The apartment is made up of what are now the Garden View Standard Bedroom and the Garden View Studio. They remain two separate rooms, but we added an extra doorway between them so that, when needed, they can work together as one apartment for families. For our group bookings, this flexibility has proved especially useful when allocating bedrooms.

The bedroom ensuite originally had a shower curtain and needed updating. We installed a glass shower screen with black trim, which worked beautifully with the black and white floor. The shower, taps, and hand basin were all replaced, and an LED mirror added a more modern touch. In the bedroom itself, Laura Ashley wallpaper lifted the space, while the exposed beams helped retain the character of the château. With a repainted upcycled ceiling light, new curtains, fresh paintwork, and a new floor replacing the tired, worn carpet, the room began to feel both elegant and welcoming.

I still remember the feeling of putting furniture into that room. After four months of seeing little but demolition and disruption everywhere, finally being able to furnish a space and add the finishing touches felt incredibly uplifting. The whole team was excited. It was a real morale boost and a sign that all the hard work was beginning to take shape.

The studio also needed thoughtful changes. Its bathroom originally had a shower curtain, and the shower itself was positioned behind the door, making the space awkward to use. We moved the shower head to the longer wall, added a glass screen, and installed new taps and fittings. The bathroom door was then reversed to open outwards, which made the room feel far more spacious and practical. With updated sink taps and improvements to the toilet, the ensuite became much more comfortable and functional.

The studio bedroom and living area were filled with natural light from three windows — two looking over the front park and one towards the kitchen garden. Because of this, it felt especially important to keep the room light, calm, and connected to the beauty outside. We used the same Laura Ashley wallpaper as a feature behind the bed, linking it visually to the bedroom next door while also helping to define the sleeping space from the kitchen, lounge, and dining area. A new kitchen was installed, and we upcycled old wine boxes left behind at the château, transforming them into shelving in the kitchen. They tied in beautifully with the exposed beams and helped blend modern convenience with the historic feel of the house. A new floor replaced the old worn carpet, and with the addition of a dining table, sofa, and another upcycled light fitting, the studio came together perfectly.

To have one apartment on the first floor clean, furnished, and complete felt like a huge achievement.

That period was memorable for many reasons. The builders we had chosen for the first phase of the project were originally meant to work on a rotation, living on site for two weeks and then returning home for a week. Because of COVID, that was no longer possible. Instead, the team lived with us permanently for three months, and some stayed even longer. As they were unable to travel more than a kilometre away, some chose to work six days a week for most weeks.

It became a surprisingly joyful and very international time. Our head builder was Dutch, but had lived in France for 20 years and spoke Dutch, English, French, and German. Our tiler was Polish, living in Spain, and spoke Spanish and Polish. Our carpenter was Polish and spoke Polish, English, and some German. Our painter and decorator — and all-round fun member of the team — was German and spoke only German. The assistant to the head builder was Polish, living in France, speaking Polish, English, and learning French. Our electrician and his wonderful wife were both French, with the electrician speaking some English. The plumber was the only daily commuter, travelling from Bordeaux and speaking only French. My husband and I spoke English and, at that point, only basic German.

Dinner times were wonderfully lively, with constant cross-translation and plenty of laughter. Somehow, despite all the language differences, we lived together, worked together, communicated, and shared a truly special time. It was a reminder of what can be achieved when people come together with goodwill, humour, and a shared purpose.

During that same period, some friends of my sister were spending a year in France after taking sabbaticals from their jobs in Australia. Of course, they had not planned for COVID either, and many of their travel plans across Europe had suddenly disappeared. They came to stay with us for a week, and in many ways, the atmosphere at the château became their European experience. Sitting around the dinner table, hearing four languages being spoken, and listening to everyone share stories of their own countries made it an unforgettable time for all of us.