Chateau DIY Season 10 Episode 20
#ChateauDIY
#PrimeUSTV
#ChateauDIY
#PrimeUSTV
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:01France is home to thousands of stunning chateaux.
00:06Some forgotten and abandoned.
00:08It's making a hollow sound. It means that it's coming away from the wall.
00:12Now being brought back to life by intrepid new owners.
00:17This is completely winging it, learning as we go.
00:20They're taking on the challenge.
00:23Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
00:24I'm afraid I can't even look at it now.
00:27To restore these historic buildings.
00:30It's really an incomparable joy when you get a disinfection into crappy walls.
00:35Into stunning homes.
00:37I hate it, that's what I'm paying for.
00:40And unique businesses.
00:42You make it so bright.
00:44There'll be successes.
00:46We got a ceiling.
00:48Wow!
00:50And setbacks.
00:52Nothing's coming through.
00:54But however hard the going gets.
00:56I don't like working in turrets.
00:59The rewards can be great.
01:02To see the final result, it's worth every second.
01:05As they get to live the dream.
01:07It's not a bad life, is it?
01:09As custodians of their very own castle.
01:14Today.
01:16One, two, three.
01:18Just seriously be careful.
01:20One couple fear for their fragile antiques.
01:25Okay.
01:26The topping's actually making me feel a bit sick.
01:29This Chatelain struggles to keep his head above water during an orangery renovation.
01:35If it gets any higher, then we basically are flooded.
01:41And it's all going down.
01:44If it all goes wrong and it goes in the wrong direction, it will end up in bedroom five en suite.
01:49For a trio trying to make their tree safe.
01:52Oh, it's going the other way.
01:53Oh!
01:54It's going the other way.
01:55Oh!
02:00Nestling in the countryside of south-west France, is the stunning 18th century Chateau Larribaud.
02:11Inside, it boasts 18 elegant Regency rooms.
02:17Whilst outside, there are 48 acres, an enormous barn, and numerous outbuildings.
02:27It has been home since 2022 to antique dealers Julia and Paul, who bought it for £540,000.
02:39When we first saw Chateau Larribaud, it literally took our breath away.
02:43It's just such a pretty building.
02:45Even if I go out for a shot and come round the corner, my heart sings.
02:50And as soon as we walked in to this property, it was just...
02:54It's in a way we knew we were going to buy it.
02:56We knew.
02:57We love her.
02:58It's as simple as that.
03:00Yeah.
03:02Located just an hour from the coastal resort of Biarritz,
03:06the last time we saw them, they had only just moved in.
03:12We're keeping it traditional.
03:13We're not going to be using oranges or pinks.
03:17And started to restyle one of the smallest rooms first, the study.
03:24The couple also found new homes for some of their antique treasures.
03:29Three, two, one...
03:31Back in the room.
03:32Woo!
03:33Nice.
03:34Nice.
03:35Nice.
03:36To transform what was a dumping ground into a sophisticated bolt hole
03:42that they've made their own.
03:44Yeah, I'm really, really pleased, actually.
03:47Yeah, it all blends.
03:48It works.
03:49It's definitely a haven.
03:54Today, it's time to turn their attention to the Chateau's entrance lobby.
04:00At the moment, it's a thoroughfare, so it's had no attention whatsoever.
04:04We want to make it a lovely, welcoming space,
04:07just somewhere people would like to linger, perhaps.
04:10They're keen to add their own style to the space
04:14while making the most of the original tiled floor.
04:18Brilliant.
04:19Well done, darling.
04:20After clearing the way...
04:22Nicely done.
04:23..Paul inspects the ceiling.
04:27It's not too bad.
04:30See, that's loose.
04:32Yeah, so that's...
04:34Got to get rid of that.
04:37There's absolutely no way you can paint over that.
04:42Outside, Julia sets her sights on the decorative ironwork above the door.
04:48Oh, ooh, OK.
04:50Years of cobwebs.
04:53And homes for wildlife, I suspect.
04:58Well, this is all hand-wrought ironwork,
05:02which is acanthus leaf, foliate and seeds.
05:08Very beautiful.
05:10And then in the centre is a cartouche, which now I can see beautifully.
05:14The chateau was built at the end of the 18th century
05:19by the political figure Roger Ducot for his daughter Rosalie
05:24and her husband Jean.
05:27And the metal cartouche still bears their initials.
05:31We bought the house from the family.
05:34It had come down through the family.
05:36We were the first people ever to buy this house.
05:39And we were lucky enough to spend some time with two of the sisters,
05:44who were just so informative and so lovely.
05:47It was the cherry on top,
05:48because apart from the building just being so gorgeous,
05:52we actually have a living story behind it.
05:55All I'm trying to do is just revive the ironwork a little bit.
06:03Julia and Paul are starting to give the entrance lobby
06:07the attention it deserves,
06:09but there's still the whole space to paint and furnish
06:13before it can truly make its mark.
06:16In the rolling countryside of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region
06:27lies the stunning 16th century Chateau de Bruges.
06:33Inside, it boasts ten opulent bedrooms
06:37and five sumptuous living rooms.
06:41Outside, there are seven acres
06:44and numerous outbuildings.
06:48Since 2022, it's been home to Graham,
06:52his son Jake and Jake's fiancé, Danielle,
06:56after purchasing it for £605,000.
07:02With my love of renovation, my love of DIY
07:05and my love of hospitality,
07:07it made sense to look for a property
07:09that we could do all of those things in.
07:11And France has some of the best properties
07:13to be able to do that.
07:14You do look at the outside of the Chateau
07:16and then you think, wow, that's actually ours.
07:20I never, ever, ever imagined or dreamed
07:22of living in the Chateau until these guys came along.
07:25But I'm really happy that I'm here.
07:28Located in central France, near the spa town of Vichy,
07:34the last time we saw them, they had transformed their plain
07:38and uninspired hallway into a glamorous, shimmering space
07:44and just in time for a special celebration.
07:49It's a diamond wedding anniversary.
07:52Best parents in the world.
07:54Cheers!
08:00Graham, Jake and Danielle have B&B guests arriving in a week's time
08:06and want to ensure the Chateau grounds are safe.
08:10The plan for today is that we're going to be taking down
08:12a good portion of this large dead tree behind us.
08:16We're going to leave the trunk and some of the stems coming off of it.
08:19We may want to add a tree house at a later date,
08:21so we're not taking it right the way down to the ground.
08:24I think I'm going to have to get rid of that bit there first.
08:27Yeah.
08:28This ash tree is 25 metres high,
08:32so they've called in Clive, a tree specialist.
08:36Yeah, that's about high enough for me, I reckon.
08:40Many of the heavy branches are precariously close
08:43to both the main building
08:45and one of the Chateau's treasured relics,
08:48which dates back to the 16th century.
08:52We're currently in the greenhouse,
08:53which is just below the tree that we are taking down.
08:56It needs a little bit of TLC.
08:58It's not in perfect condition,
09:00but the worst thing to happen would for a tree
09:02to be coming crashing down in here.
09:04It would be a bit of a shame.
09:10The higher Clive climbs, the thicker the branches.
09:20Oh, God!
09:21That knocked you a bit lower.
09:24This next branch is even more worrying.
09:28Clive is about to get started on this next branch,
09:30which is the one you can see coming off to the left here,
09:33and it has the potential to be a little bit naughty.
09:35It's overhanging the railings.
09:37If it is to fall that way, it's going to be devastating.
09:39Not only is it going to take out an existing wall,
09:42but it has the potential to take out the greenhouse.
09:47What's going on?
09:49Yeah, I think it's just going to be tied around my waist,
09:52and I'm going to be the anchor to hold the tree up.
09:56Oh, OK.
09:58Clive talked me through the whole plan,
10:00and it kind of just went in this ear and straight out that one.
10:03All I heard was rope, tree...
10:05Jake.
10:06..not fall, Jake.
10:11Deciding not to take any chances...
10:14Take the stride.
10:15..all three act as an anchor for the next branch.
10:19All right, he's just about to cut that notch out.
10:24Wait for him to get out of the way, Dad.
10:25Oh, going the other way.
10:27Watch out!
10:31Oh, it's all right!
10:32Nearly lost Clive, but the greenhouse is fine,
10:35so that's all that matters.
10:38Do you need some new trousers?
10:46By the end of the afternoon,
10:48the lower branches have been removed.
10:52Well done to Clive.
10:53He's just been an absolute monster,
10:55and a cherry picker and a chainsaw.
10:57The cherry picker's, what, 12 metres tall?
10:59I reckon there's at least 25 metres of tree,
11:02so there's going to be some big drops coming down tomorrow.
11:06It's a good start.
11:08But there's still the branches closest to the chateau
11:11to fell safely,
11:13and they are the largest and heaviest.
11:18Coming up...
11:19It's just an awful lot of wires.
11:21A bit scary, really.
11:22Julia's bright idea causes chaos.
11:25Seven!
11:26Seven!
11:27Oh, no!
11:28You've got to take it apart.
11:30And Graham branches out.
11:33It's going to come down quick,
11:34and it's going to come down loud.
11:35Set amongst the lush countryside of the Dardogne,
11:47lies the majestic 14th century Domaine de la Barde.
11:52The former hotel comprises 18 sumptuous rooms,
11:58while its ten acres includes a tennis court and stunning formal gardens.
12:06Since 2020, it's been home to Chef Tim, his wife Chris, and their two children, Owen and Ollie.
12:16I always wanted the chateau.
12:17I didn't want the farmhouse.
12:18I didn't want the campsite.
12:19I didn't want the bar.
12:20This was always my dream, I think.
12:23I wasn't really expecting to live this life, but it has grown into me.
12:28I've learned to love it, and this is Tim's dream.
12:31It has become my dream, and now it's my children's dream.
12:37Located 100 miles north of Toulouse,
12:42last time we saw them, Tim and his friend, Steve,
12:46had just built an elegant sandstone terrace, enhancing their stunning pool.
12:53It's been a big old job, really big old job.
12:56Solid, solid graft.
12:58But it's beautiful, I love it.
13:03Tim's next ambitious project involves the chateau's largest outbuilding.
13:09We need to get on with the orangery.
13:10It's a very usable space that isn't being utilised at the moment,
13:14so it's quite important we get in and get stuck into that.
13:18The former hotel had added a mezzanine floor
13:22and used it as a gym and leisure facility for guests.
13:25Lots of exercise, bikes, running machines, things like that.
13:30It was a good use for it, but it's not something that we need.
13:33We're never going to be doing that kind of thing.
13:35But it would be nice to have a usable space.
13:37We really don't have a sort of building
13:39that allows us to have sort of 40, 50 people gather in one area.
13:42And this could be that.
13:46Steve is back to help Tim with the clear-out.
13:50Right.
13:52So this has all got to go.
13:54Get rid of all of this.
13:57If we can take this wall out, this wall out, open it all up.
14:01The first to come down is the old changing room wall.
14:09The half and the electric as well.
14:11It's not long before cupboards and some of the partition walls
14:24are a thing of the past.
14:26I can feel it so much lighter already.
14:31I mean, the windows are here.
14:33I'm hoping that once we take this out,
14:35suddenly we're going to benefit from just all this natural light.
14:39It's a big building, you know.
14:41It's a whopper.
14:42It's just such a poor use of space.
14:45Because it was designed for something that it doesn't really want to be,
14:49I guess.
14:50But, yeah, it's going to be great up here.
14:55The gym clear-out has begun.
14:58But there's a marathon of work ahead
15:01before the orangery becomes a more elegant and usable space.
15:10In the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region, at Chateau de Bruges,
15:15the higher branches of a huge ash tree are about to come down,
15:19hopefully without damaging the chateau
15:23or their treasured greenhouse.
15:26And everyone has their high-vis jackets on,
15:30even Merlin the dog.
15:32Got to get high-vis up today so we're seen,
15:35and, yeah, we're all ready to rumble.
15:38And Clive, the tree specialist, is back to continue cutting.
15:44We're going to start off taking this smaller branch which is coming off.
15:47It's the nearest branch to the chateau, so we need to bring it down safely.
15:51So we're going to rope it down just so it doesn't hit the walls
15:54or cause any damage on its way down.
15:56Take your stance.
15:58Yeah.
15:59Yeah.
16:02Definitely need three of us.
16:03OK.
16:05Are we letting it go?
16:07OK.
16:12Keep going, nice and slowly.
16:16Here it comes.
16:18Good work, Clive.
16:20That dragged us a metre or so at the start,
16:23but once we got our foot grounded, our feet grounded,
16:27we managed to hold onto it and lower it down nice and slowly.
16:30But that was heavy.
16:32There's a hefty branch on the chateau side to tackle next.
16:38And Clive has given Graham a full rundown of what is about to happen.
16:44This is the biggest branch we've done yet.
16:46This has to come down in one go.
16:48Going to come down quick and it's going to come down loud.
16:50Yep.
16:57That came down with a fud, didn't it?
17:00Landed it exactly where he said he was going to land it.
17:02So never in doubt.
17:05It's going to go any minute.
17:06It's nearly through.
17:10Timber!
17:17So between the bushes and the chateau,
17:19maybe on the bushes, but I'm not worried about that.
17:23As long as it's not on the chateau.
17:28Oh, look at that.
17:29Perfect.
17:31So the next branch to come down is requiring ropes and pulleys.
17:35So it's our job to keep the tension to make the tree fall in our direction.
17:40Okie doke.
17:42If all goes wrong and it goes in the wrong direction,
17:44it will end up in bedroom five en suite.
17:47You put the winch too high.
17:50As soon as the rope is taut, Clive can start cutting.
17:56It's going.
17:57Yep.
17:58That's it.
17:59That's it.
18:00Ok.
18:01Well done.
18:02Nice.
18:03Exactly where we said.
18:04Now they know what to expect.
18:05They quickly get ready for the next one.
18:07Right, if you could take that rope that's running out.
18:08Just pull it towards you.
18:09Ok, ready Dan?
18:10It's coming.
18:11Come on!
18:12There it goes.
18:13Yep.
18:14I could never have imagined chateau life would be this much fun.
18:15And it's not over yet.
18:16Ready?
18:17Are we jumping on this one?
18:18Yeah, go on.
18:19Pull on it.
18:20Put your weight on it.
18:21Yeah, here it goes.
18:22Yeah, here it goes.
18:23Come on.
18:24Keep going.
18:29Come on.
18:30There it goes.
18:31Yep.
18:33I could never have imagined chateau life would be this much fun.
18:39And it's not over yet.
18:42Ready?
18:44Are we jumping on this one?
18:45Yeah, there it goes.
18:47Come on.
18:48Keep going.
18:50Come on.
18:52Go further up.
18:56Come on, like a slack line.
19:00Come on, that's good.
19:11Missed the greenhouse.
19:15No lasting damage on the cherry picker, thankfully.
19:20So, that's good news.
19:24They've avoided serious damage so far,
19:27but with two major branches still left to cut,
19:31they're not quite out of the woods yet.
19:38Over five hours south, at Chateau Laribau,
19:42Antiques dealers Paul and Julia are slowly bringing their entrance lobby back to life.
19:50On such a gloomy day,
19:53they're hoping the arrival of a long-awaited delivery will brighten things up.
19:58Oh, there we are.
20:00That's it.
20:00That's the right way up.
20:02Hopefully, if it's the right box,
20:03should be the chandelier that will live in the lobby.
20:08It's a new one,
20:09and sadly, we have to assemble it.
20:14Ah-ha.
20:15Oh, my God, there's arms in them.
20:23Oh, you are.
20:25Their new crystal chandelier is made up of over 100 separate pieces.
20:32Dissemble the bigger crystal dish, part 17,
20:36from crystal column, part 11.
20:39OK, well, we've got...
20:40So, insert the main power cable through the crystal column.
20:48Jiggle it a bit.
20:49That's it.
20:51We just need to get this on.
20:52It's just an awful lot of wires,
20:54and when you're not that way inclined, it's a bit scary, really, but...
20:57You should plug it in and check it's still working after all of that.
21:00OK.
21:00If we don't check the lot...
21:03Check the lot.
21:03And we build the whole thing up.
21:05Check the lot.
21:06Five.
21:09Six.
21:13Seven.
21:14Oh, no!
21:17You see, this is what you get.
21:21It's a terror.
21:23Oh, there's another one.
21:25We've got to take it apart.
21:27It's a bit of a fiddle.
21:29Super.
21:30I think we're done there.
21:31I think we are.
21:32And you plug it.
21:34Plug it in.
21:38Well, that one's working.
21:42But for the chandelier to really shine,
21:45every bulb needs to work.
21:48Three.
21:49The pressure's on.
21:50Two.
21:50The pressure's on.
21:52Thunderbirds are...
21:55Go!
21:58OK.
21:59Enjoy yourself.
22:00Thank you, darling.
22:02That just leaves the crystal adornments to fit.
22:07This is the fiddly bit where we look at the picture
22:12and try and work out exactly what's going on with the embellishments.
22:16This is quite easy because these little pieces just hang.
22:19It's too much glass for a girl like me, I can assure you.
22:28There is a lot to do.
22:31But if you can do it room by room or section by section,
22:36then it makes much more sense.
22:39The chandelier is becoming grander by the minute.
22:48Whoops.
22:50Good start.
22:51It's awfully finickety.
22:52And, finally, it's a dazzling display of dangling crystal droplets.
23:00Well, someone's been busy.
23:05Yeah, that's good timing.
23:06I have literally just finished.
23:08Well, I say I'm finished.
23:10This little baby's got to go on the bottom when we hang it.
23:12But the rest is up to you, my darling.
23:15Yeah?
23:15I'm well impressed you've done this.
23:17Yeah, I'm quite impressed, actually.
23:19Quite glad to have got away from it, to be honest with you.
23:21It's glitzy enough for the job.
23:25Fantastic.
23:27Julia and Paul have a spectacular centrepiece
23:30to grace their entrance lobby.
23:33But there's all the painting and decoration work to finish first.
23:42Still to come, Tim resorts to brute force...
23:46Still no treasure.
23:47..as he tries to reinvent his orangery.
23:52I'm coming down.
23:53Hang on, it's creaky.
23:54..and is it the end for Graham's treasured greenhouse?
23:59Yep!
24:06Back in south-west France...
24:09..Tim and Steve are clearing all remnants of a former gym from the orangery
24:16before making it into a new space for large gatherings.
24:22There's still no treasure!
24:27We take this wall out, we open the whole property up.
24:31Views of the chateau, views of the gardens.
24:34Hopefully it's going to be a nice little moment.
24:37Home, sweet home.
24:51Home.
24:58It's great, loads of light, it feels bigger.
25:01There's a few bits of metal work left to take down.
25:12This will end up being a nice kind of balcony to stand of a glass of wine,
25:16and we'll make it work.
25:17We'll have a wall up to about this high and put a top on it,
25:26so then, kind of, you're part of the room, but you're safe.
25:31It's a lot for the two of them to tackle.
25:37Luckily, we're replacing that light.
25:38I've always hated it.
25:39But they begin by getting the timber in place.
25:47Perfect.
25:48We've got the first, you know, the first spade in the ground
25:50is always, like, monumental,
25:52cos now we've started it, we have to finish it,
25:54so it's always a good kick up the bum to get going.
25:59But there's quite a lot of things to do in there
26:03before it's anywhere near usable.
26:04Tim and Steve have made a start on this massive project,
26:09but there's a long way to go
26:11before the Orangery is turned into a new event space for guests.
26:24Three and a half hours south,
26:27at Paul and Julia's.
26:29The couple are preparing to give their entrance lobby
26:32the wow factor.
26:35The prep work's done,
26:37the ceiling's painted,
26:38and it's now time to transform the walls.
26:43Right.
26:44The movement of truth.
26:45Mm.
26:46We've not used this paint before.
26:48We always use good paint.
26:49This one is meant to be very good.
26:51Supposed to be the best.
26:53Yeah, it's a very expensive paint.
26:55Mm.
26:56It's about £90 a tin.
26:58Is it?
26:59Yeah.
26:59Is it really?
27:00It's about £90 a tin.
27:01Time will tell.
27:02Err.
27:04No splashing,
27:06no spillages.
27:10It's a very different texture
27:12to anything I've used before.
27:14It's actually got marble in it,
27:15grind marble in it.
27:16The marble dust in the paint
27:18gives added texture
27:20for a hard-wearing finish.
27:23Oh, yes.
27:23Oh.
27:24French grey.
27:25Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
27:27Oh, it's really nice.
27:29It's great.
27:30It's a great colour.
27:31OK.
27:33For the wood panelling,
27:35Hall and Julia
27:36have chosen a subtle sage.
27:39Oh, yes.
27:40Boom.
27:41Mm.
27:41I like.
27:44Now, this one's much easier
27:45because it's an eggshell.
27:46It's really easy to mix.
27:48Ooh.
27:49It goes on beautifully, actually.
27:51On the top?
27:52Try it on the top?
27:52Yeah, I will.
27:56It's a bit stronger
27:57than I thought, but...
27:59Yeah, but it was always
27:59meant to be,
28:00because it's family.
28:01I think you'll find
28:03that this picture
28:04is going to soften considerably.
28:06Yeah.
28:07I really like the colour.
28:09I really like the colour.
28:10And I actually like
28:11the flatness of it.
28:12It is super flat.
28:14Um, so, yeah.
28:16Yeah, it's good.
28:18It's good.
28:19Thankfully.
28:20We're in a bit deep now,
28:21aren't we?
28:24I love getting colour
28:25on the walls.
28:26And it's always
28:27such a long journey
28:28to get to this point,
28:30you know.
28:32This is amazing paint.
28:33Absolutely amazing.
28:34Oh, my God.
28:36It's so easy to use,
28:37just to cut in here.
28:39It's just fantastic.
28:43Ooh.
28:45I like it.
28:48It can stay.
28:50All happy with the shades,
28:53by the end of the day,
28:54half the walls
28:55and panelling
28:56have been painted,
28:58giving them a clearer idea
29:00of what the lobby
29:01will look like.
29:03I love it.
29:03Yeah.
29:04I love it.
29:04It's just right,
29:05thankfully.
29:06Um, you know,
29:07it was a significant investment,
29:09I suppose.
29:10So, yeah.
29:11The lobby's such
29:12an important space,
29:14you know,
29:14it's the first port
29:15of entry
29:16for the chateau.
29:17It just felt
29:17slightly disrespectful
29:19that it didn't have
29:20the attention it needed.
29:21And I'm really pleased
29:23that we've,
29:24we've undertaken
29:26this job now,
29:27actually.
29:27You know,
29:28it's just walking in
29:29and having that first
29:30sense of pride
29:31that sort of drives you
29:32on for the rest of it.
29:34Their entrance lobby
29:35is shaping up,
29:37but there's still
29:38half the room to paint,
29:40the chandelier to hang
29:41and furniture to add
29:43to give it the grandeur
29:45it deserves.
29:47Over five hours north,
29:55Gray and Jake
29:56and Danielle
29:56are still
29:58in the thick of it,
30:00removing branches
30:01from an ash tree
30:02which stands
30:03dangerously close
30:04to the chateau.
30:06The one we're going
30:07to do next
30:07is going to come
30:08straight down.
30:09It's going to
30:10hit the laurel bush,
30:12unfortunately,
30:12but sacrifice
30:14that has to be made.
30:16Their treasured
30:17greenhouse
30:17also lies
30:19very close
30:20to that laurel bush.
30:22That's just a,
30:23let's just get it down
30:24and deal with
30:25any collateral damage
30:26afterwards.
30:27The greenhouse
30:38is fine.
30:39It's in fact...
30:40Survived.
30:40Survived.
30:41Success.
30:41Good work.
30:42It's down.
30:43We sacrificed
30:44the rain in,
30:45but that was
30:46in need of
30:46repair or
30:47replacement anyway,
30:48so I wasn't
30:49too bothered
30:49about that,
30:50but it's missed
30:50anything of
30:51significant
30:52importance.
30:55The greenhouse
30:56is unscathed,
30:58but the final
30:59branch calls
31:00for extra
31:01brute strength.
31:02We've been told
31:03to bring in
31:04the truck,
31:05because that's
31:05going to just
31:06keep the tension
31:07to pull it
31:08the direction
31:08we want.
31:09He's going
31:11to take a notch
31:12out of the tree
31:13and he's going
31:14to ask you
31:14to put a little
31:15bit of tension
31:15just so you can
31:16see the tree
31:17starting to lean
31:18this way,
31:19and then when
31:19he's happy
31:19it's leaning
31:20this way,
31:20he's going
31:21to do a small
31:21back cup,
31:22and then he's
31:23going to come
31:23down,
31:24get out of the
31:24way,
31:24and then ask
31:25you to pull
31:26the tree down.
31:26Pull the rest
31:26of it.
31:27OK.
31:29Don't mess it
31:29up.
31:30I'm up for it.
31:31I'll definitely
31:32be wearing my
31:32hard hat inside
31:33the car,
31:34just in case I
31:35get thrown around.
31:35Any damage to
31:36the truck is
31:36your responsibility.
31:37coming down,
31:48hang on,
31:48it's creaking.
31:49Yeah,
31:50so Clive's
31:50coming down
31:51now.
31:52He's happy
31:52he's got his
31:53back cut in.
31:55He can see
31:55the weight
31:56starting to come
31:56this way,
31:57so as soon as
31:57Clive's down
31:58and safe,
31:59put a bit
31:59more pressure
31:59on with the
32:00truck,
32:00and it should
32:01bring it
32:01down this
32:02way.
32:02Important
32:02thing is to
32:03try and not
32:03to let it
32:04go slack
32:05again,
32:05otherwise.
32:06Yeah,
32:06I've got my
32:06foot on the
32:07brake.
32:07I think it's
32:11ready to get
32:12more pressure
32:12and it'll
32:13probably go.
32:13That's it.
32:14Okay.
32:15Whoa,
32:15slowly,
32:16slowly.
32:16Oh,
32:17oh.
32:17Here we go.
32:18Oh,
32:18it's going the
32:19other way.
32:20Never mind.
32:23Yeah.
32:24The old
32:25cherry picker's
32:25been right in
32:26the mix of
32:27it.
32:28The branch
32:28has gone the
32:29complete opposite
32:29direction that
32:30we wanted it
32:31to,
32:31but it hasn't
32:32hit the
32:32chateau and
32:33it hasn't
32:33killed anyone
32:34and the
32:35cherry picker
32:35looks to be
32:35in one
32:36piece.
32:36So,
32:37it's a win-ish.
32:40Tree is
32:41down.
32:42Yeah.
32:42Well,
32:42as much as
32:43we wanted
32:43down anyway.
32:44So,
32:44yeah,
32:45perfect.
32:46Now we've
32:46just got
32:47five days of
32:48clearing up to
32:48do before the
32:49guests arrive on
32:50Friday.
32:50The worrying
32:51branches have
32:53been safely
32:53cut from the
32:54massive tree,
32:56removing a
32:56threat to the
32:57chateau.
32:59Now,
33:00there's just a
33:01mound of wood
33:01to chop and
33:02clear before
33:03the guests
33:05arrive.
33:09Coming up.
33:11Is this
33:11safe?
33:12Tim and
33:13Chris's dream
33:14is sinking
33:15fast.
33:17I didn't
33:17think it
33:18would come
33:18through the
33:18door.
33:19Yeah,
33:19here we
33:19are.
33:20It's
33:20reached the
33:20wall already.
33:21And Julia
33:22and Paul
33:23find a
33:24priceless
33:24antique in
33:26their
33:26outhouse.
33:27Just
33:28seriously
33:28be careful.
33:36In the
33:36Dardogne
33:37at Chris
33:38and Tim's,
33:39progress is
33:40ongoing inside
33:42the old
33:42orangery in
33:44an effort to
33:45make it a
33:45more elegant
33:46event space
33:47for guests.
33:48We've
33:49finished all
33:50of the
33:50stud work,
33:51put hand
33:52rails on
33:52the top,
33:52which look
33:53great.
33:54That gives
33:54us somewhere
33:55neat to
33:55finish the
33:56plasterboard.
33:57So we are
33:58all ready for
33:58boarding.
33:59Luckily so far
34:00with this project
34:01we've been
34:02blessed with
34:02some beautiful
34:03weather, but
34:04today is a
34:04miserable one,
34:05so luckily for
34:06us we're indoors.
34:07I think this
34:08will be a fairly
34:09quick routine
34:10job, but
34:11never say
34:12never.
34:12The
34:16torrential rain
34:17is forcing
34:18Chris and
34:18baby Ollie
34:19to stay
34:20indoors too.
34:22Oh daddy,
34:23oh daddy,
34:24work hard.
34:30I see this
34:31as being the
34:31kind of
34:32building that
34:34gives us the
34:34opportunity to
34:35have parties,
34:37gatherings,
34:39then it'll
34:40pay its own
34:41way.
34:43Tim's working
34:44in the
34:44orangery.
34:45I'm actually
34:45not that
34:46sure what he
34:47plans to do
34:48with it, but
34:49he's got big
34:49plans.
34:51And when he's
34:52busy doing
34:52something that
34:53he really likes,
34:54he doesn't care
34:55if it's raining,
34:55he doesn't care
34:56if it's so hot,
34:57so I think
34:58he's having a
34:59great time.
35:00Right on.
35:00This is
35:01brilliant, really
35:02usable, very
35:03safe, very
35:05nice, being
35:07better when
35:07we've plastered
35:08it.
35:10But before
35:12tackling the
35:13plastering,
35:14Tim and
35:15Steve head
35:16back to the
35:16chateau for
35:17a hot drink,
35:19braving the
35:20rain.
35:20Oh, yeah.
35:28Within a few
35:30hours, it's
35:31clear there's
35:32a big
35:33problem.
35:34The
35:35orangery is
35:36at one of
35:37the lowest
35:37points on the
35:38estate, and
35:39the ground
35:40water is
35:41rising.
35:43We're
35:43surrounded by
35:44rivers, so
35:45it's all
35:45designed to
35:46drain.
35:47However, the
35:49pond is so
35:50high, I
35:51think the
35:52water is
35:52kind of
35:53coming back
35:54up the
35:54drainage
35:54system.
35:55If it gets
35:56any higher,
35:57then we
35:57basically are
36:00flooded.
36:01This is by
36:01far the
36:02highest I've
36:02ever seen it.
36:03the water
36:05continues to
36:06rise and
36:08starts creeping
36:09inside the
36:10orangery.
36:11This I
36:12didn't expect
36:13or anticipate,
36:15as it's never
36:16happened before,
36:17so, you
36:22know, that'll
36:23be no good.
36:24so if it
36:26gets wet, it
36:27will just
36:27go soft.
36:29I'm hoping
36:29these full
36:30boards are
36:30high enough
36:31off the
36:31ground that
36:31this isn't
36:32going to
36:32come any
36:32higher and
36:33cause any
36:33problems, but
36:34I didn't
36:35think it
36:35would come
36:35through the
36:36door 20
36:36minutes ago,
36:37and now
36:38here we
36:39are.
36:39It's reached
36:40the wall
36:40already.
36:45I might
36:46just go and
36:46have a look
36:46and see how
36:47full the
36:47pond is.
36:50It's just
36:51all coming
36:51back into
36:52the land.
36:52If this is
36:54going to be
36:54the new
36:54norm, and
36:55three, four
36:55times every
36:56winter, the
36:56orangery floor
36:58gets flooded,
36:59I need to
36:59take precautionary
37:00measures, and
37:01whatever the
37:02floor ends up
37:03being needs
37:04to be able to
37:04cope with
37:04regular water,
37:05maybe.
37:07Oh, wow.
37:09With a break
37:10in the rain...
37:11Is it
37:12muddy?
37:14Is this
37:14safe?
37:16Chris grabs
37:16the chance to
37:17see the damage
37:18for herself.
37:20This is the
37:21first time this
37:22happens.
37:22Because the
37:23pond is so
37:23high, it's
37:24just...
37:25Oh, the
37:26pond's
37:26bursting over.
37:28That's why.
37:29Yeah.
37:29It's not
37:29blocked, is
37:30it?
37:30But it's...
37:32It's just
37:32really, really
37:33full.
37:33The pond's
37:34higher than
37:34the river.
37:35It's just
37:35there's so much
37:36water coming
37:36crashing down
37:37going into the
37:38pond.
37:38It's just
37:38overflowing the
37:39pond.
37:40What's going to
37:40happen here,
37:41then?
37:41We're just
37:42going to wait
37:42for it to
37:42dry?
37:43Yes.
37:44As long as
37:44it doesn't
37:44go up another
37:45foot, we're
37:46all right.
37:47It's a setback
37:48they could do
37:49without.
37:50I'll see you
37:50later.
37:51I'll get
37:51back to it.
37:52Great job,
37:53Daddy.
37:53See you later.
37:55But Tim
37:56remains optimistic.
37:59The water
38:00seems to have
38:01reached its
38:02resting point,
38:04I would think,
38:05so as long as
38:06it doesn't get
38:07any worse than
38:08this.
38:09It was a lot of
38:09rain, to be fair,
38:10so hopefully
38:11that's all it is.
38:13And this
38:13will sort
38:15itself up.
38:16That is the
38:18one thing we
38:18don't have
38:19with this
38:19property, a
38:20moat or a
38:20drawbridge.
38:23I now have
38:24everything.
38:26Even with
38:26a flood,
38:28Tim has made
38:28progress on
38:30clearing and
38:30plasterboarding
38:31their new-look
38:33orangery.
38:35Once watertight,
38:37the space will
38:38need plastering
38:39and painting
38:39throughout.
38:41So it's not
38:42plain sailing
38:43just yet.
38:48Three and a
38:49half hours away
38:50in southwest
38:51France, Paul
38:53and Julia
38:54are restoring
38:55their entrance
38:56lobby.
38:58Today, their
38:59friend Jason
38:59is going to
39:00help them move
39:01a relic left
39:02behind by the
39:03previous owners,
39:05one of the
39:06chateau's
39:07original mirrors.
39:09It's in one
39:11piece.
39:13Just
39:14seriously be
39:14careful.
39:15One, two,
39:16three.
39:18Right.
39:23I think it'll
39:24go straight on
39:24there.
39:25The mirror may
39:26have been long
39:27forgotten, but
39:28antique expert
39:29Julia has seen
39:31something special
39:32in it.
39:33The chateau
39:34finds...
39:35Actually, it's
39:35lovely to find
39:36something like
39:37this, isn't it?
39:37I mean, you know,
39:38it's everybody's
39:38dream to find
39:39something in
39:40their attic.
39:41And this, for
39:41us, is just
39:42a gem.
39:43The mercury's
39:44really flaking
39:45off there.
39:46Keeping as
39:47much of this
39:48mercury on the
39:48back of the
39:48mirror is
39:49important.
39:50Otherwise, it's
39:51just going to
39:51be a plain
39:51piece of
39:52glass.
39:53You all right?
39:54Yep.
39:57The mirror is
39:58a one-off, so
40:00fixing it into
40:01place is a
40:02nerve-wracking
40:03process for
40:04Julia and
40:05Paul.
40:05The topping's
40:08actually making
40:09me feel a bit
40:10sick.
40:12It just goes
40:13in a second,
40:14you know.
40:15Keep going,
40:16keep going.
40:17Whoop.
40:18Right.
40:20That's it.
40:21It's better in it?
40:22Yeah, yeah.
40:23Nice work.
40:24Ooh!
40:26Hey!
40:27Same now.
40:28Thank you,
40:29Jason.
40:30Thank you,
40:30Paul.
40:30That's lovely.
40:37It's incredible.
40:39They've
40:40successfully
40:41resurrected
40:41part of the
40:43chateau's
40:43history.
40:45Yeah.
40:45Beautiful thing.
40:47We're very
40:48lucky to have
40:48found that.
40:49But there's
40:52more.
40:54Julia
40:54discovered
40:55these
40:55dueling
40:56stags
40:56at a local
40:57brocante.
41:00She's quite
41:01heavy.
41:02Well,
41:03he's quite
41:03heavy.
41:07Made of
41:08bronze,
41:09each one
41:10weighs over
41:1015 kilos.
41:13It's on.
41:15Touching
41:16horns.
41:17I think
41:17they're
41:17gorgeous.
41:19Go like
41:19that with
41:20it.
41:21And the
41:22pièce de
41:23résistance,
41:25the new
41:25chandelier
41:26they
41:26painstakingly
41:27fitted
41:28together.
41:29I can
41:30start
41:30breathing.
41:34OK,
41:35so this
41:36is it.
41:36Three,
41:37two...
41:39Oh!
41:40Whoa!
41:41Yeah.
41:41That's very
41:42nice.
41:43Whoa!
41:44With
41:44the
41:44fixtures
41:45up,
41:46the
41:46furnishings
41:47can come
41:48in.
41:48Starting
41:49with
41:49another
41:50of
41:50Julia's
41:51brocante
41:51buys,
41:52a
41:53patisserie
41:53display
41:54stand.
41:56While
41:56on the
41:57opposite
41:57side of
41:57the
41:58lobby,
41:59a
41:5919th
41:59century
42:00solid
42:01wood
42:01credenza.
42:02That's about
42:03it, I think,
42:03isn't it?
42:04Yeah.
42:05Complete
42:05with marble
42:07top.
42:08One, two,
42:09three.
42:09Oh!
42:09Let's get
42:14your edge
42:14on.
42:17Fingers.
42:17OK.
42:20I think we
42:21need to put it
42:21down.
42:23A few
42:23finishing touches.
42:24I really love
42:28furnishing the
42:29room.
42:30Once we've
42:30got the
42:31bones together
42:32and places
42:33to put things,
42:34this is where
42:35we can do
42:36the embellishment
42:36and that's
42:38the magic.
42:39After four
42:45weeks,
42:46Julia and
42:47Paul's work
42:48here is
42:49done.
42:50What was
42:51once an
42:51unremarkable
42:52thoroughfare
42:53has been
42:56transformed
42:57into a
42:58grand
42:58entrance
42:59lobby
42:59befitting
43:00of their
43:01chateau.
43:02The walls
43:03and woodwork
43:04have been
43:05painted in
43:06classy colours
43:07and a
43:08stunning
43:09crystal
43:09chandelier
43:10shines down
43:11from above
43:12onto a
43:13room filled
43:14with curiosities
43:15and the
43:17unearthed
43:18200-year-old
43:19mirror stands
43:20for all to
43:21see,
43:22reflecting what
43:23is now
43:24the grandest
43:25of lobbies.
43:29Come on,
43:30my love.
43:31Good boy.
43:31Come on,
43:32my love.
43:34My favourite
43:34thing is the
43:35mirror,
43:35actually.
43:36The mirror
43:36is my favourite
43:37thing in this
43:37room.
43:37It's got
43:40better and
43:41better.
43:42I'm really
43:42pleased you're
43:43pleased.
43:45You're
43:46exhausted,
43:46aren't you?
43:47Yeah.
43:52Julia and
43:53Paul have
43:54the entrance
43:55lobby they
43:55have dreamed
43:56of.
43:57But with
43:58more than
43:5812 rooms
43:59still to
44:00redecorate
44:01and make
44:01their own,
44:02there's
44:03a lot
44:03of work
44:04ahead.
44:11Next time,
44:13major
44:14technical
44:14difficulties
44:15could bring
44:16an end
44:17to a huge
44:18renovation.
44:19station.
44:21Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do.
44:23I actually
44:24don't know.
44:24Could it be
44:25too tight?
44:28Yes.
44:29Working on
44:30a chateau
44:31scale forces
44:32one owner
44:33further than
44:34he's been
44:35before.
44:36We're putting
44:36in double
44:37rails because
44:37the height's
44:38so big.
44:39And these
44:40brothers are
44:41on the hunt
44:42for the
44:42dream family
44:44chateau.
44:45Absolutely
44:45amazing place.
44:46Like,
44:46driving up and
44:47seeing this
44:48from behind
44:48the trees,
44:49fantastic
44:49potential.
45:18you
45:19can't
45:20see it.
45:21You
45:21can't
45:22see it.
45:23You
45:23can't
45:23see it.