Undertaking the most neglected maintenance issues first, the couple repaired hundred-year-old drainage pipes and rebuilt a collapsing chimney through a generous crowdfunding project. Their feature on British TV series Escape to the Château: DIY and Château: DIY has also garnered the owners a devoted following on social media through their Instagram accounts @chateaudebourneau and @theintrepidchatelaine.
Wanting to create a reserved space for couples who wed on the property, Erin and J. B. began restoring the Suite de Fontaines, a honeymoon apartment complete with an adjoining solarium and named after the château’s early dwellers. The bedroom’s blue-and-white wallpaper and French boiserie add sophistication and elegance to a room that once stood in disarray. The duo sanded and stained hardwood floors and restored the original shutters, giving the space an authentic feel with the addition of antique furnishings found at local brocantes.
