After four years of living inside an 800-year-old château, we finally broke ground on building a new Kitchen.
This episode isn’t a renovation update in the traditional sense — it’s a reflection on what it’s taken for us to finally be ready to break ground and make the West Wing of the château our own.
After purchasing an 800-year-old château in France, our family spent years learning how this place actually works — uncovering decades of deferred infrastructure, navigating listed-building restrictions, and discovering that every decision carries consequences far beyond a single room.
What began as plans to renovate a few bathrooms revealed a deeper truth: if this life — and this business — was going to last, we needed to stop improvising and start building with intention.
Four years after purchasing Puy Vidal, we finally broke ground on the château kitchen the house — and our lives here — truly needed.
A new kitchen designed to support our growing workshop and retreat model, while restoring much-needed boundaries between family life and work.
This episode explores decision fatigue, long-term thinking, and the quiet, unglamorous work of creating structures that can actually hold the lives we’re building.
🌿 Visit Our World
To learn more about The Lady of the Chateau and explore our upcoming 2026 workshop and retreat season, visit:
👉 https://www.ladyofthechateau.com
🎶 Music Credits
Music provided by Artlist:
Story of a Hero — Max H. (Artlist)
Away — Ian Post (Artlist)
Luminance — Kyle J. Hartman (Artlist)
Sunrise in the Fairytale Forest — Nobou (Artlist)
Assès vif – Très rythmé — Carmel Quartet
Murmuring — Yehezkel Raz
So Near So Far — Adam Dib
Additional music (non-Artlist):
The 5th Season
There Was Only Darkness — Idokay
© Lady of the Château
27 Comments
Imagine purchasing an 800 year old home with historic features and covering those features up.
I hope y'all will show us more of the videos of the work being done as it is happening. Not just bits and pieces.
Covering that historic ceiling is criminal.
This is truly a video that Is a renovation, not a restoration and it is making me very sad to see this beautiful historic château transformed into a hotel and a modern one at that. The history of this chateaux is being lost especially on the first floor. It is very sad to see it happening. I understand the bathrooms were too modern for a chateaux. I can understand renovating them to fit the French château vibe would’ve added more to the restoration of this amazing property however the renovation done for the bathrooms and bedrooms was an improvement to what was there.
Did you ever think of transforming one of the external buildings into a family dwelling? I would’ve created a beautiful functioning event kitchen which you are doing but not ripped down the whole first floor and covered up charming historic ceilings and walls and doors to accomplish it. It all has to do with what architects you employe. I remember when you wanted to go with the first architects. I knew they were going in the wrong direction and I did share that in my comment. I felt they were all wrong for the project which you did finally let them go. I also think these architects are better but are not the right ones either. It would’ve been best to get someone sympathetic towards the history of the building, and what it stands for to accommodate you as a successful functioning business in a historical building, it can be done. You would have been far better off if you would have employed historic architects for this project they would have been more sympathetic towards the restoration.
A reminder, your guests while attending an event are also coming to experience the French life, château life, walking back into history, which they can’t get anywhere, except in England and in Europe, they want fantasy, they want to live the experience of an aristocratic to go back in time. Where can you get 800 year old buildings and interiors except in Europe and England?
I know it’s all too late to share all my thoughts because the project is already done. It is a done deal, We all live and learn. I apologize if I’ve over shared but my heart aches for this building. I also know that with this project being done that things will function smoother for you there’s no doubt about that and for the family, the guests and employees but it could’ve been done a different way.🤍
I’m loving your channel. You have made such progress. It looks amazing. 4 years isn’t long !❤❤
Love to watch your YouTube. very curious to see the finished kitchen and the work to get there 😍
Incredible! Doing a historic renovation, the unexpected discoveries and „scope creep“ are real!! You do a great job navigating tough decisions and moving forward. Can’t wait to see the end result!
i want to leave America and move to France.
Love watching your channel – thank you for sharing all that you do – not just the fun and easy but the hard stuff as well from Amy, West Virginia USA❤
Love that you have caught us up on your plans I know it will be fantastic.
My only disappointment is that the expose decorative ceiling is being covered up. Its a shame the insulation could not have been done through the floor above.
It is a crime to cover that ceiling
I love this video. So detailed in words explaining the extreme thoughts and very hard work put into making this GORGEOUS CHATEAU work like a well oiled machine. You all are incredible people and I so enjoy your channel. ❤ This next phase of a new kitchen is FABULOUS and I’m so here for IT ALL!!!! 😊 let’s go chateau ladies.
Absolutely incredible, as a long time subscriber, I am so happy that you are finally able to move forward with your vision, I can't wait to see the outcome. What a beautiful and thoughtfully narrated video, we appreciate the artistry in everything that the family does.
and not done yet. cant wait to see all in place. seems huge that answers many needs
Wow you guys are truly amazing. It takes so much courage to do what you are doing. I’m definitely going to book another retreat to see all the changes at Puy Vidal!
Nicely done and well narrated! Excited to see how all your planning turns out.
Seriously!!! The realtor should have told you it was listed and what that meant… How could you be so naive? 800 year old chateau and it never crossed your mind? Just Wow… I can’t imagine you are allowed to cover the ceiling… There are modern sound proofing materials and fire system that could have used 4 to 6 inches of that 12 inch in between beam space in the ceiling… Your architect is being lazy and disrespectful because of costs, if you all can’t be respectful, you shouldn’t have purchased the building. It is very obvious all the “modern” renovations IE: bathrooms were not done with any oversight of the listed guidelines either. You all need to see how they are doing Purnom, PROPERLY.
I hope it's farther ahead than you've shown :). Good luck, and fun to see the changes you're making.
I can’t wait to see your new kitchen!
Beautiful video. What became of the modern kitchen on the second floor? I remember it from Stephanie's tour before you bought, and I believe I caught a glimpse of it in today's video. Do you use it for family?
I would put an aged mirror in that found window spot omg gorgeous ❤
You need to sometimes sacrifice a little ( loved that ceiling) to make the business work, in the long term it will save the whole Chateau …courage ladies! 😊
Carolina wonderful job reviewing how you got to where you are today ! Not sure you have the time but I’d love a few 10 minute vlogs that just show the daily progress on the kitchen Nothing fancy I swear ! ❤
It is always a pleasure when you take the time out of your busy day to update your subscribers on your plans and progress. Thank you for taking us along on your journey
Everything is going to be so beautiful!! ❤keep posting !! Even if is 5 minute blogs!!
Absolutely love the plans, the kitchen is going to be stunning 🤗
I am watching your progress with great interest. I had a desire to purchase this chateau when it was on the market thinking it would be livable. Your story brings reality to a dream.