Karina and Craig Waters, an Australian family, purchased the 1700s Chàteau de Gudanes in the south of France after their son found it on the Internet. After just one look, they fell in love and have called it their own since 2013. For anyone who finds pleasure watching "This Old House," "Property Brothers" "Rehab Addict" or watching any sort of restoration project (even those in the neighborhood), this one takes the cake and then some. Marie Antoinette would surely approve.
Designed by the same architect who designed Marie's Le Petit Trianon, this home overlooks the Midi-Pyrénées and is a doozy (and you thought your kitchen renovation would get the best of you). After years of neglect, including a roof that has caved-in in various spots, extensive water damage and mold, the chàteau (defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "a feudal castle or fortress in France, or a large country house") is being lovingly restored with every effort to maintain the integrity of the structure and return it, piece-by-piece, to its original glory. Lucky for us, we get to follow their progress through their Instagram account and through their website.
And if you want more than just photos (which are as delicious as a warm and flaky croissant), head over to their Captain's Log which describes their discoveries, treasures and hurdles as they peel back 300 years of history—like unearthing a fresco that had been covered up at some point (perhaps during the Revolution that saw the untimely end of Marie and Louis XVI, or perhaps a bit later during Napoleon's reign?) and, to quote the site, is "magnificent." Or discovering a hole in the floor that possibly leads to a tunnel for traveling to and from the village. (Amazing, right?) The excavation of that particular project had to halt due to safety concerns but the story will eventually unfold. For restoration lovers, everything about this project is c'est magnifique!
