French Chateau Homecoming: A Look Inside 😍 - The Chateau Chronicles - Ep #39
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- Опубликовано: 22 авг 2024
- After a six-week absence, I'm finally back at Chateau de Borie! It's been a little neglected, but I'm excited to start working again! Take a tour of my French Chateau as I assess where we're at!
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It’s hard to remind yourself that regardless of the remodeling & gardening setbacks YOU are greatly BLESSED to be living your dream.. while some of us simply live through yours😢💙 I love your chateau!!!
You are so right. Thanks for the reminder! 😊
You are right, that's one of my dreams too.
It’s difficult to leave workers on their own, it can all be fixed. By the way’ I went to a retreat where there were only two bathrooms available for 16 women. Not everyone needs their own bathroom. Don’t sweat it!
That's good to know. It's going to be hard to have to lower my own standards, but I have to strive for what I want anyway! Goals! 😝
Abigail, you made it back, if I were you I would take a week just to relax to some of that yard work, enjoy the beauty of your new home, live well , wine and dine immerse yourself and think of all you have accomplished in just the short time, of owning Chateau De Borie... so envious and also proud of you . Woot Woot, your back in FRANCE!!!!!
I have to remember to be grateful! Hard with jetlag! 😜
And it will all be done enough for your retreat,,,that's months away. Progress not perfection,,you've done amazing already! ❤
Different countries have different concepts of what is included in painting. Repairs like the ones for the shutters you showed would need to be discussed ahead of time and even may need a carpenter. Painters often only do small repairs.
I’ve had to do an audit before engaging painters & hire a carpenter/handyman.
Your shutters look great!
Prune the rose back hard and fertilize it. You can epoxy glue the marble back together. Because it is such a veined stone it will hardly show. You can use wood from the floors in cabinets to patch the worst of the visible patches already done.
Thanks for the great tips! ☺️
Abby, you truly have learned how to roll with the punches. Even when disappointed, you stay calm and hopeful. I admire you greatly.
I'm feeling your disappointment, but forge on. I would not paint those wooden floors, the patches add character. Love your vision!
Yeah, that's my feeling too. 😊
About the bathrooms-I am thinking that maybe the workers didn’t understand the scope of what you want done now-on the off chance that you would really want a fuller renovation. You might need to give them a list of exactly what you want done in each room. Then ask if anything is unclear. You have a beautiful place, and I think you should get to where you want to be by September. Will your workers be off in August, or will they show up. Try to find out now so you can
plan accordingly. Apologies if I am being too basic!😅
Welcome back! The shutter situation could be one of two things, one of which could be just a crappy job. The other could be that they decided it would be best to treat the rotting wood area so it’s doesn’t spread, sanding them and then leaving them as-is (which many believes adds character), instead of replacing the entire shutter. Since shutters are made of different pieces and parts, it’s difficult to replace just one section or slat. All this according to my (French) husband, so don’t quote me on it lol
You have every right to be upset! Also don’t understand why they would paint the shutters if they didn’t repair them.
The shutter hardware painted over would have flipped my lid.
It's amazing what some interesting throw rugs can do for a not-quite-perfect wood floor. No one would expect a century old house to have perfect flooring. FWIW, I think the floors look *great*! Take a day or two to have some tea, eat some baguettes, and get back into the flow and you'll see the work you've done with fresh eyes. Compared to your first videos, the chateau looks amazing!
I too feel like your other commenters here, you have a absolutely beautiful chateau that is Very Old, and the blessing that you have is way more important than over grown beautiful shrubs and shutters that are just as old. I too find your comments a little desheartening as you are embarking on something that most of us can only dream of. Gratitude is key dear lady.
Sand the wood floors and varnish them. Throw rugs cover the patches in the floors.
Must be overwhelming, jet lag and seeing disarray! One room at a time is my sanity! Good to have you back in France Abby!🇨🇦❤️
Yup. All of it. I just have to remember that! 😝
The painters were evidently just that painters not carpenters. So they didn't repair anything. But we can see your dream coming together. It will be lovely and welcoming!!
You are an artist!--just faux paint the patchwork in the bathroom floors to look like the surrounding wood! 😊
Just remember you are back in your happy place. Sometimes it’s hard to see what you have already accomplished when there is still so much to do - what I do when I get overwhelmed in my head is to completely finish one room - decorated and furnished - this will give you the room in your head to believe it can be done - bite of the elephant as my mum would say
I totally agree about the shutters. They should have been repaired before painted. I’m sorry your gardener has been MIA as well. I’m learning that I need to be a jack of all trades and know how to do things myself in order for things to get accomplished to my satisfaction. It’s become more and more difficult to find reliable help. Congrats on being there on being able to stay longer, and everything is still coming along nicely, in spite of the minor setbacks.
Happy to see the house standing. Replace the gardener who doesn’t show up. Tomas did not make much progress in six weeks. Happy to see a short video of your beautiful home and see the new furniture.
I knew Thomas had his hands full with his own place. Gardners are hard I'm finding.
So Happy You’re Back! Take a day or 2 to acclimate….and remember to breathe - it’s also about the journey….❤❤❤
I’m happy you’re back and can feel your frustration over the state of things however now that you’re there to supervise, stuff will get done faster. It’s hard being an absentee owner when contractors are left on their own. Take a deep breath and enjoy being in France. xx
Oh I’m so happy you are back. Chloe looked so cute in the car. Can’t wait for your next video. Enjoy.
Ruma. It looks like to me, the workers are not taking you seriously enough, very common with the foreign male worker. They need to be working at the very least as hard as you do! Right? Good luck with all of the work.😊
Glad you made it back safe and sound! France is such a beautiful country. I was there years ago and would love to return someday. I am much older now so not sure that will happen! So love seeing it through your eyes. I, too, am a Washingtonian. I hail from the Yakima Valley but did a number of years in Seattle as well as having family that lives there. So was even nice to see some of Seattle again when you were there. Thanks for the updates. Get some rest! 😎😎😎
Thanks for your comment! Yes, rest coming up! I hope! 🤞
Lots and lots to do ,Painting on the shutters look great but shame they have not fixed up the broken ones . And the windows too ❤ look beautiful Bathroom floors if Thomas has not put anything on them I stain them it help hide some of those marks then vanish them give them 2 coats I wouldn't paint them . Besides that the staircases looks great and love the furniture u got . Hello Chloe little cutie ❤ The garden has grown , u can trim the rose back a bit but it's most probably needs a feed , Rose's need food just as they start to leaf up I say looking at that one it needs food , they all need some but make sure the dog can't get it . .
Maybe you can ask Thomas to help you find someone who will be able to give your place more attention. While the cats away the mice will play
I'm hoping he'll be more available again once he get's his place done. It was actually just serendipitous timing. 😊
How nice that you're back at the Chateau! As a homeowner for many years, even in a country where I speak the language (and supposedly share the culture) communicating with tradespeople is not always easy. I think I've been so clear in my directions, and the person says he understands, but he doesn't..... I have no idea why this happens. But being there really helps, and now you are!
I’m happy to see you’ve made it safely back to your Chateau along with your adorable puppy. I’m sure it must be overwhelming when you see what’s still to be done in each area. You might consider installing a large dry erase board on an easel in your morning/breakfast room. On It, list each area and the ‘Major’ jobs needed to be completed (or have been completed). Then, review the board; ‘check off’ each new finished job and give yourself a huge ‘pat on the back’ each morning before you start your work day. I promise you this action will create positivity for you as you continue this exciting renovation journey. Please celebrate small victories!!
Chateau de Borie is still so romantic - super inspiring.
Take your time - finish a wing at a time, I would look for carpets & runners
About your bathroom floor dilemma, my sister once owed a house built in 1774/1800/1847 and they had lots of problem spots on their floor.
They continued that house’s tradition to patch the wood floors with pieces of copper and flat nails. It quite lovely and quirky and wears well.
Abby if your doing the jobs might as well do them right. You can get wood floor board to match and just replace those boards.
Just have floors sanded and then coats of polyurethane . Definitely don't paint them. Yeow !😢 It's a château, so yeah floors are old , it's not a new mod squad house 😅
Mod Squad! Haha. That would be considered ancient by many these days ! 😂
Marine varnish will waterproof the wood floors in the bathrooms… It’s what they use on wooden boats.
I’m not an expert but I’ve trimmed back my roses to practically a stick & they’ve bounced back beyond expectation, I’ve kept them “fed” though. And whoever did your shutters just tell them you’d never paint a damaged car before repairing it first. Strange decision they made painting broken shutters.
Just love that you are back, yea wouldnt want to leave my home without someone supervising them but its coming along really nice, God Bless
You and me both!
Even though it’s a jumble right now it is so light and cheerful
About the shutters…maybe “they” thought painting them as is would give them character??? Either way, glad to see you back at home. Wow! France is your home.
Welcome back! Overall things are looking quite good! Progress is being made. The gardens can be whipped our in no time!
Were they instructed to "paint the shutters"? Not to "repair and paint"? Which would cost much more...in fact, some of those may have to be rebuilt...$$$$
I felt so sorry for you to find your beautiful home in such disarray. I could garden in my yard full time and never catch up, meanwhile my house wants attention, too. Sometimes it’s tough being on your own, isn’t it? At least you have found your furniture for the bedrooms and it is there once the plastering and painting is done. Get a hedge trimmer, cordless or corded and you can get those shrubs done in no time. I have hundreds of feet of bushes, junipers and trees that constantly need trimming and at 75, I do what I can, a little each evening when it’s cool and there is always another day! I love your little Chloe so much. ❤
Your jasmine in green pots is growing and looking good.
I need WAY bigger pots for them! 🙄
🙌GOALS🙌 😃
I think it’s fabulous! All of the unfinished stuff and quirks make the place so special. How lucky you are!
So much work ahead! It's great to see you back at the Chateau.
Don’t let all the work overwhelm . Take it one one room at a time. Concentrate on the rooms used for the retreat.
I personally,wouldn’t worry about the floors. Floors are the last thing decorators unless they’re to anchor a room with a certain color. What might help are matching strips of wood that you put across the doorway floor so unsightly nails are hidden. There’s a name for them but can’t remember ,lintel maybe.
Threshold ? 🤔
Sending you lots of positive vibes.. patience and 💖… that you find the right workers and fully enjoy this unique opportunity!!! It will all be fine in time. You will be surrounded by lots of good people with great energy and resolution! Definitely makes a story for a good book!! Would love to volunteer some time later this year :)
I'm glad to be back to get things moving again. For longer this time! ☺️
Love to see all the different seasons at your beautiful home. Like seeing all your adventures
First of all welcome home to both you and Chloe, i can understand your sorrow at the things not being up to snuff, there is a word you were trying to find to describe something disheveled, and thats bedraggled, it is so disappointing when jobs are done back to front, for instance the shutters, but now that you are back things will turn around for the better and it is nice for you both to be back in your lovely chateau.
Lots of work ahead! Just keep positive and kind. It will all work out.
Such a beautiful drive! About the roses: use Rose Care. Mix it into the soil at the base of the plant. Cut roses now (when dormant) to knee height and then deep water the roots. They do better when trimmed a lot. I cut off the dead parts of the plant to not take the energy from the whole rose bush. Dead head when the rose petals fall off. Dead head means to pull off the dead rose buds.
It’s very difficult to manage things from afar. Pretty much impossible, actually. Re patchwork floors, painting the floors may be a beautiful option. I suggest researching your options.
They only repair if you ask. More time, more money and cutting wood in a curve. Carpenter has to do that . Place is looking good though and a lot of work has been done.
It has. And now I get to crack the whip! Haha! 😆
😜 that’s right you go Girl 😊💪
I could see how you could be frustrated, but try not to get overwhelmed by it all and concentrate on one thing at a time! Glad your back!
Abby things will NEVER be the same as you being there as the owner. Everything looks so amazing and different, just remember what it started out as…
Jet lag mixed with anxiousness of wondering what got done and knowing what has to be done and then seeing it all can make one easily frustrated! Perhaps there was misunderstanding miscommunication with the shutter repair? It can be rectified just unfortunate nonetheless! All you can do is just embrace the fact that you are back and start moving forward and if everything is not completely perfect then that is okay too Im certain everyone coming to the retreat is fully aware of what a large undertaking restoring the chateau is and part of the experience that I certainly could appreciate! Positive thoughts as all will come together as you want them to!! Au Revoir💜
So great to have you back at the Chateau!
🌼Chloe looks sooo sweet and tired. What troopers you both are! Glad you made it back to your special place. I am sure it will all come together and hope you find time to chill-ax despite all the things that seem to need doing. You are a true artist, and you are rightly particular about how you want things to be. Like you, I will be interested to find out about the shutters and if it’s a “thing” to leave them kind of rustic looking 🤔Also hoping you find a truly talented caring gardener to help you with the upkeep and groundskeeping. Still looks beautiful there- (albeit a little wild 🍃 around the ‘hedges’) (pardon the pun) 💛Loving that gold bed and couch, carpet and other buys. Your vision is amazing and is coming into focus, and so glad you are back on deck to watch over your beloved French retreat. 🩵🦋🌼
Maybe for the cracked marble on the dresser top you could try Kintsugi (literally, gold seams) a traditional Japanese repair method!
I love that idea!
I know the feeling… I was away for a few months and the work had not progressed as much as I had hoped but after a fews days in such a beautiful place it didn’t matter. There are so many ups and downs. I have the same problem with patchy wood floors and reluctantly I am thinking of painting them!! Have a few days rest maybe
Yes, always good to count our blessings! Things are always more discouraging when you're tired too. ☺️
So glad your back 😊
In reference to the shutters, did you tell them to fix any damage while they were painting them. Remember you were away and if you didn’t tell them the they would only paint them. Having been stationed in France while in RCN in the 90s, the French don’t do any more than what is told to them 🇨🇦
As a French man I do thank you for your generous statement, and above all, so clever 😂 Go on, sociological genius ! 😉
Abby you're really progressing well with filming and editing. Be super proud of yourself. From the first roller-coaster ride vlog to the chilled music and calm voice with steady hand, you have come a long way. Well done. Hugs from Ann xx
Look how far this place has come! It is daunting, no doubt. Chin up and rock on. Love your videos. Thank you.
Maybe you should concentrate one one room at a time. I think that's why you don't see progress, you have too many things going on
Welcome back we missed you!♥️♥️♥️♥️😘
They are painters and not repair men? The cost of the quote was to paint as is not to replace pieces on them and do carpentry. Also without a garden plan and the plants kind of being unmanaged previously. how is a gardener supposed to know what you want to keep, what you want to prune and what you want to grow without you being there? I think you need a better scope of work before hiring anyone else and maybe plan works to be done when you’re on site.
I’m so happy your back.
Oui! You're BACK😊 I'll have that glass of wine tonite..cheers!
Suggestion for the patched areas: do something artistic to make it look like wood, wood grain, & shading. I know that you are disappointed, but workers are often more responsible & considerate when the homeowner is present.
Indeed. Time to put my big boy pants on! Haha! 😂
I'm 60. I do not have a gardener or housecleaner because I guess I'm too much of a perfectionist. I decided I will just do it myself as long as I can. It's a lot of work but I'm not frustrated. It seems to me that it's tough to get workers in France. Is that the case from what you have seen? As for the patched floor.... faux paint it. I'm an artist. I would be able to disguise that without a hitch.
the wooden floors are part of the chateaus character we have renovated heaps of properties and where ever we have had real wooden floors we have always sanded and varnished them use oil based varnish as this lasts far longer and does not fade in the sun and guests always comment on them and love them
Too bad you couldn’t sand the bathroom floors and stain them and clear coat them. It would hard to do on some with those big patches. I’d be asking questions on why the shutter people didn’t repair the shutter first before painting. I’d also be upset about hiring someone to garden and they didn’t do too much for 6wks.
Yes, it's a huge undertaking but you have accomplished so much this far, you are very brave and a determined woman, kudos to you.
Thank you so much!
Welcome Home! We’ve all missed you and Cloe. You are tired and disappointed and you have every right to feel that way. I handle things a bit differently. Instead of just swallowing it I give myself an evening of wine, rest and saying outloud (sometimes yelling actually)what I’m upset about, sometimes even crying !! Then I get to work the next day and feel Much better😅. It works! Your home is still beautiful and pretty soon you will feel connected again. 🥰😘🥰
So great to see you back at the chateau. I am really looking forward to the videos of your future projects. Of all the chateau videos Ive watched, yours are by far my favourites.
Thank you so much! You are so sweet! 😍
I’m so happy to see you back! My water color print came in of chateau de Boire and I have it hung in my craft room for inspiration. Can’t wait to see the progress!!!!
If the wood patches end up bothering you, you might want to look into peel and stick vinyl flooring. I live in an apartment and it’s renter friendly stuff, easy to install but leaves behind a sticky residue you’d have to remove if you ever wanted to get rid of it. People use it in their bathrooms and kitchens and looks really nice
Yay you're back! Funny, youtube unsubscribed me, just an fyi. Aww, sweet Chloe looks good. You need to get some good referrals for workers.
Please cut your rose bush back more than half, the way down. Add Epsom salt around the base and water twice weekly for a month. Please also spray with a copper fungicide (follow the directions on the bottle). Hopefully, that helps. You should see new healthy growth in 1 to 2 months. 😊
When my Dad was dying of cancer 3 years ago and the Doctor couldn’t be bothered to see him I told him all he needed to do was understand that no body cared and then after that he could die peacefully, well that’s what it’s like with your home all they want is money they will promise you the world and as soon as your back is turned they will take advantage of you as you are such a beautiful person. I’m saddened that they treat you like this you deserve so much better. As for my Dads Doctors the practice was put into special measures and they all lost their jobs and the practice. My Dad died shortly after and is now resting in peace. Stay strong and you will get all the work done how you want it done, you have been through so much in your life this is a walk in the park. Where do I live you may be thinking. I live in the UK where you would think we have the best national health service in the world. If only.
Yay! You are back!!
Beautiful 😍 xx
Wow the room is looking fab n I love the stairs wow looks amazing hun xxx
Shutters look great! So fresh!
I can't wait till they're done! 😍
@@chateauchronicles I bet! Lots of great changes for sure!!
Loved see the area from the plane. So cool to be doing this dream. Everything must be nice after the rain.
Thanks for the tour. Can’t wait to see the end results. Hugs from Boston!
Now just mentioning something but if you have some locals you can depend on maybe ask questions of the work done or not done. Cause in a month the whole country goes on holiday. Many on our planet think because we are the weaker sex think we are dumb not sobut have prove it them first. Your gut is correct be clear & concise!
The floors look great! Don't worry about them too much the floors especially in the bathroom could use a marine polyurethane seal. You can then just color match the splotches wood filler spots with the wood stain that matches the rest of the wood, get out some brushes and using a paint for wood paint in a darker color that matches the rest of the wood paint over the color fill in the wood create a Trompe-l'œil so it looks like the rest of the wood. That is what I would do for now then tackle the floors later. Then I would just use a beautiful wood cleaner and a natural treatment to bring out the wood floors. I would not paint them. I lived in 2 lofts in NYC and had all painted floors the white showed stains and the black showed stains and marks EVERYWHERE. It literally was a disaster and triggered my OCD big time.😆
I hear you! We’ve just oiled them for now.
So glad you are back at your chateau, it's come along way looking forward to new vlogs, God Bless
So happy for you ! enjoy
Wouldn't it be so fun to do some trompe l'oile painting on the spots on the floor?!? I could imagine a peekaboo of a fish pond in that one larger spot in the bathroom floor ☺️
Hang in there. It's looking great!
We used yachting varnish on our wooden bathroom floor, worked really well you can get it in a matt finish. Obvs very much more waterproof than the standars varnishes. Great yo see you back in your happy place Abby XX 💕
Great idea. Thomas feels there is too much movement of the boards to go that route
I'm asking the same question about the shutters. Maybe having them cleaned and painted will help them keep so that the repairs can be addressed one by one. There is so much to be done it's hard to focus on just one project. Hang in there. It is looking much improved.
It must have felt so disappointing to arrive and have so many things not finished and not finished properly, but I guess the perils of not being there. Hopefully, this will not be an issue for you from now on. They have had a lot of rain in France, from the other chateaus I have watched and the gardens have been growing feral, even with attentive gardeners!! So your gardener might have been, just not enough to keep up with the rain effects :) Hopefully, you are happy to be back in France and I agree with you, who paints anything that still needs repairing??? might be a french man thing??
Compare how pristine the entry hall looks in all white with rooms painted a color - SO MUCH BETTER ia ALL WHITE.
ABBY: For wood shutter repair buy a mixable wood putty that can be molded into shape, then sanded when hard, and painttable.
I've hired professionals for the shutters so have higher expectations about repairs. 🙄
I like to see the house coming together. This time I decided to try out staying in Bordeaux in October. Maybe the retreat another year… 😊
Tiled floors makes sense in the bathrooms in the long run.
No leaks a definite positive 😊
Great video. I enjoyed very much. Welcome Home.
Thanks so much!
Welcome home! Yikes! At least you have plenty of rooms to use for storage when you are getting organized and that will be part of the battle! Good luck!
I hope to visit your chateau one day. I❤ your chateau!