French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED copertina

French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED

French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED

Di: Rosie Ellis Micala Wilkins and Sue Peake-Russell
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A proposito di questo titolo

French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED is your honest, no-fluff guide to renovating, restoring, and surviving property projects in France.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a seasoned renovator, or just dreaming of owning property in France, we provide real stories, insider tips, and actionable advice to help you avoid mistakes, save money, and navigate your renovation journey with confidence.

From understanding French planning laws and insurance requirements to choosing the right people for the job when you haven't got the skills, time or qualifications to 'do it yourself', you'll find it here. And if you like hanging out with us, you can join us in between the 'meaty' shows for our 'rants and bants' episodes - where we get everything off our chests, no holds barred!

Hosted by Rosie, Micala and Sue - three women who, along with their partners and husbands run trade-related businesses here in France and have completed a fair few renovation projects of their own - expect honest advice, plenty of laughs and a few WTF moments.

Get more French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED!

Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite listening app.

Find downloadable guides based on each in-depth episode and sign up for the newsletter at our website- frenchrenodiaries.com

And join the French Reno Diaries community by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Rosie Ellis 2025
  • The reality behind the dream: What YouTube and TV shows don't tell you about renovating in France
    Jan 20 2026

    In this episode of French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED, Rosie, Michaela and Sue pull back the curtain on reality TV renovation shows and glossy YouTube channels - and compare them with what actually happens on real renovation projects in France.

    TV shows mentioned:

    • Escape to the Chateau (now known as Chateau DIY)
    • A Place in the Sun
    • New Life in the Sun

    The episode also references several renovation-focused YouTube channels:

    • Chateau de Purnon
    • How to Renovate a Chateau
    • Oh No Another Chateau

    Helpful resources mentioned:

    • Service Public – Official French government information
    • FrenchEntrée – English-language resource for living and renovating in France
    • Leroy Merlin & Brico Depot – In-store advice, materials and specification sheets
    • Local mairie offices and professional artisans for accurate guidance
    • Facebook groups (use with caution — advice is often mixed!)

    Listener comments: Thanks to Anna, Helen and Claire from our Facebook community for sharing their experiences and insights - we loved reading your comments and comparing them to what we see on TV renovation shows.

    Connect:

    Facebook | Instagram

    Subscribe to the newsletter: https://frenchrenodiaries.substack.com/

    Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:

    Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

    S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

    Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

    Credits:

    • Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright
    • Music: Grand Project
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    51 min
  • Why budgets blow: The brutal truth about renovation costs in France
    Jan 13 2026

    In this episode of French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED, we tackle one of the biggest and most emotionally charged topics for anyone renovating in France: money. Specifically, why renovation budgets so often blow out, why DIY is not always the saving people think it is, and why French renovation costs feel so shocking if you arrive with UK (or other overseas) expectations.

    Resources & tools mentioned in this episode

    • Artisan Central – pre-checked trades directory and homeowner resource covering devis, insurance and renovation planning
    • Capeb – French construction trade association with an online directory of registered trades by region
    • BricoCash – DIY and building materials retailer (mentioned in the context of lower-quality materials)
    • Howdens France - the French version of UK kitchen suppliers, Howdens.

    Glossary (French terms used in this episode that might be new to you)

    • Devis – a legally binding quote and contract between a homeowner and a trade
    • Décennale / assurance décennale – mandatory ten-year insurance covering structural work
    • TVA – French value-added tax applied to labour and materials
    • Micro-entrepreneur (ME) – self-employed business status in France
    • SIRET number – official business registration number
    • Attestation d’assurance – proof of insurance coverage
    • Cotisations – mandatory social charges paid by French businesses
    • Mairie – local town hall
    • Maison secondaire – second home
    • ERP – regulations for buildings open to the public
    • Notaire – public official handling property sales and legal transfer

    Connect:

    Facebook | Instagram

    Subscribe to the newsletter: https://frenchrenodiaries.substack.com/

    Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:

    Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

    S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

    Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

    Credits:

    • Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright
    • Music: Grand Project
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    52 min
  • Our uncensored French renovation stories - and what we wish we'd done differently
    Jan 6 2026

    In this first episode of French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED, we - Rosie, Micala and Sue - share our own French renovation journeys. No TV edits, no rose-tinted fantasies - just the raw, honest truth about buying, renovating, and surviving building projects in France.

    Between us, we’ve renovated multiple properties across Brittany, Burgundy, the Gers and beyond. We talk about what drew us to France, the mistakes we made early on, and the lessons we learned the hard way.

    What we talk about in this episode:

    • Why renovating in France takes far longer than you expect
    • Renting before buying — and why it can save you financially and emotionally
    • Buying renovation properties with no savings (and how we made it work)
    • Living in houses without heating, floors or proper plumbing
    • How a house will “tell you” what it needs - if you listen
    • The dangers of DIY electrics and non-compliant fittings in France
    • Why tradespeople’s own houses are never finished
    • The difference between renovation fantasy and real French life

    Resources & tools mentioned in this episode:

    • Le Bon Coin – France’s main second-hand marketplace, widely used for sourcing renovation materials such as tiles, staircases and wood burners
    • Greenacres – UK-facing French property portal used to find renovation properties
    • Crédit Agricole – French bank mentioned in relation to mortgages and lending requirements for new business owners

    Glossary (French terms used in this episode that might be new to you):

    • Micro-entrepreneur – French self-employed business status
    • Diagnostics immobiliers – mandatory property reports when selling
    • Fosse septique – septic tank system
    • Épandage – soakaway drainage system
    • Mairie – local town hall

    Connect:

    Facebook | Instagram

    Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com

    Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:

    Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

    S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

    Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

    Artisan Central

    Credits:

    • Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright
    • Music: Grand Project
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    55 min
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