Original subtitles

Here in the UK, we do love a period property.

I never dreamt I would own a castle.

For me it looks like a typical doll's house.

From countryside houses...

It was everything you could dream of.

It was a palace.

..to timeless terraces...

I turned up and I thought, "Whoa, this is pretty cute."

..but beneath the grand facades...

Hopefully, the house won't fall down. We'll see, won't we?

..these historical homes are falling to bits.

Everyone told us to tear this building down.

All over the country, an army of renovators

are snapping them up at knockdown prices...

I think we should leave it like this.

It looks old-timely.

..then facing challenges of epic proportions...

I said all along to get a new build.

This series, we meet the brave new renovators...

We we're looking for a bungalow with a shed.

..and return to our familiar band of determined dreamers.

Who else has got a chapel in their house?

..all risking everything...

I thought I had a good idea what was needed.

I was quite wrong.

People think renovation is lovely, don't they?

HE CHUCKLES

Oh, God, I'm trembling.

..to create the forever home of their dreams...

Oh, my God! It's so nice!

..brick by brick...

Whoa! This is amazing.

..room by room.

I'm still having my pinch me moment.

We're nowhere near finished, but it feels like a house now.

We are a renovation nation.

Today, our team of renovators push forward with their epic projects.

In Scotland,

Tracey and Rob take wallpapering to new heights...

Love this blue. It's perfect.

Really, really love it.

I just want to get the room finished now.

..Joanne and Jeff find a hidden treasure ripe for recycling...

We saw this lintel, but we didn't know what was behind

until we pulled the other boards off.

..in Cumbria, the imminent arrival of some special guests...

It feels like quite a lot of pressure, actually.

..sends Ben and Paul into overdrive...

I just want her to like it as much as I do, I think.

..and a first-time buyer in Suffolk falls for the charm

of a Victorian terrace.

I immediately had that feeling,

like, I could do something with this.

In central Scotland,

in the rolling hills of Perthshire, stands Culdees Castle.

Built in 1810, it was extended in the 1860s

to include a private chapel.

But by the turn of this century, it was virtually derelict.

In 2017, the castle went up for sale,

but no-one was brave enough to take it on

until two years later when Rob, an IT consultant,

and Tracey, an events manager from Kent, spotted its potential.

We'd never have been able to afford to live here,

if it hadn't have been in a really bad state.

£730,000 bought the castle, a seven-bed manor house,

22 acres and a brand-new way of life.

The change from what we had to what we have now is massive.

A lot more work everywhere with everything.

Earlier this week, Rob and Tracey took on what seemed an impossible

task - renovating the castle's Victorian chapel.

The work here never stops.

It is 24/7.

Tracey dedicated her time to piecing together hundreds of tiles

to recreate a stunning Victorian mosaic floor...

Weeks that took me, to put that together.

..but there's still much to do before the chapel is ready

for a very special opening event this summer.

Ever since we've owned this castle,

I've wanted to get married in the chapel.

And it's not just Tracey and Rob saying I do,

four more couples have also booked Culdees for their big days

with the promise of a spectacular, finished chapel.

I am genuinely, genuinely concerned about whether we'll get there.

Next on the list are two enormous jobs -

renovating the chapel's two distinct ceilings

and to complete the reno, returning stained glass

to the chapel's main windows.

Stained glass was traditionally used to document religious history,

but Tracey's keen for these windows to reflect a new era at Culdees.

Gonna have three new panels in here -

our Culdees crest in the middle one,

and then our peacocks either side.

Today, Tracey's visiting the Glasgow studio

of stained-glass artist Richard Welsh.

How are you?

He's been commissioned to make six of the castle windows.

Tracey mentioned that she had a castle that she was doing up.

She'd also found buried under a lot of the rubble,

some parts of an old window.

So, we were able to use that

as the template for making the new ones.

It does look like real wings.

Because Tracey's done classes with Richard,

he's happy for her to do some of the work herself.

Should we have a go at the fusing then?

Because I'm quite excited

to do the peacock eyes.

Yep.

Stained glass became popular in the 12th century,

and the techniques Tracey's using

have barely changed since then.

Good.

Chase the cut around.

Whoa!

There we go.

Pieces that make up each layer of the peacock eye...

..will eventually be fused together in the kiln.

Good.

I'd love to do this all day.

There's another 20 to go.

TRACEY LAUGHS

Before long, Tracey's stained glass peacock eyes

are ready for the kiln.

I suppose the next time I see these will be when you've put them

in the panel and you're fetching them back.

Yep. They'll be in the windows.

You'll be able to recognise each one.

I did that. I did that one.

Close the kiln.

It's exciting.

The kiln will run for around 12 hours at 850 degrees Celsius,

before the pieces are laid out

and bonded with pieces of lead.

That's lovely.

It's intricate, delicate work, and once complete,

they'll take pride of place in Culdees Chapel.

150 miles south of Culdees,

in the west of the historic county of Northumberland,

in Haltwhistle stands this nine-bedroomed

Victorian villa,

built in the 1880s for wealthy industrialists

who made their fortune manufacturing varnish and paint.

The past three decades have seen the once grand villa lose its shine.

Until renovators Joanne - a retired palliative care nurse,

and Jeff - a former aircraft engineer,

fell head over heels for its charms.

To own a house like this,

I just think it's like a lottery win, really.

That's how happy I feel inside.

Earlier in the week, we saw Joanne and Jeff transform their crumbling

sitting room and return it to its Victorian splendour.

Today, they'll be tackling a smaller sitting room in the annexe,

a part of the house they think was added on later as an extension.

Once the annexe is ready, they plan to use it as a holiday let,

but until then, they'll live in it themselves

and finally leave the caravan

after two years living on their driveway.

This is the fireplace we uncovered. I absolutely love it.

We saw this lintel, but we didn't know what was behind it

until we pulled the other boards off.

It was full top to bottom from old Victorian bricks.

Joanne and Jeff want to create a cosy, comfortable retreat

with new flooring and furnishings.

But first, the fireplace needs some traditional-style repairs.

Need to put some lime mortar in here

because when the smoke goes up there, it does come out here.

It's not good for the holiday guests.

It doesn't need to be super duper.

It needs to be rough and ready.

Yes, rough and ready. Just like us.

Just like us.

Joanne might have a relaxed approach to renovations, but the motivation

behind creating this holiday let is laser-focused.

I would like to have so many weeks of the year that people can come

to have a holiday, that they can't afford a holiday,

because I worked in social services

and I was a nurse, and I'm very aware

that there's not everybody in the world as lucky as we are.

I want to give something back.

The room already has a fresh coat of plaster,

with some of the original stonework left exposed

as a nod to the history of the house.

And with a new floor in the pipeline, Joanne and Jeff

can continue to focus on the fireplace they discovered.

Their next job is to rebuild the hearth,

and they've been collecting pieces of stone from around the grounds.

This is my pile of stone.

There's always something. You always find...

..you always find the right piece in the end.

That's 18.

All the rest are quite thick.

With enough stones to finish the job,

Jeff mixes up some concrete.

Just like making a cake.

Long as you get your ingredients right.

But I've been itching to get this fireplace sorted and looking

nice, and it's just such a big part of that room.

And as it all comes together, Jeff's feeling reflective.

It's been fun.

I've never worked so hard since I retired.

Perfect. Just what I envisioned.

Once I've got all the hearth pointed in,

I've got the pointing to do in the fireplace itself.

It's taking shape. Since Joanne stopped working,

we've been doing this place together,

and it's great working together.

Every day I wake up smiling.

Coming up...

..a first-time buyer in Suffolk...

My stomach dropped.

..wonders whether they've bitten off more than they can chew...

Haven't used this kitchen yet, and there's black mould already

growing at the back of the unit.

..and in the chapel, things are looking up

as Tracey and Rob's ceiling plans take shape...

To be able to put this up today -

it's a long time since this castle's had pretty stuff.

A few miles inland from the Suffolk coast is Ipswich,

one of England's oldest towns.

Amongst the important historic Tudor buildings

stand rows of Victorian terraces

built using famous Ipswich red bricks.

They were even shipped to London to build the Royal Albert Hall.

On one of these rows, stands this two-bedroomed terrace.

And while it's packed with typical Victorian features, it's showing

serious signs of age.

Our renovators take on projects of all shapes and sizes,

but one thing unites them -

the passion for saving old buildings.

So in 2021, when architect Akua was looking for a fixer-upper,

this one looked like the perfect renovation project.

I turned up at the front steps and I thought,

"Whoa! Like, this is pretty cute."

But I immediately had that feeling like I could do something with this.

The battle cry of any true renovator.

Londoner Akua had moved back in with their parents

during lockdown to save for a deposit.

But the average first-time buyer in London spends almost £150,000

more than the rest of the UK.

I think that's as clean as I'm gonna get it.

So for Akua, though her budget is tight,

a fixer-upper at £165,000

within commuting distance felt like a good idea.

Being an architect, I didn't want something that was going

to be just ready for me to move in.

Sticking to a budget is important on any project, but for solo

renovators like Akua, it's vital.

And there have been times where I thought, "Oh, why

"did you want to buy a fixer-upper?"

And Akua has already overcome some serious

and expensive renovation hurdles,

including removing asbestos from the ceilings

and fixing a leaky roof.

Oh, yeah, I'd say 3mm. 3mm? Yeah.

But her biggest hurdle is yet to come.

Desperate to move out of her parents' home and start this new chapter

of her life, she needs to make this house liveable,

so she's focusing on the basics.

A workable kitchen, plus electrics, plastering and at least one bedroom.

Akua is determined to push on with the work

without busting her budget.

I do have plans of what I can really do to make this house sing

as a Victorian home, but I've just got to remember to do things

within my means.

In the main bedroom,

peeling back the layers has given Akua inspiration for a special

feature which should also save her some cash.

I kind of want a nod back to the history

and its structural integrity.

Like, this is what's keeping this house together, these bricks.

While builder Chris works on restoring the bricks outside,

Akua's job is to cover her feature wall with sealant

to prevent future brick dust.

It's going OK.

I actually also quite like the fact that all these bricks are kind

of very different shades of red and brown and...

I need to put my back into it and finish the rest.

I need help.

I will pay you with tea and cakes.

Did someone mention tea and cakes?

How's it going? Hey, it's going quite well.

I think it's going to need a couple of coats.

It's looking all right.

So, I could technically finish this today.

You could technically finish this today. That'd be great.

That'll be something to tick off the list,

because... That's exactly right.

..I haven't really been doing much of that lately.

But when it comes to renovating, it's often one step forward,

three steps back.

Akua's had a complaint about the building waste

in the garden...

What on earth?

..and though the kitchen has been fitted beautifully,

old houses often suffer with unexpected damp.

I just saw this patch of green and black mould

and I thought, "What?"

My stomach dropped.

I haven't used this kitchen yet

and there's black mould already growing at the back of the unit.

I'm just going to have to buy some mould remover from the local shop.

Best it's sorted now.

Hopefully it doesn't come back.

Yeah, I'll do what I can now with the simple fixes.

Additional repairs are a cost Akua could definitely live without.

And to think that I've spent slightly over £5,000 on this kitchen

and I'm already having problems like this was just quite disheartening.

450 miles north at magnificent Culdees Castle,

Rob and Tracey are also facing challenges

on their chapel renovation.

It actually gives me a sick stomach pit of a feeling of worry

about how much we've got to do.

While Richard completes the stained glass windows, Rob and Tracey's

focus is on the chapel's ceilings.

Yes, it has two.

The vaulted area will have an ornate feel, while over the seating area,

Tracey wants to add some decorative plasterwork.

Welcome to the loft of the Mansion House.

Up here I keep all the stuff I want to keep safe

away from Rob's eyes and the skip.

But, over here is my little plaster library.

And in the family home next door to the castle,

Tracey's been storing historical remnants she's rescued

from the debris to ensure an accurate copy can be made.

Every room that we have managed to access from the castle,

I have tried to take a chunk of the plaster off and then bring

safely up here. The vision I have, costs pending,

is that every room we do, I can take that to a modern

plaster technician and ask them to recreate it.

Da da da!

Ooh, dusty.

So this moulding is what was in the chapel.

I did have two others, one larger in the wood and one in plaster,

which have gone off to the specialist to remake.

Hopefully they've not got it too wrong.

The new cornice is the edging of an ornate ceiling in the chapel,

but reinstating this original feature comes at a price.

To do the mouldings just in the areas we need for the wedding

is probably around £7,500.

But the plasterwork is essential to restore the castle

to its former glory.

The reason that they went in for all these opulent plaster

works was, was to really upscale the room, to make it grand.

There was like a status symbol.

At the moment, the chapel is lovely,

but it needs to be super glamorous

and it needs to be super opulent.

A month later...

Yay!

Plaster guys have arrived.

..things are looking up.

The cornice has arrived for the first stage

of the chapel ceiling.

Are you wanting some fuss?

All these people, eh?

As well as the cornice,

Tracey and Rob have commissioned plaster pieces cast from traditional

moulds for the centre of the ceiling.

I'm loving this.

This is as authentic as we can make it

from what we know and what we've seen.

To be able to put this up today -

it's a long time since this castle's had pretty stuff.

With another ceiling to finish and new windows to fit,

this chapel reno still has a long way to go.

Coming up,

first-time buyer Akua receives another blow

to her renovation dream...

I am finding this overwhelming, like, this is all on me.

..and struggles to find a solution...

I feel defeated even just sitting here,

I'm just, like, "Ugh," because I'm in a lot of debt.

..in Scotland, Tracey and Rob have lofty ambitions

for the chapel's vaulted ceiling.

It's so clever.

You can't even see it!

Oh, well done.

..and in Cumbria, Ben and Paul race to finish their jobs in time

for their first guests.

It's mad that people are going to come and stay.

It's so scary. We'll be, like, waiting

with bated breath that they like it.

Yeah.

In Ipswich, architect and first-time renovator Akua is working to get

her Victorian reno to a liveable state so she can move in.

This house, as much as I love it

and I'm proud...that I've bought the house,

it does keep me awake at night.

It's a couple of weeks since Akua had to tackle mould growing

in her new kitchen cupboards.

It's been safely removed

and she's keeping her fingers crossed it doesn't return...

I think we're just going to have to keep

this cupboard ventilated.

..but the budget busting issues just keep coming.

After a complaint about the building waste in the garden,

Akua's hired a skip to clear the mess, costing her a hefty £470,

but it's money well spent.

Let's go.

She's called in local handyman McKenzie and his mate Ethan to help

shift the mess.

We're on a mission.

With almost a year's worth of rubbish to clear, it's not long

before the skip starts to fill...

Is it looking...? Let's be honest, looking pretty full, isn't it?

It's looking pretty full, yeah.

I keep the optimism high, get in what you can get in.

..but many hands make light work,

and after several hours hard graft, the skip is at capacity.

Yeah, I'm exhausted, but it's good. We've achieved. Great teamwork.

Good.

Despite the successful garden clear,

the reno weighs heavy on Akua's shoulders,

with money always at the forefront of her mind.

I am finding this overwhelming. Like, this is all on me.

It's all my responsibility and having to navigate

this renovation project when I still don't live here...

I need to just...

..give myself a kick up the backside

as well as others around me,

and just make sure we can achieve what we want.

In the following weeks, Akua presses on,

taking small steps forward...

..and everything feels better

when her friend Nadine comes to help lay a smart new vinyl floor

in the bathroom.

Wow, that looks great.

Nice.

Well done! Oh, cuddles!

But despite trying to stay positive,

with continuous travel between London and Ipswich,

Akua has run out of budget,

meaning some of the essential work to make the house liveable

can't be completed.

I feel defeated because I'm in a lot of debt and, like, it's crazy.

Without a working kitchen and unfinished electrics,

Akua is stuck.

I think I'm just hoping this is something that I can...

..come out of.

Without a backup plan in place,

Akua's having to pause her entire reno until her finances

and her motivation are back on track.

It was only two years ago when I decided

I want to buy a house...

..on my own, on a modest salary...

SHE CHUCKLES

..and I'm here now

and I think when you put your mind to something,

you can make it happen.

And maybe that's the same advice

I need to give myself right now, again.

I can make this happen.

Yeah.

Hopefully it won't be too long before Akua can save enough

to continue with the reno on her beautiful Victorian terrace.

450 miles north in Perthshire at Culdees Castle,

the plasterwork on Rob and Tracey's chapel ceiling is now complete.

Looks really good. I'm really pleased.

The next big job is to transform the vaulted part

of the chapel ceiling.

And because Tracey and Rob never do things by halves,

they've dreamt up something very special -

an Italian-inspired wallpaper.

Today, for me, is quite exciting because I've never seen the design.

It'll look great. Yeah.

Not quite as grand as the Sistine Chapel, but it'll be beautiful.

It's not the Sistine Chapel. It's Culdees Castle Chapel.

Tracey sourced images online inspired by Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel

and another Italian ceiling in Florence by an artist

called Luca Giordano.

Tracey also found a local design printer who can transfer any artwork

onto special wallpaper.

Can you see there, Rob? Yeah, yeah. I'm good.

This is the proposed layout for the ceiling.

That works.

That's Tracey happy,

but there's something nasty lurking amongst the cherubs

that might upset the wedding guests.

I can't look at that, Paul.

It's a severed head.

Can we not try moving the painting along so that the beam sits...

Over the head?

Paul's got an even better idea.

His digital graphics program can simply remove the head.

So, there you go.

What would Michelangelo say?

TRACEY CHUCKLES

As if by magic.

Time to print out and get a better look at the design.

The colours look very different up here compared to downstairs.

When you're under the light. Yeah, yeah.

I love this blue.

It's perfect. Really, really love it.

I just want to get the room finished now.

Four weeks later, the special wallpaper has finally arrived.

The paper is not your average wallpaper.

It almost looks like fabric, so it looks like it's been painted.

First, Paul and decorator Steve are checking the artwork lines

up and it's no small job as these roles are over a metre

wide and 25m long.

So, you have to overlap it then? Yes.

So, we overlap it and then splice it on the wall.

Oh, right. So, you've got to cut it?

Yes. Then it gives you the best join.

Oh. It's brilliant. It's great.

There's no going back now.

The wallpaper's going up.

That roll of paper there, balancing on the scaffolding,

it's about £400.

No pressure.

It's not just the paper that's balancing.

Paul and Steve are working at around five metres

above the floor.

So far, so good.

Now for the scary bit -

cutting the join.

Overlapping the rolls avoids an unsightly gap if you make

a mistake when cutting.

But there's no danger of that with these professionals on the job.

So clever.

You can't even see it!

Oh. Well done.

The clouds are good.

Tracey and Rob's lofty idea is coming together,

but with only eight weeks to go and the windows yet to be fitted,

the chapel is far from wedding ready.

While our team of renovators work hard

to bring their places back to life,

in Cumbria, there is one renovation nearing completion

that shows just what hard graft can deliver.

The stunning Georgian-style country house, built in 1862,

is being lovingly brought back to life by West End star Ben

and his property-developer partner, Paul...

Loads of conditioner.

Since buying the house in 2021, Ben and Paul have poured every penny

into tirelessly restoring

this stone-built beauty top to bottom...

The best transformation ever.

..creating new living rooms, bedrooms and landscaped outdoor spaces.

Now they're finally ready to open the doors to guests.

It's mad that people are going to come and stay.

Yeah. It's so scary.

We'll be, like, waiting with bated breath that they like it.

Yeah.

Earlier in the week, we saw Ben and Paul rushing to complete a long

list of last-minute snagging jobs...

Go on.

Yeah. There you go. Yes.

Oh, a beautiful, bonny girl. Oh, my God.

..but now there's only time for the final preparations

as their weekend guests are just hours away.

And for Ben, it's an extra special day.

My best friend Kelly is coming with her family

to stay at the house,

so we're preparing for that.

She's really into property and design, so, yeah, it feels

like quite a lot of pressure, actually,

for it to be perfect for them.

With help from their housekeeper Aggie, there are beds to make,

carpets to vacuum and cushions to plump.

It's all a very long way from where they started.

This was the room that we camped in when it was literally no

floorboards, and you could just see through to the downstairs.

There was nothing, no running water or heat - not anything.

With every detail finessed, it's clear that Kelly's sleeping

quarters will be just a little bit more luxurious.

I just want her to like it as much as I do, I think.

After hours of careful preparation, the house is looking spotless

and it's not a moment too soon.

Hi! Look, you're so tanned as well. I know.

Oh, God! It looks so... The entrance looks so nice.

With the arrival of Kelly, formerly of pop band Liberty X,

her husband Ian, and two children, Milo and Theo,

it's judgment time for Ben and Paul.

Welcome to The Country House, Cumbria.

Oh, it doesn't disappoint, does it?

BEN LAUGHS

Last time Kelly visited, some of the rooms were already complete...

Really, really nice.

..but this is the first time she's seen the renovated bar

and the orangery that Ben and Paul have created by recycling

and reusing leftover bits from around the house.

Wowzers!

Look at this!

Oh, my Gosh!

It's a bit different, isn't it?

It's so successful, isn't it?

But it's just... I just...

Literally, it's my favourite room in the house now.

And your shelves. You did those shelves yourself, didn't you?

Yeah. They're amazing.

Yeah. So we just used everything we had, basically.

Eco friendly as well. Yeah.

That was just an old jam pan. Lovely. Now our sink.

That's clever. Yeah, it's nice, isn't it?

Yeah. Really nice.

Oh, boys. Yeah. So clever.

Upstairs, the compliments just keep on coming.

I mean, it's like the nicest hotel you've ever stayed in, isn't it?

Oh, yes. Good review. It is.

Like, the sounds, the smells, the feel of everything.

It's, like, beautiful. The best.

Very clever. Thanks.

And it's safe to say Kelly is impressed.

What's really clever about this, in terms of its interior design,

is that there is so much colour, there's so much pattern,

there's so much detail, like, it's like a feast for the eyes.

It's no mean feat to get through a project of this size

and still be together and still be smiling and still be happy.

If they can do this, they can literally do anything.

As the drinks flow and Kelly and the family relax

into their weekend escape...

..Ben and Paul can finally sit back and see what they've achieved.

You know, we've got our friends here, they're enjoying it.

It's totally usable and it's an amazing space.

And we're sitting here around the fire with a beer.

I was surprised today that actually we were ready

and I think that's the point.

Like, we're ready, which is really good.

Yeah.

Oh, are you a bit emosh?

Yeah, we're ready for it. Yeah.

Bring it on.

LAUGHTER

But Ben and Paul never sit still for long.

We'll be back with them later in the week for phase two

of their exciting renovation.

Coming up,

Joanne and Jeff add a little individuality

to the annexe sitting room...

If somebody can come in this house and I can make them smile,

that's my job done, I would say.

..and Rob and Tracey finally complete the castle's Victorian chapel...

I'm proud of that feeling that people get the connection,

that wall of emotion when you open the door.

In Haltwhistle in the west of Northumberland,

Joanne and Jeff are hard at work at Greystonedale.

Desperate to move out of the caravan on their driveway,

the annexe on the side of the house will become their new home

until the main house is ready.

Eventually, this annexe will become a holiday let.

Today they're focusing on the sitting room.

With the walls now a calming shade of green,

Jeff's repointing the chimney breast above the fireplace

they discovered...

..and as usual, he's learning on the job.

Might take me a little bit longer than a professional, but it's the...

..I think the sense of achievement that you've done it yourself.

With trades working throughout the house on plumbing,

plastering and electrics,

it's no wonder Jeff's feeling positive.

I think we're really coming on here now.

Literally, that far away from just the decorating.

Six weeks later, the fireplace is repaired,

rustic carriage lights have been installed

either side of the fireplace

and a timber-effect vinyl floor is being laid.

So with the room inching closer to completion,

Joanne's decided to get crafty

and add a bit of her own individuality.

I'm putting a little bit of my bling into this room

and this is a work of art, maybe.

I bought this £5 torso.

I'm going to lie her on a bed of moss,

and then I'm going to attach some leaves and some flowers.

It's my take on a famous artwork in Glasgow called The Cherry Picker.

It's amazing what you can do with a glue gun

and a box of fake moss.

Everybody needs a little bit of magic in their life.

If somebody can come in this house and I can make them smile,

that's my job done, I would say.

Perfect.

We've done well. We haven't got any glue on the floor yet.

I think it looks really good.

I know someone won't agree with you.

No. They'd be going, "What's that monstrosity?

I love it, do you?

I think it's turned out...

..good.

Well, that's the effect I wanted - mad.

Well, I don't know about you, but I think every home

should have one.

It's September, and after weeks of hard work, Joanne and Jeff

have reached an important milestone.

Finally done. Looks great, doesn't it?

Oh, it does.

What started as a cold and characterless room...

..has been transformed with new interior walls, flooring

and a soft-colour palette,

all while retaining Greystonedale's lovely original features,

along with a few of Joanne's junk shop bargains

and auction treasures...

Overall, I think it's turned out...well, hasn't it?

..and as well as ticking another room off the list, getting this room

ready means they can finally move out of the caravan.

It was nice to get out of the caravan.

I think that tells you how far we've come.

Yeah. But I think it is nice to get inside. Yeah.

I don't think we could have done another winter in the caravan. No.

With the aim to create a cosy space that will eventually be rented out,

the fireplace was always an important feature.

Oh, we've got the little logs.

Oh, yes, it looks gorgeous.

We did the grate and we were going to paint it, but we just put

the rust proofer on.

And you like the patina of that, didn't you?

Yeah, I'm proud of it. It looks beautiful.

And with her eye for a bargain, Joanne's found furnishings

that haven't bust the budget.

I've been looking for sofas for weeks.

We bought them at an auction on Tuesday.

It was £70 altogether with the auction fees

Just over £70 with the fees.

I think they go well in this room and they're a perfect size.

So we had another item recycled again, isn't it?

Reused.

It's not completely finished. I would say it's 90%.

We'll have...we will have decoration on the wall.

We will have some pictures and things on the wall.

Make it more homely. It's a little bit bare still at the moment.

Talking of artwork...

Talking of artwork...

This is the fairy I made with Geoffrey standing

pride of place in the room.

Now this is done, we've got to move back on to the main house.

Focus on there and getting that done now, aren't we?

That's our next job now

What I'm looking forward to is letting somebody come and stay

for a cheap holiday or free holiday.

That's what's going to make me happy.

That'll be fantastic.

And later in the week, we'll be back with Joanne and Jeff

as their own main bedroom undergoes a complete transformation.

150 miles north in central Scotland at Culdees Castle,

it's mid-July and a milestone day for this epic renovation.

That's nice.

In four weeks' time, Rob and Tracey will get married

in the east wing of Culdees Castle.

Two years ago, it was an empty shell full of debris.

The chapel didn't have a floor

and water poured in through the roof.

Now, after months of blood, sweat and tears,

working around the clock...

Look at that.

..the Victorian chapel has been lovingly restored

to its former glory, and today, it's finally complete.

Here we are in our finished chapel.

Oh, wow.

It's a celebration of skilled craftsmanship, traditional artistry

and bold ideas.

Once, the main window was just plain glass -

now, it's the stunning centrepiece of the room.

Piece de la resistance.

It really is, isn't it?

Tracey's original stained-glass design features the castle peacock's

Spirit and Stride.

I mean, I made all those teardrops in that peacock tail,

my fused-glass technique that I learned.

They just look like they've always been there.

Yeah.

And then, of course, you look up.

The plain-plaster ceiling...

..is now an Italian-inspired masterpiece.

It was my idea, of course.

Your idea. Yes.

It took Michelangelo four years to paint the Sistine Chapel.

The Culdees version was created with four giant-sized rolls

of specialist wallpaper.

I'll have your one. You can have a test of my one.

That one is for a bride,

so she can have her dress and her veil.

On their wedding day,

Rob and Tracey will sit in these chairs for the readings,

but today is a time to reflect

on what they've been through to get here.

This was probably our biggest challenge and achievement to date.

Sitting here in the chapel with it being finished is surreal.

It's the first time I've seen it properly dressed

and it's a real room.

The restored windows,

I mean, they just completely change the space, don't they?

And I now want stained glass windows all over the castle.

And it's plush.

And it's very befitting of a chapel.

And I'm proud of that feeling that people get - the connection.

That wall of emotion when you open the door.

And if people get half of the...

..emotion that I get,

to me that's worth its weight.

Restoring the chapel is a huge achievement,

but there's a lot more to finish

before Tracey and Rob's big day in four weeks' time.

I need to be able to open the back door of the castle

and it look amazing.

From the walk all the way through the hall, up the stairs

and into the chapel.

So, that is my next real focus.

And, we're what? We're a month-ish to go? Less.

We always push it a little bit further than we should.

Rob and Tracey have restored a piece of Scotland's history,

and Culdees Castle is a step closer to its own happy ending.

Next time...

..Rob and Tracey's plan for a grand entrance...

I don't think you're going to be able to lift that.

Oh! Oh! Oh! He's had his Weetabix.

..gives them pre-wedding jitters.

Time is ticking.

Our wedding is looming.

..Ben and Paul embark on a brand-new renovation adventure

just next door...

I just can't wait to get cracking now.

..where they hope to be swinging from the chandeliers...

Nice gallery landing across the top, and you might have a chandelier.

Oh!

..and in the attic of a manor house in southeast Wales...

He's got the secret bookcase door,

which we're going to build an opening mechanism for.

..a hidden playroom for Faye and David's son...

Wait, weren't there two rooms here?

Whoa!

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