Follow our restoration journey as we peel back the layers of time & craftsmanship
Built in 1820 this Normandy gem had the good fortune to be redesigned by the designer of The Ritz, Monsieur Georges Farcy for the Bon Marché family in 1910. The chateau has been untouched since the retreating German army removed the heating system in the 1940’s. Eisenhower moved into the chateau when he was appointed supreme commander of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of north-western Europe.
Restoration Chateau is a classical Parisian design, with 57 rooms, 22 ensuite bedrooms (revolutionary for its time), 8 staterooms and 27 acres. Over the coming months please join us on a journey of discovery as we piece together history and restore this classic building back to its former glory.
A truly wonderful winter sunset last night here at the chateau ... Seeing her starting to regain her former splendour in this ancient and historic landscape is such a privilege...we are so grateful and so lucky to be doing this , to be able to see those wonderful lines of trees so typical of the Normandy countryside... and to have a painting that hangs in the upper landing that looks exactly as if it was painted directly from outside ...there’s really sometime so special about this place .
#sunset #sunsetphotography #sunsets #restorationchateau #châteaux #diy #diyprojects #diyhomedecor #château #landscapelovers #landscape_captures #restorationproject
Nov 25
A truly wonderful winter sunset last night here at the chateau ... Seeing her starting to regain her former splendour in this ancient and historic landscape is such a privilege...we are so grateful and so lucky to be doing this , to be able to see those wonderful lines of trees so typical of the Normandy countryside... and to have a painting that hangs in the upper landing that looks exactly as if it was painted directly from outside ...there’s really sometime so special about this place .
#sunset #sunsetphotography #sunsets #restorationchateau #châteaux #diy #diyprojects #diyhomedecor #château #landscapelovers #landscape_captures #restorationproject
Welcome everyone to the front door ! ... the stunning double glazed doors to the main entrance hall which all looks deceptively simple and calm ... in fact if you look through the progress posts we’ve had to replaster the ceiling - fill gaps and cracks in the wall and sand back every single square inch and recable and change all the electrics!
It’s so beautiful to see the remarkable architectural cornices and panelling now shinning through ... the oval medallions above the double doors - the garlands of acanthus leaves ... these are the elements that along with the grand Salon we will re gild - yup .... it’s quite a Herculean task ahead but we’re actually quite excited about it .... if anyone wants to come and stay and help in the spring you’re more than welcome - lol ...
#entrancehall #entrancedecor #entrancedesign #entrance #frontdoor #staircase #staircasedesign #restorationchateau #châteaux #chateauxdefrance #chateau #chateaurestoration #diyhomedecor #diy #diyprojects
Nov 24
Welcome everyone to the front door ! ... the stunning double glazed doors to the main entrance hall which all looks deceptively simple and calm ... in fact if you look through the progress posts we’ve had to replaster the ceiling - fill gaps and cracks in the wall and sand back every single square inch and recable and change all the electrics!
It’s so beautiful to see the remarkable architectural cornices and panelling now shinning through ... the oval medallions above the double doors - the garlands of acanthus leaves ... these are the elements that along with the grand Salon we will re gild - yup .... it’s quite a Herculean task ahead but we’re actually quite excited about it .... if anyone wants to come and stay and help in the spring you’re more than welcome - lol ...
#entrancehall #entrancedecor #entrancedesign #entrance #frontdoor #staircase #staircasedesign #restorationchateau #châteaux #chateauxdefrance #chateau #chateaurestoration #diyhomedecor #diy #diyprojects
So yesterday we got 6 of the gate pier blocks up on one side - this time with spacers in-between each one with a 10 mm gap to allow for cementing to add extra strength.
The electrics for the bell are in - note that it’s on the french drivers side ! Lol ... lots of discussion about which side it should go out we didn’t want to upset french drivers having to get out of the car to ring the bell !
We also managed time to plant 100 Laurel trees up on the top gate we put in and built this summer ....
#restorationchateau #château #châteaux #chateauxdefrance #châteaux #diy #diyprojects #antiquerestoration #gates #france #normandy #castlestalker
Nov 23
So yesterday we got 6 of the gate pier blocks up on one side - this time with spacers in-between each one with a 10 mm gap to allow for cementing to add extra strength.
The electrics for the bell are in - note that it’s on the french drivers side ! Lol ... lots of discussion about which side it should go out we didn’t want to upset french drivers having to get out of the car to ring the bell !
We also managed time to plant 100 Laurel trees up on the top gate we put in and built this summer ....
#restorationchateau #château #châteaux #chateauxdefrance #châteaux #diy #diyprojects #antiquerestoration #gates #france #normandy #castlestalker
Who ya gonna call ... gate busters! Yup - we need help! Putting a set of chateau gates up seemed to be an easy idea : OMG have we learnt the complexities!
First of all we purchased a set of huge iron gates from a building in france , that turned out to be too heavy to use !( they were designed as side panels to a building in paris)
Then we purchased a second set of gates ( with a door built into them for pedestrians- v cool )
We then laid the foundations- taking all the electrical elements to it and cast the slab with more of a L shape so when the gates are open it has foundations that support them open .
We placed metal REBAR into the foundations and started incaseing the plilasters but didn’t realise until we were half way up that the REBAR was’nt strong enough to hang the gates from ... so it all has to come down again.
We found a really great company to work with us to help so we don’t make any more rookey errors - they can also do the fan shaped iron work that will go onto the pilasters .
As these gates will be automatically operated it adds another complexity to the way the motors have to sit into the foundations with a base pivot and motor.
( Yup didn’t fancy getting into our dressing gowns each morning to run over and open the gates by hand !)
So this is the first weekend of the third attempt to get the gates up... wish us luck.
#châteaux #restorationchateau #chateauxdefrance #diy #diyprojects #diyproject #gates #gate #building #architecturedesign #architecturelovers
Nov 22
Who ya gonna call ... gate busters! Yup - we need help! Putting a set of chateau gates up seemed to be an easy idea : OMG have we learnt the complexities!
First of all we purchased a set of huge iron gates from a building in france , that turned out to be too heavy to use !( they were designed as side panels to a building in paris)
Then we purchased a second set of gates ( with a door built into them for pedestrians- v cool )
We then laid the foundations- taking all the electrical elements to it and cast the slab with more of a L shape so when the gates are open it has foundations that support them open .
We placed metal REBAR into the foundations and started incaseing the plilasters but didn’t realise until we were half way up that the REBAR was’nt strong enough to hang the gates from ... so it all has to come down again.
We found a really great company to work with us to help so we don’t make any more rookey errors - they can also do the fan shaped iron work that will go onto the pilasters .
As these gates will be automatically operated it adds another complexity to the way the motors have to sit into the foundations with a base pivot and motor.
( Yup didn’t fancy getting into our dressing gowns each morning to run over and open the gates by hand !)
So this is the first weekend of the third attempt to get the gates up... wish us luck.
#châteaux #restorationchateau #chateauxdefrance #diy #diyprojects #diyproject #gates #gate #building #architecturedesign #architecturelovers
The French are undoubtedly the Masters of gilding ...for example balancing the gilded mirrors in a salon knowing how much light and from which direction it would hit the gilding meant you could ‘balance ‘a room .
The Grand Salon when we arrived was in a really sad state ...we loved the green but what we thought was a specialist paint finished turned out to be mould .So we decided to do our research and look at a different pallet.
This wonderful book from the 1840’s explains the colours available , Lead white ,Pearl , sky blue Naples yellow ...trying to stick to an 18th century palette really helps not shock the Aubusson rugs when they are thrown into the mix ... you always have to ask ‘what’s your hero of the room ‘ and then start to build back from there .
It’s the same with the colours available in gilding , French Pale ,Moon gold ( one of my favourites!) fine gold 24 Kt and Red Gold ... each has a part to play in gently adding depth and sparkle to a room .
This is a real labour of love and we’ve only just started , but it’s wonderful being far enough back from the start line to now see a difference. Knowing what period of paintings would hang in this room was also critical - we didn’t start until we had the fireplace 1680’s portrait and took our ‘Hero’ point from there ......
#gilding #colour #color #interiordecor #interiordecoration #châteaux #restorationproject #restorationchateau
Nov 21
The French are undoubtedly the Masters of gilding ...for example balancing the gilded mirrors in a salon knowing how much light and from which direction it would hit the gilding meant you could ‘balance ‘a room .
The Grand Salon when we arrived was in a really sad state ...we loved the green but what we thought was a specialist paint finished turned out to be mould .So we decided to do our research and look at a different pallet.
This wonderful book from the 1840’s explains the colours available , Lead white ,Pearl , sky blue Naples yellow ...trying to stick to an 18th century palette really helps not shock the Aubusson rugs when they are thrown into the mix ... you always have to ask ‘what’s your hero of the room ‘ and then start to build back from there .
It’s the same with the colours available in gilding , French Pale ,Moon gold ( one of my favourites!) fine gold 24 Kt and Red Gold ... each has a part to play in gently adding depth and sparkle to a room .
This is a real labour of love and we’ve only just started , but it’s wonderful being far enough back from the start line to now see a difference. Knowing what period of paintings would hang in this room was also critical - we didn’t start until we had the fireplace 1680’s portrait and took our ‘Hero’ point from there ......
#gilding #colour #color #interiordecor #interiordecoration #châteaux #restorationproject #restorationchateau
We thought we would open today’s post with a welcome into the entrance hall ... and showing you a year ago how much work needed to happen ... Ceilings replastered , all walls repaired , sanded , prepped and painted - now just awaiting Tim’s gilding skills !
I meanwhile have the Halo 😇 of happiness from just having finished the hand blocked wallpaper hanging in the bedroom corridor on the left hand wing ... yehhhh. Now prepping the doors which I have taken off , sanded , filled and put back ... it’s really such an extraordinary building to find that literally nothing has been touched since the 1911 restoration of the chateau ...today I will finish the doors and start the main gate posts! That’s going to be an adventure...
#entrancehall #staircase #staircasedesign #staircasedecor #restorationchateau #restoration #restorationproject #diy #diyhomedecor #diyproject @ Basse-Normandie, France
Nov 20
We thought we would open today’s post with a welcome into the entrance hall ... and showing you a year ago how much work needed to happen ... Ceilings replastered , all walls repaired , sanded , prepped and painted - now just awaiting Tim’s gilding skills !
I meanwhile have the Halo 😇 of happiness from just having finished the hand blocked wallpaper hanging in the bedroom corridor on the left hand wing ... yehhhh. Now prepping the doors which I have taken off , sanded , filled and put back ... it’s really such an extraordinary building to find that literally nothing has been touched since the 1911 restoration of the chateau ...today I will finish the doors and start the main gate posts! That’s going to be an adventure...
#entrancehall #staircase #staircasedesign #staircasedecor #restorationchateau #restoration #restorationproject #diy #diyhomedecor #diyproject @ Basse-Normandie, France
First of all a HUGE hug and thank you to Dean & Borja , our fabulous hero’s ( we have learnt so much from you guys !) @mytinyestate who posted us yesterday morning and HI to all of you who have joined our crazy journey of restoring this amazing 57 room chateau!
We have been working away on this for just over 2 years now so we are starting to be able to show you what it was like and what it’s starting to look like now - being able to get wallpaper up is a massive step - normally its sewage systems , or doing a new roof or putting the drive in to get to the building lol ...
The wall paper still needs trimming and we are going to put a gilded fillet on top and bottom but it’s great to play at some home comforts .
Next week , if the weather isn’t crazy we are going to start tackling the main gates ... which we need to take down the block work that’s halfway up and start again ... long story but let’s just say had we hung the gates the pillars would have fallen over ...
We’ve also just found some more amazing bits of the chateau’s history to share later on and the restoration of the huge snug ‘chandelier’ is nearly done .
#restorationchateau #châteaux #chateauxdefrance #restorationproject #wallpaper #wallpaperdesign #restoration #chateau #statelyhomes #normandy #diy #diyhomedecor #diyprojects
Nov 19
First of all a HUGE hug and thank you to Dean & Borja , our fabulous hero’s ( we have learnt so much from you guys !) @mytinyestate who posted us yesterday morning and HI to all of you who have joined our crazy journey of restoring this amazing 57 room chateau!
We have been working away on this for just over 2 years now so we are starting to be able to show you what it was like and what it’s starting to look like now - being able to get wallpaper up is a massive step - normally its sewage systems , or doing a new roof or putting the drive in to get to the building lol ...
The wall paper still needs trimming and we are going to put a gilded fillet on top and bottom but it’s great to play at some home comforts .
Next week , if the weather isn’t crazy we are going to start tackling the main gates ... which we need to take down the block work that’s halfway up and start again ... long story but let’s just say had we hung the gates the pillars would have fallen over ...
We’ve also just found some more amazing bits of the chateau’s history to share later on and the restoration of the huge snug ‘chandelier’ is nearly done .
#restorationchateau #châteaux #chateauxdefrance #restorationproject #wallpaper #wallpaperdesign #restoration #chateau #statelyhomes #normandy #diy #diyhomedecor #diyprojects
We are starting to wonder ( along with the rest of the world) exactly where we will be able to have Christmas- at the chateau ? Will we be allowed to have friends , family , dogs ? Will we be setting the table ( Tim’s favourite bit as you can see from these pictures with the central statue of Diana of Gabii in between the set of 4 discreet empire candelabra’s )
The chateau must have seen so many different issues , occupation by the Germans , occupation by the US troops , the huge depression after the First World War ...We will light a huge toasty log fire and smile no matter what befalls us - Christmas is still Christmas and nothing will stop us making the best of whatever we are allowed to do .We’ve put a black and white photo in of the chateau back in the 50’s where you can see the park and all the beautiful space that we have we can go for long walks in ... that will be Christmas.
#christmas #christmasdecor #christmasiscoming #château #restorationchateau #chateauxdefrance #châteaux
Nov 15
We are starting to wonder ( along with the rest of the world) exactly where we will be able to have Christmas- at the chateau ? Will we be allowed to have friends , family , dogs ? Will we be setting the table ( Tim’s favourite bit as you can see from these pictures with the central statue of Diana of Gabii in between the set of 4 discreet empire candelabra’s )
The chateau must have seen so many different issues , occupation by the Germans , occupation by the US troops , the huge depression after the First World War ...We will light a huge toasty log fire and smile no matter what befalls us - Christmas is still Christmas and nothing will stop us making the best of whatever we are allowed to do .We’ve put a black and white photo in of the chateau back in the 50’s where you can see the park and all the beautiful space that we have we can go for long walks in ... that will be Christmas.
#christmas #christmasdecor #christmasiscoming #château #restorationchateau #chateauxdefrance #châteaux
The second hall chandelier is up now in the bedroom corridor - ( it’s a slightly smaller one that we brought with the upper landing one but it’s the same design, it needed restoration which is why it took a while to get it delivered)
The ceilings and walls in the east bedroom wing are now prepared and are ready for hanging the farrow and ball wall paper this weekend at last !
Below the dado rail the colour will be the same colour as the main upper hall to provide a visual link to each space .
The wires you see at points coming out under the cornice are for the picture lights that will light the paintings in this space hung from french gilded rosettes .
It’s a slow process but 80 percent of all this work is preparation and every single light switch , plug and wire has had to be renewed in each room ...that’s an awful lot of cabling let alone Tim wanting picture lights as well as chandeliers in most spaces - He talks a lot about layering the spaces with different lighting , I talk about the sheer quantity of chandeliers we’ve had to buy ...lol
#chandelier #chandelierlighting #lighting #diy #diyhomedecor #diyprojects #chateau #châteaux #chateauxdefrance #restorationchateau
Nov 12
The second hall chandelier is up now in the bedroom corridor - ( it’s a slightly smaller one that we brought with the upper landing one but it’s the same design, it needed restoration which is why it took a while to get it delivered)
The ceilings and walls in the east bedroom wing are now prepared and are ready for hanging the farrow and ball wall paper this weekend at last !
Below the dado rail the colour will be the same colour as the main upper hall to provide a visual link to each space .
The wires you see at points coming out under the cornice are for the picture lights that will light the paintings in this space hung from french gilded rosettes .
It’s a slow process but 80 percent of all this work is preparation and every single light switch , plug and wire has had to be renewed in each room ...that’s an awful lot of cabling let alone Tim wanting picture lights as well as chandeliers in most spaces - He talks a lot about layering the spaces with different lighting , I talk about the sheer quantity of chandeliers we’ve had to buy ...lol
#chandelier #chandelierlighting #lighting #diy #diyhomedecor #diyprojects #chateau #châteaux #chateauxdefrance #restorationchateau
