it would be quicker.
40:45It would be one of the biggest bedrooms we've got as well, wouldn't it?
40:49You're flying.
40:50I feel like you've either got a better brush or...
40:54Better technique, you see.
40:59By mid-afternoon, they're on the home straight.
41:04So, the floor's done, it's dry.
41:06We've literally got two hours now till Leon and guests arrive.
41:10So, we need to...
41:11Dine it out.
41:12The first gate's on.
41:13Yeah.
41:21You got room for a table?
41:22Yeah.
41:26Sorry?
41:27Yeah.
41:34Tony, have a look.
41:38What do you reckon?
41:40Oh, mon amour.
41:41They're very beautiful.
41:42I like them.
41:43Just kissing the floor.
41:46I don't actually know why I'm bothering,
41:48because I know Chris will remake the bed anyway.
41:55A bit more your way.
41:56I love the walls, love the floor.
42:08Yeah, and it...
42:08It all works really well, doesn't it?
42:09It comes together very nicely.
42:11Well...
42:11It's a big space to fill, which is really well.
42:13Yeah.
42:16What was once a neglected spare room with peeling wallpaper,
42:20crumbling plaster and an uninspiring floor,
42:29is now a rich and colourful guest suite.
42:34The old walls left rough in a nod to its past,
42:38but painted in contemporary teal.
42:43The varnished wood and rugs adding warmth and cosiness.
42:50The second-hand desk recovered
42:52and given a new role as a dressing table.
42:56The windows elegantly framed by Chris's curtains.
43:02All the furnishings carefully selected
43:05to give this simple room a lot of character.
43:11And everything finished just in time
43:15for the arrival of the birthday boy.
43:20How are you?
43:20How are you?
43:21What a genuine.
43:22I know, I know.
43:23It's happy to see you again.
43:25Hi, baby.
43:26Hi.
43:27Well, I can't wait to see.
43:29Yeah.
43:30This all looks amazing, man.
43:32It's such a change since last year.
43:34First stop of their tour,
43:37the new guest suite.
43:39Here we are.
43:40Wow.
43:40The new bedroom.
43:42This is looking amazing.
43:44Very nice.
43:44What a transformation.
43:46Yeah, do you remember what it was like before?
43:47Nothing like this.
43:49Loving it.
43:50Kind of faded glory was the inspiration for this room.
43:53Kind of ran with what the chate was giving us.
43:54It's grand jule.
43:56Well done, guys.
43:59As always, so proud.
44:02That was a slog when we got there.
44:03For Chris and Julian,
44:08this season promises to be a busy one
44:10and they'll be ringing the changes
44:13at Chateau Trois-Cloches.
44:21Next time,
44:23one chateau owner is in over his head.
44:26If it gets any higher,
44:27then we basically are flooded.
44:30One, two, three.
44:32A couple find a priceless antique
44:34in their outhouse.
44:36Just seriously be careful.
44:39While another cuts to the chase.
44:42If all goes wrong,
44:43it will end up in bedroom five.
44:45Whoa.
44:45Oh.
44:45Oh.
44:46Oh.
45:00Oh.
45:01Oh.
45:02Oh.
45:03Oh.
45:03Oh.
45:04Oh.
45:04Oh.
45:04Oh.
45:05Oh.
45:05Oh.
45:06Oh.
45:06Oh.
45:06Oh.
45:06Oh.
45:06Oh.
45:07Oh.
45:07Oh.
45:07Oh.
45:07Oh.
45:07Oh.
45:08Oh.
45:08Oh.
45:08Oh.
45:08Oh.
45:08Oh.
45:08Oh.
45:10Oh.
45:10Oh.
45:10Oh.
45:10Oh.
45:12Oh.
45:12Oh.
45:13Oh.
45:13Oh.
45:14Oh.
45:14Oh.
45:15Oh.
45:15Oh.
45:15Oh.
45:16Oh.
45:16Oh.
45:16Oh.
45:16Oh.
45:17Oh.
45:18Oh.
45:18Oh.
45:18Oh.
45:19Oh.
45:19Oh.
45:19Oh.
45:19Oh.
45:19Oh.
45:20Oh.
45:20Oh.
45:20Oh.