Christelle and Marty bought a domain in Lauragais two years ago. They redo everything themselves from floor to ceiling. A challenge that M6 has been following for two years on its show, Le château de mes rêves.
They embarked on a somewhat crazy adventure: restoring a 19th century mansion in the heart of Lauragais.
For two years, Christelle and Marty have been thinking, working, eating and sleeping in construction clothes. And their adventure did not go unnoticed. The M6 television channel through its program The castle of my dreams (1) has been tracking the couple since last summer. It must be said that Christelle, 36, and Marty, 44, are engaged in pharaonic work. And to spice it all up, they do not call on any craftsman. They are at the same time, masons, plumbers, plasterers, carpenters, glassmakers. “This is not our first restoration project, explains Christelle, but this one is particularly close to our hearts”. Not to mention the financial issues. The couple has a priority objective in the coming months: to rehabilitate the old dovecote and turn it into a gîte which will open its doors in the summer.
The owner dies before having signed the sale
The adventure began in 2019, when, at the turn of a real estate ad, Christelle and Marty discovered Le petit manoir 1892. “We fell in love”, confide the owners. A site visit confirms the first impression. In front of a notary, they make an offer. “But, we were double-crossed by a Russian investor and moved on,” says Marty. Two years later, the Petit manoir 1892 is up for sale once more, the first promise to purchase not having been completed. In 2020, the couple finally finds an agreement with the owner. But she died a few weeks before signing the sales agreement and the estate fell into joint possession. A new delay but finally crowned with success in the spring of 2021. In February, Christelle and Marty are finally owners. The manor and its 650 m 2 are in their own juice. There is no water or electricity. The ideal place for those who love urbex (urban exploration) and who frequent the place regularly. “The day of a counter-visit with the real estate agent, remembers Marty, we came across a couple who were visiting the building”.
After two years of effort, Christelle and Marty are still far from having the castle of their dreams, but they are now a kitchen, a bedroom, a “refreshed” living room and “a bathroom that we are in the process of finishing “, specifies Christelle. Outside, the couple also sees a little more clearly. “When we arrived, the 1,000 m 2 of outbuildings were completely covered in vegetation,” recalls Marty.
Driven by his will and his courage, the couple is today confronted with time at the risk of losing everything.