A Chateau of One's Own : Restoration Misadventures in France

Sam and Bud were ordinary first-time home buyers in their early thirties. Their intention, in moving to France, was to create a simple life in a place where they could spend time with their children. The home they actually bought was a 17th century chateau in the Loire valley with more than 30 rooms. Chateau Du Bonchamps had been the seat of noble families as far back as 1507. With only modest savings, Sam and Bud launched the exciting project of restoring this extraordinary building to its former glory. Over several years they renovated 10,000 square feet of house, installed countless bathroo.;Cover; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Acknowledgements; 1. 'It Will be Lovely ... '; 2. Origins of a Specious Venture; 3. All's Well that Begins Well; 4. The Fowl Smell of Success; 5. 'We're all mad here'; 6. Unsettled; 19. A Pound of Flesh; 7. Trop Jeune; 8. Moving Experiences; 9. Sowing; 10. Wild Boar and Vegans; 11. Autumn Sonata; 12. Tempest; 13. Open for Business, Almost; 14. Debut; 15. Lords and Lordlets; 16. Necessities; 17. Clouds Gathering; 18. L'Espoir; 20. Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit. Sam and Bud were ordinary first-time homebuyers in their early thirties. Their intention, in moving to France, was to create a simple life in a place where they could spend time with their children. The home they actually bought was a 17th century chateau in the Loire valley with over thirty rooms. Chateau Du Bonchamps had been the seat of noble families as far back as 1507. With only modest savings, Sam and Bud launched the exciting project of restoring this extraordinary building to its former glory. Over several years they renovated 10,000 square feet of house, installed countless bathrooms, painted 156 windows, put the 40-acre park and gardens into some semblance of order and started a bed and breakfast against resistance from the locals. Their hardwork prevailed; their chateau quadrupled in value. The things we dream do not always fit nicely with the realities of everyday life. This is an insightful glimpse of what it truly means to leave everything behind to persue a dream. Front cover; Contents; Chapter One 'It Will be Lovely ... '; Chapter Two Origins of a Specious Venture; Chapter Three All's Well that Begins Well; Chapter Four The Fowl Smell of Success; Chapter Five 'We're all mad here'; Chapter Six Unsettled; Chapter Seven Trop Jeune; Chapter Eight Moving Experiences; Chapter Nine Sowing; Chapter Ten Wild Boar and Vegans; Chapter Eleven Autumn Sonata; Chapter Twelve Tempest; Chapter Thirteen Open for Business, Almost; Chapter Fourteen Debut; Chapter Fifteen Lords and Lordlets; Chapter Sixteen Necessities; Chapter Seventeen Clouds Gathering Sam and Bud intended to move to France and create a simple life with their children. However they bought a 17th century chateau with over thirty rooms. With modest savings, they restored the building and started a bed and breakfast against resistance from the locals.This is a glimpse into what it takes to leave everything behind to pursue a dream. Chapter Eighteen L'EspoirChapter Nineteen A Pound of Flesh; Chapter Twenty Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit