Old and New Design Elements Come Together to Transform This Historic French Chateau

In 2020, Daphne Reckert and Ian Figueira have been merely highschool sweethearts on the hunt for a minimalist’s dream: a tiny dwelling on the outskirts of California. Quick-forward to right this moment, the couple now owns a 500-year-old chateau proper outdoors of Paris, France. Since inheriting the property, life has been nothing wanting enthralling, with on daily basis unlocking a brand new journey in restoring historical past.

Within the new HGTV collection Fort Not possible, viewers comply with alongside as Reckert and Figuiera transform the chateau. To honor Daphne’s household legacy, the couple takes on high-stakes renovations that also mirror centuries of tales from contained in the citadel. We spoke with the couple to learn the way they preserved its historic attraction throughout renovations.

Hold It Cohesive and Persist with Your Funds

Reckert and Figuiera by no means thought-about promoting the chateau. As an alternative, it was a matter of constructing the citadel again up on a finances.

“The chateau and all the buildings have been built over the last few centuries,” stated Reckert. “There are lots of little aspects that we’ve been able to pull from. And so we’ve been able to renovate things with very different styles, but we try to keep a cohesiveness throughout the design. We’re not just trying to renovate everything so that it’s all modern, or that it’s all super old, but really just speaking to the different renovations that have already taken place for inspiration, and then making sure that there’s a cohesion between everything.”

As they began adorning completely different rooms within the citadel, the couple headed straight to classic markets. Reckert says she wished the whole lot to really feel lived in and comfy, and purchasing secondhand helps you persist with a finances. It additionally leaves a chance for negotiation. The couple set a finances for each merchandise and handed on something above that worth, even when the right mild fixture or aspect desk was proper in entrance of them. They ultimately discovered objects much more appropriate for the chateau, so it is vital to be affected person and set boundaries as you store.

Discover Good Individuals and Hold Them Shut By

The couple recruited individuals from far and close to to assist, and family members have been elated to lend a serving to hand. An English handyman named Tony shortly grew to become “Uncle Tony,” and a buddy, Allison, grew to become the chateau’s inside designer. And the couple realized shortly that placing a number of heads collectively is at all times useful when mixing two completely different design components.

“It takes a village—especially a castle in France,’ says Figueira. “We’ve got family and friends that need to keep for a bit, and we’re like, ‘nice, deliver your work gloves!’ It helps, whether or not it is development or simply common chores—you’ll be able to’t count on to do the whole lot yourselves. We simply attempt to discover good individuals and hold them shut by.”

Reckert and Allison imagined Artwork Nouveau, a late-Eighteen Eighties artwork fashion characterised by natural shapes, because the furnishings fashion for not less than the photo voltaic (a room designed in castles the place the household would reside or sleep in personal), if not all the chateau. Natural traces and shapes depicted by nature have lately made a comeback in dwelling decor, and Allison notes how Artwork Nouveau was highly regarded in France, particularly. Utilizing Allison’s architectural data and Reckert’s visions for the chateau, the 2 blended outdated and new.

Revamping Historical past

When requested about their favourite renovated rooms, one stands out specifically: the photo voltaic. After years of decay, it started to seem like a haunted home—black widows hung all through the house, and the flooring beneath them have been rotting. It appeared like there wasn’t a lot to work with till they dug deeper.

Hidden behind cobwebs, creaky floorboards, and lately positioned sheetrock was the gorgeous 1800s structure of earlier bedrooms. They have been in a position to open the whole lot up once more, and exquisite oak architectural particulars (you’ll be able to even see up the bell tower!) now function all through the newly renovated house. With delicate modern accents like gold outsized mirrors and curvy chairs, and historic components like pendant lights and iron railing, the photo voltaic was restored.

The couple even hints at a possible moat-turned-pond down the road—one thing that might honor the citadel’s historical past and develop into a part of its fashionable choices.

Whereas there’s nonetheless a lot to do, one factor is definite: it is attainable to merge design components with the proper assets, assist, and attitudes. As for finish objectives, that is a piece in progress.

“We like the idea of having an artisan’s craftsman space open to the public, where people can tour, take classes and workshops, and enjoy fun events. We like the idea of sharing the castle experience and keeping it festive,” says Reckert.

Catch Fort Not possible each Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV and with episodes out there to stream the subsequent day on Max and discovery+.