If you’ve only just found us… Where have you been? Want more? This is a good place to start:
We wanted candlelight drama in our winter dining room. Instead, one small change has left us questioning the entire ceiling.
In this episode, we reveal our copper-leaf dining room ceiling experiment and the unexpected glue problem that’s created a half-bright, half-aged finish. One of us thinks it’s sensational… the other can’t unsee what’s gone wrong. We also squeeze in a quick gate update (with a slightly ridiculous musical interlude), then jump back into the office project where an inexperienced DIY mistake means we may have to remove a plasterboard to pull chunky cables through.
If you’ve ever lived with a renovation decision you can’t take back, you’ll understand this one. Tell us honestly: do you love it, hate it, or is it simply too shouty for a French château?
If you’d like to follow along, consider subscribing, and share your thoughts in the comments.
00:00 The ceiling idea we can’t agree on
00:27 Revealing the “drama” dining room ceiling plan
00:44 Candlelight + firelight… designing a magical winter dining room
01:24 Weeks on the scaffold: how this became “my” job
01:51 Regret sets in… and the first hint of a bigger problem
02:16 Gate update… but make it a musical interlude
03:10 Reality check: I think I might hate the ceiling
04:02 The glue disaster: why the copper started changing colour
04:51 Quick office update: measuring, marking, and more problems
05:18 New tool day: cutting into the plasterboard (gulp)
06:32 Unexpected DIY headache: chunky cables and boards coming off
07:38 Back to the ceiling: patina vs “bling” and why copper wins
08:37 The ceiling roses dilemma: paint, leaf, limewash… or leave it?
09:59 You decide: love it, hate it, or are we ruining a château?
10:44 The negotiation plan: tea, chocolate, cake… and a verdict later
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21 Comments
So many jobs happening. You’re amusing and entertaining. Great progress with the gates. I always thought living in a Chateau would be fun, but I think there is always too much to do. Take care.
I am afraid it is a thumbs down from me ,sorry.
The gates are looking great and the dancing made me smile.
How lucky that you used screws you could remove to get to the wiring when you hung the plasterboard.
How disappointing that the glue changed the appearance of the copper! Is there a way to even it out so it is all aged? As for the ceiling rose, perhaps you could paint it the color of the walls and antique some of the details a bit with a slightly darker color? Whatever you do make sure to take your time making your decision.
If you add some large Gustav Climt prints to the walls, I think it will help draw your eyes to the art, and the ceiling will not stick out as much as you are thinking at the mo. Hard to see how dark the copper is though on the tv. The art work of his “golden phase” may or may not clash with a copper ceiling. I would have gone for a distressed golden patina. Good luck anyways. The square patches made me instantly think of Climt.
I’m not crazy about the copper squares on the ceiling but you do you and I love your channel
If you don’t like it, it’s going to a total buggar to get that off!. You’ll have to live with it I’m afraid.
I love the ceiling gilded ! It's a classic and will reflect the light and create the atmosphere. The dining room is an evening room and the drama is perfect !
Perhaps try using crackle effect and them the lime wash ?
Do it on a sample piece first and see how that looks ? Just a suggestion
I haven't been a fan of copper in other chateau sites, but yours seems to look okay. Perhaps the ceiling rose would look good as the colour of dark caramel? I say make a statement and leave it. With the right furniture I think it may look pretty rich!
I think i would scrap all that Copper off and start again , its not that nice . I maybe would try painting it a more gold copper if thats what u are going for i really think a nice French Vanilla colour with the Gold Rose or even Green on the walls painted on the rose would work .
I like the aged look, maybe try a very light rubbed on stain . Could you also try and use the new glue over the shiny copper.
Hate it!! Tacky and needs removing.
I actually love what you’re doing! I like it more aged & it’s the kind of detail that will look brilliant when everything has come together & is finished. Be brave & Go for it!! If you don’t like it after a while, you can always change it & at worst will have improved another skill.
Not loving the ceiling,but it's your house and if you like it then keep it.
I'm not sure what would look like in person, but I'm tending to side with Claire. Is this one of those times where the idea of the DIY technique is better than the reality? Not sure to be honest. I wish I could see it in the flesh but alas…
The concept is good, however the squares are more bothersome than the color. The tarnished coloring with the weird glue reaction looks good though. For the ceiling rose have you thought about adding an antiquing wax to it to just give it an aged look? Great job for trying to put your thoughts into reality, y’all are really upping your diy levels!! Love watching, carry on! 😊
You two are quite the pair – your expressions while painting were a hoot!
Glad it was so easy (or looked it) to remove a wallboard/plasterboard/sheetrock panel, or looked it from my sofa. Cutting biscuits. 🤣 Europeans are lucky to be able to use a hole saw for outlets (though the outlets themselves are bold and bulky compared to ours m). We have to cut rectangles just the right size, and level. It’s a royal pain.
The Ceiling: I always have trouble picking things like colors for other people, because in my experience it’s a matter of feelings. Plus there’s what something looks like on camera and IRL. Lionel said the darker one (with the bad glue) is still reflective… that doesn’t come across on camera at all. It looks dark and dingy, at least on my (admittedly smaller and older, but not THAT old) TV. So, a thought. Set up a table (or a board on some boxes) with a tablecloth, a couple place settings, silverware, glasses… basically all the shiny stuff… and most importantly, candles (as many as you’d have for a party – can be stubby ends). That way you can see what the ceiling looks like under party conditions. Is the copper side too much bling, or more like your inspiration photos? Is the dark side actually sparkly, or does it get lost in the gloom? True, there’s no chandelier, and that’s a big factor… but it might still help you pick a direction.
Also, for the ceiling rose, I assume Claire has already reached out to Erin for advice. She’s done lots of gilding using everything from leaf to waxes to paint. ♥️
Yes I love the ceiling . I used gold & silver leafing before & put a,colored glaze on top to give it an aged look. I think the chandelier medallion would be nice with an aged plaster look/paint. It is very beautiful but stark white is most complimentary imo.
I like it, i think i would paint the rose the same colour as the walls.
I absolutely love the copper ceiling!! The verdigris side, that is. Can you do something to the brighter side to tone it down to the verdigris? I think a chateau can take something like that. But your choice, live with it a while and see what you think. Good luck!!
Ósea la idea es ir destruyendo poco a poco el castillo? 😂😂 es eso lo q nos quieren decir? 😅