A couple with no prior DIY experience are taking on the ambitious renovation of a dilapidated 200-year-old French château, relying on YouTube videos to acquire the necessary skills along the way. Dimitri Petipas, 35, and his husband David, 28, purchased the nine-bedroom Egmont Manor, located approximately an hour from Paris, for €330,000 (£285,000) last month. Despite the property lacking water and electricity, and having a leaky roof, the pair insist they have 'no regrets'.
Property Details and Future Plans
The nine-bedroom home spans 600 square metres internally and is surrounded by 10,000 square metres of sprawling gardens, which the couple hopes to eventually transform into a maze and host Christmas markets. Although already married, Dimitri and David aim to restore the ancient manor to its former glory, enabling them to host a lavish belated wedding celebration for friends and family, and eventually rent it out as an Airbnb.
Learning DIY Through Online Resources
Having never attempted any DIY before, the couple are quickly trying to master essential skills by watching YouTube videos and exchanging tips with fellow renovators in WhatsApp groups. 'We want to do a lot of it ourselves, because it is much more rewarding when we are on our own. We take a lot more time than professionals but it is way cheaper,' Dimitri explained. 'We spend little and are very careful where we spend the money. We are learning along the way. We had to learn everything from scratch so it is not easy. It is very cliché but we are using YouTube mainly.'
Challenges and Setbacks
The Frenchman revealed that it took six months to secure the manor, with many offers refused before they eventually knocked €150,000 off the asking price. Shortly after purchasing, they began ripping out damaged plants, moving the front gate to create a driveway, and knocking down walls to open up the space, initially hoping to finish within a year. However, they have encountered numerous problems, including hidden chimneys and leaks, leading them to now estimate the project will take at least three years to complete. With no electricity or water, they have been unable to move in, instead commuting five hours from their flat in the French Alps or renting an Airbnb to work on the property.
'We only have problems. We find some nice surprises but mainly we find issues. We are having to do so much more than we had planned,' Dimitri added. 'That is all part of the experience. You can't buy something that is 200 years old without having any issues. We have no regrets at all. It is fulfilling.'
Financial Constraints and Aspirations
The couple have also faced financial difficulties, securing only €100,000 as a renovation loan, which they say is a third of what they need. Nevertheless, they remain optimistic, doing most of the work themselves to save money and seeking brand partnerships. Their immediate goal is to renovate one room and one bathroom by the end of the year so they can finally move into their dream home.
'For a long time we have been fans of castles, history, old buildings and everything,' said Dimitri. 'We were travelling and visiting lots of castles and we saw this manor being for sale. We just fell in love immediately. We just wanted to try the experience. Yes we have something to lose because it is a huge investment, but you only have one life.'
Preserving History and Building a Legacy
The couple aim to bring the property 'back to its glory days in the 1920s when it was full of life and parties'. 'We want to create something that can last for decades and hopefully be our legacy and survive us,' Dimitri added. 'I don't think it is something that you can keep for yourself when you have this type of historical building.' Dimitri met David, from Switzerland, four years ago when they were both living in Geneva, and they have shared a passion for historic buildings ever since. They are now documenting their renovation journey on TikTok, hoping to generate enough income to complete their ambitious project.
