Escape to the Chateau (2016–2019): Season 7, Episode 3 - Wash House, Trench & Vintage Bike - full transcript

(birds chirping)

[Narrator] In the heart
of the French countryside,

a magnificent Chateau stood
uncared for and abandoned.

Then, six years ago,
everything changed

- Wow.
- Oh, look at that.

[Narrator] When an intrepid
British couple.

- Turn, turn, turn, turn

Wow.

[Narrator] Unlocked
its front door.

- Everything is gorgeous.

[Narrator] Fell in love with its
grandeur and embarked



on an adventure.

- It's so incredibly important
to bring it back to life.

[Narrator] Since they moved in,
engineered Dick Strawbridge

and his wife, designer Angel,
have transformed almost all 45

rooms, including four
sumptuous guest suites

for their wedding
and events business.

But despite their hard work,

their dream often
resembled a nightmare.

- You should not
be able to see

the sky out of your roof.
- Behind every romantic story

is the reality.

[Narrator] This year

life at the Chateau has
been rather different.

- I'm on Heron Island.



[Narrator] With no weddings
and events to host

- I think we need
a roof garden up here.

- All level mathematics
from 1975.

[Narrator] They can tackle
bigger
projects than ever.

- This I'm thinking is
a big swimming pool.

- I've got a headache.

[Narrator] And there are lots
of surprises in the store.

- Come on, let's have
a little look.

[Narrator] As the
Chateau reveals more secrets.

- I love it.

It's so me.

[Narrator] It's time to find
out what

happens next in this 21st
century French fairy tale.

- I think this is a good
reason to buy a horse.

- (laughter)

(upbeat music)

[Narrator] As summer turns
to autumn,

the trees surrounding
the Chateau are beginning

to turn a magnificent
golden color.

- Are you're coming too Petal.

[Narrator] But the changing
seasons aren't the only things

reflecting the
passing of time.

- Come on, Petals coming too.
Come on Arthur speed over

there, let's see
if you've grown.

[Narrator] Every year
It's a Strawbridge tradition

for the whole family to have
their height recorded.

Starting with the youngest.

- You measure a dog
to her withers.

[Narrator] Petal their nine
month old Kerry Blue.

- Stay there.
Stay there.

Stay there. Stay there,
Dorothy, I got it.

Dorothy, draw a line there.

Petal

You're a little
small puppy dog.

[Narrator] Patel may still be
discovering life at the Chateau.

-I'm taking off my shoe
[Narrator] but six year old

Dorothy has known nothing
else.

- Heels down nicely.

Heels down nicely Dottie.
- Standing up.

- Standing up nice
and straight.

That's almost as horizontal
as a horizontal thing.

Okay, stop.
Hold on Doh doh.

And we're going to say
it is there.

September 20.

[Narrator] Arthur m
only be a year

older than his sister,
but is almost head

and shoulders above her.
- Head up.

[Narrator] And not that
far off Angel.

- Okay, no, you can't
you can't have grow that much.

It must be a mistake.

- Thats nearly a year

That is nearly a year Arthur.

Arthur honestly, that
is really, really scary.

That is 8 CM.

[Narrator] Arthur's not the only
one having a growth spurt.

- Daddy's been eating all his

vegetables because
look how big I am.

I've grown two inches because
I've eaten all my veggies.

- Dad you didn't take off
your shoes.

- That's true.

- Oh, that means
you've shrunk.

- I don't think the children
get any bigger.

We're just getting smaller.

Yes, I'm getting older.

What's your excuse?

This is a very boring.

Maybe the subsidence,
the subsides in the Chateau.

We got nothing to worry
about Angela

just subsidence in the Chateau

(cheerful laughter)

(soft music)

(birds chirping)

[Narrator] With a growing family
comes an ever increasing list

of needs, like a proper
grownup bicycle.

for Dorothy

But this new set of wheels
isn't exactly new.

- Not much the bike left,

but all in all with some new
little bits added onto it.

It's gonna be gorgeous.

[Narrator] Dick and
Angel discovered

the rusty remains while
transforming this outbuilding

into Dick's new
supersized man cave.

- Is fits.

- Did you get the right one?

Look at that.

The workshop is here for all
sorts of different things.

And then you're going to say

some are more
important than others.

But this is a bike
for Dorothy.

So it's really quite
important now.

Mommy bought the colors you

said you wanted. Are they
the right colors?

- Yes, this is the order.

Don't go in that order.

It's fine.

[Narrator] Complicated
color scheme, confirmed.

Dorothy decides to leave

the rest of the restoration
to the experts.

Though she is more than

willing to provide
entertainment.

(drill sound)

(birds chirping)

[Narrator] Bike restoration
is one thing

but, Dick and Angel have
bigger plans in mind.

Surrounding the Chateau are

numerous outbuildings,
and each one was in its

hay day, essential
to the smooth running

of a typical 19th century
aristocratic home.

A coach house for the horse
drawn carriages. Now home

to Angels parents,
Jenny and Steve.

Alongside the 2000 square
meter Walled garden,

the old stables and stalls
now containing Dick's new

workshop, an old piggery,
an elegant orangery,

the remains of an
underground ice house.

And over by the dolphin.

The Chateau's own boat
on the moat, an old washhouse

for the Baglioni
family's laundry.

And it's here that Dick

and Angel have turned
their attention.

- Come on, Dorothy.

Come on, Mrs.

[Narrator] First though there's
some tidying up to do.

- Come here, mommy.

Mommy's a farmer at heart.
Did you know that?

[Narrator] The garden

around the boat needs some
end of season maintenance.

- That's just one nettle done.

This could take longer
than I thought.

[Narrator] Arthur though is far
more interested in forging.

- Let me see
this wing.

Oh, that smells amazing.

At seven years old,
I did not know the difference

between wild wing
and a stinging nettle.

(laughter)

(lawn mower)

[Narrator] Dorothy also shows
off her horticultural know how

by harvesting the last
of the lavender.

- You could make some lavender
bags with these, lovely.

(lawn mower)

(upbeat music)

[Narrator] Since buying the
Chateau five

years ago, Dick and Angel have
worked tirelessly.

To make sure their guest
accommodation is as welcoming

as possible, be it in the four
luxurious suites in the Chateau

itself or sleeping under
the stars in style

at the Glamping site.
Last year,

they added the Dolphins,
a 35 foot narrow boat,

transforming her into a
romantic floating boat home.

But as ever, the Strawbridges
can see room for improvement.

- There's a little loo in the
shower in there, but it's not

very it's. - It's very small,
and
we need something different.

- So what Mommy wants to do.

She wants to turn this

into a lovely place
for anybody staying

in the boat to have
the loo in the shower.

I hate to think what's
in Mommy's head.

- I think I've got to see what,
what is actually down there.

First of all.
[Narrator] Just a few mete

away from the boat are
the remains of the Baglioni

family wash house.

They just need to try and get

near it to see
what's possible.

- You can see what
it looks like.

- Well, we couldn't get here
a couple of minutes ago.

Wow.
- Well, did you find a path?

I think we're going
to explore the path.

- Let me just go and have a.

- Mommy's going to make it safe
for her little ones.

It feels quite, magical
coming down.

- It's actually quite special.

- Quite exciting, isn't it?
Come on.

- Let me see.

- That was a jungle.
- Wow.

Wow.

- It's huge.
- Okay, it's huge. Yup.

[Narrator] Behind the small
door lies

a lot more than Dick
an Angel expected.

In fact, nearly 35
meters squared.

- It feels like this is too big
just to have as a bathroom.

We would not have a bathroom
even in the Chateau

this big.
It's huge, isn't it?

- And considering
that it's not

a bath bathroom, this is for
a quick shower type thing.

- Well.

[Narrator] Soon though, the
size of the job is growing.

- I have got a couple of ideas
because I just.

- Do you know how much
that hurt? That statement.

- Can we have glass,
so we could look out?

- There's nothing to see.

We're in the hole.

- Whenever we're
in our bedroom

Dorothy's always like, here's
the heaven, here's the deer.

They all call cause everything
comes from over here, isn't it?

When we look out and I wonder

if that how we can
incorporate that into this.

- Everybody put
their hands up.

We thought that this was
going to be a bathroom.

(laughter)

Hands up.

Everybody who thinks it's
going to be a bathroom now.

- With a nature observatory.

(laughter)
Ok

Take this door off.

We're going to sort of clear
the area up a bit and then

what we're going to do is
you're going to make

a decision when you
can see more of it.

- Okay.

And we're going to put the
kettle on and make me tea.

- Off we go.

Careful, careful, careful.

[Narrator] It'll
take days to clear.

But by the time the kettle

boiled, Dick's already
unearthed something new.

- Hello.

- Look, there's a massive
big trench here.

- So do you think
that that was

when they used to use
it as a wash house?

- I think when
we clear it out,

it'll tell us
more about itself.

But I think you need to revise

your views when you
see more of it.

- Okay, alright.
I'm open.

You ready for your
foraged wild Mint tea.

- Okay, on me way.

Oh look at that.

- That's lovely.

That should be yours.
- It's hot.

- It's delicious.
-That tastes amazing!

You can't dip a custard
cream in mint tea.

- I can!

[Narrator] A week later,

Angel is keen to check on
progress at the wash house.

- Come on in.

- Come on Petal,
show me the way.

[Narrator] And there's been
a rather exciting discovery.

(laughter)

- Was you expecting that?

- Not exactly.

- Oh my goodness.

The wash house or lavoir was

just one of the many
outbuildings that provided

essential services
for the Chateau.

And 150 years ago,

when the Chateau was built,
this twelve square meter

washtub with the
latest mod Con.

- It's amazing

[Narrator] While lavoir's like
this were usually found in

town squares and shared
by the community.

It seems the aristocratic
Baglioni family preferred

not to wash their dirty
laundry in public.

- I don't quite understand how

you wash clothes in something
in the space this big.

- Where were you going?

- I'm going with
putting a stud

wall up there using about one
a quarter of that part of it

that's if you want to have
a shower and loo.

-I love it.

- I love it.
What is it?

- Umm.

This could be very easily.

A little swimming pool.
Couldn't it?

- Let me go through
my rough draft excuses.

- It is.
- Right.

- This is especially if we get

one of those things
that is current in there.

- Just kidding.
- She's not kidding.

- The kids would
thank you for it.

Let's get Arthur and
Dorothy out here.

- Probably waterproof
it because if you look

- Dick look at me.

- I don't know if we can make
this waterproof.

- Dick you can make any home
in the groundwater waterproof

- Please look
at that for a root.

Hold on.
How long is it?

- This is where me
and Dorothy are

going to learn to
synchronize swim

I got a headache.

[Narrator] The seasons may be
changing, but at the Chateau

there is always one constant,
an infinitely long to do list.

And as turning Angel's swimming
pool vision into more than

a pipe dream will
need specialist out.

Dick called
in the reinforcements,

including, of course,
builder mate, Steve.

- This is going to be
a swimming pool.

I'm not fighting anymore.

[Narrator] Unfortunately,

the lavoir's original Victorian
waterproof lining is showing

one or two signs
of wear and tear.

- I wanted to see
what happened

with the water
because of the plug.

- Right?

- Because we do need a way
of emptying a pool.

- Yes.

[Narrator] Testing
the efficiency

of the original
pipework means

for possibly the first
time in 100 years.

- Got anything yet?

[Narrator] The lavoir
is about to get wet.

-No
- What you mean no.

- No.

- There's enough
pressure there.

- Oh ho! A little bit yep

- Oh, it's pinched here.

-That's better.

- You got some?
- Yes.

[Narrator] But just when Dick
solved one problem.

- The water is not
going down the plug.

- There you go.
Look at that.

- There ladies and gentlemen,

is a plumber with a
piece of Brumble.

[Narrator] Plug
hole unblocked.

Dick's hoping the lavoir's
pipe will empty into the main

drainage system
for the moat itself.

- Steve.
- Yes?

- Keep pushing from your end.

[Narrator] And
after a bit of highly

professional
prodding and poking,

- Not better is it?

- I don't know when the last
time water came down there.

Went to that pipe.

That's going to go
and join our stream.

To join the main,

to join the same to go out
to the Atlantic.

America's only

that way, a long way.

(birds chirping)

[Narrator] Dick's plan
for the new pool house

is also coming together.

But there's not much left
of 150 year old lavoir.

- We have our moat held

in by a big bank that goes on
the far side. 150 years ago,

very cleverly.
They put a retaining wall

on this side and they
built the lavoir.

There's a doorway
to get in down here.

We have got our
pit or big back.

So first things first,
this wall,

which is all crumbling,
needs to be rebuilt.

Then I need to have some
pillars to support the roof.

So pillars, rebuild the wall

where it's broken,
put in a roof.

That's a fairly big build job.

And to do that,
I need reinforcements.

[Narrator]
And those reinforcements come

in the form of two
more Steves and an Andy

[hammering]

[Narrator] While the renovations
of the wash house gets

underway,
Angel heads up to her attic

workroom to think
about the aesthetics.

- I have a feeling I know what

direction I'm going,
but the problem is

the Internet because you get
on here and then you find this

and you're like, oh,
that's what I would love.

I love these mosaics, but
Dick literally shook his head

and went to sleep when I
showed him this picture.

[Narrator]
Luckily another design detail

received a slightly more
enthusiastic response.

- Dick and the kids and myself

have been watching
the whole Karate Kid.

There was a particular thing

to Arthur Love last
week where Mr. Miyagi

starts creating his
bonsai trees in the shop.

And the kids, yeah,
they loved them.

And actually I think that this
is exactly the right place

to have a load of beautiful
bonsai trees.

[Narrator] Mr. Miyagi may
have inspired the bonsai

but it's Angel's vast

collection of vintage prints
that have come up

with the color.

-That's the color palette.

It's got the lovely dusty
pinks and the grayish green.

You know, I love everything.

Kind of Japanese really
organic colors,

some lovely bonsai trees,
a little bit of gold.

Just because I feel like I

need it, I can't take
the bling out me.

(laughter)

[Narrator]
The heavens have opened above

the Chateau and to beat

the weather, the work has
had to progress fast.

- It looks a bit different,
doesn't it?

- It looks like a building.

- What we need is,
I want to once

around the whole lot and I
want a shopping list.

- Okay, alright.

- We need windows
- Yeah, plain can reinforce
glass

- so that's four times window.

[Narrator] Dick may still be
at the planning stage,

but Angel's already
considering colors.

- I did look at finding titles

to this, but I have seen that
you can get a resin paint.

What excited me?
No end.

There's a color palette and
there's like charcoal Gray.

There's a blue black
and I'm quite excited.

And then beautiful tile
- Breathe, breathe, breathe

Breathe, breathe!

Okay, first thing first.

We got enough in here.

- You don't care about
a color palette, do you?

- I don't care at all.

[Narrator]
There is another more delicate

matter to discuss.

- Over in the
corner somewhere

it has to be a little toilet.

- Lets have a look,
this is quite important.

- That's interesting you
flat that way.

It doesn't need to go

to the top, but I think it
needs to be more than saloon

doors.
- Doesn't need a door at all.

- I think if you're in here
together as a couple.

One of who needs
to go to the toilet.

Then it's a bit embarrassing.

When I was in the army,
we had a set of ablutions.

They were called

the Long Drops, and it was
a room probably the size.

And all the way around,

three sides were little holes
in wood, that everybody

sat communally,
like the Romans just to do.

And we all sat in there
having a poop. All right.

- But darling, we're not
in the army and we are,

this is slightly
different, but.

- We have the wall here.

- Yeah

- You cannot be
seen from the pool.

- Okay.

I think this is a good,
good compromise.

(birds chirping)

[Narrator]
But there'll be no toilet.

Never mind a pool
without water.

And unfortunately for Dick,

something standing between
him and the main supply.

A rather angry
gaggle of geese.

(geese quacking)

- Need water in the
ablutions over there.

So the area is getting smaller
for a very short period.

Real time goose moving.

[Narrator] But wrangling geese
is
easier said than done.

(chuckles)

- I got the end.

(geese quacking)

- Oh dog!

I think Petal
wants to help me.

Hmm

Don't even think about it.

[Narrator] But once
he has managed

to persuade them to migrate
a few feet to the right,

a water pipe can start being
laid across to the pool house,

which should prove
rather handy.

- Temporary,
reduced enclosure.

You'll never know.

[Narrator] Geese successfully
gathered.

Things are also moving
on a pace in the wash house.

- These blocks.
That's for your steps

[Narrator] They may look like
ugly cement bricks now,

but in Angel's capable
hands

- Right there.

- So I'm going to start
at the back, yeah

- You've got the biggest
job there, Angela.

- Hold on one more.
All right.

They're looking like stairs.

[Narrator]
They're soon transformed

into some sturdy steps.

- That's quite.

Yeah, yeah.
That's not bad at all.

[Narrator] With the inside
coming on, Dick can turn

his attention to the window
frames for the outside.

- Mmm

This is a big old window.

If it's a single pane

of glass, it's
going to be heavy.

It all seems like
a good idea to you.

Come down to
the last little bits.

You know, the last 20%
takes 80% of the effort.

I still think it's complete
overkill for a loo.

[Narrator]
But each bespoke window will

need a bespoke frame made.

Finally, Dick has the perfect
excuse to bring out his

vintage lathe

- It's just so
nicely engineered.

[Narrator]
It may be old, big and bulky,

but Dick is completely
and utterly smitten.

- It is a big toys for boys.
It is, yeah

But it's
also very serious.

[Narrator] And as it is first
opportunity to play with it,

Dick's not just excited,
but OK, so rather nervous.

- Good.

Just remind me what
I'm doing right.

Alright, quick check
everything's tight.

Okay.
This Tommy bar is out.

Then we do it now.

(machine working)

That's what's
supposed to happen.

(drilling)

[Narrator] With a
multifunctional lathe like this.

It's plain sailing, cutting 32
meters of wood down to size.

- And we like it

Now that's the sort of machine
you have to respect.

(geese quacking)

[Narrator]
But the pool house isn't

the only thing taking up.

Dick an Angel's time.

Bringing Dorothy's old bike
back to life has now become

for both parents
a true labor of love.

- I've been handed
the butt end of the bike.

Dorothy, she wants a fade.

I have what people doing it

on the internet and I have
to say there is an art to it.

Let's see.

Well, there's definitely more
on the bottom than the top.

The bit that Dick is doing
the brakes and the really

important safety parts are
all well and good

but Dorothy.

Is gonna want
a good paint job.

(laughter)

Ahh the stress

[Narrator]
So before she goes too far,

Angel's keen to confirm her
young client's strict

instructions on how
the colors blend.

Is this fade.?

- Like.

Blending
- The blending, yeah.

- So that's what
that's happening.

- So you're happy with that?

Let's look at the bike frame

and work out what
colors are going to be what

Okay?

How about we do this blue
this bit here?

I'll put that here.

I haven't even finished yet.

- Umm, how about we do this.

Right here

blue, blue, blue

-Yeah
- And then all of this colorful

and then blue and then pink

And that's the way I want it.
- Okay

[Narrator] Now there's a
clear vision at least

in Dorothy's head.

- Then we
should get started.

[Narrator]
It's time for Angel to commit

to the rather complex
color scheme.

- You can shake it and I'll
just take this one.

[Narrator]
Angel's even managed to source

a special eco friendly paint.

No face mask required.

- Go give me a little
dance with it Dode's.

[Narrator] A fact also
worth dancing about.

- Is it good?

- I love it.

You love it?

- Oh wow.

[Narrator] But like her mom,
Dorothy is also a perfectionist.

- Mom

need a bit more like that.

(laughter)

[Narrator] Over the past
five years, Dick and Angel

have worked hard to
bring their beautiful

Chateau back to life.

Now their attention has turned

to its outbuildings
and in particular,

the remains of the old
lavoir or wash house.

- It's just so exciting.

[Narrator]
What was once a giant washing

tub is about to become
a miniature pool for their

guests, decorated with dusty
pinks and soft greens.

- This is great.

I was a bit dubious,

but actually there was
an elegance to it.

now it's painted.

[Narrator]
But a supply chain hiccup has

meant Angel's had to adapt
some of her design decisions.

- I genuinely wasn't going

to wallpaper the ceiling until
we couldn't get any plaster.

The French do it,
like lots of houses.

Everything sort of covered
ceilings again wallpaper.

And it's something that we

don't really do as much,
but they do it because you

lying it and your
wallpaper it.

You don't have to plaster
it in the same way.

[Narrator]
Wallpapering the ceiling

will not only cover the cracks

but also give their guests
something to look at.

- You know, doing a bit of

back stroke.

Looking up at the lilies.

It's just lovely.

[Narrator] To find out whether
her other idea works.

Angel needs builder
mate Steve's expertise.

Now I've got
[indistinct] on this Dave.

I forgot this is going
to be a messy job.

[Narrator] Angel would like the
lavoir pool to have curves in

all the right places,
like an enormous roll top bath.

And that means
cutting corners.

(sawing)

- Alright, let's see.

That's all you need.

That's perfect.
Yeah, right.

I'm well, those with that.
Okay.

I actually wanted a bit
of a pattern.

Right, let's see where we can
have these in.

This is one, two, then,

one in the center of that,

it just feels like it needs
to be more natural out here.

- Yes.

- Plan achieved. do you want me
to start cutting them for you.

- Go on then.

(laughter)

(upbeat music)

[Narrator] Now she knows
that her main

design ideas are
going to work.

Angel can focus on the little

details, like miniature
bonsai trees.

She and Dick just
need to agree how

- I love it already.

And I think that in a pot

with a little trim, we could
work on that one together.

- No, no, no, no yours.
That's yours.

[Narrator] Instead of joining
forces.

- So the one I'm going to go
for is going to be, this one.

[Narrator] Dick declares a
battle of the bonsais.

- Well, Darling, we're both
gonna say each other

is the winner right?

- No, I don't give over.
I'm going to beat ya.

(laughter)

- I gotta go find my ying or
my zing or my zen something.

I'm gonna find those.

- Yeah alright, I'm going to
go find my success

- I'll get my saw.

[Narrator] Bonsai literally
means planted in a pot

and involves pruning
the roots and branches

of trees to create
miniature versions.

It's also meant to encourage

patience,
reflections and calm.

- Really competitive
already, isn't it?

- It's not Darling.
I'm not being competitive.

By the way.

- You're doing competitive
one in our family.

Well, I was gonna make you

a cup of tea and
sort of like.

- Yeah, you you're
gonna do.

Darling we both know,
now we are in the zone.

Neither of us is gonna stop
until we get to that stage

[Narrator]
While Angel has a designer's

delicate touch.

- Look. That already looks
good, right?

[Narrator] Dick goes
in for the kill.

- That was brutal.

And I've never done
that to plant before.

- I know that was a bit
scary, wasn't it?

- Let me go.

[Narrator] Though she
preferred not to compete.

Angel soon takes the lead.

- Right? My next one.
Okay.

[Narrator]
And breaks out the big guns.

A cake stand.

- Yeah, I'm just
gonna work on mine.

- It's interesting because you

hold it up, you look and you
see some shape in it, yeah?

And then
I'm still being brutal.

There's another one to go.

- Look what you've
made that in to.

- Am I allowed to tweak it?

- This is what you think about
Bonsai, doing little snips.

A little pair of scissors.

- You don't want any?

I just checking.

I love you.

You know that.

[Narrator]
But just as Angel has almost

pruned her way to victory,
Dick discovers his inner zen.

- There we go.

- That looks lovely baby.

[Narrator]
Over at the wash house.

Digging and drilling holes
for the pools recycle

filtration system is more
familiar ground for Dick.

- I'm gonna take
this to a bad boy

gonna make sure.

It ends up in the hole.

(machine drilling)

[Narrator] At the top
of the Chateau, well

away from ditches and drills.

Angel and the children are

climbing up to her
attic workroom.

Angel wants to make scented

bags using lavender gathered
from the Chateau grounds,

and she's hoping
the children will help her.

- Fabulous, fabulous

Dorothy.
Let Mommy show you.

You hold this.

Get the other hand.

Yeah, perfect.

Is that smelling
amazing or what?

Let us choose the
fabric you want.

These are beautiful.

Okay,

we have very, very bespoke
of lavender bags we've made.

However, these take honestly,
60 seconds to make, so simple.

So I've got my little
bit of tea towel.

And throw my little tag to be,
I'll probably have it here.

[Narrator] A quick
seam or two.

So this is my
cute lavender bag.

My assistant like to actually
help me put some lavender in.

It smells really good,
doesn't it?

- A little bit more?
- Oh, A little bit more, yeah.

Absolutely.

Quite brilliant.
Well done? nighty.

[Narrator] But Arthur
seems to have

succumbed to the Lavender's
sleepy scent.

(birds chirping)

(upbeat music)

[Narrator] Down by
the wash house.

Dick's bespoke window
frames are being fitted.

- Something quite nice about
the fact this is all

being made

here.

You know what, it's
almost as if that was

supposed to go in there,
isn't it?

[Narrator] But Angel has
designs on the windows too.

I've been inspired

by an incredibly beautiful
and big art deco pole.

[Narrator] By adding simple
wooden straps to Dick's frames,

she's hoping to recreate it,
but on a much smaller scale.

- I think it's going to look
quite sort of striking.

[Narrator] Unfortunately,
their poles proportions.

- Oops.

It can't be this big.

[Narrator] Are proving
problematic.

- They have the height
and minor a stumpy.

And I'm still trying to get
something that looks quite

elegant, but I haven't
figured out yet.

And that's why I'm having
a play before Dick comes

in and says, Aye,
what do you want?

(upbeat music)

[Narrator] It's the end
of a busy day.

The Dick still has some
important work to do.

- It's been a long
time since I

have put together
a bicycle like this.

Hold on. Let me get
it up. Look at that.

Looks like a bicycle.
Put this on here.

And we turn the wheel.

Goes forward, that
is the right size.

I'm putting modern

bicycle equipment onto an old

bike, which is
always interesting.

[Narrator] Following
in her mom's

footsteps, Dorothy has
an eye for design.

I would never have thought
of a paint job like this.

but, it looks sweet doesn't.
Come on.

She's done a great job.

And what's more,
Dorothy knows her mind.

[Narrator] But Dick has
other priorities.

- Brakes very important.

Gotta keep my girl safe.

We use to think we were
lucky if we had one break.

(laughter)

(birds chirping)

[Narrator] The big
day has arrived

for Dorothy's first ever
grown up bike to be revealed.

- Here, shut her eyes.

You wait there.
You wait there.

are they shut?

(excitement screams)

-What do you think?
-I love it!

Yes!

[Narrator] And she can't wait
to climb into the saddle.

- Are you ready?
Oh, she's off.

She's off.
She is off.

Steady, steady, steady!

Hold on.

This bike is
probably older than me.

Nice and steady.

Oh!

Don't go too fast for Daddy.

Well done.

- Oh, wow.

Look at you on that girl bike!

[Narrator] All Dick an Angel
need to do now is keep up

- Come on!

(laughter)

(enchanting music)

[Narrator] Work to
convert the remains

of the Chateaus 19th century

lavoir into a 21st century pool
house is going swimmingly.

(upbeat music)

Going to be
insulated by the leaves.

[Narrator] Dick's next
job is to create

a sustainable heating
system for the pool.

Using one huge
flexible solar panels.

- We're gonna make our frame
and then pop this on it.

The painting all
comes afterwards.

A thing of beauty.

[Narrator} Roofer mate Stev
offers an extra pair of hands.

Always thrifty Dick aiming

for free hot water
all year round.

- This

is a hinged

solar thermal collector frame.

Alright, it's four pieces
wood and six pallets.

Well, that's exactly
what it's going to be.

That's more of the point.

[Narrator] And as usual,

his plan involves turning
modest materials into a fully

functioning example
of ingenious engineering.

- Have a come.

It's a good start.

This actually comes up right.

What we have, the sun is
going to be up there.

Autumn, winter.

In fact, the lowest point,
the sun only really comes up

above the height
of the Chateau there.

Middle of December.

Could be like that.

Could be like this.
In the middle of the summer.

But whatever it is,
we try and make as efficient

as possible by pointing
at the sun. Up and over.

One solar collector.

Yeah,

I can feel it in my worts that
this is coming together nicely.

(birds chirping)

(upbeat music)

[Narrator] Soon,

Dick and Angel's moment
of truth arrives.

- This is exciting.

[Narrator] It's time to fill
up the pool

and find out if
it's water tight.

- Dun dun.

- Okay

- Alright.
I think that, leave it for

a couple of hours.
- Our Kids are gonna

be so excited.

[Narrator] As the leaves
turn golden outside.

It's time for Angel to put her

signature finishing
touches to the lavoir.

- I did say,

was gonna find a way
to get some gold in here.

(laughter)

[Narrator] Angels
glimmering grout

mirrors, the opulent
fireplace on board their

canal boat, the dolphin.

- This the Dolph.

Private swimming quarters.

There's nothing
straight in this place.

It just never quite knows
what eye lines will take.

A little bit like
the house, actually.

[Narrator] But when it comes
to installing Angels art deco

window design,
Dick soon discovers that his

wife's eye line is the only
one that matters.

- The first one you got
up needs to come out.

- I haven't started yet.

- Oh that's why.
Not very good.

- Are you happy
with it vertical?

No not at all as well.
Its was off.

In, in, in, in.
In, in, in.

In.

In, in.

Uh Yep!

- Yeah?

No. No

Down, down, down, down,
down, down, down.

Down, down, down, down,
down, down, down.

Stop!

Great.
Perfect.

Or maybe come up tiny a little
bit on the right, your left.

[Narrator]
The lavish lavoir is coming

together, but it still needs
its competitive bonsais.

- That does actually look
really beautiful.

- So you're using mine
to frame your two.

- I'm trying to make your one
look good.

First prize gets
to go into the pool first.

- Oh

- What if I don't win?

(laughter)

[Narrator] The pool's water
might not

have had a chance to heat up
yet, but Angel's already keen

to create a warm
and welcoming atmosphere.

- I want this place to feel
like a spa.

Babe, can you smell this.

- Wow, lovely.

- Right.
Okay.

Pick your favorite two.

I'm going to have
a little bag on this one.

I just can put them over the
chair, so it smells amazing.

Feels like a spa
when you move.

- It actually doesn't
a very lovely.

- It does.

- If you have it
by your head there.

You can smell and fall asleep
everytime you sit down.

- I know.

[Narrator] Over the
past weeks,

the derelict lavoir, a piece
of forgotten Chateau history

has been given a new
lease of life.

What was once a ruined
washhouse reclaimed by nature,

is now the Chateau's very own
Oasis of calm.

A hidden retreat for both
guests and the family to enjoy

the tank where
Chateau servants,

once washed clothes,
brought back to life as

an enchanting private pool,
surrounded by personal

touches, handcrafted
by the whole family.

- This feels really
cozy in here now.

And I love that we've been

sympathetic to the
original building.

We've got all the gorgeous
walls and the shades

and the lavoir, which we
did not know was here.

And yet the little bits
that I love, the windows.

They feel really Art Deco.

It's a simple thing.

But I love it.

And this little area.

You know, this is the picture
that was in my treasure.

I loved it.

And actually it
was only today.

I thought, why is
that not in here?

It feels exactly right here.

And we've had so much
fun doing the bonsai.

This place.

The kids are going to love it.

It feels magical.
You know,

it's not only original,
it feels very, very special.

Thank you, Mr.
Strawbridge.

This is an absolutely
lovely toilet.

- You are such a Miki taker.

- Do you know what I'm missing
apart from the children?

- What?

Peacocks.

- Well, I'm a Peacock tamer.

So, you know.

You've heard the racket
they make?

It's really peaceful now

- It going to be a bit less

peaceful when
the kids come in.

- Wow!

- In you go.

- That's a bonsai!

- A bonsai?

- Yeah!
I'm jumping in

- Wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait

- Look around first

- Okay.

[Narrator] Before the pool
party can get

underway, there's
an important score

Dick and Angel needs settling

by their independent
adjudicators.

- Mommy and Daddy made
those bonsai trees.

Okay.
Now what we have to do is you

two have to look
at the four of them.

And judge which you think
is the best bonsai.

- Okay, now bonsai is also
you know about the bits

that aren't perfect and see and
the chunks that's really
unusual.

- And my wife

[indistinct]

[Narrator]
But discerning Dorothy can't

be swayed

- I made my decision.

Which would you think they are?
- Oh, my goodness.

Oh, it's two to zero
rate that I win.

[Narrator] Dick's diminutive

tree might have
taken the title.

- Okay, Daddy won.

And the really really
good news is that

he gets to go in
the pool first. Yay!

(cheering)

Yay!

[Narrator] After all
the hard work.

Dick and Angel know the future
will be overflowing

with cherished family memories
for many years to come.

Smile for Mommy!
Dorothy.

- I'm so cold. I'm so cold now!

Oh, my goodness me. Just too
beautiful.

(upbeat music)

[Narrator] Next time, the
Orangery is overhauled.

- Like
all things, it's never easy.

- And this is just the start.

[Narrator] There's anxiety
in the attic.

- Do not have my brave
gloves on me right now

[Narrator] And Dick
causes chaos

in the country side.

- How do I get down?

(laughter)