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Lauren Souki | Château renovation & Interiors

@themaisonmum

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We bought an abandoned French château 🇫🇷 🏰
Renovating it remotely from the UK with two littles in tow 👧🏼👦🏼
Follow to see if we can pull it off

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Buying the château was the easy bit.

For everyone who’s found me over the last few days — hello 🤍👋🏼

Behind the very romantic footage of France, life currently looks rather more like school runs, work, trying to finish our house in Norfolk and answering an alarming number of emails about septic tanks, planning applications and things I definitely should understand in French by now.

There are spreadsheets. There are budgets. There are conversations that begin with “ well how bad can it be?” and end with both of us staring silently into the middle distance.

We’re still right at the beginning, really. Trying to renovate the château from another country, while carrying on with normal family life here and somehow convincing ourselves that moving two children to France and restoring an 18th-century building is a perfectly sensible life choice.

And of course, I’m also determined to finish making our house here lovely before we leave it. One enormous project at a time is far too sensible.

So there’ll be much more château from now on — the plans, the renovation, the costs and the inevitable cock-ups, all alongside interiors, family life and everything in between.

If you’re here for château renovation, moving to France, interiors, or simply to see whether we actually pull this off, welcome 🤍 taken in Charente-Maritime by @themaisonmum

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a month ago

I don’t think I’ll ever forget the first time we walked through these doors.

The faded walls, the old shutters, the light pouring into rooms that had been quiet for so long. It was beautiful in that slightly sad, forgotten sort of way and we fell head over heels — un vrai coup de foudre.

And now, it’s ours.

There’s so much to do, and I know bringing this château back to life will take years, but I already find myself imagining these rooms full again. Music playing, candles lit, long tables in the garden, people coming and going.

Chasing a dream this big is terrifying though. There are definitely nights when I lie awake wondering what on earth we’re doing and whether we’ve completely lost our minds.

But then I watch these little videos and I feel instantly calm again. The same feeling I get every time we drive through those gates.

As if, somehow, despite all the fear and uncertainty, we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.

For now, we’re right at the beginning and I think that might be the most magical part 🤍🇫🇷 by @themaisonmum

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a month ago

Wow my anxiety levels are through the roof posting a talking head video 🫠😂

But I thought it was probably time I properly introduced the project we’ve taken on…

We bought an abandoned 18th-century château in South West France and, after what feels like an eternity of paperwork, planning and trying to work out how on earth you renovate a French château from another country, we’re FINALLY getting close to starting the restoration.

We’re heading back to France very soon, so there’s lots more coming — including a proper château tour, our renovation plans, the rooms I’m already obsessing over and the reality of trying to project manage all of this from the UK with two small children in tow.

I’ve had so many questions since sharing Le Pible, so tell me what you actually want to know 👇🏻

Buying a château? Renovation costs? How we found it? What we paid? Our plans for the wedding venue? How we’re financing it? Moving to France?

Give me content ideas because apparently I’m a talking-to-my-phone-in-the-car person now 😂🇫🇷

#ChateauRenovation #FrenchChateau #RenovatingAChateau #ChateauRestoration #MovingToFrance #FrenchRenovation #RenovationProject #FrenchProperty #ChateauLife by @themaisonmum

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19 days ago

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m desperate for cooler days and a little rain ☁️

There have been some big changes over here recently, which is why I’ve been a little quiet. I’ve started working at @10harleston and it’s been so lovely having dedicated time to work and be creative again.

The occupational hazard? I now spend my days surrounded by beautiful antiques, convincing myself they’d look perfect at home… so expect to see lots more goodies soon.

Between work and the school holidays, my little account has slipped to the bottom of the list. I can’t pretend I find the summer holidays easy and I’m definitely craving some routine, but amongst the chaos, there is something lovely about slower days and having the littles around.

So for now, I’m enjoying what’s left of summer with my babies. Then come autumn, I’ll be hunkering down and FINALLY turning our dining/living room into the cosy, layered space I’ve been dreaming of 🍂 taken in Norfolk by @themaisonmum

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2 months ago

I decided to give the IKEA Trofast hack a go and I’m really pleased with how it turned out.

I painted it in the same blue as the panelling + woodwork and added these beautiful stickers from @toddleandplay’s new range… and it’s looks so good!

You really can’t beat these little units for kids’ spaces ✨

Save this for your next IKEA hack!

🏷️ #ikeatrofast #ikeahack #trofasthack #kidsroomideas #toddlerroomdecor #playroomstorage #kidsstorageideas #diyhome #interiorsuk #boysroominspo #scandistyle #homeinspo #ikeastorage #storagesolutions #homesofinstagram #kidsroominspo #toddlerboybedroom #blueboysroom #vintagesportsbedroom by @themaisonmum

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6 months ago

We all love a little shelfie don’t we 🤍

The kitchen shelves are looking great, even if I do say so myself😅

🏷️ #kitchenshelves #shelfstyling #kitchenshelfie #kitcheninspo #homesofinstagram #interiorstyling #neutralhome #cosyhome #kitchendetails #kitchenstyling #studiomcgeeinspired #nancymeyersinteriors taken in Norfolk by @themaisonmum

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5 months ago

Every year I say I’m going to rein it in and every year the schemes get more elaborate and more expensive🙈

Always seems like a good idea at the time 🤣

This year’s request was a fairy party, which naturally escalated into me spending the week before surrounded by moss, mushrooms, fairy wings and a Cricut working overtime.

Was it wildly unnecessary for a five-year-old’s birthday party? Probably.

Will I do it all again? Obviously. 🧚‍♀️🌿

#fairygardenparty #fairyparty #fairybirthdayparty #kidsbirthdayparty #birthdaypartyideas diybirthdayparty partydecor partyideas by @themaisonmum

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2 months ago

Life lately... 🤍

Somewhere between school runs and sunsets, antique fairs and wedding flowers, coffee in the garden and evenings that seem to last forever.

Trying to build a home we love, chase big dreams, soak up little moments and remember that the ordinary days are often the ones we’ll miss the most.

June, you’ve been good to us. 🌿

#slowliving #countryhome #englishhome #familylife #interiorstyling homemaking simpleliving cottagestyle countryliving taken in Norfolk by @themaisonmum

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4 months ago

Little boys deserve beautiful bedrooms too 🤍 Save for little boy bedroom inspo ✨

Paint: De Nîmes by Farrow & Ball colour matched at @valsparuk
Wallpaper: @grandecowallfashiongroup via @bandq_uk
Bedding: @duskcom
Trofast stickers: @toddleandplay
Rug: @benuta.uk

Cushions & blind: @dunelm
Lampshade: @rowenandwren
Lamp base: @bm_stores

🏷️ #boysbedroom #kidsinteriors #vintagebedroom #toddlersroom #boysroomdecor #homeinteriors #interiorinspo #colourfulhome #budgetdecor #kidsroominspo taken in Norfolk by @themaisonmum

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5 months ago

And that ladies and gentlemen is how every decorating project starts in this house 🤣

What do you think? Granny chic or just granny? 👵🏼

🏷️ cloakroom | before and after | loo makeover | downstairs loo | country style | green wallpaper | granny chic | wall lights | brass hardware | interiors uk | studio McGee inspired | The pure edit by @themaisonmum

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4 months ago

Late to the trend obviously but it is week 5 of the summer holidays 🫠

Two weeks to go mamas until we can finish a cup of tea while it’s still hot. Very chic indeed. 🤍💃🏼 by @themaisonmum

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2 months ago

AD. I just love how my little loo transformation came together 🤍

I knew I wanted the space to make an impact and have plenty of personality, and this wallpaper from @thepureedit has done exactly that 👏🏼

The soft green tones work so beautifully with the panelling and have completely transformed what was once a very forgettable little room.

Wallpaper is Devi in Mineral 🤍

🏷️ loo transformation | before and after | cloakroom | cottage interiors | Nancy Meyers interiors | granny chic | green wallpaper | green panelling | interior styling | room transformatio taken in Norfolk by @themaisonmum

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4 months ago