Escape to the Chateau DIY (2018–2021): Season 3, Episode 10 - Episode #3.10 - full transcript
Stephanie has a month to convert her old stable into a studio as she has booked her first Art Retreat, but she can't see eye to eye with her mother, Isabel.
Dick, voice-over:
I'm Dick Strawbridge,
and with my wife, Angel,
and our two children...
we're nearly 5 years
into our French adventure...
Dick: Heavy.
Dick, voice-over: ...restoring
this once-abandoned chateau.
We have another capability,
another chateau.
Dick, voice-over: It's brought
plenty of challenges....
Dick: Whew!
Dick, voice-over: ...but also
some amazing rewards.
Angel: I love you.
Dick, voice-over:
And across France,
there are dozens of other Brits
who have bought
their own chateaus.
Oh, wow!
Dick, voice-over:
Now Angel and I
are once again lending a hand
to other expat chateau owners.
Angel: Sometimes to hesitate
is the way forward.
Dick, voice-over:
We'll meet some old friends...
Lee: You don't need
any instructions,
only when it goes wrong.
Dick, voice-over:
...and new faces.
Amy: Ooh, look at that!
Dick, voice-over:
There will be plenty of ups...
- Oh!
- Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over: ...and downs.
Man: We can't ruin
the wedding meal
by eating outside in the rain.
Dick, voice-over:
But no matter what,
these plucky Brits...
- Oh...
Dick, voice-over:
...will stop at nothing...
Woman: No!
Steven! Ah! Steven!
Dick, voice-over: ...to ensure
these once-unloved buildings...
Lee: I think I've made a hole.
Dick, voice-over: ...become
the homes of their dreams.
- That is amazing.
Dick, voice-over: Today...
Lee: Here's the pool,
here's the solar farm,
here's the sun.
Dick, voice-over:
...one chateau owner
dreams up a way
to heat his pool.
Lee: Have a feel of that.
- Whoa! That is so hot!
- That is too hot.
Dick, voice-over: Another takes
decorating to artistic heights.
I've done nothing
but look at mountains
and see the tones
and how it all works together.
I'm very, very nervous
about it really.
Dick, voice-over: I see cash
getting created...
Just going to take this,
stick this to it,
with the light there,
turn it around,
just hold it in place.
Very, very simple,
but it's also cheap as chips.
Dick, voice-over: ...to make
a special place for my Angel.
Angel: Not a bad room,
is it?
- No!
- No!
- I know what to do.
Dick, voice-over: And there are
some curious findings...
- No way! Giant mushrooms!
Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over:
...whilst turning old stables
into a new art space.
Man: Whoa.
It's a total transformation.
Dick, voice-over:
All over France,
chateau-owning Brits
are working hard
to make our glorious homes
work as businesses.
Take the lovely
15th-century Chateau Mareuil.
With 5 guest suites,
beautiful gardens,
and a welcoming pool,
this is home to south London
couple Belinda and Lee,
who bought this medieval castle
for £378,000 4 years ago.
Lee: Chateau life for me is
a never-ending source of work
and fixing things up,
in a nice way,
in an absolute nice way.
It doesn't feel like work
when you're doing it,
but there's always something
that needs doing,
and I love that.
Belinda: And I think
to wake up in the morning,
and you do this,
and you look out of the window
and see the beautiful
surroundings, it's so uplifting.
Dick, voice-over: It's situated
40 miles north of Limoges.
But running a chateau
is by no means cheap,
and finding ingenious ways
to do more on less
is part of the everyday life.
Lee: This year we've got plans
to heat the swimming pool.
We want to do something
environmentally friendly
and doesn't cost us
too much money.
So I've been on the internet
to see what low-cost options
are available,
and we've decided to install
a solar farm.
Dick, voice-over:
The unheated pool
is currently only warm enough
to use from July to September,
so heating the water will
hopefully extend this by
a month on either side,
a facility Belinda has already
advertised on their website.
Belinda: Best on.
It's out there.
Lee: Talk about jumping in
with both feet.
I don't even know
if it's going to work.
Belinda:
A heated pool is promised.
Lee: It was just an idea.
I went on the internet,
and there's some guy in Spain
that had done something similar,
and I thought--
Belinda: You have to do it.
Lee: Well, that's filling me
with horror.
Belinda: Ha.
Lee: Because not only
do I not know what I'm doing,
but also I don't know how
I'm going to do it,
and now I've got to get it done
for the summer?
Belinda: Absolutely.
Dick, voice-over:
Best get on with it then, Lee.
Time for a site visit.
Lee: So in basic terms,
here's the pool,
here's the solar farm,
here's the sun.
We take cold water
out of the pool,
pump it out to the solar farm,
it goes round
some hot work in the pipes,
the sun heats it up, delivers
hot water back to the pool.
Over a period of a couple of
days, the pool temperature will
raise between two and 5 degrees.
Belinda: Perfect.
Lee: It's free because
it's coming from the sun,
and the only thing
we have to pay for is the pump.
I don't know
if this is going to work.
Belinda: I have every confidence
in you, Lee.
Lee: Thank you, Belinda.
Belinda: Off you go.
I'll take that.
Do you need that?
Lee: Yeah,
no, I don't need that.
It's all up here.
I don't need instructions.
Belinda: All right,
check you later.
Lee: I know what I'm doing.
Dick, voice-over:
The principles here are sound.
Now it's a matter of putting
the principles into practice.
To save a bit of cash,
Lee reckons he can fit
the water heating system
using various bits and pieces
left over from previous jobs.
Lee: The only running cost
we've got is a pump,
and the pump's probably going
to cost me about 300 euros.
And what I'm now going to do
is put
some corrugated sheathing over,
upon which the pipes
are going to go.
A pleasure that.
Call the boss.
Do you remember what
a pile of trash it was here?
Belinda: It's just an organized
pile of trash now.
Lee: I wouldn't say that.
Belinda: Ha ha!
Lee: This metal will hold heat
from the sun.
Sole, sole, el scorch-o
straight onto the pipe work
with the water in,
down to the pool.
It's going to work.
Have faith.
It will work.
Dick, voice-over: The metal
will reflect the heat,
so you've got the base down.
I look forward to seeing
how you set up your pipe-work.
40 miles east is
the glorious 16th-century
Chateau de Lalande.
With 18 bedrooms, a moat,
and even its own chapel,
it's home to Brit Stephanie.
Stephanie: This is definitely
my childhood dream.
I remember from the age of 3
I was obsessed with the idea
that one day
I would live in chateau.
I can't still quite believe
that it's come true.
Dick, voice-over: Located
in the Centre-Val de Loire,
Stephanie runs a chateau
for events and as a B&B
and is always looking at ways
of expanding the business
to bring in extra income.
Her latest plan is
very close to her heart.
Stephanie: I've come up
with the idea
of hosting weekend art retreats
at the chateau.
My father was always saying
that he would love to do that,
so turning the chateau
into a place where artists
can come and be inspired
was really important to me.
Dick, voice-over:
It's a lovely idea,
but it means converting
an old stable into a studio.
Stephanie and her team,
including mom Isabelle,
only have a month to finish it
before their first art weekend.
[Indistinct chatter,
laughter]
The old stables have been used
as a dumping ground
even before Stephanie
owned the chateau.
Stephanie: Oh, my gosh.
There's just so much stuff
in there.
And it's been in there
for decades.
Ha ha!
I live for this moment!
My favorite golden...
Isabelle: Greenhouse.
Man: I'll take this.
I'll put this in the woodshed.
Stephanie: I've got it.
Don't worry.
Um, trying to move
the garden torches,
but so far I've just managed
to put oil over everything,
extremely flammable oil.
No one light a match.
Isabelle: Take these out.
Dick, voice-over: Before long,
some interesting things
start to pop up.
Stephanie: What's that?
Oh, mushrooms! What?
Isabelle:
They're mushrooms.
Stephanie: What? Ha ha!
Isabelle:
[Speaking French]
Stephanie: Ha ha!
Isabelle: What's so funny?
Stephanie: Mother, why are there
giant mushrooms in the...
Isabelle:
Your father bought them.
Stephanie: Look at this one.
Isabelle: Yes.
This is a good eating one.
Stephanie: Ha ha!
I'm not too sure
how we're going to use the room
because I don't know
exactly where
these big stable dividers
attach.
So I think
we'll play around with that
once we've got the room empty,
and we also need
better lighting put in.
And ideally I'd like to turn
the old troughs into the sinks.
That would be very cool,
I think.
Dick, voice-over:
Today's been a good start.
However,
there's still loads to do
before Stephanie hosts
the art weekend in just
4 weeks' time.
The 19th-century Chateau Thuries
was snapped up a year ago
by Brits Jayne and Steve
for £400,000.
They've spent the last 12 months
transforming it from
a rundown empty shell
into a B&B complete
with 4 en-suite bedrooms
and numerous rooms
on the ground floor.
Steve: I'm hoping that people
will like it
because, you know, we put a lot
of time and effort and money
actually,
and we've done so well upstairs
with the bedrooms
that we wanted to keep
that standard up, didn't we?
Jayne: Yeah.
Steve: Which I think we've done.
Jayne: We've got to keep
the standard up, Steve.
Steve: We do.
Jayne: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over: The chateau
is situated close to Toulouse
in southern France.
With little money coming in,
they need to officially open
the B&B as soon as possible.
But they still have to finish
some public areas
including the grand staircase
This is Jayne's
most ambitious project yet.
Jayne: It's a very grand,
sweeping staircase,
and it's very difficult to know
how to decorate that.
I have this idea that I was
going to paint a mural on there.
There's an old style of painting
called grisaille,
which is painting in one color,
so monochromatic.
And I had this idea that I was
going to cover this massive,
great big area
with a landscape, which is going
to reflect the area around us.
So we'll be able
to see the Pyrenees
and the Black Mountains.
Right. So are we going to go--
Steve: Just keep going.
Yeah, just keep going.
Dick, voice-over:
This is no mean feat.
The wall is 10 meters long
and 3 meters high
and follows the main stairs.
Amateur interior designer Jayne
hasn't attempted anything
quite like it before.
Jayne: So I was talking to you
about the grisaille,
which is like painting
in gray tones and things.
Steve: Yeah, yeah.
Jayne: Well, obviously
my name isn't Michelangelo,
so I'm going to use stencils.
I've got some nice fir trees
and cypresses.
I think I need
to keep it fairly simple,
because otherwise I'm going to
be there for a year painting it
because it's big.
Steve: How long was Michelangelo
on the Sistine Chapel?
Jayne: Don't think
we've got the time somehow.
Dick, voice-over: Steve's
already started painting
the staircase ceiling white,
and their plan is to also
paint the walls white
as a background.
But Jayne has a new idea.
What if this wasn't white?
I'm thinking pink,
like a terra cotta kind
of plastery pinky color.
Not flat.
Steve:
I normally like your ideas.
I'm not sure about that one.
The ceiling's going to be white,
and you want the wall to be
a different color.
Jayne: Yeah.
Steve: I've got to get--
or someone has to--
It's usually me.
I have to cut in.
Jayne: What do decorators do?
Steve: Scaffolding.
Where it's on a roller,
and it's all going to be white,
it's easy to do.
So something to think about,
Jayne.
Jayne: Ok, well, could you
think about it, then?
Steve: This is going to be
a busy highway.
People are going to be putting
their hands on there,
and they're going to be
knocking their suitcases.
Jayne: White's not a good color.
It's the background.
Steve: Well, it won't be because
then the bottom here
will be feuillage.
Jayne: Feuillage.
Steve: Feuillage.
Jayne: Ha! All right, well,
look, that's the next stage.
Steve: If you want something
done quickly before we open,
then white would be
the quickest thing to do.
Dick, voice-over: The reality of
this mammoth task is sinking in.
Jayne: I'm happy to work
long days and work as hard
as we need to,
but even doing that,
I think it's still going
to be quite a big task
to try and get everything done.
Steve: I always knew that,
though, right from the start.
You're a lot more optimistic
than I am, Jayne. I'm sorry.
I'm not a pessimistic person,
but you always think,
"Oh, we can do this."
Slap a bit of paint on here
and we'll have it done.
You know,
it's not as easy as that.
Jayne: No, but I think
you would have preferred
to have two years to prepare
rather than one,
wouldn't you, Steve?
Dick, voice-over:
Let's face facts.
Time is never on our side.
Back at Chateau Mareuil,
Lee has taken on his biggest
challenge yet:
attempting to build a homemade
solar farm from scratch
without any experience
and only a bit
of internet research.
Lee: Come on, Belinda, I'll show
you what we're going to do.
Dick, voice-over:
Today will be a dummy run
on a small sample of water
to see if it works.
Lee: What we're going to do
is put coils of pipe on,
then I'm going to fill this up
and leave it for a period,
when all the coils are full
to see--
Belinda: Oh, to see
if it actually works.
Lee:
To see if it actually works.
This holds the heat
and it reflects it upwards,
so when the pipe
lays on it like this, right,
the sun's getting direct effect
on the top of the pipe,
and this is heating the pipe
from underneath,
so the pipe's getting total heat
all the way around.
Belinda:
Sounding so knowledgeable.
Lee: No, no, I'm not.
This is the first time I've
ever done anything like this.
Wait and see what happens.
Dick, voice-over:
Lee, Lee,
looking at that pipe,
it's not going to work.
Belinda: I can't bend it.
How are you planning to bend it?
Lee: Trust me. Trust me.
It's going to work.
Brilliant.
It's not going to come off.
Dick, voice-over:
Whilst I admire
Lee's efforts to reuse stuff,
thick plastic pipe is
the wrong material for this job
as it's a really poor conductor
of heat.
Lee: Yeah, I want this one
to join that one.
Dick, voice-over: Water flowing
through it won't heat up.
Lee: Better nail that there.
Now it's taking shape.
Look.
Now the final loop.
That's it.
Dick, voice-over: Now Lee
fills the pipes with water.
Lee: Two big pipes here are
the flow and the return pipes
going up to the solar farm.
So I'm going to turn this on.
And I've got water coming out.
This is a good sign.
So I'm going to go back
and turn it off now
and get a thermometer.
Dick, voice-over: As the next
part of his experiment,
he wants to find out
the starting temperature
of the water in the pool.
Lee: So this is my trusty
pool temperature thermometer
with sharky fish.
So I'm going to chuck sharky in.
That was a bit silly, wasn't it?
Because now he's in the middle
of the pool.
Come on, sharky, over you come.
It's reading 24 degrees.
Pool temperature is 24.
I'll leave it in the pool
a while.
Dick, voice-over: The while
being two days later.
Lee pops up to check
the progress of his experiment.
Lee: That's hot.
That is hot.
That is very hot.
Dick, voice-over: I'm not
actually surprised, Lee.
With stationary water sitting
is a plastic pipe in the sun,
it's bound to be.
Lee: Ah, this is boding well.
Dick, voice-over: Mmm, heating
up static water is one thing.
But if the water is flowing,
it wouldn't heat up much at all.
40 miles away
at Chateau de Lalande,
Stephanie has finished
clearing out the old stables,
ready to use it for
her very first artist weekend,
which is just 8 days away.
Stephanie: Well, mommy,
the clearing is wonderful.
Stage two is getting some of
the dividers back into place,
and they are solid.
Dick, voice-over: The original
horse stall dividers
are heavy old wood and iron.
Stephanie wants to use them
as room dividers,
which presents her and her mom,
Isabelle, with a hurdle.
The problem is this is facing
the wrong way.
That's the back of the wall,
and that's the front.
Stephanie: Yes, we have to
spin it around.
Isabelle: And I don't think
for a minute
we'll be able to do that.
Stephanie: Well,
we have to move them.
We can't have them here.
Isabelle: Why not?
That's safe there.
Because we can put it
against the wall,
but we cannot anchor it
to the ground.
If they fall on somebody,
it'll kill them.
Stephanie: Well, I don't want it
to fall, mommy.
I want them to go up.
Isabelle: Frankly,
it is too big a job.
You cannot do it
without a forklift.
Because it's solid.
Stephanie: Well, let's try.
Let's get the men in,
and let's see how it goes.
Isabelle: I tell you
how it's going to go,
it's going to go to pieces,
and it's very dangerous.
We can move it forward, yeah.
Stephanie:
Let's move it forward.
I want an idea
of how it would look.
Isabelle: Please,
keep your feet on the ground.
It is not--
Stephanie: Mommy, when have I
ever kept my feet on the ground?
Isabelle: [Sighs]
Dick, voice-over: Stephanie
wants to move one partition
into place
and see how it looks
so has enlisted the help of
close family friend Jerry
and live-in volunteers
Grant and Ben.
I want one of these...
the right way around here.
Dick, voice-over: Before moving
the stable divider,
they strengthen its joints
with wooden blocks.
Isabelle: It really is
such a bad idea.
Isabelle: Mommy,
we're trying to do a job,
and all you're doing is stopping
us from doing the job
as we started the work.
Isabelle: Yes, I am
because of the danger.
It will fall on someone.
Stephanie: What do you think,
Grant?
If we get it out
and very easily straight
and lean it against that
and then have a look.
Isabelle: It's really dangerous,
in my opinion.
The planning is not...
I don't know.
It upsets me.
Dick, voice-over:
Isabelle may be anxious,
but Grant reckons
he has things in hand.
Grant: So if someone's going to
be designated to move pipes...
Stephanie:
Ok, mommy will move pipes.
Dick, voice-over: Isabelle's
task was sliding pipes
under the heavy partition
to act as rollers, a tried
and tested ancient technique,
but not using
plastic waste pipe.
Grant: Push, Ben.
Here we go.
Stephanie:
Easier said than done.
Well, we're doing this
with all the technological
accomplishments
of the ancient Egyptians.
Grant: No, you have to lift
up at that time.
Stephanie: Clear?
Ben: Yeah.
Grant: Move your hand, mate.
Dick, voice-over:
Great teamwork, chaps.
Stephanie: I absolutely love
the way it looks.
Having the two
is going to make the room.
Today has been very fraught.
Mommy has been on top form.
Sometimes when my mother decides
that something is a bad idea,
she will not let it go.
Isabelle: I have never been
against Stephanie's ideas,
and also I want
with all my heart
to support her
in her projects.
There are times
when they are unrealistic
with the means we have.
[Rooster crows]
And the cock crower agrees.
Dick, voice-over: Now that
they're happy with its position,
it will need to be
fixed in place.
But first, they need
to decorate the stable
to make it more like
an art studio.
Chateau Thuries
is in southern France.
It's surrounded
by 4 acres of park land
and stunning views.
Today Jayne is in search of
inspiration for a huge mural
that she's planning to paint on
the wall of the main staircase.
Jayne: I just wanted to get
some photographs
because it will help me
when I'm painting
the griesaille wall.
This whole area
is absolutely beautiful,
such staggering scenery
around us
that it would be really nice
just to reflect that
in the imagery that
I'm painting on the walls,
so we've got the Pyrenees,
which look amazing.
It's a bit misty today,
but they look incredible
when it's a clear day.
I believe it would be quite nice
to paint those on the wall.
Dick, voice-over:
This is Jayne's first stab
at painting a mural this big.
It's a 10 by 3 meter
curved staircase wall.
Don't envy you that, Jayne.
Jayne: I've got it in my mind
what I want to do.
So it's just kind of putting it
into practice and, uh...
Anyway, we'll know
a little bit later
whether it's working or not.
I'm very, very nervous about it
really.
I think I must be
completely bonkers.
Actually I do, I do.
At least tell myself sometimes.
But I am a firm believer that
you can do anything you want to
if you put your mind to it.
And you know, I've got lots
of references on screen
I can look at.
So thank god for the internet.
Dick, voice-over: While Jayne
plans her artistic vision,
husband Steve preps
the staircase wall.
Steve: And this is what's
taking all the time really.
I'm constant filling...
and making goop.
Dick, voice-over: That's
a huge old wall to prepare,
never mind paint a mural on.
Jayne: I'm just hoping it's
all going to look all right,
but if it doesn't, then the
worst thing that can happen
is really that we just
paint over the whole lot.
Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over: And that would
be another painting job
for you, Steve.
Jayne: I have possibly bitten
off more than I can chew, yeah.
Dick, voice-over: Jayne says
she's no Michelangelo,
but you have to give her credit.
That's a huge challenge
she's taken on.
Steve: You feel ok up there?
Jayne: Yep.
When we've been
driving around lately
I've done nothing
but look at mountains
and see the tones
and how it all works together.
The further things are
away from you,
the lighter they should be
because they're in the distance.
Dick, voice-over:
The grisaille style
of mural Jayne wants
means colors
are monochromatic shades
ranging from dark gray
to pale mushroom and white.
Jayne: I'm quite pleased
with the progress today,
but I need to do all the detail
and finishing off,
so it's going to take a while.
Dick, voice-over: With the B&B
guests arriving soon,
you haven't got long,
but it's already
looking fabulous.
At our place, we understand
how important it is to
have your own space,
especially when we're working
together most of the time.
We've got a big house. Ha!
But there's not many places
that Dick or myself can go to
to be away from the craziness
to be calm.
Dick, voice-over: So I created a
work room and treasury for Angel
in an unused attic room.
Well, I think she's going
to come up here
when the children are at school,
when she gets some time,
she's going to become creative,
which I know is going to
cause me more pain.
Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over: Angel needs to
be able to work day and night,
so she requires good lighting.
It was my turn to get creative
in my workshop.
Got lights.
The lights are low energy.
They're L.E.D. plates,
which is lots of light
without taking
any more room space up.
It's not a tall room up there.
Rather than have
the light panels suspended
from the low ceiling...
I made wooden clips
to attach them to the roof.
Well, I'm just going to
take this, stick this to it,
put a hole through the middle,
which means when it comes time
to put the lights to the roof,
turn it around,
just hold it in place.
Very, very simple,
but it's also cheap as chips.
Which we like.
[Saw whirring]
Spot of wood glue.
It's not the prettiest one.
Mass production.
With help
from builder mate Steve,
it was then the moment of truth
to see if the ceiling lights
passed muster.
We've got the two plates,
one on each side,
which means that
there shouldn't be shadows
because the light, you know,
if the light's coming
from all over,
that means the shadows
are reduced,
that's why you have
a big area like that.
Steve: Yeah? I'll work on it.
Dick:
If we screw that in there,
when we come to putting
the board up against it,
when we switch it around
it's going to hold it
in place at that point.
- Correct?
- Yeah.
Dick, voice-over: The L.E.D.
lights are thin panels,
which means
they're unobtrusive.
That's going to be painted
white.
That's it. Done, isn't it?
Steve: Yeah.
Dick: Simple as that.
Steve: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over:
Job well done.
And all it needed was a touch
of creative magic from Angel.
And a little help from Dorothy.
Dorothy: Wow!
Angel:
What do you think, baby?
Dorothy: Wow!
Angel: It is not a bad room,
is it?
Dorothy: Yay!
Dick, voice-over:
Especially looking back
to how the room was.
Angel: This room's the end
because it's full
of my treasures.
It's bright, and it's white,
so when I need to work late
at night, I can do just that.
Dick, voice-over:
Over 170 miles away,
another transformation
is well underway.
In the old stable, Stephanie
and her team have reinstalled
old stable dividers
as room dividers
and have started decorating.
A few finishing touches,
and she'll be ready for
her first artist weekend.
Stephanie: I'm just moving in
my father's art library now.
I'm so happy it's finally
got a home.
The reason I'm doing this
is for my father
because he always wanted
Lalande go be a retreat
for artists.
Dick, voice-over:
The weekend is going to be run
by Stephanie's friend Oliver,
who will be dressing the studio
with his own paintings.
Stephanie: So let's just put it
here for now and then work out
exactly where we want it.
Dick, voice-over:
Just as Stephanie thought
she's on top of everything,
there's a hiccup.
Stephanie: I just phoned Oliver
to find out how far away he was,
and he's driven to
the wrong Chateau de Lalande.
He's now 3 hours away,
and he has to greet
all of his attendees.
Anyway,
I'm not stressing about it.
Did you hear what's happened
with Oliver?
This is why we're running
a bit late.
Man:
He's taken a wrong turn?
Stephanie: No, he's gone
to the wrong Lalande.
He's 3 hours away.
So we're having to do everything
that he was supposed
to be doing.
Ha ha!
Man:
He's got the wrong Lalande.
Dick, voice-over:
You could put it down to
artistic interpretation.
Stephanie: Ok, here we go.
This is every exciting
to see this room coming together
after all this time.
Dick, voice-over: But the
question on everyone's lips is,
what will mom Isabelle think?
Who, after all, was married for
nearly 50 years to an artist.
Isabelle:
It looks awfully nice.
It's too crowded
for an artist studio.
Darling,
it's getting too cluttered.
Stephanie: I'm sorry. I can't
hear over the banging, mommy.
Dick, voice-over: Oh, dear,
let's hope Isabelle sees it
in a new light
when it's finished.
Back at Chateau Mareuil.
Lee: Hey, Belinda, you've got
to come and have a look at this.
Dick, voice-over: Lee is keen
to show off the fruits
of his labor.
Belinda:
That's really well organized.
That looks good.
Lee: It's got a certain
architectural rhythm to it.
Belinda: It does.
How did you bend that pipe?
Lee: Well,
it came in a natural coil,
so what I did was I elongated it
along the corrugated sheet.
Belinda: It's really good.
Lee: Don't touch it.
Just get your hand near it.
Yeah, it's baking.
In fact, it's so hot
you could fry an egg on that.
Belinda: Ha ha!
Oh, that's really hot there.
Yeah, you can see
where the sun's hitting it.
That's really hot.
Lee: Yeah. Just put one of your
fingers inside and tell me--
Go on.
Belinda:
God, that's really hot.
Ha ha!
Lee: Ha ha!
Belinda: No, that's really hot.
Lee: Can you imagine the water?
Belinda: Yeah, well.
Dick, voice-over:
I can tell you now, Belinda,
the water left in the pipe
will be hot.
For the next part
of his experiment,
he wants to find out
just how hot the water is.
Belinda: Ok.
Lee: Turn it on!
A bit more!
Stop!
Wow. This is like bath.
It's hotter than my bath.
Belinda, come up here!
This is incredible!
Dick, voice-over: And family
friend Lise is on hand
to test the waters.
Lee: Have a feel of that.
Belinda: Wow! It's so hot.
Lee: Yeah.
Belinda: That is almost--
That is too hot.
Dick, voice-over:
You're not wrong, Belinda.
However, if water was flowing
through this plastic pipe
into the pool,
it wouldn't capture enough heat.
For this system to work,
the pipe used will have
to be a good conductor.
Belinda: So what's
the temperature of that water?
Lee: According to sharky,
this is 46 degrees.
Belinda: 46.
Lee: 46 degrees. Yes!
Lise: Congratulations.
Lee: Thank you very much.
46 degrees. That's 24,
and that's a rise of...
uh, 6 is 30, 20...22 degrees.
Sharky, me boy,
you've brought it home.
46.
Dick, voice-over: Before Lee
and Belinda go to the expense
of connecting everything up,
I need to give them a call.
Lee, over computer: Hello.
How are you?
Dick: Oh, there you are.
Hi, Belinda, Hi, Lee.
Lee: How are you?
Dick: Not bad at all.
I didn't realize what
you'd done to Lee, Belinda.
You turned him into
an eco warrior.
Belinda: I know.
He's a new man, Dick.
Dick: The principles of
what you've done, I love.
But I'm afraid, mate,
I don't think your system
is going to work.
Belinda: Ha ha!
Dick: You're laughing.
That's a good start.
Lee: Why is that?
Dick: It's a material choice.
If you've got
a thick plastic pipe, ok,
it's hard for the sun's heat
to get through it
because it's an insulator.
Lee: Right.
Dick:
Normally we'd use copper
because copper is
a good conductor of heat.
Any metal painted black is good.
The thinner the wall,
the better.
So it's the transfer of the heat
that's the key thing.
Because it only has a chance
to heat the water in the time
it comes in the bottom
until it goes out the top.
Lee: Yeah, I totally get
what you're saying.
I mean, the reason we used it
is we had some left over,
and we didn't want to waste it.
And we were
just trying it all out,
but I think you're right.
We need to change
that end of the system.
I've made these systems,
by the way, using old radiators.
All those principles
you've got in your head now,
the only thing that's flawed,
and it's only a little bit,
is that the materials
you are using
doesn't want the sun
to get to your water.
Belinda: That's quite
a big flaw actually.
Lee: Yes, yeah.
Oh, Belinda, minor, minor
technical physical issue.
Lee: I'm thinking there's
a spin off from this as well,
Dick,
because if I use a mixture of
old radiators and copper pipe,
it's double then
as a sun collector
and some modern--a piece
of post-modern sculpture.
Listen, you two,
look after yourselves.
And, Belinda, don't let him get
too arty on you.
Lee:
Thank you for your help.
Thanks, Dick. Take care.
Bye. Good-bye.
- Bye!
- Bye!
Lee: Gone now.
Belinda: He had a point.
Lee: Well,
the principles are right.
All I've done is--
Belinda: I know.
It's just the wrong materials.
Lee: Yeah, but at one end.
Just think, right?
That was just
a few minutes' conversation,
and that saved us so much money
and a whole load of grief
because what we'd have done is
we'd have got it all working
and it wouldn't have heated up,
and then I would have been
scratching me head, thinking,
what have I done wrong?
Dick, voice-over: Glad to have
been of assistance.
Call me anytime.
Lee: That's it.
Dick, voice-over:
You've had a busy 8 months
with your Christmas event,
roof repairs...
Lee: Oh.
Dick, voice-over: ...water
feature installation...
Belinda: Oh, my goodness, Lee!
Lee: Happy birthday!
Dick, voice-over: ...and hosting
a 60th birthday party.
Ha ha!
I've never made anything so bad
in my entire life.
Dick, voice-over: With bookings
and events confirmed
for the summer season,
I have my fingers crossed
that Belinda and Lee
can heat up their pool.
At Chateau de Lalande,
it's a big day for Stephanie.
It's her first artist weekend.
She's hosting a cocktail party
to launch the event
and new space
in just 3 hours' time.
Stephanie: Oliver!
Dick, voice-over: Friend Oliver,
an artist who's running
the weekend
and went to the wrong
Chateau de Lalande,
has finally rocked up.
Oliver: Well, I'd say
the other Chateau de Lalande
is really nice.
Stephanie: Ha ha! What?
Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over: Now to find
out what Oliver thinks
of the studio Stephanie's
created from the old stables.
What for decades
was a dumping ground
is now a bright and airy
creative space
with reinstalled stable dividers
and upcycled troughs as sinks.
Plus plenty of room for students
to work at their art.
Oliver: Whoa.
It's a total transformation.
I'll just give you a hug.
It's amazing.
I've got to put
this painting down.
Stephanie: Ha ha!
Oliver: Love it. Wow.
I'm literally gob smacked.
Because this was just a bit
of a dumping ground, wasn't it?
Stephanie: Yeah.
Oliver: This is the stuff
of any artist's dreams.
It makes me want to get
my paintbrushes out,
which is what
we want this to do.
Stephanie: Welcome.
Dick, voice-over:
A couple of hours later
and after a quick brush up,
it's time to welcome guests
and launch the retreat
in style.
Stephanie:
Do you find you like it?
Isabelle: Yes.
Stephanie: Ha ha!
Isabelle:
It's exactly what I wanted.
Dick, voice-over: Glad to see
mom Isabelle seems happy.
[Indistinct chatter]
Oliver: Stephanie,
do you want to come up here?
Dick, voice-over: Oliver has
something rather special
to unveil.
Oliver: This is my gift
to you and the chateau,
and I just hope it's the start
of hundreds of paintings
that loads of people do here
that create something really,
really special, that's my wish.
Stephanie: Aren't you going
to do it to everyone?
I can see
everyone else's reaction
before actually seeing it.
All: [Ooh and ahs]
Oh, wow.
Stephanie: Oh, I really love it.
Thank you.
You!
Dick, voice-over:
Celebration's over,
it's time to pick up
a paint brush
for the first class
in life drawing,
with help from
live-in chateau helper Marie.
Oliver: So my number one tip
would be
don't just start with
a little area and work outwards.
Yeah? Map out
the whole proportions first.
Marie, over to you.
If you use your charcoal to
follow
the curves of the leg
like a [indistinct],
then you tend to get a sense
of it feeling quite solid.
The head is good,
but it's too big
compared to the rest
of the body.
Dick, voice-over: It seems the
room is a wash of creativity,
and the studio
has really come into its own.
Stephanie: It's been such
a lot of hard work this project,
but it's really paid off.
I think my father would
have loved everything
about this space.
And I'm just sorry
that I didn't do this
whilst he was still alive.
Dick, voice-over:
Well done, Stephanie!
I'm sure your father
would have been very proud
of what you've achieved.
Stephanie: It's been
an epic winter at Lalande.
Not only did we have
the huge Christmas party...
Merry Christmas, everyone!
All: Merry Christmas!
Stephanie: But we also managed
to renovate the greenhouse.
Isabelle: Oh, my goodness!
It's wonderful!
Stephanie: We finally finished
the last bedroom.
And we've got an art studio
up and running.
Dick, voice-over: Now with other
event bookings over the summer
and her mom's wedding
at the chateau to organize,
there's no rest for Stephanie.
In southern France,
Jayne and Steve are about
to open the whole chateau
to their first
fully paying guests.
Jayne: The guests are
flying in this morning,
but I think they're going
to be arriving early afternoon,
but we've got a heck of a lot
to do before then.
Steve: I'm mister mop today,
I think.
Dick, voice-over:
While Steve cleans,
Jayne's putting
the finishing touches
to her bespoke
staircase mural.
Steve: Oh, it's well.
I'm hugely impressed, Jayne.
I mean, I wouldn't know
where to start
if I was doing this.
Jayne: I'm just making
a little bit go along, darling.
I think it's gone better
than I thought it might do.
The guests are going to be
the first people to see
what I've done so far.
Dick, voice-over: Now just time
for some finishing touches
to the office.
Steve: Lined up.
Right there.
Yeah, that's better.
Jayne: Nature suite.
Oh, for god--
What's going on with this door?
Dick, voice-over:
And some last-minute snagging.
Maintenance,
could you have a look, please?
Steve: Lift that up. Nope.
Ok. I think it needs
a good kicking.
Jayne:
Shall I tell them that then?
Steve: No.
Jayne: Shall I?
Steve: So gentle touch.
Gentle touch.
Dick, voice-over: Time's up.
The guests are here.
Jayne: Hello!
Steve: Hi!
Lee: I'm Lee.
Steve: Hi, Lee.
Very pleased to meet you, Lee.
Jayne: Hi. I'm Jayne.
Man: Hi, Jayne.
Jayne: So come on in.
Lee: Wow! Lovely floor.
Jayne: Thank you.
This is the salon.
You know,
you can just chill and relax,
make yourself at home.
Lee: Lovely.
Man: The tapestry looks...
Jayne: It's actually
the original wallpaper.
Lee: No.
Jayne: Yeah, so...
Lee: You just framed it?
Jayne: We've just framed it.
Lee: Really?
Jayne: Yeah.
Lee: That's really cool.
Dick, voice-over:
It's a chance to have a look
at the once
dull and dingy staircase...
transformed into
a mural masterpiece
perfectly capturing
the local surroundings.
Lee: Ah.
Man: Did you do the wall?
Jayne: Yes.
Man: Wow.
Wow. Very talented.
Jayne: Do you like it?
Man:
Yeah, I think it's amazing.
I think it works really well.
You're capturing
the scene outside obviously.
I mean, you bring in the garden
and your lovely garden.
Jayne: Absolutely.
Well spotted.
Dick, voice-over:
You couldn't have asked for
a better compliment, Jayne.
Jayne: So...we can get
your bags up in a minute.
Lee: Lovely. I love the fact
that you've got the double
windows in this room.
Really, really nice.
What Jayne's done with
the hallway, with the stencil,
I think it's really effective.
Man: Yeah. It kind of encourages
you to make the journey
all the way up to the top,
you know, to come into
your wonderful suite
where you'll be staying.
Dick, voice-over:
That's a thumbs up.
Man: Oh, just what we need.
Thank you.
Jayne: Sante, guys.
Cheers.
Man: Cheers.
Lee: Cheers.
Jayne, voice-over:
The guests seem to be
quite impressed with it all,
which is great.
It's been a year
of really hard graft,
and I'm really pleased
that we've nearly finished
it all now.
Steve: I think the best bit
is the fact that we can open.
There's another what's got
to be done in the future.
It's that we can open
and start earning some money.
Dick, voice-over:
It's certainly been a busy year
for Jayne and Steve.
Steve: That's lovely.
Dick, voice-over:
They've transformed
derelict downstairs rooms.
There's a beautiful dining room.
Steve: This is absolutely
what we wanted.
Dick, voice-over:
A bright and airy salon.
Man: Wow! Fantastic.
Woman: That is amazing.
Dick, voice-over:
An updated hallway.
Orangery.
Steve: Lovely atmosphere.
Dick, voice-over:
Office, staircase,
and they're planning more.
Jayne:
If we have a successful year,
then we can start to think about
putting a pool in as well
because we haven't got a pool
at the moment,
so I'd really love a pool.
Steve: So would I.
Dick, voice-over: And with
the chateau taking bookings
for forthcoming events,
it bodes well.
Jayne: There were times when
I never thought we'd finish,
I have to say.
But yeah,
we've nearly done it now,
and it's a great feeling.
Dick, voice-over:
Next week...
Man: Oh, my goodness,
this is amazing.
Dick, voice-over:
We'll follow more intrepid
chateau owning Brits.
Woman: Steve,
that one's falling out.
No! Steve! No! Steven!
Dick, voice-over:
At my place...
Dick: Oh, Richard!
Dick, voice-over:
..there's a slip up.
Dick: Man in the water here!
One down!
Dick, voice-over:
And at another chateau...
[Thunder]
...one couple faced
their worst fears.
Man: We can't ruin
the wedding meal
by eating outside in the rain,
and it quite clearly
will be in the rain.
I'm Dick Strawbridge,
and with my wife, Angel,
and our two children...
we're nearly 5 years
into our French adventure...
Dick: Heavy.
Dick, voice-over: ...restoring
this once-abandoned chateau.
We have another capability,
another chateau.
Dick, voice-over: It's brought
plenty of challenges....
Dick: Whew!
Dick, voice-over: ...but also
some amazing rewards.
Angel: I love you.
Dick, voice-over:
And across France,
there are dozens of other Brits
who have bought
their own chateaus.
Oh, wow!
Dick, voice-over:
Now Angel and I
are once again lending a hand
to other expat chateau owners.
Angel: Sometimes to hesitate
is the way forward.
Dick, voice-over:
We'll meet some old friends...
Lee: You don't need
any instructions,
only when it goes wrong.
Dick, voice-over:
...and new faces.
Amy: Ooh, look at that!
Dick, voice-over:
There will be plenty of ups...
- Oh!
- Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over: ...and downs.
Man: We can't ruin
the wedding meal
by eating outside in the rain.
Dick, voice-over:
But no matter what,
these plucky Brits...
- Oh...
Dick, voice-over:
...will stop at nothing...
Woman: No!
Steven! Ah! Steven!
Dick, voice-over: ...to ensure
these once-unloved buildings...
Lee: I think I've made a hole.
Dick, voice-over: ...become
the homes of their dreams.
- That is amazing.
Dick, voice-over: Today...
Lee: Here's the pool,
here's the solar farm,
here's the sun.
Dick, voice-over:
...one chateau owner
dreams up a way
to heat his pool.
Lee: Have a feel of that.
- Whoa! That is so hot!
- That is too hot.
Dick, voice-over: Another takes
decorating to artistic heights.
I've done nothing
but look at mountains
and see the tones
and how it all works together.
I'm very, very nervous
about it really.
Dick, voice-over: I see cash
getting created...
Just going to take this,
stick this to it,
with the light there,
turn it around,
just hold it in place.
Very, very simple,
but it's also cheap as chips.
Dick, voice-over: ...to make
a special place for my Angel.
Angel: Not a bad room,
is it?
- No!
- No!
- I know what to do.
Dick, voice-over: And there are
some curious findings...
- No way! Giant mushrooms!
Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over:
...whilst turning old stables
into a new art space.
Man: Whoa.
It's a total transformation.
Dick, voice-over:
All over France,
chateau-owning Brits
are working hard
to make our glorious homes
work as businesses.
Take the lovely
15th-century Chateau Mareuil.
With 5 guest suites,
beautiful gardens,
and a welcoming pool,
this is home to south London
couple Belinda and Lee,
who bought this medieval castle
for £378,000 4 years ago.
Lee: Chateau life for me is
a never-ending source of work
and fixing things up,
in a nice way,
in an absolute nice way.
It doesn't feel like work
when you're doing it,
but there's always something
that needs doing,
and I love that.
Belinda: And I think
to wake up in the morning,
and you do this,
and you look out of the window
and see the beautiful
surroundings, it's so uplifting.
Dick, voice-over: It's situated
40 miles north of Limoges.
But running a chateau
is by no means cheap,
and finding ingenious ways
to do more on less
is part of the everyday life.
Lee: This year we've got plans
to heat the swimming pool.
We want to do something
environmentally friendly
and doesn't cost us
too much money.
So I've been on the internet
to see what low-cost options
are available,
and we've decided to install
a solar farm.
Dick, voice-over:
The unheated pool
is currently only warm enough
to use from July to September,
so heating the water will
hopefully extend this by
a month on either side,
a facility Belinda has already
advertised on their website.
Belinda: Best on.
It's out there.
Lee: Talk about jumping in
with both feet.
I don't even know
if it's going to work.
Belinda:
A heated pool is promised.
Lee: It was just an idea.
I went on the internet,
and there's some guy in Spain
that had done something similar,
and I thought--
Belinda: You have to do it.
Lee: Well, that's filling me
with horror.
Belinda: Ha.
Lee: Because not only
do I not know what I'm doing,
but also I don't know how
I'm going to do it,
and now I've got to get it done
for the summer?
Belinda: Absolutely.
Dick, voice-over:
Best get on with it then, Lee.
Time for a site visit.
Lee: So in basic terms,
here's the pool,
here's the solar farm,
here's the sun.
We take cold water
out of the pool,
pump it out to the solar farm,
it goes round
some hot work in the pipes,
the sun heats it up, delivers
hot water back to the pool.
Over a period of a couple of
days, the pool temperature will
raise between two and 5 degrees.
Belinda: Perfect.
Lee: It's free because
it's coming from the sun,
and the only thing
we have to pay for is the pump.
I don't know
if this is going to work.
Belinda: I have every confidence
in you, Lee.
Lee: Thank you, Belinda.
Belinda: Off you go.
I'll take that.
Do you need that?
Lee: Yeah,
no, I don't need that.
It's all up here.
I don't need instructions.
Belinda: All right,
check you later.
Lee: I know what I'm doing.
Dick, voice-over:
The principles here are sound.
Now it's a matter of putting
the principles into practice.
To save a bit of cash,
Lee reckons he can fit
the water heating system
using various bits and pieces
left over from previous jobs.
Lee: The only running cost
we've got is a pump,
and the pump's probably going
to cost me about 300 euros.
And what I'm now going to do
is put
some corrugated sheathing over,
upon which the pipes
are going to go.
A pleasure that.
Call the boss.
Do you remember what
a pile of trash it was here?
Belinda: It's just an organized
pile of trash now.
Lee: I wouldn't say that.
Belinda: Ha ha!
Lee: This metal will hold heat
from the sun.
Sole, sole, el scorch-o
straight onto the pipe work
with the water in,
down to the pool.
It's going to work.
Have faith.
It will work.
Dick, voice-over: The metal
will reflect the heat,
so you've got the base down.
I look forward to seeing
how you set up your pipe-work.
40 miles east is
the glorious 16th-century
Chateau de Lalande.
With 18 bedrooms, a moat,
and even its own chapel,
it's home to Brit Stephanie.
Stephanie: This is definitely
my childhood dream.
I remember from the age of 3
I was obsessed with the idea
that one day
I would live in chateau.
I can't still quite believe
that it's come true.
Dick, voice-over: Located
in the Centre-Val de Loire,
Stephanie runs a chateau
for events and as a B&B
and is always looking at ways
of expanding the business
to bring in extra income.
Her latest plan is
very close to her heart.
Stephanie: I've come up
with the idea
of hosting weekend art retreats
at the chateau.
My father was always saying
that he would love to do that,
so turning the chateau
into a place where artists
can come and be inspired
was really important to me.
Dick, voice-over:
It's a lovely idea,
but it means converting
an old stable into a studio.
Stephanie and her team,
including mom Isabelle,
only have a month to finish it
before their first art weekend.
[Indistinct chatter,
laughter]
The old stables have been used
as a dumping ground
even before Stephanie
owned the chateau.
Stephanie: Oh, my gosh.
There's just so much stuff
in there.
And it's been in there
for decades.
Ha ha!
I live for this moment!
My favorite golden...
Isabelle: Greenhouse.
Man: I'll take this.
I'll put this in the woodshed.
Stephanie: I've got it.
Don't worry.
Um, trying to move
the garden torches,
but so far I've just managed
to put oil over everything,
extremely flammable oil.
No one light a match.
Isabelle: Take these out.
Dick, voice-over: Before long,
some interesting things
start to pop up.
Stephanie: What's that?
Oh, mushrooms! What?
Isabelle:
They're mushrooms.
Stephanie: What? Ha ha!
Isabelle:
[Speaking French]
Stephanie: Ha ha!
Isabelle: What's so funny?
Stephanie: Mother, why are there
giant mushrooms in the...
Isabelle:
Your father bought them.
Stephanie: Look at this one.
Isabelle: Yes.
This is a good eating one.
Stephanie: Ha ha!
I'm not too sure
how we're going to use the room
because I don't know
exactly where
these big stable dividers
attach.
So I think
we'll play around with that
once we've got the room empty,
and we also need
better lighting put in.
And ideally I'd like to turn
the old troughs into the sinks.
That would be very cool,
I think.
Dick, voice-over:
Today's been a good start.
However,
there's still loads to do
before Stephanie hosts
the art weekend in just
4 weeks' time.
The 19th-century Chateau Thuries
was snapped up a year ago
by Brits Jayne and Steve
for £400,000.
They've spent the last 12 months
transforming it from
a rundown empty shell
into a B&B complete
with 4 en-suite bedrooms
and numerous rooms
on the ground floor.
Steve: I'm hoping that people
will like it
because, you know, we put a lot
of time and effort and money
actually,
and we've done so well upstairs
with the bedrooms
that we wanted to keep
that standard up, didn't we?
Jayne: Yeah.
Steve: Which I think we've done.
Jayne: We've got to keep
the standard up, Steve.
Steve: We do.
Jayne: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over: The chateau
is situated close to Toulouse
in southern France.
With little money coming in,
they need to officially open
the B&B as soon as possible.
But they still have to finish
some public areas
including the grand staircase
This is Jayne's
most ambitious project yet.
Jayne: It's a very grand,
sweeping staircase,
and it's very difficult to know
how to decorate that.
I have this idea that I was
going to paint a mural on there.
There's an old style of painting
called grisaille,
which is painting in one color,
so monochromatic.
And I had this idea that I was
going to cover this massive,
great big area
with a landscape, which is going
to reflect the area around us.
So we'll be able
to see the Pyrenees
and the Black Mountains.
Right. So are we going to go--
Steve: Just keep going.
Yeah, just keep going.
Dick, voice-over:
This is no mean feat.
The wall is 10 meters long
and 3 meters high
and follows the main stairs.
Amateur interior designer Jayne
hasn't attempted anything
quite like it before.
Jayne: So I was talking to you
about the grisaille,
which is like painting
in gray tones and things.
Steve: Yeah, yeah.
Jayne: Well, obviously
my name isn't Michelangelo,
so I'm going to use stencils.
I've got some nice fir trees
and cypresses.
I think I need
to keep it fairly simple,
because otherwise I'm going to
be there for a year painting it
because it's big.
Steve: How long was Michelangelo
on the Sistine Chapel?
Jayne: Don't think
we've got the time somehow.
Dick, voice-over: Steve's
already started painting
the staircase ceiling white,
and their plan is to also
paint the walls white
as a background.
But Jayne has a new idea.
What if this wasn't white?
I'm thinking pink,
like a terra cotta kind
of plastery pinky color.
Not flat.
Steve:
I normally like your ideas.
I'm not sure about that one.
The ceiling's going to be white,
and you want the wall to be
a different color.
Jayne: Yeah.
Steve: I've got to get--
or someone has to--
It's usually me.
I have to cut in.
Jayne: What do decorators do?
Steve: Scaffolding.
Where it's on a roller,
and it's all going to be white,
it's easy to do.
So something to think about,
Jayne.
Jayne: Ok, well, could you
think about it, then?
Steve: This is going to be
a busy highway.
People are going to be putting
their hands on there,
and they're going to be
knocking their suitcases.
Jayne: White's not a good color.
It's the background.
Steve: Well, it won't be because
then the bottom here
will be feuillage.
Jayne: Feuillage.
Steve: Feuillage.
Jayne: Ha! All right, well,
look, that's the next stage.
Steve: If you want something
done quickly before we open,
then white would be
the quickest thing to do.
Dick, voice-over: The reality of
this mammoth task is sinking in.
Jayne: I'm happy to work
long days and work as hard
as we need to,
but even doing that,
I think it's still going
to be quite a big task
to try and get everything done.
Steve: I always knew that,
though, right from the start.
You're a lot more optimistic
than I am, Jayne. I'm sorry.
I'm not a pessimistic person,
but you always think,
"Oh, we can do this."
Slap a bit of paint on here
and we'll have it done.
You know,
it's not as easy as that.
Jayne: No, but I think
you would have preferred
to have two years to prepare
rather than one,
wouldn't you, Steve?
Dick, voice-over:
Let's face facts.
Time is never on our side.
Back at Chateau Mareuil,
Lee has taken on his biggest
challenge yet:
attempting to build a homemade
solar farm from scratch
without any experience
and only a bit
of internet research.
Lee: Come on, Belinda, I'll show
you what we're going to do.
Dick, voice-over:
Today will be a dummy run
on a small sample of water
to see if it works.
Lee: What we're going to do
is put coils of pipe on,
then I'm going to fill this up
and leave it for a period,
when all the coils are full
to see--
Belinda: Oh, to see
if it actually works.
Lee:
To see if it actually works.
This holds the heat
and it reflects it upwards,
so when the pipe
lays on it like this, right,
the sun's getting direct effect
on the top of the pipe,
and this is heating the pipe
from underneath,
so the pipe's getting total heat
all the way around.
Belinda:
Sounding so knowledgeable.
Lee: No, no, I'm not.
This is the first time I've
ever done anything like this.
Wait and see what happens.
Dick, voice-over:
Lee, Lee,
looking at that pipe,
it's not going to work.
Belinda: I can't bend it.
How are you planning to bend it?
Lee: Trust me. Trust me.
It's going to work.
Brilliant.
It's not going to come off.
Dick, voice-over:
Whilst I admire
Lee's efforts to reuse stuff,
thick plastic pipe is
the wrong material for this job
as it's a really poor conductor
of heat.
Lee: Yeah, I want this one
to join that one.
Dick, voice-over: Water flowing
through it won't heat up.
Lee: Better nail that there.
Now it's taking shape.
Look.
Now the final loop.
That's it.
Dick, voice-over: Now Lee
fills the pipes with water.
Lee: Two big pipes here are
the flow and the return pipes
going up to the solar farm.
So I'm going to turn this on.
And I've got water coming out.
This is a good sign.
So I'm going to go back
and turn it off now
and get a thermometer.
Dick, voice-over: As the next
part of his experiment,
he wants to find out
the starting temperature
of the water in the pool.
Lee: So this is my trusty
pool temperature thermometer
with sharky fish.
So I'm going to chuck sharky in.
That was a bit silly, wasn't it?
Because now he's in the middle
of the pool.
Come on, sharky, over you come.
It's reading 24 degrees.
Pool temperature is 24.
I'll leave it in the pool
a while.
Dick, voice-over: The while
being two days later.
Lee pops up to check
the progress of his experiment.
Lee: That's hot.
That is hot.
That is very hot.
Dick, voice-over: I'm not
actually surprised, Lee.
With stationary water sitting
is a plastic pipe in the sun,
it's bound to be.
Lee: Ah, this is boding well.
Dick, voice-over: Mmm, heating
up static water is one thing.
But if the water is flowing,
it wouldn't heat up much at all.
40 miles away
at Chateau de Lalande,
Stephanie has finished
clearing out the old stables,
ready to use it for
her very first artist weekend,
which is just 8 days away.
Stephanie: Well, mommy,
the clearing is wonderful.
Stage two is getting some of
the dividers back into place,
and they are solid.
Dick, voice-over: The original
horse stall dividers
are heavy old wood and iron.
Stephanie wants to use them
as room dividers,
which presents her and her mom,
Isabelle, with a hurdle.
The problem is this is facing
the wrong way.
That's the back of the wall,
and that's the front.
Stephanie: Yes, we have to
spin it around.
Isabelle: And I don't think
for a minute
we'll be able to do that.
Stephanie: Well,
we have to move them.
We can't have them here.
Isabelle: Why not?
That's safe there.
Because we can put it
against the wall,
but we cannot anchor it
to the ground.
If they fall on somebody,
it'll kill them.
Stephanie: Well, I don't want it
to fall, mommy.
I want them to go up.
Isabelle: Frankly,
it is too big a job.
You cannot do it
without a forklift.
Because it's solid.
Stephanie: Well, let's try.
Let's get the men in,
and let's see how it goes.
Isabelle: I tell you
how it's going to go,
it's going to go to pieces,
and it's very dangerous.
We can move it forward, yeah.
Stephanie:
Let's move it forward.
I want an idea
of how it would look.
Isabelle: Please,
keep your feet on the ground.
It is not--
Stephanie: Mommy, when have I
ever kept my feet on the ground?
Isabelle: [Sighs]
Dick, voice-over: Stephanie
wants to move one partition
into place
and see how it looks
so has enlisted the help of
close family friend Jerry
and live-in volunteers
Grant and Ben.
I want one of these...
the right way around here.
Dick, voice-over: Before moving
the stable divider,
they strengthen its joints
with wooden blocks.
Isabelle: It really is
such a bad idea.
Isabelle: Mommy,
we're trying to do a job,
and all you're doing is stopping
us from doing the job
as we started the work.
Isabelle: Yes, I am
because of the danger.
It will fall on someone.
Stephanie: What do you think,
Grant?
If we get it out
and very easily straight
and lean it against that
and then have a look.
Isabelle: It's really dangerous,
in my opinion.
The planning is not...
I don't know.
It upsets me.
Dick, voice-over:
Isabelle may be anxious,
but Grant reckons
he has things in hand.
Grant: So if someone's going to
be designated to move pipes...
Stephanie:
Ok, mommy will move pipes.
Dick, voice-over: Isabelle's
task was sliding pipes
under the heavy partition
to act as rollers, a tried
and tested ancient technique,
but not using
plastic waste pipe.
Grant: Push, Ben.
Here we go.
Stephanie:
Easier said than done.
Well, we're doing this
with all the technological
accomplishments
of the ancient Egyptians.
Grant: No, you have to lift
up at that time.
Stephanie: Clear?
Ben: Yeah.
Grant: Move your hand, mate.
Dick, voice-over:
Great teamwork, chaps.
Stephanie: I absolutely love
the way it looks.
Having the two
is going to make the room.
Today has been very fraught.
Mommy has been on top form.
Sometimes when my mother decides
that something is a bad idea,
she will not let it go.
Isabelle: I have never been
against Stephanie's ideas,
and also I want
with all my heart
to support her
in her projects.
There are times
when they are unrealistic
with the means we have.
[Rooster crows]
And the cock crower agrees.
Dick, voice-over: Now that
they're happy with its position,
it will need to be
fixed in place.
But first, they need
to decorate the stable
to make it more like
an art studio.
Chateau Thuries
is in southern France.
It's surrounded
by 4 acres of park land
and stunning views.
Today Jayne is in search of
inspiration for a huge mural
that she's planning to paint on
the wall of the main staircase.
Jayne: I just wanted to get
some photographs
because it will help me
when I'm painting
the griesaille wall.
This whole area
is absolutely beautiful,
such staggering scenery
around us
that it would be really nice
just to reflect that
in the imagery that
I'm painting on the walls,
so we've got the Pyrenees,
which look amazing.
It's a bit misty today,
but they look incredible
when it's a clear day.
I believe it would be quite nice
to paint those on the wall.
Dick, voice-over:
This is Jayne's first stab
at painting a mural this big.
It's a 10 by 3 meter
curved staircase wall.
Don't envy you that, Jayne.
Jayne: I've got it in my mind
what I want to do.
So it's just kind of putting it
into practice and, uh...
Anyway, we'll know
a little bit later
whether it's working or not.
I'm very, very nervous about it
really.
I think I must be
completely bonkers.
Actually I do, I do.
At least tell myself sometimes.
But I am a firm believer that
you can do anything you want to
if you put your mind to it.
And you know, I've got lots
of references on screen
I can look at.
So thank god for the internet.
Dick, voice-over: While Jayne
plans her artistic vision,
husband Steve preps
the staircase wall.
Steve: And this is what's
taking all the time really.
I'm constant filling...
and making goop.
Dick, voice-over: That's
a huge old wall to prepare,
never mind paint a mural on.
Jayne: I'm just hoping it's
all going to look all right,
but if it doesn't, then the
worst thing that can happen
is really that we just
paint over the whole lot.
Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over: And that would
be another painting job
for you, Steve.
Jayne: I have possibly bitten
off more than I can chew, yeah.
Dick, voice-over: Jayne says
she's no Michelangelo,
but you have to give her credit.
That's a huge challenge
she's taken on.
Steve: You feel ok up there?
Jayne: Yep.
When we've been
driving around lately
I've done nothing
but look at mountains
and see the tones
and how it all works together.
The further things are
away from you,
the lighter they should be
because they're in the distance.
Dick, voice-over:
The grisaille style
of mural Jayne wants
means colors
are monochromatic shades
ranging from dark gray
to pale mushroom and white.
Jayne: I'm quite pleased
with the progress today,
but I need to do all the detail
and finishing off,
so it's going to take a while.
Dick, voice-over: With the B&B
guests arriving soon,
you haven't got long,
but it's already
looking fabulous.
At our place, we understand
how important it is to
have your own space,
especially when we're working
together most of the time.
We've got a big house. Ha!
But there's not many places
that Dick or myself can go to
to be away from the craziness
to be calm.
Dick, voice-over: So I created a
work room and treasury for Angel
in an unused attic room.
Well, I think she's going
to come up here
when the children are at school,
when she gets some time,
she's going to become creative,
which I know is going to
cause me more pain.
Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over: Angel needs to
be able to work day and night,
so she requires good lighting.
It was my turn to get creative
in my workshop.
Got lights.
The lights are low energy.
They're L.E.D. plates,
which is lots of light
without taking
any more room space up.
It's not a tall room up there.
Rather than have
the light panels suspended
from the low ceiling...
I made wooden clips
to attach them to the roof.
Well, I'm just going to
take this, stick this to it,
put a hole through the middle,
which means when it comes time
to put the lights to the roof,
turn it around,
just hold it in place.
Very, very simple,
but it's also cheap as chips.
Which we like.
[Saw whirring]
Spot of wood glue.
It's not the prettiest one.
Mass production.
With help
from builder mate Steve,
it was then the moment of truth
to see if the ceiling lights
passed muster.
We've got the two plates,
one on each side,
which means that
there shouldn't be shadows
because the light, you know,
if the light's coming
from all over,
that means the shadows
are reduced,
that's why you have
a big area like that.
Steve: Yeah? I'll work on it.
Dick:
If we screw that in there,
when we come to putting
the board up against it,
when we switch it around
it's going to hold it
in place at that point.
- Correct?
- Yeah.
Dick, voice-over: The L.E.D.
lights are thin panels,
which means
they're unobtrusive.
That's going to be painted
white.
That's it. Done, isn't it?
Steve: Yeah.
Dick: Simple as that.
Steve: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over:
Job well done.
And all it needed was a touch
of creative magic from Angel.
And a little help from Dorothy.
Dorothy: Wow!
Angel:
What do you think, baby?
Dorothy: Wow!
Angel: It is not a bad room,
is it?
Dorothy: Yay!
Dick, voice-over:
Especially looking back
to how the room was.
Angel: This room's the end
because it's full
of my treasures.
It's bright, and it's white,
so when I need to work late
at night, I can do just that.
Dick, voice-over:
Over 170 miles away,
another transformation
is well underway.
In the old stable, Stephanie
and her team have reinstalled
old stable dividers
as room dividers
and have started decorating.
A few finishing touches,
and she'll be ready for
her first artist weekend.
Stephanie: I'm just moving in
my father's art library now.
I'm so happy it's finally
got a home.
The reason I'm doing this
is for my father
because he always wanted
Lalande go be a retreat
for artists.
Dick, voice-over:
The weekend is going to be run
by Stephanie's friend Oliver,
who will be dressing the studio
with his own paintings.
Stephanie: So let's just put it
here for now and then work out
exactly where we want it.
Dick, voice-over:
Just as Stephanie thought
she's on top of everything,
there's a hiccup.
Stephanie: I just phoned Oliver
to find out how far away he was,
and he's driven to
the wrong Chateau de Lalande.
He's now 3 hours away,
and he has to greet
all of his attendees.
Anyway,
I'm not stressing about it.
Did you hear what's happened
with Oliver?
This is why we're running
a bit late.
Man:
He's taken a wrong turn?
Stephanie: No, he's gone
to the wrong Lalande.
He's 3 hours away.
So we're having to do everything
that he was supposed
to be doing.
Ha ha!
Man:
He's got the wrong Lalande.
Dick, voice-over:
You could put it down to
artistic interpretation.
Stephanie: Ok, here we go.
This is every exciting
to see this room coming together
after all this time.
Dick, voice-over: But the
question on everyone's lips is,
what will mom Isabelle think?
Who, after all, was married for
nearly 50 years to an artist.
Isabelle:
It looks awfully nice.
It's too crowded
for an artist studio.
Darling,
it's getting too cluttered.
Stephanie: I'm sorry. I can't
hear over the banging, mommy.
Dick, voice-over: Oh, dear,
let's hope Isabelle sees it
in a new light
when it's finished.
Back at Chateau Mareuil.
Lee: Hey, Belinda, you've got
to come and have a look at this.
Dick, voice-over: Lee is keen
to show off the fruits
of his labor.
Belinda:
That's really well organized.
That looks good.
Lee: It's got a certain
architectural rhythm to it.
Belinda: It does.
How did you bend that pipe?
Lee: Well,
it came in a natural coil,
so what I did was I elongated it
along the corrugated sheet.
Belinda: It's really good.
Lee: Don't touch it.
Just get your hand near it.
Yeah, it's baking.
In fact, it's so hot
you could fry an egg on that.
Belinda: Ha ha!
Oh, that's really hot there.
Yeah, you can see
where the sun's hitting it.
That's really hot.
Lee: Yeah. Just put one of your
fingers inside and tell me--
Go on.
Belinda:
God, that's really hot.
Ha ha!
Lee: Ha ha!
Belinda: No, that's really hot.
Lee: Can you imagine the water?
Belinda: Yeah, well.
Dick, voice-over:
I can tell you now, Belinda,
the water left in the pipe
will be hot.
For the next part
of his experiment,
he wants to find out
just how hot the water is.
Belinda: Ok.
Lee: Turn it on!
A bit more!
Stop!
Wow. This is like bath.
It's hotter than my bath.
Belinda, come up here!
This is incredible!
Dick, voice-over: And family
friend Lise is on hand
to test the waters.
Lee: Have a feel of that.
Belinda: Wow! It's so hot.
Lee: Yeah.
Belinda: That is almost--
That is too hot.
Dick, voice-over:
You're not wrong, Belinda.
However, if water was flowing
through this plastic pipe
into the pool,
it wouldn't capture enough heat.
For this system to work,
the pipe used will have
to be a good conductor.
Belinda: So what's
the temperature of that water?
Lee: According to sharky,
this is 46 degrees.
Belinda: 46.
Lee: 46 degrees. Yes!
Lise: Congratulations.
Lee: Thank you very much.
46 degrees. That's 24,
and that's a rise of...
uh, 6 is 30, 20...22 degrees.
Sharky, me boy,
you've brought it home.
46.
Dick, voice-over: Before Lee
and Belinda go to the expense
of connecting everything up,
I need to give them a call.
Lee, over computer: Hello.
How are you?
Dick: Oh, there you are.
Hi, Belinda, Hi, Lee.
Lee: How are you?
Dick: Not bad at all.
I didn't realize what
you'd done to Lee, Belinda.
You turned him into
an eco warrior.
Belinda: I know.
He's a new man, Dick.
Dick: The principles of
what you've done, I love.
But I'm afraid, mate,
I don't think your system
is going to work.
Belinda: Ha ha!
Dick: You're laughing.
That's a good start.
Lee: Why is that?
Dick: It's a material choice.
If you've got
a thick plastic pipe, ok,
it's hard for the sun's heat
to get through it
because it's an insulator.
Lee: Right.
Dick:
Normally we'd use copper
because copper is
a good conductor of heat.
Any metal painted black is good.
The thinner the wall,
the better.
So it's the transfer of the heat
that's the key thing.
Because it only has a chance
to heat the water in the time
it comes in the bottom
until it goes out the top.
Lee: Yeah, I totally get
what you're saying.
I mean, the reason we used it
is we had some left over,
and we didn't want to waste it.
And we were
just trying it all out,
but I think you're right.
We need to change
that end of the system.
I've made these systems,
by the way, using old radiators.
All those principles
you've got in your head now,
the only thing that's flawed,
and it's only a little bit,
is that the materials
you are using
doesn't want the sun
to get to your water.
Belinda: That's quite
a big flaw actually.
Lee: Yes, yeah.
Oh, Belinda, minor, minor
technical physical issue.
Lee: I'm thinking there's
a spin off from this as well,
Dick,
because if I use a mixture of
old radiators and copper pipe,
it's double then
as a sun collector
and some modern--a piece
of post-modern sculpture.
Listen, you two,
look after yourselves.
And, Belinda, don't let him get
too arty on you.
Lee:
Thank you for your help.
Thanks, Dick. Take care.
Bye. Good-bye.
- Bye!
- Bye!
Lee: Gone now.
Belinda: He had a point.
Lee: Well,
the principles are right.
All I've done is--
Belinda: I know.
It's just the wrong materials.
Lee: Yeah, but at one end.
Just think, right?
That was just
a few minutes' conversation,
and that saved us so much money
and a whole load of grief
because what we'd have done is
we'd have got it all working
and it wouldn't have heated up,
and then I would have been
scratching me head, thinking,
what have I done wrong?
Dick, voice-over: Glad to have
been of assistance.
Call me anytime.
Lee: That's it.
Dick, voice-over:
You've had a busy 8 months
with your Christmas event,
roof repairs...
Lee: Oh.
Dick, voice-over: ...water
feature installation...
Belinda: Oh, my goodness, Lee!
Lee: Happy birthday!
Dick, voice-over: ...and hosting
a 60th birthday party.
Ha ha!
I've never made anything so bad
in my entire life.
Dick, voice-over: With bookings
and events confirmed
for the summer season,
I have my fingers crossed
that Belinda and Lee
can heat up their pool.
At Chateau de Lalande,
it's a big day for Stephanie.
It's her first artist weekend.
She's hosting a cocktail party
to launch the event
and new space
in just 3 hours' time.
Stephanie: Oliver!
Dick, voice-over: Friend Oliver,
an artist who's running
the weekend
and went to the wrong
Chateau de Lalande,
has finally rocked up.
Oliver: Well, I'd say
the other Chateau de Lalande
is really nice.
Stephanie: Ha ha! What?
Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over: Now to find
out what Oliver thinks
of the studio Stephanie's
created from the old stables.
What for decades
was a dumping ground
is now a bright and airy
creative space
with reinstalled stable dividers
and upcycled troughs as sinks.
Plus plenty of room for students
to work at their art.
Oliver: Whoa.
It's a total transformation.
I'll just give you a hug.
It's amazing.
I've got to put
this painting down.
Stephanie: Ha ha!
Oliver: Love it. Wow.
I'm literally gob smacked.
Because this was just a bit
of a dumping ground, wasn't it?
Stephanie: Yeah.
Oliver: This is the stuff
of any artist's dreams.
It makes me want to get
my paintbrushes out,
which is what
we want this to do.
Stephanie: Welcome.
Dick, voice-over:
A couple of hours later
and after a quick brush up,
it's time to welcome guests
and launch the retreat
in style.
Stephanie:
Do you find you like it?
Isabelle: Yes.
Stephanie: Ha ha!
Isabelle:
It's exactly what I wanted.
Dick, voice-over: Glad to see
mom Isabelle seems happy.
[Indistinct chatter]
Oliver: Stephanie,
do you want to come up here?
Dick, voice-over: Oliver has
something rather special
to unveil.
Oliver: This is my gift
to you and the chateau,
and I just hope it's the start
of hundreds of paintings
that loads of people do here
that create something really,
really special, that's my wish.
Stephanie: Aren't you going
to do it to everyone?
I can see
everyone else's reaction
before actually seeing it.
All: [Ooh and ahs]
Oh, wow.
Stephanie: Oh, I really love it.
Thank you.
You!
Dick, voice-over:
Celebration's over,
it's time to pick up
a paint brush
for the first class
in life drawing,
with help from
live-in chateau helper Marie.
Oliver: So my number one tip
would be
don't just start with
a little area and work outwards.
Yeah? Map out
the whole proportions first.
Marie, over to you.
If you use your charcoal to
follow
the curves of the leg
like a [indistinct],
then you tend to get a sense
of it feeling quite solid.
The head is good,
but it's too big
compared to the rest
of the body.
Dick, voice-over: It seems the
room is a wash of creativity,
and the studio
has really come into its own.
Stephanie: It's been such
a lot of hard work this project,
but it's really paid off.
I think my father would
have loved everything
about this space.
And I'm just sorry
that I didn't do this
whilst he was still alive.
Dick, voice-over:
Well done, Stephanie!
I'm sure your father
would have been very proud
of what you've achieved.
Stephanie: It's been
an epic winter at Lalande.
Not only did we have
the huge Christmas party...
Merry Christmas, everyone!
All: Merry Christmas!
Stephanie: But we also managed
to renovate the greenhouse.
Isabelle: Oh, my goodness!
It's wonderful!
Stephanie: We finally finished
the last bedroom.
And we've got an art studio
up and running.
Dick, voice-over: Now with other
event bookings over the summer
and her mom's wedding
at the chateau to organize,
there's no rest for Stephanie.
In southern France,
Jayne and Steve are about
to open the whole chateau
to their first
fully paying guests.
Jayne: The guests are
flying in this morning,
but I think they're going
to be arriving early afternoon,
but we've got a heck of a lot
to do before then.
Steve: I'm mister mop today,
I think.
Dick, voice-over:
While Steve cleans,
Jayne's putting
the finishing touches
to her bespoke
staircase mural.
Steve: Oh, it's well.
I'm hugely impressed, Jayne.
I mean, I wouldn't know
where to start
if I was doing this.
Jayne: I'm just making
a little bit go along, darling.
I think it's gone better
than I thought it might do.
The guests are going to be
the first people to see
what I've done so far.
Dick, voice-over: Now just time
for some finishing touches
to the office.
Steve: Lined up.
Right there.
Yeah, that's better.
Jayne: Nature suite.
Oh, for god--
What's going on with this door?
Dick, voice-over:
And some last-minute snagging.
Maintenance,
could you have a look, please?
Steve: Lift that up. Nope.
Ok. I think it needs
a good kicking.
Jayne:
Shall I tell them that then?
Steve: No.
Jayne: Shall I?
Steve: So gentle touch.
Gentle touch.
Dick, voice-over: Time's up.
The guests are here.
Jayne: Hello!
Steve: Hi!
Lee: I'm Lee.
Steve: Hi, Lee.
Very pleased to meet you, Lee.
Jayne: Hi. I'm Jayne.
Man: Hi, Jayne.
Jayne: So come on in.
Lee: Wow! Lovely floor.
Jayne: Thank you.
This is the salon.
You know,
you can just chill and relax,
make yourself at home.
Lee: Lovely.
Man: The tapestry looks...
Jayne: It's actually
the original wallpaper.
Lee: No.
Jayne: Yeah, so...
Lee: You just framed it?
Jayne: We've just framed it.
Lee: Really?
Jayne: Yeah.
Lee: That's really cool.
Dick, voice-over:
It's a chance to have a look
at the once
dull and dingy staircase...
transformed into
a mural masterpiece
perfectly capturing
the local surroundings.
Lee: Ah.
Man: Did you do the wall?
Jayne: Yes.
Man: Wow.
Wow. Very talented.
Jayne: Do you like it?
Man:
Yeah, I think it's amazing.
I think it works really well.
You're capturing
the scene outside obviously.
I mean, you bring in the garden
and your lovely garden.
Jayne: Absolutely.
Well spotted.
Dick, voice-over:
You couldn't have asked for
a better compliment, Jayne.
Jayne: So...we can get
your bags up in a minute.
Lee: Lovely. I love the fact
that you've got the double
windows in this room.
Really, really nice.
What Jayne's done with
the hallway, with the stencil,
I think it's really effective.
Man: Yeah. It kind of encourages
you to make the journey
all the way up to the top,
you know, to come into
your wonderful suite
where you'll be staying.
Dick, voice-over:
That's a thumbs up.
Man: Oh, just what we need.
Thank you.
Jayne: Sante, guys.
Cheers.
Man: Cheers.
Lee: Cheers.
Jayne, voice-over:
The guests seem to be
quite impressed with it all,
which is great.
It's been a year
of really hard graft,
and I'm really pleased
that we've nearly finished
it all now.
Steve: I think the best bit
is the fact that we can open.
There's another what's got
to be done in the future.
It's that we can open
and start earning some money.
Dick, voice-over:
It's certainly been a busy year
for Jayne and Steve.
Steve: That's lovely.
Dick, voice-over:
They've transformed
derelict downstairs rooms.
There's a beautiful dining room.
Steve: This is absolutely
what we wanted.
Dick, voice-over:
A bright and airy salon.
Man: Wow! Fantastic.
Woman: That is amazing.
Dick, voice-over:
An updated hallway.
Orangery.
Steve: Lovely atmosphere.
Dick, voice-over:
Office, staircase,
and they're planning more.
Jayne:
If we have a successful year,
then we can start to think about
putting a pool in as well
because we haven't got a pool
at the moment,
so I'd really love a pool.
Steve: So would I.
Dick, voice-over: And with
the chateau taking bookings
for forthcoming events,
it bodes well.
Jayne: There were times when
I never thought we'd finish,
I have to say.
But yeah,
we've nearly done it now,
and it's a great feeling.
Dick, voice-over:
Next week...
Man: Oh, my goodness,
this is amazing.
Dick, voice-over:
We'll follow more intrepid
chateau owning Brits.
Woman: Steve,
that one's falling out.
No! Steve! No! Steven!
Dick, voice-over:
At my place...
Dick: Oh, Richard!
Dick, voice-over:
..there's a slip up.
Dick: Man in the water here!
One down!
Dick, voice-over:
And at another chateau...
[Thunder]
...one couple faced
their worst fears.
Man: We can't ruin
the wedding meal
by eating outside in the rain,
and it quite clearly
will be in the rain.