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  • 5/3/2025
Chateau DIY Season 10 Episode 7

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Fun
Transcript
00:00Across France there are thousands of incredible chateaux many of which lie
00:07abandoned and derelict I don't even know where to start in here heroic couples are
00:13bringing them lovingly back to life I think you got it facing huge challenges
00:19head-on they mean a lot to us these pots in an effort to turn these precious
00:25buildings that's it back into magnificent homes and dream business
00:34opportunities I'm team they'll be triumphs and tribulations
00:44sometimes we should put a bungalow at the sea instead of a 900 square meter chateau
00:50time but all this hard work is so satisfying will reap great rewards this
00:57is what it's about you get covered in muck and then you come out smiling as they
01:01get to live the dream I've been on holiday in it as custodians of their very own
01:06castle hard work but at the end of the day if you can have it like this perfection
01:11really well enough today one chateau couple take on a huge renovation job see the size of this place
01:25and that's the size of my brush it's gonna take me a long time there's an epic challenge ahead of this
01:33pair it's kind of organized chaos at the moment we need to try and get this done as quick as we can
01:38and these two take on their most ambitious project yet I think we're gonna need to repaste yeah more
01:48paste how are we gonna do that then
01:50in the Loire Valley in northwest France lies the beautiful 19th century chateau lagoon
02:05de maison this charming property boasts 45 rooms including a grand ballroom since 2011 it's been
02:20home to musicians Ben and Billy who have been lovingly restoring it ever since this chateau is
02:29really part of our family I think it's been even more extraordinary than we could have imagined because
02:34it's like falling head over heels in love and then that relationship deepens and develops but like us
02:41and you discover new things this particular chateau is really a once-in-a-lifetime type project we're very
02:48lucky it's like living in a dream and we don't want to wake up that's very good
02:58located near the town of so mu Ben and Billy run the chateau as a stylish B&B and events venue
03:09when we last saw them they redecorated the attic space which was the first room they renovated back
03:18in 2012 and turned it into a chic space for guests to stay it's really inviting and very sophisticated in
03:30here now really elegant we're finally out of dirty clothes it feels really nice it feels good hope you'll
03:36stand here tonight
03:37Ben and Billy are now preparing for their first event of the new season which is in two weeks time
03:46I'll be the front end okay I'll be the back end the usual pantomime horse arrangement there's lots to do as they want to transform the chateau's huge entrance and vast stairwell
04:04it's a big challenge as it spread over three floors and has barely been touched since they moved in
04:14this is where people step through the door for the first time so it's really got to make the right first impression some good paintwork can really really make a big difference
04:25Ben I think you're going to mainly do the walls aren't you it's something that will take some time but we haven't got that long to do it it's got to be quick but fantastic
04:36bye Ben's plan is to start at the top and work his way down let's see what it looks like
04:47let's see what it looks like
04:54I like it like it already
04:58Billy meanwhile has eight giant three meter high doors to tackle
05:04I can reach up to here
05:08so obviously I'm going to be getting on a ladder at some point but I'll just do the easiest things first I think low hanging fruit I'm going to start
05:16down here got massive tins of paint but we're using sort of like old take away tubs you know reduce for use recycle haha lovely
05:30get it on goodbye Brown I saw a book in the newsagents here called Cinquen Nuance de Gris I think we know it as Fifty Shades of Grey
05:43basically this is what we're going for we're going for a couple of shades of grey that match the grey in the floor
05:49right can't leave any little lumps and bumps or drips
05:55hopefully by the time I get next to the doors this is not beautiful next to the biggest grays
06:00we did make a little swatch and it looked good about that big whether it looks good on a chateau size who knows
06:07we've worked out that we should be able to get it done in 13 days
06:11and we've left ourselves 14 days
06:13and I can just see ourselves whizzing forward 14 days
06:17with the 10 minutes before people arriving
06:19we're still finishing off but hopefully not
06:21it's a painstaking task
06:24especially as Billy is a stickler for detail
06:28so I'm doing the edges
06:30look at that
06:32see the size of this place and that's the size of my brush
06:35it's going to take me a long time
06:37with just the two of them to do all the work
06:42this job is set to run and run
06:46further north in the region of Brittany
06:57lies the run-down 19th century Moulin du Quenon
07:03it's a crumbling flour mill
07:06which has been left abandoned for over 40 years
07:10inside it's a wreck filled with remnants of its historic past
07:15the property has five floors
07:21several outbuildings
07:24and includes a jeet
07:28ready to give it a new lease of life
07:31our experienced chateau renovators Donna and Paul
07:35who bought it for under £100,000 in 2024
07:40you look at the building you look at where it's situated
07:46and it's breathtaking even in its dilapidated state
07:50there's no electricity no water no sewage
07:53hardly any windows
07:54hardly any windows
07:55I said to Donna when we were looking that you know
07:58if you let me do this you can do whatever you want inside
08:01gosh it's going to make the most fabulous house
08:05I mean look what's not to like
08:07I know
08:08located just a 20 minute drive from the coast
08:15this mill is a colossal long-term project
08:20for now Donna and Paul are hoping to get the jeet into a habitable state
08:26within two months
08:29they've recently created space for a bedroom
08:35one two three
08:37and installed the first of the windows
08:41laid in bed
08:43looking at that view
08:44perhaps makes this space look almost doable in six to seven weeks
08:48it does
08:49yeah
08:50now things are moving at pace
08:54the windows are all in
08:56and the jeet has a completely new roof
08:59and they've also started to build a new roof
09:04on the main building
09:06all the slates are off
09:08they've replaced a lot of the rafters
09:10a lot of the old timbers out
09:11there's kind of now
09:13some urgency for the demolition of the top part of the silo
09:17because it's now stopping the roofers continuing the roof work
09:21because it's kind of sandwiched up to the building isn't it
09:24yeah so we need to get on with that
09:27the enormous silo was used to store 200 tonnes of grain
09:33and removing its top is a huge task
09:37this roof needs to come down completely
09:39we hadn't really planned to do it now
09:41but the guys are doing so well with the roof
09:43that we need to get this wall down
09:45and allow them access for the facade
09:47the moment the guys are working on the front of the roof
09:49but very quickly they'll be coming over the back
09:51to put the membrane in
09:52so we need to try and get this done as quick as we can
09:55Donna meanwhile is starting to clear the tons of debris
10:02so it's kind of organized chaos at the moment
10:06but I'm going to try and move the majority of this slate
10:09and then I'll kind of swap onto wood until it's clear
10:14so keep me out of mischief for a little while
10:23it's back breaking work especially as the rubble needs transporting
10:28down two flights of stairs
10:31but thankfully Paul's invested in a motorized winch
10:36a new toy and I get to play with it today
10:38it's normally Paul gets all the toys and the fun
10:41so we'll see how well it works
10:44there's a remote somewhere
10:47it's here stop start up and down I should manage that
10:50I still have to walk up and down the stairs mind how many times won't I
10:56it'll take 400 kg so just sit in the bucket and lower yourself down
11:00how much do you think I weigh?
11:01the slates are about 350
11:03oh okay thank you
11:05look at that one now
11:12right I'm going to get back to the demolition
11:14yes
11:28Donna's off to a good start
11:35and the broken slates are not going to waste
11:38as they're perfect for filling up a hole in the sheet floor
11:47this void was huge
11:49you know I could stand in it and just my head
11:51and we would have had to fill it anyway
11:53you know so that we can put a new floor in
11:56and that's so it saved us having to buy hardcore
11:59and all that so
12:02yeah
12:03it's coming handy
12:05it's a great way to recycle
12:09but with just one bucket
12:12it's set to be a time consuming job
12:16and with Paul also having his hands full
12:21this epic project is only just getting underway
12:30coming up
12:31Billy gets more than she bargained for
12:34that's horrific
12:36if this paint was a good french cheese the mould would be fine
12:39and Donna finds herself in a pit of despair
12:44every time I compact it down
12:46the level keeps dropping back down
12:48it looks like I've done nothing
12:56in Normandy in northern France
12:58is the charming 19th century Chateau Trois-Cloches
13:06set in several acres
13:08the impressive property boasts 20 rooms
13:11several buildings
13:14and a beautiful orangery
13:17designed by the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower
13:21since 2022
13:25it's been owned by celebrity assistant Chris
13:28and husband Jolyon
13:30a civil servant
13:31who have been renovating it
13:33ever since they moved in
13:35had quite a clear vision before we even bought the Chateau
13:38we had mood boards for almost every room
13:40and luckily I'd say
13:42we pretty much agree on most of the design stuff
13:45Chris tends to be a little bit bolder
13:47and a little bit more ambitious
13:48and I tend to be like
13:50oh I don't know
13:51and a little bit nervous
13:52I don't know what trusts me
13:53yeah and then I go with it
13:54and then normally I end up loving it
13:56located just a short drive from the coastal town of Enfleur
14:05Chris and Jolyon bought the Chateau for 520,000 pounds
14:10and run it as an events venue
14:12they've recently begun renovating their tired dining room
14:20I don't think you've got the right ones
14:23but adding wall panels proved anything but easy
14:27oh it's a disaster
14:315
14:33that works well there
14:36I think I'm alright now
14:37despite a few setbacks
14:40it was a job well done
14:45that's not going anywhere
14:47that looks really good
14:52now their maritime themed dining room
14:55has been painted
14:56and today they want to put the icing on the cake
15:01we've got an ambitious plan in this room
15:03to put a ceiling mural up there
15:06it's inspired by this picture
15:08that was painted in 1822 by someone called John Constable
15:11and it just reminds me of the Normandy skylines and sunsets you have here
15:15it's probably going to be the most ambitious project in the Chateau I think
15:19alright
15:26I'm going to give you those
15:28this is a first for Chris and Jolyon
15:30as they'll be working 3 metres in the air
15:34well the ladder just doesn't cut it
15:37we got this second hand didn't we
15:38we got this second hand didn't we
15:40yeah
15:41peanuts for it
15:46with the scaffolding tower safely up
15:50nice and stable
15:53the first job
15:54is to remove the old chandelier
15:56so to say we're getting another ladder
15:59I'm using the very technical room to help with these
16:02cheese box
16:06yeah it's off
16:11bye chandeliers
16:12wonder where we'll use that one
16:13we've got a new chandelier
16:17which is beautiful
16:18it's got crystals
16:19and the most important thing is it's dimmable
16:22because Jolyon likes to eat in flood lit rooms
16:24whereas I like to eat in nice candle lit ambient soft rooms
16:28so this way we'll be able to find like a nice compromise between the both of us
16:32flood lit's a bit of an exaggeration
16:34I'd just like to be able to see what I'm eating
16:37for now though
16:39it's all about the mural
16:42the picture has been printed to scale
16:45so they can't afford to make a mistake
16:48so they have at least numbered them which is great
16:50that helps a lot
16:53do you think we can just do it on here and just unroll it?
16:56yeah
16:59so which end is this?
17:01god it's big isn't it?
17:02that's it
17:03I think you've got the right end
17:07the end, what's the right end there?
17:09that will go there, I think
17:11it kind of looks completely different doesn't it?
17:14however, it's proving easier said than done
17:18at the moment it's like that
17:20which
17:22we want it to be the other way, don't we?
17:24we want it to be, so we need to swap round
17:28so that, this end, is going over there
17:31no
17:33it would be a disaster if we put it round the wrong way
17:36it would
17:38with no room for error
17:40Chris and Jolyon have a puzzle to solve
17:43as until they do
17:45their ceiling mural
17:47is going
17:49nowhere
17:50over in Brittany, at Moulin du Quenon
18:00construction workers are still removing the old grain store roof
18:06but thankfully, Donna's job of filling in the gite floor is almost complete
18:13every time I compact it down, the level keeps dropping back down, it looks like I've done nothing
18:17hopefully, I've kind of filled up most of the holes now
18:24I don't know how many times I've done those bites of stairs today
18:28my legs are certainly aching
18:31you know, we've got enough slate in there and it's compacted down now, we've done a bit of sand
18:35mix the concrete tomorrow and then that will give it a couple of days to cure before we think about the screed
18:40work in the gite is on hold for now
18:45as today, more builders have arrived to demolish some empty metal silos which were used to store grain
18:56our focus is mainly be on that building, not this building
18:58not this building
19:01but it's a job that wasn't expected to be done for several months
19:06I don't think Paul's too happy at the moment
19:09there's so much else going on on site
19:11that he said, oh we should have waited and got this done later
19:15but it was an opportunity where the guys were available to come and do it
19:19get the ugly silos out the way
19:22it's a specialist task as they're eager to preserve the largest silo for future use
19:30they're obviously connected with tall ladder and like a gangway
19:35so, yeah, we don't want him ripping that one out and pulling the good silo out
19:41that's quite shocking isn't it
19:46that's one loose
19:52you sure you don't want to keep it now?
19:56don't think we'll be able to use that again, do you?
19:58it will fit!
20:17yeah
20:19it's like sitting on the suitcase when you go on holiday
20:21it's like me packing the suitcase
20:23I think that's a big one
20:26I think that's a big one
20:34it's a big tin up now isn't it?
20:36it is, yeah
20:42if you think for long it's taken, you know, to remove that
20:45probably a total half an hour
20:47we'd have been lucky to get a few bolts out by now
20:49with the job now complete, Paul's already thinking ahead to his next project
20:59I really fancy making like a three-storey house out of that
21:02it's not allowed to touch it until the mill is fully complete and then you can start here
21:07fully complete?
21:09fully complete
21:11aww
21:13it's been a positive day
21:15but with the mill a building site
21:17and the gite not yet habitable
21:20Donna and Paul have a long road ahead
21:32in the Loire Valley at Chateau La Grande Maison
21:36hello dear
21:38I'm meeting in the middle
21:39in the middle
21:41Ben and Billy are still renovating their giant entrance
21:45I think these colours are going to go well Ben
21:48it's hard to tell until they dry completely but I think this is going to go
21:52right now
21:54with their first event of the year in less than a fortnight
21:58there's lots to do
22:00well it's really cold on my hands
22:02cold metal
22:04today they're eager to spruce up the tired chandelier
22:10hey
22:12be careful up there
22:14electricity's off isn't it
22:15yeah it's off
22:17always check
22:21and then it's very dusty
22:23it could probably benefit from a bit of a polish
22:25what we'll do is disconnect it
22:27I'll pass it down to you
22:28mm-hmm
22:30are you ready?
22:31yep
22:33brace yourself Rodney
22:34it's always funny
22:36I'm never going to get tired of that joke
22:41thanks
22:43that's okay
22:45lovely mouth full of dust
22:46the chandelier hasn't been touched in over a decade
22:50and is in desperate need of some TLC
22:53can we just give it a brush up here
22:55oh dear
22:56whoops
22:57to our shame
22:58neither of us have dusted this
23:00for a while
23:01when it's been in situ so
23:03the thing is the dust falls on the top
23:05and we always look at it from the bottom
23:06you see
23:07that's true
23:08and everyone else looks at it from the bottom
23:09yeah exactly
23:10so what harm does it do
23:12alright let's go in and get this thing sorted
23:14sorted
23:17Ben's just hoping
23:19he can restore it back to its 19th century glory
23:23it's a little bit bent in a few places
23:26I'm giving it a good clean and a good polish
23:31Billy meanwhile
23:33is hoping some leftover paint from the ballroom
23:36will spruce up the lights
23:38oh
23:39oh
23:42wow
23:44okay that is an old tin of paint
23:46how long is it since we did the ballroom?
23:49two and a half years
23:51that's actual mould
23:53look at that
23:54maybe take the mould off maybe
23:58oh that's horrific
24:01no
24:02that's disgusting
24:04ew
24:05oh
24:06if this paint was a good french cheese
24:08the mould would be fine
24:10the thing is
24:12we need a look
24:14that is kind of like aged wax
24:17if we get away with this
24:19I'll be just laughing every time we walk onto the chandelier
24:22Billy just needs to test it out
24:25look at this
24:32this is actually going on fine
24:36this is great
24:38I thought that paint was a write-off
24:40but no
24:42this is going to be really good
24:44I mean
24:46mouldy paint better than what was there before
24:49Billy's plan has paid off
24:51looks really good
24:54and with Ben having finished the polishing
24:57if you put them back on I'll put the bulbs in
25:00it just needs reassembling
25:03oh this looks so much better doesn't it?
25:08lovely, do you want to have a look?
25:09let's have a look
25:11lovely
25:13lovely
25:15yay
25:17that's better
25:19so much better
25:21great
25:22that's another job ticked off for this
25:24cool
25:25well done
25:26yeah well done
25:28Ben and Billy are making small steps
25:30but with only ten days until their first guests arrive
25:34their mammoth job
25:36could be an uphill battle
25:43still to come
25:44Chris and Jolyon's plans start to backfire
25:49I think it might be better just peeling off
25:51let's start again
25:53and Donna and Paul reach boiling point
25:58give it slack
25:59take the slack
26:00give me some slack
26:07in Normandy at Chateau Trois-Cloches
26:10where are we starting? over there?
26:12yeah
26:13so we need that piece first
26:15Chris and Jolyon are in the dining room
26:18and have finally come up with a plan
26:21for their giant wallpaper mural
26:23that's on the ceiling like that
26:25yeah
26:27that's right
26:29that was harder than we thought
26:31okay
26:33having solved the puzzle
26:35the challenge now
26:37is attaching it to the ceiling
26:40loads of paste
26:42Chris just hopes some super strength paste
26:45will do the trick
26:47I don't know how fast this goes up
26:49but we should probably work quite
26:51fast
26:53speedy
26:55there she goes
26:57maybe just a little bit more here
26:59and then let's whack up the paper
27:04okay
27:05here we go
27:08I'll try and take the weight as much as I can
27:17let's take a breath there
27:19now it's starting to slow
27:20so we need to shunt it that way
27:22okay
27:24oh no
27:26we're going to need more paste in that corner
27:28I think we're going to need to repaste
27:30yeah
27:31more paste
27:32how are we going to do that then?
27:34having never done this before
27:37it's going to be a case of trial and error
27:40right, ready for round two?
27:42ready? yeah, okay
27:46so I think we had the technique right
27:52okay
27:53okay, it's holding
27:54that's good
27:56look at you, you're prone
27:58just need to know what to hold for you, right?
28:01it might have been easier to paint before, wouldn't it?
28:06no, it would not be easier to paint before
28:09really, that's it
28:11yeah?
28:13good, good
28:14coming through
28:17yeah, we made it
28:18we made it
28:20right, on with the next piece
28:21I think speed is going to be with the essence
28:23yeah, agreed
28:25the tricky task is to ensure each piece is perfectly aligned
28:32so it's overlapping a bit over there
28:35the seam is like priority one
28:40maybe pull it in that direction a bit
28:41in that direction a bit
28:42I think it might be better
28:43just peeling it off
28:45let's start again
28:49it's no easy feat
28:51especially when working at height
28:54okay, that's good
28:56or is it?
29:00if we can just get some of it stuck on the scene
29:03it's almost a four-man job
29:05hint, hint, no
29:07let's get off the farmer
29:09yeah
29:13right, I think we're on the line, that's good
29:16definitely matching up
29:19oh no, that's looking good
29:22the mural is at last beginning to come together
29:27I think the colours are great
29:29and they're a really good match for the walls
29:30so
29:32how are you feeling about it?
29:34I am tired
29:36and I'm in the zone
29:38let's keep you in the zone then
29:39we don't want you leaving the zone
29:42it's a case of so far so good
29:45but until the ceiling is complete
29:48Chris and Jolyon
29:50can't rest on their laurels
30:01in the Loire Valley
30:03oh dear
30:05bending down and standing up
30:06it's so easy on the ground
30:08Billy and Ben's event
30:10is just a week away
30:12and the entrance
30:14is far from finished
30:16and to add to their woes
30:18the original 19th century tile floor
30:21also needs repairing
30:23right, so this is the worst area I think, isn't it Ben?
30:27should we do here
30:29to there
30:31to here
30:32there and there
30:34there are bits missing
30:36so we want to fill them in with plaster
30:38and then I'm going to have to paint match
30:40the bits that we do in plaster
30:42so do not
30:44overdo the plastering
30:45no
30:46try and keep it to a minimum
30:50this is a one shot deal Ben
30:52so make sure it's right
30:54ok
30:56no, no, go the other way
30:58put it to the bottom there
31:00oh well
31:01put it in
31:03it all does that
31:05the floor has to be great
31:06because it's kind of the star of the show
31:08it's what we've matched all the other colours to
31:10so
31:11it's got to look at it's best
31:13we've got so much of it to do
31:15but
31:16it's just going to take the time it takes
31:18and we'll just have to
31:19make sure that it's all done in time
31:26Ben, I think that's great
31:28this is like surgery isn't it?
31:32chateau surgery
31:35I think we should leave it for a bit
31:36yeah
31:37I think that's that done Ben
31:39so far so good
31:40yeah
31:42while Ben carries on with wall painting
31:46Billy's eager to put her artistic talent to the test
31:51I'm a little bit nervous because
31:53like I love painting and the marble effects and everything
31:56but this is quite geometric
31:57it's not normally my thing
31:59not only do I have to match the colour
32:01but it's got to sort of
32:03look like it's been there for a long time
32:05so I've mixed up some colours
32:07I really hope they're going to work
32:09ok
32:11right
32:12hopefully this will match
32:13please match
32:15ok
32:16that looks good I think
32:20I'm happy with the colour match
32:22wet
32:23that colour looks fine
32:24I have to make sure when it's dry
32:27that it still looks good
32:29right I'm going to try this red
32:31ok I'm quite scared about the red
32:36well I think it's a little bit bright
32:39to be honest
32:43it's testing my colour matching to the limit I think
32:46oh my goodness
32:48well I'll certainly feel a sense of achievement if I can pull this one off
32:54Billy is at least off to a promising start
32:58but with more doors to paint and the top floor to decorate
33:02there's still lots of jobs left on the list
33:15over in Brittany
33:17the old grain stall roof has now been removed
33:20and in the sheet
33:23Donna and Paul are starting to make progress
33:27the floor has been filled in
33:31and today they want to install a giant boiler
33:36just thought of hot water and hot shower in here
33:42I mean that's a huge step forward isn't it
33:45the only issue is
33:48they want to mount it
33:50three metres up from the ground
33:52so we've got to get this
33:54to the top of the wall
33:56that way when it's in place
33:58it means that we can actually put a false ceiling underneath it
34:02which will be the ceiling for the bathroom
34:05it's a complex job
34:07especially as there's just the two of them to do the heavy lifting
34:11I think the weight of the hot water boilers
34:15at least would be 50 kilograms
34:17now we've just split the height in two
34:20so we first need to get it on the platform
34:21then we need to offer it up to the bolts
34:24I don't do platforms
34:27right
34:36yeah
34:42yeah
34:44lunches fall off
34:49oh god
34:50It was a bit iffy, wasn't it?
34:56Do you want me to get someone else to give you a hand?
34:59Because you can't lift her on your own on that.
35:04Well, it's lighter than it feels.
35:07How far has it got to lift?
35:09To the top.
35:12It's a good job I'm not big-chested, isn't it?
35:16Me too.
35:21Look at me, up this high!
35:26Right.
35:27Can you lift?
35:31I thought we would have managed it, but...
35:34Yeah, that's still quite a few feet to lift.
35:36That's all right, you come down first.
35:37All right. Yeah.
35:39Paul's plan hasn't quite paid off, but he has another idea.
35:45Right, plan C.
35:47I'm going to cut a hole in the floor and pull it from above.
35:51Desperate times call for desperate measures.
36:02All right, watch your fingers.
36:06You just can't believe it when you see it, can you?
36:08This is what we're doing.
36:10I think I'm going to be through there.
36:11OK.
36:12All right, one, two, three.
36:23Right, give it slack.
36:25What?
36:26Give it slack.
36:27Take the slack.
36:29Give me some slack.
36:33OK.
36:34Yeah?
36:35Table's straight.
36:36Pump down, it's fine.
36:40It's proved anything but easy.
36:43But thanks to Paul's ingenuity, it's finally mission complete.
36:49Well, it's up now.
36:50I needed a plan A, a plan B and a plan C.
36:52Yeah.
36:53It's another step forward.
36:54We just need water now.
36:55Just need, we've got electricity, so we can power it up, but we can't fill up with water, so.
37:02Installing the first boiler is a huge milestone for Donna and Paul.
37:06And with the entire building to renovate, they're at last starting to make big steps forward.
37:20Coming up, Ben's problems start to mount.
37:24It just doesn't scream chateau, does it?
37:27You've got to get everything right.
37:28And it's crunch time for Chris and Julian.
37:32My shoulders are killing me.
37:34Same.
37:34I'm hoping you'll be able to give me a massage later.
37:36Here we go, the gold is going on.
37:48I'm going for gold.
37:50Billy's determined to wow their guests when they walk into the main entrance.
37:56Oh, yes.
37:57Look at that.
37:58That's lovely.
38:01This is where it stops becoming just decoration and starts becoming more decorative art.
38:06It's got loads and loads of panels to do, so probably best not to think about the sheer amount involved.
38:13I'll just do one bit of gold at a time.
38:15With only five days until their first event of the season, Ben's working on the top floor to add his own bit of flair.
38:27The third floor was always the floor they never put so much detail into, because it was for the servants.
38:31I've always thought these doors could do with an extra feature.
38:36The actual doors themselves are really nice, lots of panels, they're a quality door, so there's a good starting point, and Billy's made a start with the painting.
38:43But this coving is just too plain.
38:45It's just a really simple little moulding here and a plain bit of wood here, and it just doesn't scream chateau, does it?
38:51I think the attention to detail is really, really important in a chateau.
38:54You've got to get everything right.
38:55Ben's hoping some leftover architrave from decorating the ballroom will provide that extra touch of elegance.
39:08Right.
39:09Let's try and get the first one up.
39:12I'm just going to put one known in.
39:18Now there's a decision to make, because that's old and not straight.
39:24And this is new, and this is straight.
39:27So I might just try pulling the middle down a little bit, just to kind of compensate for that, so it's not so obvious.
39:39Working on a chateau is a bit like working on a boat.
39:41You know, there's no level on a boat.
39:44It's a bit like that in a chateau.
39:50I'm really happy with that.
39:51That is made, when that's all painted in, that's all one colour.
39:54That's a really sophisticated moulding now, so much better than this plain piece of wood there.
39:58Just waiting for Billy to paint it now, and it'll be done.
40:01It could be a while, as Billy's still working on the first of 35 door panels.
40:08This is really looking great.
40:11It makes it look so finished.
40:13I think now that all the colours are together, the two greys and the golds, now we can see how the look's going to be.
40:19I've got one gold panel done.
40:22Let's have a look.
40:24Ta-da!
40:24Whoa!
40:26That is amazing, Billy, amazing.
40:29Isn't it lovely?
40:30Really lovely.
40:30What a great choice of colours.
40:32Now that says chateau, doesn't it?
40:33That does say chateau.
40:34That's really good.
40:35I've been starting to do the repair on the floor.
40:38This is really good.
40:39So I'm still working on the colour matching, but I think that's pretty close.
40:43Yeah.
40:43I think that's going to get a well when that's all finished, Billy, when people come in.
40:46I think it's really going to look amazing.
40:47Yeah.
40:48Their huge restoration is slowly coming together.
40:52But with so much intricate work ahead, Ben and Billy could be cutting things fine.
41:05Over in Normandy.
41:08Love it.
41:09Very nice.
41:11Chris and Jolian's dining room has come on leaps and bounds.
41:15Now the ceiling mural is complete.
41:19We were working till about 2am last night, and then we spent all day with our hands above our heads.
41:27My shoulders are killing me.
41:28Hoping you'll be able to give me a massage later.
41:31Like this.
41:32It's pretty exhausting, but I really like it.
41:36I love it too.
41:37I really do.
41:38I think once we've got the soft finishings in, I think it's going to be amazing.
41:42Things are looking up.
41:47Then now on the home straight, as it's all about the finishing touches.
41:52For me, this is the best bit of owning a chateau, renovating a chateau at the styling,
41:57where all of your, kind of, move forward, all of your ideas all come together at the last minute,
42:01and you get to see it for the first time.
42:05Perfectionist Chris is going for a maritime theme, and has planned it all with military precision.
42:12Ty's a nice day, I think.
42:15And is a real stickler for detail.
42:18Chris hates this white line where the paper meets.
42:22Actually, I've found, by using some wood filler, it just softens the colour.
42:29Just do that last bit.
42:35There you go.
42:37Invisible, huh?
42:39For a fest.
42:40With the problem solved, it's another renovation off their to-do list.
42:48I love it.
42:49I think it's all come together really nicely, all tied together beautifully.
42:56Just a month ago, this room was empty, tired and outdated.
43:02Now, it's been transformed into a stylish and luxurious dining space.
43:10Stripped back wooden doors, new wall panelling, and a stunning ceiling mural,
43:18complete with chandelier, all help to create a grand feel.
43:23While the addition of nautical furnishings gives the room its added character and charm.
43:33It's looking gorgeous.
43:35And the colours really work with the room, don't they?
43:38It's got the maritime feel, it's got the ships.
43:41It all blends in beautifully, doesn't it?
43:43It does.
43:44I'm so glad it's sort of come together.
43:47Yeah, well done, I think.
43:48It should be very proud, I think.
43:49Yeah.
43:49And what better way to celebrate...
43:53Dinner is served, one more.
43:54Oh, thank you so much. What a treat.
43:58..than with a home-cooked French classic, beef bourguignon.
44:02Cheers.
44:02Cheers.
44:04Santé.
44:04Santé.
44:05With the dining room officially open,
44:08Chris and Julian can get to enjoy it before they're paying guests.
44:13Next time.
44:21A place that's devastation at the moment.
44:24Ben and Billy struggle to hit their deadline.
44:27I am only on the first step and there are like 40-odd to do.
44:31Needs a bit of work.
44:32Will these two chateau hunters ever find their dream home?
44:38That crack is quite worrying.
44:41A lot of work to do.
44:43We've cut one side and then we need to cut the other.
44:46And two Chatelaine risk life and limb.
44:50I can only cross my fingers and hope that nobody's been crushed by the big wardrobe.