What Chateau DIY didn't show you - Q&A Part 1

Since Château DIY aired, the questions have been coming in steadily. How did we end up on the show? What was the filming actually like? What's the farmhouse like now it's finished? We've been answering them one by one but thought it was time to put everything in one place. So here are our honest answers, for anyone who has been wondering the same things. How did the Chateau DIY opportunity come about? Did they approach you, or did you pitch yourselves?

We first heard that Château DIY was looking for new château owners through a post on Instagram. Having been fans of the show for years, we decided to apply. We were genuinely surprised to be invited for an interview, and even more so when they subsequently asked us to take part in the show itself. There was a brief moment of hesitation, if only because we had never truly expected to get this far but of course, we said yes.

What were you actually filming? Walk us through the renovation project the cameras were following.

The focus of the filming was the renovation of our 18th century farmhouse. There was a lot of work that needed to be done so we took a simple “top down” approach and started with all the ceilings in all the rooms. This either meant painting, staining or preserving wood timbers, to bring them all back to their former glory.

Next came the walls, mostly stone, that needed to be treated with care to avoid any damage. And lastly was the floor. This generated the most debates, angst and sweat as it needed to be reworked, leveled and then finally having period appropriate tiles laid down. With the foundations completed, Sandra could focus on the design of the kitchen and the overall aesthetics and feel of the farmhouse.

We had a lot of fun going to local broncantes and looking for antiques which would fit the feel of the farmhouse and after much searching and haggling, we were finally happy with the completed renovations. 

What was it like having a film crew on a working vineyard? Was it as disruptive as you'd expect, or did it become normal quickly?

We were very nervous at the beginning. We really did not know what to expect. However the film crews were very professional and helped us understand the process by which they filmed our renovation activities. It also helped that they were all really nice people, with amazing experiences filming tv shows, documentaries and films around the world.

What's one thing that happened during filming that didn't make the final cut but you wish had?

Despite a poor start, I was able to complete the tractor training with no more hiccups, other than the one cut wire (which Sandra only found out about when she saw the show!).

The farmhouse is now finished and bookable. What does it feel like to see it complete after everything that went into the renovation?

When we finally finished it was a little surreal. We have thought and spoken about renovating the farmhouse for so long that when it was completed, all the issues, challenges and mistakes we had made and encountered were suddenly forgotten. Even the “not so sure” decisions related to floors and bathrooms were suddenly forgotten and the completed renovations seemed the obvious choice. 

What will viewers be surprised to learn about the farmhouse that the show couldn't fully capture?

When I came with my family to Château Méaume as a young boy for a family holiday in 1982, we stayed in the farmhouse. It was very rustic (only one bathroom), in fact my bed was located in what is now the main entrance. Little did I know that years later I would be renovating it. And of course, one of the first things we did was increase the number of bathrooms!

If someone watched the episode and is thinking about coming to stay — what would you want them to know before they book?

The Farmhouse sits alongside the main château on our working estate. It has been carefully restored to retain all its original character while offering every modern comfort. But what you are really booking is an experience, not just accommodation. You are stepping into the daily rhythm of a real, working Bordeaux vineyard. The vines are outside your window. The chai where we make the wine is just down the road. That is something you simply cannot replicate in a hotel room.

It is completely self-contained and entirely private, so you have the best of both worlds. The feeling of being at the heart of the estate, with the space and independence to do exactly as you please. This is a place that rewards those who want to explore, the vineyard, the local villages, the appellations on your doorstep. Pomerol and Saint-Émilion are practically neighbours.

If you watched the episode and the farmhouse caught your attention, it is now open to guests. Everything you see on the show is exactly as it is in real life: the vineyard outside the windows, the chai down the road, Pomerol and Saint-Émilion just around the corner.

You can find out more and book a stay with us before we are full for the summer!