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Next Steps: Restoration planning of the Château interiors
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Next Steps: Restoration planning of the Château interiors



This week at Château de Purnon we get to work laying the foundations for a series of projects that will occupy us over the coming months.

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Many people ask us what is the single 
biggest lesson we have learned as part of our huge project to save Château de Purnon. 
Whilst our journey has taught us patience and optimism, perhaps the most practical skill has been learning to distinguish between 
those tasks we can tackle ourselves and the projects that are best left 
to artisans. This week at Château de Purnon while our teams make enormous progress 
on the château’s stone facades, the roof and carpentry, we get to work laying the foundations for a series of projects that will 
occupy Tim and I over the coming months. The first step is 
careful planning – with so much to do projects must be tackled in the correct order. Come with us as we prepare our work 
program for the upcoming months [Music]. So this is the diagnostic study which our heritage 
architect has prepared for the commencement of the restoration of the interior of the Château and 
it’s really quite an impressive document. It’s got all of the information about the heritage 
element of the Château that need to be preserved. All of the historic information from the archives 
about how the different rooms were furnished and most usefully it’s got this document here which 
divides the interior restoration into a series of phases and it makes it clear with each phase 
which parts of the project are our responsibility and we can do ourselves, which parts need to be 
done by the professionals and which elements we can do in collaboration with our artisan workers. 
Yeah, and some of it has already started. So the electricity and plumbing plan has already started 
to be implemented on the eastern wing and that’s part of the restoration of those ensuites and the 
shower and getting electricity up to the first floor and then there’s some things that we’d 
like to get a wriggle on for for the Journees du patrimoine when we open for the public for the 
weekend. The entrance – there’s some things in the entrance that I think we need to address and then 
also there’s a project that I think we should look at here on the ground floor which is based around 
our safety over the coming winter months. And then there’s a bunch of things up on the first floor 
and the second floor which are sort of underway that we need to look at where we’re up to and 
how we can keep progressing them. Okay so with that in mind, this will really give us a great 
sense over the next six months or so as to what the priorities are and what we should be working 
on. So I think that’s fantastic. Should we go and have a look and start making a plan? Let’s do it, 
babe! Okay, so here in the entrance we stripped two panels of the lead paint and our plan is to 
gradually keep working on this space until we get rid of all the blue lead paint in here and I think 
the time might have come to choose another section to work on so that for the Journees du patrimoine 
the area is a little bit more presentable than it is now. Okay so which section would we like to 
do? I was thinking it might be nice to finish this archway. OK yeah all right. So it’s a little 
bit finicky but we have to do it at some stage and it is really the first thing that people notice as 
they walk in. Yeah it’ll neaten this up a bit yeah and I would just go for the moment just to the top 
of the archway so if we just do the archway where the paint is peeling terribly and where we’ve done 
the sample patches and so then that just really neatens up the entrance to the stairs. What? 
Are you going to do the whole thing? Yeah. Okay, go for it! Well I just you’re the one doing it! 
Well I think if we put the scaffolding up then I feel like “in for a penny, in for a pound”. Let’s 
do the whole thing including the panel above the archway and let’s see if we can get it done. 
Okay! Very good! All right, good luck! [Music] That was hard work! Yeah, it’s always hard work 
getting the lead paint off but it’s made a lot easier by the product that we use which is called 
SmartStrip and it enables us to remove the lead paint in a non-toxic way by turning it into a 
paste which means we don’t have to wear masks. We just really have to wear gloves and eye 
protection but we wear these suits just to protect our clothes because it’s quite a messy 
process. And after we have allowed the surface to dry we’ll probably do some touch-ups because 
you can see that there’s areas where we need to put the product on again which is completely 
normal and then after we’ve done that and it dries we need to treat it with a pH neutralizer 
because the surface is very pH high after we’ve applied the SmartStrip. But very excitingly we 
made another discovery. Always at Purnon when we set out on a task we seem to find something 
new and this project was no exception. We didn’t know that the passageway up the staircase was 
flanked by this oak frame we discovered that as we took off the 19th century paint so that was 
a really interesting discovery. It’s really quite beautiful, isn’t it? And nobody loves a discovery 
here at Purnon as much as us except our architect and so we can’t wait to show that to him and see 
what what insights he has as well. Well done and let’s get on with the next project! Or have a 
rest! So what has to be done in here? So this is our Salon d’hiver or our winter salon which we 
don’t use at all during the summer months but in winter this is where we spend a lot of our time 
and I’m concerned that the condition of the paint work on the ceiling has deteriorated dramatically 
and this is lead paint and it’s chipping and I worry about our safety. So I would really love if 
before winter we can actually strip the lead paint off the ceiling and create a safe space for us 
during the winter months. Okay yeah. Certainly the fluctuating temperatures have really accelerated 
the deterioration of the paint in recent months and I think the sooner we do it the better and 
there is this sort of window between now and the onset of the cold months at the end of the year 
and so this is definitely a project we can do now. We’ll need to move all the furniture out. 
Yes and then I think if we put the scaffolding up we can do it in two phases. I think that’s 
a good idea – tackling it in two phases [Music] So this is going to be quite a project. This 
will be our winter snug and we like it because it’s really small and it’s already got heating in 
it. So it will be a really comfortable place to retreat to in the cold winter months. So where are 
we up to? The bookcases are done and just waiting to be slotted into place. The power is okay. So 
what’s got to be done with these walls? Some of the plaster needs to be done and then sanded. And 
then we’re going to paint those walls. The ceiling the same we will have to just do the repairs 
and then undercoat it and then paint it and then this wall here is going to be wallpapered. So, to 
wallpaper it we just need it to be a flat surface essentially. It’s actually not looking too bad. 
And then we’ll put the skirting boards up after the wallpaper’s gone down. Have you chosen the 
wallpaper for that wall? Yes. Have we ordered it? Yes. And it’s here? Yes. So, the paint is 
already here, the wallpaper is already here, so we don’t really need any materials. No, 
it’s just a question of getting on with the work. Based on what we said downstairs I think we 
should try and do this before we do the lead paint stripping in the Salon d’hiver. Yeah, because 
some of the furniture is destined to come here. So that becomes potentially depending on what else 
we find an early October job or now? Or now, yeah. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] This corridor has become a bit of a dumping ground, 
hasn’t it? Is it our expectation that these two basins are both usable? Yes. OK, so I think 
the best thing is for these to go down into the sous-sol (in the basement) with the other ones. 
The other thing are doors. So this door that’s the shower door. I’ve got to paint that, so 
that can go into the atelier and I’ll paint it. This is the new laundry door. It’s not a new 
door. It’s the door for the new laundry. OK, the door between the corridor and the laundry? 
Yes. So there’s no reason why we can’t paint that? Start prepping it and painting it. This one 
has number five on it. See that is its number. 10. That’s 8. No it’s this door Okay so 
three doors that all need to be done. Yeah, this one’s still in a frame too. What did 
we mark it? That’s the ensuite. So that one I can paint or we can start working on 
painting it now. OK. How did we end up with so many doors?! Five … six …there 
are seven doors! Yeah and that one’s got a frame that one must be easy to work out. I 
know where it’s from – in between the rooms behind that bedroom. You know how the back room 
is split into two and there was a door. Yes, that’s right yes where there was the bath 
on one side and the vanity on the other. The beds. okay the beds these are those Empire 
beds. Yeah, I think we need to create one room where all the beds go because otherwise we’ll 
be moving beds in and out of rooms. So let’s create a storage room on the second floor. We 
can go up there and choose a room. Yes, OK. [Music] [Music] So I’m thinking maybe this room for storing 
three beds and then some other things. It’s for things that are coming up to the second 
floor to be used eventually on the second floor yeah so I’ll clear this out. Sweep it 
up yeah and just the walls are really dirty so you could just give them all the big 
clean the door is sort of functional so that it can be closed off and now we know that 
the dome above us is watertight so not a drop of water should ever get in here again. 
Perfect storage room okay storage room. [Music] [Music] Edouard’s room. So what has to be done here? I’ve 
still got to finish painting the boiserie at the bottom, the skirting boards. I’ve got to paint 
the central part above the fireplace and then most importantly I’ve got to start preparing 
the wooden frames to put around the wallpaper panels. And this panel here – we’re waiting for 
the electrician because he needs to get in behind hessian backing to get some power through. Is 
that the next thing he’s going to do? Yeah. He’s run the power along the corridor so it’s 
here. He just needs to get it into here. OK, so then the question is: what will you be doing 
and what do you need my help with in this room? I think I can do everything in here on my own. 
I just need time. Yeah OK. So this is Edouard’s room and you’re doing this. Maybe while you’re 
doing this I’ll be working in the snug. OK, yeah. Babe, you’ve made so many coasters! There’s 
111 there, another just over 10 there we need 140 for Les Journees du patrimoine and also for our 
existing orders. Amazing! That’s so good! [Music] Here’s another door. That door, that’s the 
hot water room it’s the hot water room. OK so I should paint that as well? Yep okay I’ll 
put that in the atelier. That one needs a big sand so if you want to sand I’m happy to set to work 
on it. [Music] OK the shower. So what has to be done here? The door has to be put back on. So I’ve 
got to paint it first and we’ve got to paint the frame. Then the electrician still has to fix the 
power switches. That’s a LED strip for the niche. I need to paint the ceiling and put the cornices 
on the ceiling. That’s really the last thing, that’s the only thing that’s outstanding from 
my side – the ceiling and the door. OK cool [Music] I think what we should do is start the process 
of restoring the wallpaper panels that were taken down in this room – the ones that are water 
stained. Yes, so I think it’s something to put on the list for Frederic. OK, let me create a 
‘Frederic list’. If we they were done, there would be nothing else stopping us progressing stuff in 
this room, right? Yes, I mean it’s a big task in theory. It’s actually better to do the room with 
the panels down so we should progress the room before the panels go back up. But I think the 
restoration of the panels should start now. OK. [Music] So this is going to be our laundry. It’s going 
to be quite a project although it’s very well advanced with all the electrical and water 
connections done. Now the floor’s been done. So it’s really just a question of working out what 
cabinetry we want in here. How we want the room laid out and then the other sort of finishes doing 
the ceilings, painting where that’s required, replastering. It’s in pretty bad condition 
actually. I think the existing laundry needs to move as a priority because the water 
downpipe that sits on the outside of the Château needs to be removed. The stonemasons 
would be grateful if we could do that as soon as possible. So I think we should as a first 
thing get the cabinetry designed and made. OK. [Music] So this room, I’ve had a chat to the electrician 
and he’s got the cables here to put two power sockets in on either side of the bed and he wants 
to channel the cables into the plaster rather than taking off the skirting board because these 
are big original skirting boards and so we just need to lift the wallpaper up to allow 
him to channel in. OK – well this is 20th century wallpaper so it doesn’t matter at 
all slightly easing it off the wall. It’s already come off quite a lot anyway here. 
It’s already come off down here too. What are those for? That’s for the heater. OK. So 
our main goal with this room – it doesn’t need to be restored. That’s for a later phase 
of works. Just so long as it’s safe. OK. [Music] So where are we at with this ensuite bathroom. So 
all the electricity and plumbing has now gone in. The shower tray has arrived and I’ve ordered 
all the tapware. I still need to order the toilet and a heated towel rail. Basically the 
floor needs to go back down. That’s our local stone masons and they’re putting down the 
original 18th century tomette floor. They need to also render all the walls and I think 
they plan to do that in the next couple of days and then the room can be tiled and we’ll 
progress further. OK. So there’s really not much more for us to do at the moment. The next 
steps are for our artisans. That’s right. OK [Music] Well that’s been a really productive week. One 
of the things I find with our project here is it’s such a huge project with so many different 
elements to it. It really is quite easy sometimes to feel completely overwhelmed and so, by 
breaking the projects up into these smaller tasks and then just working through them one at 
a time it really does take some of the pressure off and gives you this feeling of progress when 
all around you is sometimes this sense of chaos and this sense that we’re just never going 
to get finished. Yeah and you know I think also after 4 years it’s really exciting to be 
progressing some of the interior restoration works and for two reasons actually. First is 
that the interiors hold so many treasures, so many discoveries, so many exciting projects 
but it also massively increases our quality of life and we’ve been living in pretty difficult 
conditions for the last four years. Pretty uncomfortable and so it’s helps the morale as 
well. It does and winter is coming as as they say and we really will appreciate some of those 
creature comforts when the colder months arrive. So it’s been a good week and we can’t wait to 
share further progress over the months ahead as we move on with some of the projects that we’re 
working on. Absolutely. So, remember as always if you would like to follow the restoration of 
Château de Purnon more closely, we post frequent updates on Instagram. We post an exclusive weekly 
video over on Patreon where this week Tim takes you on a tour of Purnon’s incredible 18th century 
floor coverings. And Flick gets herself into a bloody mess! Otherwise just hit the Subscribe 
button and we’ll keep you up to date [Music] [Music] [Music]

50 Comments

  2. @MarianneSchade

    Maybe it's already mentioned: but is a bidet next to the toilet also part of the plan?
    Greetings from Holland!!

  3. @philipmoody5519

    I love the comment from @angelashock9837. I feel the same way. This such a beautiful place and there’s so much to do and to save. And the care with which you do the videos is incredible. I’m toasting a glass of French wine to you now!

  5. @jaylintz1683

    My wife and I were talking after watching several videos and wondered if at some point you will make an opportunity available to those who live elsewhere in the world to come to the Chateau and stay for a visit….. as a way to recover and or make income for yourselves. Just a thought but I’m sure we are not the only one’s who would LOVE to visit your amazing Chateau.

  6. @xxxfreshman

    I love your work, but where do you get all the money? I pay of next 20 Years a Home what cost mostly 440T€. But you stay on Costs that be 5 Million € or more, do you rent or make a Hotel, do you have a Business Plan, or are you Rich People ?

  9. @dianeknight4839

    The painted pattern on your staircase is the same as walls in the Chapel at Chateau de Laland (Stephanie Jarvis). Restoration has just been completed by a team who worked on Notre Dame. The finished colour is a Lilac/Grey and the Fleur de Lyse are Silver gilt.
    I love how you keep making little gems of discovery. I also love that Blue wallpaper.

  10. @maryellenkrause7126

    I am so happy to have found your site. The chateau is beautiful and such a part of history of France..Thank you for comiting to this huge project.

  14. @28105wsking

    If I were you, I would remove the frame before the staircase. It blocks the magnificence of the stairway, ruins its lines and does nothing to enhance the entrance to the chateau. In
    My humble opinion. Remove it, and let that beautiful staircase fly!

  16. @scottmeldrum9660

    Hi!!! .. thoroughly enjoying this journey!!! wow!!! Your passion is inspiring! Well done! … hoping to get hold of some slate roof coasters – will these be back in stock sometime soon!?! … Cheers from Canada!

  17. @Mocht95

    hello i have been following your for a while and I have seen this building from the start to now this has really been a interesting journey.
    i wish you the best in this journey.

  20. @JamiRayVintage

    Love all these projects. Watching all the brushing of the door makes me happy for our electric Graco paint sprayer. I have brushed so many doors. And we finally got an electric sprayer and it’s so easy and fast to use.

  21. @johnlezy8603

    YouTube seems to recognize your success, 10 ads in a 28 minute video, kinda sucks the pleasure out of the experience….

  22. @pamelaabettis7225

    Your commitment to working in a logical order is so important to being able to finish! If for some reason you need to hand the project off to another, you will not hand off a big mess but rather continuity to get it finished at some point. Wow , you guys must be very fit by going up and down the stairs carrying all manner of things!

  23. @3HA_nl

    I don’t know why. But one of my favorite video so far.I think because of al the rooms we see. Thanks!

  25. @MayelaGuillen-g8y

    Do you take volunteers? I have some experience in restorations! Hope you do I would love to be part of such a great project and massively challenging ❤❤

  30. @reinerlehmann3764

    Ich Frank Lehmann aus der Prignitz, habe selbst ein sehr altes Bauernhaus mit Altenteil. Habe auch Holz Fenster aus den 1980 er Jahren,.
    Die Fenster in dem Schloß sind sehr schön, aber nur einfach Verglast, sicher auch keine Gummidichtungen. Bei allem Respekt vor der Historischen Art,ich habe meine Fenster,es sind 17 Stück,umverglast , die Sprossen und Kreuze erhalten, Gummidichtungen ein gefräst,das Schloß wäre im Winter viel wärmer und die Energie zum Heizen viel geringer,das ist auch sehr nachhaltig.

  31. @kathille6622

    How exciting to be doing more of the interior rooms. And you are so right about the importance of planning and decorating one room at a time. Living in an old house myself, the continual projects can sometimes feel overwhelming at times, (especially when something unexpected happens and the planning is temporarily derailed), but mostly sticking to the plan (and budget!), and keeping lists and having a positive attitude go a long way to making the experience enjoyable, especially after the end of each project where there is a huge sense of accomplishment and pride in a job well done. Love following your journey at Purnon! Have a wonderful Easter!

  34. @JanetMitchell-lc1ib

    Top notch video. I really appreciate your discussion on the progress of every room – it shows the planning detail required and we can appreciate the achievements along the way.

  36. @heatherwatson7692

    One of the questions I had after watching your first video was how do you choose which rooms, buildings, Interiors to do first!

  37. @valariegailliot7084

    I don’t like that they show the paintings they found but don’t elaborate on them. I’ve seen them on several videos but barely speak on them. I’d love to know who are they what years did they live and what will be done with them. I think they show a lot of videos but they are not thoroughly filmed and explained. It would be so fun if they could incorporate some photos of rooms that may have been with furniture at that time. Like maids quarters furnished

  41. @28105wsking

    What are the brass bars on the wall to the right of the bathroom door ? I have never seen something like that. Can’t imagine the purpose? Thank you ❤🙏🏻

  43. @223shakey

    I bumped into a recent video and can't stop watching. I can't tell you how impressed I am with your care and focus on the restoration and history of the chateau. I am curious though, are the fireplaces usable?

  44. @drszilka1

    Are you making the tile coasters for guests of your open house? Or are you selling them? Would love to purchase a set.

  46. @rickkuny6591

    I was a general contractor for my entire adult life. I find a profound attitude/motivational change when thinking about the two of you working away on your project. A lifelong ambition, given the extent and breadth and not one you’re likely to ever finish. It must be extraordinarily satisfying, knowing that this is your life. Completely admiring your dedication to each other and your dream.

  47. @ivonekowalczyk5823

    American here. I think you guys are a great team. This video exemplifies how each of you are strong and capable and yet you support each other so generously. I think I watch your videos not even so much for the historic interest/ DIY/ renovation, but for your relationship! The French are very fortunate to have you caring for their chateau. Thank you very much. You inspire me to do my own projects.

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