HGTV's Castle Impossible Finale: Bed Fails, Boars, and a Bedroom Fit for a King

It’s the season finale of HGTV's Castle Impossible (Season 1, Episode 8), and Daphne and Ian go full Versailles to transform a second-floor bedroom into a royal retreat—complete with wall draping, lavish moldings, a centuries-old fireplace, and a possibly priceless French masterpiece.

In this episode, Shari and Rhonda break down the regal reveal, bid farewell to a too-big bed, fend off wild boars, and debate whether accent walls are dead (spoiler: they are). Plus, we talk king’s cake, chateau envy, and the sweet surprise appearance of caretaker Francis in a finale that ties everything back to Daphne's legacy.

Bestie Shoutout: This one’s for Gay in Las Vegas—you might be Team Food Network, but you’re royalty in our book.

If you love vintage drama, modern design snark, and two besties with Pinterest boards full of opinions—this one’s your crown jewel. 👑

Love and Kisses,

Rhonda and Shari

Find us at https://designingbesties.buzzsprout.com, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

Transcript

012 - FINAL - CASTLE IMPOSSIBLE S1 E8 FINALE

[00:00:00] Shari: If you're not designing a bedroom like it's ready for a royal sleepover, are you even living in a French chateau?

[00:00:06] Rhonda: And if you don't include restoration of priceless artwork in your renovation budget, you must not be working on Castle Impossible.

[00:00:15] Shari: Hi there, I'm Shari, and this is my BFF Rhonda.

[00:00:18] Rhonda: And welcome to Designing Bitches!

This podcast for women

[00:00:22] Shari: and brave men

[00:00:23] Rhonda: who eat, sleep, and breathe interior design and recognize their addiction to HGTV.

[00:00:28] Shari: Whether you're rearranging your living room for the 12th time or here to justify another HomeGoods spree. You're in the right place.

[00:00:35] Rhonda: Let's talk design, disasters, and all the beautiful chaos in between. 

[00:00:39] Shari: Welcome back besties. This week we're recapping the season finale of Castle Impossible in an episode called "Dreamland: The Bedroom Fit for a King" where Daphne and Ian go full Versailles.

[00:00:52] Rhonda: That's right. They tackle one of the upstairs bedrooms and decide it's time to honor the royal history of their chateau. Wall Drapings, dramatic moldings, even a restored fireplace that comes with its own artwork worth more than our annual salary.

[00:01:08] Shari: We're talking 16th century French master painter levels of fancy, this time it's not about grandpa, it's about the grandeur of the castle itself, at least initially. I.

[00:01:19] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. So pour your best Bordeaux, or whatever's closest in the fridge, because this one's got legacy, luxury, and layers of fabric on the walls. Let's get to it.

[00:01:30] Shari: When they start this episode, they recap their previous seven episodes and, and how in those episodes it's been about helping to honor the legacy of Daphne's grandfather.

[00:01:41] Rhonda: Yes.

[00:01:42] Shari: for this episode, Ian's talking and he specifically says, we really wanna honor the legacy of the Chateau because this Chateau is unique in that it actually hosted kings and queens of France.

[00:01:56] Rhonda: Yes, specifically Catherine de Medici is mentioned and interestingly enough, I had just listened to a podcast, shout out to "The Rest is History" on the De Medicis, so I felt very connected with this episode.

[00:02:09] Shari: Oh, how interesting. Now Daphne might have a chateau that was frequented by royals, and I am so not a monarchist, but I'm not sure if I ever told you that I'm actually descended from royalty.

[00:02:22] Rhonda: No, but I can see where you'd think that.

[00:02:24] Shari: Mm-hmm. my grandparents on my mom's side were really into doing genealogy.

[00:02:30] Rhonda: Okay.

[00:02:31] Shari: Before it became cool with tools like ancestry.com, and I am related to Mary Queen of Scot's, which means I'm allowed to wear the Stuart Tartan.

[00:02:40] Rhonda: Oh

[00:02:41] Shari: And interestingly enough, you are a Lady of Scotland, lady

[00:02:45] Rhonda: am,

I am. I

have proof. I have a 

[00:02:48] Shari: because I gifted you a parcel of land in Scotland, which allows you to use the title.

[00:02:53] Rhonda: Someday. I intend to visit it.

[00:02:55] Shari: Now to balance all of that. I'm also related to Benedict Arnold and the woman who built the Winchester Mystery house for what it's worth.

[00:03:03] Rhonda: for for those of you who don't know what that is, it's a house built by a crazy woman. So

[00:03:09] Shari: Mm-hmm. Yes, it has stairs that go to nowhere. It's a really nice place to see in Northern California.

[00:03:15] Rhonda: Yes, yes.

[00:03:16] Shari: And I don't have all the genealogy as far back on my dad's side of the family, but pretty sure I'm probably related to a Queen of Spain somewhere on that side of the family.

[00:03:26] Rhonda: Yeah. Someone who worked in the fields

for the Queen of Spain. 

[00:03:30] Shari: Not that I have delusions of grandeur, but mm-hmm. But yes, I'm so not a monarchist 

Rhonda. 

[00:03:38] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. Although you are obsessed with the British Royal family, by

[00:03:41] Shari: I, I was, I went through a period of obsession with the British royal family, and they did me dirty. And now it's block, block, block, block, block. I don't see any of it in my algorithm anymore. Thank 

[00:03:52] Rhonda: it, got it,

[00:03:55] Shari: now the room, they pick, 

[00:03:57] Rhonda: mm-hmm. No, I was just gonna say, so a second floor bedroom renovation.

[00:04:01] Shari: and the room they pick has such opulent bones, those arched windows, the original, I'm assuming herringbone floors and a painted ceiling that whispers of old world grandeur.

[00:04:14] Rhonda: Yes. I thought it was so interesting how that ceiling matched the ceiling of the other castle, the other, uh, chateau that they went to visit. Like that must have been a thing, right? It must

have been the what, what all the, uh, what all the rich people were doing.

[00:04:27] Shari: when Ian is talking about the fireplace, and we'll talk about the fireplace in a little bit

[00:04:34] Rhonda: beautiful. Yeah.

[00:04:35] Shari: and how it's this stately stonework fireplace, but he mentions that there are three historical fireplaces in the Chateau and they're all very similar, very huge, like impressive size, and they have artwork painted above them and 

they 

[00:04:50] Rhonda: mean, talk about a focal point. 

Talk about a focal point. I said talk about a focal

[00:04:54] Shari: I know, and nobody's putting a TV above that. 

Thank God for the artwork. 

[00:05:00] Rhonda: No. 

[00:05:00] Shari: they all had that same type of ceiling, so it must have been something about, you know, late 16th century, early 17th century that that was a detail you would use in very fancy spaces.

[00:05:12] Rhonda: clearly. And, and they had mentioned that in the castle that they visited, that this room would show how rich you were. Right. Instead of wearing Gucci, you would decorate your house with gold and super busy floors and wallpaper, or excuse me, fabrics and tapestries and paintings.

[00:05:28] Shari: Now I'm always struck when they go into a new room to do a project, the first thing that needs to happen is it has to be cleaned.

And you go in the room it looks and it looks pretty dusty and I always think, oh, like it would sort of drive me crazy to know I have all these rooms in my house that have spiderwebs and dust and, but also there's no way two people could maintain all of those buildings and clean them all the time.

[00:05:56] Rhonda: Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Like my first project would be cleaning it right. Everything, but, but I think you'd get done and then have to start over

again. Right. You'd never, you'd never get through

[00:06:07] Shari: That's actually what they say about the moat. The minute they get done

cleaning it in one cycle, it's actually time to start over.

Now Daphne convinces Ian that if they make the room look regal, they might be able to rent it out, so it will pay for itself. This will be 

an investment and they budget 15,000 for the They did go over their budget, but that's a surprise. I'll leave till later.

[00:06:29] Rhonda: Got it. Got it. I thought it was interesting. She said, we need revenue streams that are sustainable. And I thought, you know, like an HGTV show. Right? Uh, but, uh, I didn't know there was a market for renting out a room in your chateau for photo shoots, movies, historic dramas, but it does make sense.

[00:06:49] Shari: we did talk about that in our fourth episode where we covered the Castle Impossible season Premier. So I don't know how much of a revenue stream that is for them, but I agree with you, there's gotta be a market for that.

[00:07:03] Rhonda: Yes, I would like to volunteer an idea. Daphne, if you're listening, those dungeons would be a huge hit with American tourists who want to do a haunted tour, a haunted night tour. I think you have something there. I will tell you, when I was in Venice with my niece a couple years ago, we did do a haunted night tour.

Through, St. Marks Square. I loved it. It was

fantastic. You know, I don't believe in ghosts or any of that stuff, but just the stories and the, the history of it, I loved it, loved it. So

anyway, yeah, she could certainly turn that dungeon into some sort of, you know, haunted mansion tour.

[00:07:37] Shari: Oh my God, it 

[00:07:38] Rhonda: And Americans would love it.

The French would be like, what, what are you guys doing? But the, the Americans would be like, 

[00:07:43] Shari: I feel like the friends say that a lot about Americans.

[00:07:46] Rhonda: probably, probably, she speaks French perfectly, so 

like maybe she's considered one of them. So yeah, maybe she's considered one of them

[00:07:54] Shari: Now, when they go in the room, the walls are covered in this stained and dirty fabric

[00:07:58] Rhonda: weird, huh?

[00:07:59] Shari: and they're, well, I guess it was at the time people used fabric to cover walls. Maybe 

they hadn't invented the glue that, was gonna make it wallpaper. I don't

[00:08:09] Rhonda: Beige, like these beige walls. I don't understand who did that,

[00:08:13] Shari: Well, she was hoping they could take it down and that whatever was underneath might give her some inspiration

for 

how to 

[00:08:20] Rhonda: Yeah. 

[00:08:21] Shari: design the room. But it turns out they're just blank walls, so she needs to find inspiration from somewhere 

else, and they end up touring another Chateau to help get the inspiration for their project.

And this chateau. When she, when Daphne, when they get there and Daphne says, I think Chateau Envy might be a thing

[00:08:41] Rhonda: I don't know, 

at a 

certain 

[00:08:43] Shari: they visit that has like 564 rooms.

[00:08:47] Rhonda: A hundred bedrooms

[00:08:48] Shari: Their Chateau looks like the little baby 

[00:08:50] Rhonda: It does. It does. But I would think he would walk into that and go, oh my God, like. I wouldn't be envious. I'd be like, this is impossible. Like nobody, I guess that's why it's called Castle Impossible, but nobody could maintain this. Nobody could restore this.

It's just so much, so big. Right.

[00:09:07] Shari: And it looks like that other Chateau is being treated almost like a museum.

[00:09:11] Rhonda: Yeah. I looked it up. this 

Chateau

 It goes back to the Viking invasion in, 8 54. It was a fortress at that point.

So, yeah, they were right, he was right about it being added onto over, over the centuries. But, by the time of the French Revolution, it had sat neglected for about a hundred years and it got looted during the revolution.

Fortunately somebody who. Uh, loved it. Said this is an important part of French history and, and took on the renovation, and now yes, it is a museum.

[00:09:39] Shari: then on the tour they learned that the artist who did the artwork on the stone above their fireplace,

 ,they knew that it was Quentin Verin. I'm, totally murdering that name. I'm sorry to all you people out there who speak French.

[00:09:53] Rhonda: Or art experts.

[00:09:54] Shari: Yes, but the tour guide explains that this artist is one of the most important artists in France 

[00:10:02] Rhonda: both look in this context at the end of the 16th century.

Mm-hmm.

[00:10:07] Shari: And it made me think, I wonder if it's the same artist who did the other two historical fireplace artworks and could they actually sell one to

make a bunch of money? 

So I looked up auctions Yeah. You and my husband are on the same page. He said the same thing. Sell one of those and and fund the 

[00:10:25] Rhonda: rest of your renovation. 

[00:10:26] Shari: So I looked it up and I can't find any information on how much his last piece of artwork sold, but it sold at auction in 2024

[00:10:34] Rhonda: Mm-hmm.

[00:10:35] Shari: and the internet calls him a French old master.

[00:10:38] Rhonda: Okay.

[00:10:39] Shari: But they don't give how much it sold for,

[00:10:42] Rhonda: Hmm.

[00:10:43] Shari: and I thought, well, 2024 maybe Daphne and Ian did sell a piece of

[00:10:48] Rhonda: That's true. Yeah. There used to be four, 

[00:10:53] Shari: Now. They bring in art restoration experts, which they end up not using because it's gonna take three months and $8,000. Not sure if that's dollars or francs or euros, and they decide to hold off for now, but the idea that it's like a spit shine for the artwork. They work in these small squares and people's spit can be different and some is better to do restoration. Who knew that mom was right when she spit on her hand to, you know,

clean something up and,

[00:11:25] Rhonda: your face off. 

[00:11:26] Shari: and I felt like it was one of those things I really didn't need to know.

[00:11:30] Rhonda: I don't wanna know. This is covered in 

[00:11:31] Shari: I really didn't need to know this.

I did get a big laugh about them trying to do the online auction for a bed.

[00:11:39] Rhonda: That's how I would look doing

[00:11:40] Shari: And their budget is like 400 to 700 

euros. 

[00:11:44] Rhonda: naive.

So 

naive. 

[00:11:46] Shari: even click a button before the first one is sold 

[00:11:49] Rhonda: it's true. 

[00:11:50] Shari: euros.

[00:11:50] Rhonda: I thought for sure when he said, oops, I certainly hit 4,000 thought and sold.

[00:11:57] Shari: Oh yeah. Yeah. And then they try another bed and they up their budget to 1500 euros, but it still is not. That still is not gonna cut it, and they 

[00:12:07] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:12:08] Shari: they need a different strategy.

[00:12:10] Rhonda: Clearly.

[00:12:12] Shari: I will tell you, when they start working on the fireplace.

[00:12:15] Rhonda: Mm-hmm.

[00:12:16] Shari: First of all, I don't know that I would take on cleaning out my fireplace

 But, but but they go to clean it, which is oof. And I'm always impressed by the projects. That Daphne and Ian, like, they're willing to take on

[00:12:31] Rhonda: so high energy compared to me.

[00:12:34] Shari: well, that, and that. They're like, oh yeah, we can do this. I mean, it's a, you know, however many ton fireplace. However, how old it is, but no, no, no. We can, we can do this. We can clean this out, and we're not afraid of the spider's. Ew.

[00:12:49] Rhonda: I know, I know.

I'm surprised there wasn't a bat. 

[00:12:54] Shari: And when they go to repair the part of the fireplace that's cracked, one being so nervous, like, we 

[00:13:01] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:13:01] Shari: is it all gonna come down and 

[00:13:03] Rhonda: Just crash. Yes. Crashing down. Yes.

[00:13:06] Shari: Uh, but secondly, their confidence with actually repairing it. And Daphne talks about, her dad was a stone artist and she's not afraid to do this stuff. And I just think there's something about it that kind of like you think, here are things that happened early on for them that made them the perfect people to be in a position.

[00:13:25] Rhonda: Serendipity to inherit a. 

[00:13:27] Shari: Yeah. 

[00:13:29] Rhonda: that needs renovation. Yes.

[00:13:31] Shari: Yeah. And I do, I, every time they take on a project that I just think, I am not dealing with walls that are 20 feet high,

like I am hiring someone to do that. And they're like, here they are. And they 

[00:13:41] Rhonda: Yes. They have a lot more energy and they're a lot younger than us, so I think there's something to that as well.

[00:13:47] Shari: And in keeping with the timeframe, when Royals actually walked the halls, 

they decide to use fabric on the walls

[00:13:54] Rhonda: Yes.

[00:13:55] Shari: and. They talk about they're going to use the French cleat system, 

[00:13:59] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:13:59] Shari: and I'm like, wow, I have a French cleat in my house. So I know exactly what this is and what it does. It's how I hang my hallway mirror.

[00:14:07] Rhonda: Mm-hmm.

[00:14:08] Shari: And the fabric they choose is very sumptuous with a soft sheen and 

old world pattern that whispers 

[00:14:14] Rhonda: little Robin's aid blue. Yes, blue.

[00:14:17] Shari: feels really consistent with the colors Daphne and Ian have used elsewhere. And you're right. Paired with the robin's egg blue walls, 

[00:14:25] Rhonda: Mm. 

[00:14:25] Shari: the effect is like it's ethereal, 

like stepping into a storybook almost,

[00:14:30] Rhonda: agree. 

[00:14:31] Shari: They're worried about matching the pattern perfectly for their fabric.

I was so impressed with that.

[00:14:37] Rhonda: I wrote that in my notes. I am impressed with the ability to get the fabric on those large frames straight. Much less matching. Right. It's so hard. I've tried to do that with. Small projects.

[00:14:50] Shari: I will never complain about wallpapering again. 

[00:14:52] Rhonda: Yes.

[00:14:53] Shari: Luckily the fabric had a small repeat, but you're right.

Getting it straight, making sure those frames were actually square.

[00:15:00] Rhonda: Yeah.

[00:15:00] Shari: Getting it level on the French like it is all

super impressive. I won't be complaining for a while as I think about what they went through to try to do this.

[00:15:10] Rhonda: kidding.

[00:15:11] Shari: And then Drama alert. Drama alert. They get a 

[00:15:14] Rhonda: yes. 

[00:15:15] Shari: Wild Boars.

[00:15:16] Rhonda: Oh, loud noises. Scare them away. So let's bang on us.

[00:15:21] Shari: You know what? Don't laugh. But it made me think about when I take Blue out at night. In my backyard, 

by the way, that's fenced. but coyotes, unlike boars, coyotes can easily scale a six foot fence. When I take her out, I take a can filled with coins to make noise

and they call it hazing for coyotes, you really want them to be afraid of people and noise.

And I have like a little nature walking path that goes like all along the back, like in a little arroyo.

[00:15:53] Rhonda: a little. Hi Coyote Highway, so to

[00:15:56] Shari: When she's banging on the frying pan,

[00:15:57] Rhonda: Mm-hmm 

[00:15:58] Shari: it reminds me of me with my 

[00:15:59] Rhonda: hmm. 

[00:16:00] Shari: and I thought, uh, I can totally relate. No, 

[00:16:02] Rhonda: your neighbors are like, what's that noise like every night I hear. noise. What is that noise?

[00:16:10] Shari: They could just come over and ask me. They could just come over. just for you besties to know I have an eight pound dog,

if I coyote grabs her like it's lights out for blue. So I do not let her go out by herself in my backyard.

[00:16:25] Rhonda: Not without a can of coins.

? I did look up. I did look up how do you deal with boars,

and 

[00:16:33] Shari: is gonna be so funny

[00:16:34] Rhonda: I know what, so I will tell you about that in a minute. But the internet did say build a fence. So

when he, he built that little fence, I was laughing at 'em, like, really?

That's not gonna keep them, but

[00:16:46] Shari: I thought it was a great use of pallets. You know, I have pallets that I end up with that I

[00:16:51] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:16:52] Shari: figure out how to get rid of them, and they're 

[00:16:54] Rhonda: It does seem, yeah, it does seem like you should do something with them. But anyway, it did also mention electrifying that fence is even better.

[00:17:02] Shari: Oh.

[00:17:02] Rhonda: So Ian get out there with gonna electrocute yourself I'm sure. But, uh, so yes, my algorithm this morning, the first video on my feed when, you know, I'm laying in bed, kind of trying to wake up.

Is somebody hunting a boar like this boar is running across a a prairie field. And I'm like, oh, look at that. And then boom, why am I getting this? Like, this is so violent. What? 

Oh, that's why. that's right. I know. I do not wanna see these type videos, but it turns out the French do hunt them. And interestingly, the right to hunt is linked with property ownership, and it's probably the one thing in France you don't need a permit for.

[00:17:46] Shari: Oh, Back to Castle Impossible. 

Now to save money. 'cause apparently this fabric is expensive. On the largest wall in the room, they decide to layer in lavish molding as an accent wall. And clearly Daphne and Ian haven't heard that accent walls are on the downswing in design. That's the first thing that went through my head like, 

Ooh, 

accent walls aren't a thing anymore, guys.

[00:18:13] Rhonda: It's true. It's true. I feel like that's another one of those open floor plan things

like, okay, 

[00:18:19] Shari: yes. 

[00:18:20] Rhonda: accent walls, so F off. 

[00:18:22] Shari: Yeah, I'm 

trying to think of the really well-known designer who just came and poo-pooed all over accent walls. It's 

been, 

[00:18:28] Rhonda: I've seen it in more than one feed. Absolutely.

[00:18:30] Shari: gonna say, at least for me, that's part of my algorithm now 

is about accent walls, 

[00:18:34] Rhonda: But I like him. 

[00:18:35] Shari: I, really want to say something snarky about the fact that the first bed didn't fit through the doorway. And measuring first. But believe 

me, it's exactly what I would do.

[00:18:49] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:18:50] Shari: So Ian and Daphne, like no notes. 

I have no notes for that. It is funny when Ian comments that you'd never find anything like this in America,

like, you know, a bed fit for a king or queen. And I'm like, well, of course not America 

America 

has no kings. 

[00:19:06] Rhonda: kicked ours 

out 

[00:19:07] Shari: no king 

To paraphrase from Ian's favorite book, Lord of the Rings,

[00:19:12] Rhonda: so yeah, I What, when it didn't fit? It. I was like, take it apart. Or I would cut, what, two centimeters. I'd be like, get the, get the, get the saw. Get the saw. This thing's getting in there, or take the door frame off or whatever. I would've gotten

[00:19:28] Shari: the whole house collapses because you take across a supporting beam to get your bed in the room.

[00:19:35] Rhonda: God as my witness.

[00:19:37] Shari: That is how most of my projects go. They start out simple and then I do something that seems like it's the right thing and it's not. So, you know, it becomes a catastrophe.

[00:19:47] Rhonda: But all I can imagine is after carrying that upstairs, she sends it back. Like,

[00:19:53] Shari: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

[00:19:54] Rhonda: you know, those movers were hating her.

[00:19:58] Shari: Yeah. 

[00:19:58] Rhonda: Like, 

[00:19:59] Shari: with all those cameras around, like what are they gonna do?

[00:20:01] Rhonda: I hope she tipped well. That's all I can say. I would feel terrible saying, yeah. By

the way, take this back. 

[00:20:07] Shari: a thing in other countries. 

[00:20:08] Rhonda: Well, I think she owed the

[00:20:10] Shari: I don't know. I'd love to know if they would tip for that or not. Everything that 

I read says that would not be expected 

in France, 

I also was really impressed with their mental bounce back when the first bed doesn't fit.

If what I had envisioned 

does not work out, I would be pouting and plotting for months.

[00:20:31] Rhonda: in place.

[00:20:31] Shari: Yes, and researching and getting my handyman over, like, let's just make the whole doorway 

bigger.

Let's put an arch in there while we're at it. I don't know what I would do, but I feel like my mental bounce back is not as quickly as they're just like, oh, well there's another bed that will fit. And oh, by the way, it's less expensive. So as it turned out, this is a good thing. And I'm 

[00:20:54] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:20:55] Shari: I would be like,

ah. 

[00:20:57] Rhonda: I, I'm with you. I would have a hard time, but she made it sound like the company that they bought that bed from had another, like, it was pretty easy switch out, so that would make a difference too, if it was, I have to start over searching. yeah, I'm with you. I'd be a little bit like, let's get back to this later next spring.

But anyway, the scale in that room, and I think this is maybe my problem with the solar 

right, the scale that the room is just so big in that bed, which would be gigantic anywhere else. It does look tiny, right? Like, I was like, is that a double bed? But I think it's probably a king or a queen.

I.

[00:21:31] Shari: Yeah, I feel like in this room, the scale did not throw me off as much as it did in the solar

[00:21:37] Rhonda: But even that little like, uh, makeup table that they put in there, it's just, that looks so tiny, but I'm sure it's not. It's just the scale of that room would 

[00:21:45] Shari: Yeah. 

[00:21:46] Rhonda: to furnish, you know?

[00:21:47] Shari: So we're talking about the reveal. And for the reveal, we get introduced to Francis, 

who we've never heard about before, 

but he was the Chateau caretaker,

and it's a great tie into the history of the Chateau in Daphne's family, which I also thought like this is the perfect bookend for how Ian introduces the project for this episode.

He starts by going through all of the other episodes and how they were more about Daphne's grandfather. But this one is gonna be more about the history of the Chateau, but in the end, we bring it back to Daphne's grandfather 

[00:22:21] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:22:22] Shari: with Francis 

[00:22:24] Rhonda: I feel like there's a theme in this, this show that every episode is, let's get Daphne to cry about Grandpa.

[00:22:31] Shari: I was gonna say. In my notes, literally the next sentence 

is, it's not an episode unless Daphne 

[00:22:37] Rhonda: And unless Daphne cries about Grandpa. Yeah. Anyway, yeah, I did like the Francis Tie-in. I thought that was nice.

[00:22:45] Shari: And this episode really connects back to the why for Daphne and Ian. You 

know, in podcasting we talk a lot about the why, and I feel like for them, their connection to the why is so big.

[00:22:57] Rhonda: Yes.

[00:22:58] Shari: That it's what keeps them going sweeping spiders out of a 

chimney 

[00:23:03] Rhonda: yes.

[00:23:03] Shari: and then they celebrate with a king's cake and first of all, I'm surprised because I'm like, that's a New Orleans thing.

[00:23:09] Rhonda: Me too. Same thing. 

Same thing. 

[00:23:12] Shari: then ding, ding, ding. I think, well, let's see who controlled New Orleans and

is responsible for 

a lot of its 

[00:23:18] Rhonda: I 

[00:23:19] Shari: culture. Oh my God, it's France.

[00:23:22] Rhonda: Yes.

[00:23:24] Shari: Anyway, so it makes perfect sense that New Orleans has king's cake and that they really did come from an old French tradition.

It's 

slightly different in New Orleans, so it's bigger and louder, like kind of everything is in America. But, um, I love that they celebrate with a king's cake. It's made, I looked it up, it's made with almonds. I wouldn't like it. Uh, but I 

[00:23:43] Rhonda: pastry 

[00:23:44] Shari: of it and I'm really like. Pretty much a celebrated cake maker here in the area where I live, so I could 

probably make it,

[00:23:52] Rhonda: How about that last cake? What color was that

[00:23:54] Shari: you just have to ask 

[00:23:57] Rhonda: called? 

[00:23:57] Shari: my son and his girlfriend. That is definitely not the last cake.

 I, I didn't say I was celebrated because they were good,

[00:24:06] Rhonda: Oh, okay. Because you'll do it. That's why.

[00:24:11] Shari: just because I'll do it. But the

last cake was for my son's birthday, BTW. 

Uh, so I feel like I could make a version of a king's 

[00:24:20] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:24:21] Shari: uh, that doesn't have almond in it, and I would call it like a queen's cake

[00:24:24] Rhonda: is 

[00:24:25] Shari: a princess cake. 

[00:24:26] Rhonda: the New Orleans King's

cake kind of yeah. The New Orleans version is kind of like a doughy braided ring. 

More like a, 

[00:24:33] Shari: Yes, Yes, I've actually had one. 

[00:24:37] Rhonda: Okay.

[00:24:37] Shari: And they tend to be more colorful,

and of course it's the baby. So they put in a different,

like in the French version, it's more of a little like toy that they 

stick in there, like a little. 

[00:24:49] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:24:50] Shari: but in the New Orleans version, it's a little bit more. Like religious base, like their little Jesus 

[00:24:56] Rhonda: Little baby, little 

Jesus, little baby Jesus. 

Yeah. Yeah. Also, in the French version, you get to be king for the day, and in the New Orleans version you've got to pay for the next party, 

so 

[00:25:07] Shari: I, guess I'm gonna do a queen's cake and I'll be queen for the day. Whoever, in my tradition, whoever gets the little trinket. 

[00:25:16] Rhonda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:25:16] Shari: That just means I get to be queen for The day. The maker, the maker of the cake. 

[00:25:21] Rhonda: other day in your life?

[00:25:23] Shari: Uh, let me think about that. And while I'm thinking about that,

let's go on to the next topic, which 

In my notes, it's, it is amazing watching the season.

I've also been watching some of the YouTube episodes 

and how hard they work and how inspiring that is. They just dig in and get it done.

[00:25:43] Rhonda: Yeah.

[00:25:43] Shari: I mean, there are a lot of people like us who watch it and have our opinions, and if you wanna hear about the opinions, just check out Reddit. Uh, I also think that these two seem to enjoy the spotlight 

[00:25:57] Rhonda: Yes. 

[00:25:58] Shari: they're good at it.

[00:25:59] Rhonda: Yeah. It's a little awkward, right? You could tell it's not their. In a chosen profession. They didn't go to, they weren't theater majors. You know, they're not part of that acting community. But I think there's a genuine joy in sharing what they're doing.

[00:26:12] Shari: Yeah, and their YouTube predates the HGTV show by about two years. So 

they've had some time to practice. Which leads into kind of our final topic. Do we think there's gonna be a season two of Castle Impossible?

[00:26:25] Rhonda: I'm gonna say yes because it is so popular, although that doesn't seem to be the HGTV

of, of, you know, decision making. 'cause some of these shows that are getting canceled, I'm really perplexed about, but 

[00:26:38] Shari: Well, I also think what I like, the algorithm fools me into thinking. Everybody likes it.

[00:26:45] Rhonda: Oh, got it.

[00:26:45] Shari: So it may be, I don't know, I haven't looked at the ratings lately. I'm sincerely hoping

there's a season two.

[00:26:52] Rhonda: yeah, I do too. I really wanna see it. I wanna see it finished and that that's probably gonna be the rest of their lives 

[00:26:57] Shari: What I've read is it's a little harder to do the filming in Europe,

[00:27:00] Rhonda: hmm.

[00:27:01] Shari: maybe just because HGTV is American based or I don't know, and I've read that, but I don't know if it's true.

[00:27:07] Rhonda: Uhhuh.

[00:27:07] Shari: But I know that Daphne and Ian made a post on Instagram encouraging people to watch the finale because they said that the numbers could help them get a season, another 

season, and they're really looking to get the money to help them continue maintaining and refinishing that Chateau.

[00:27:25] Rhonda: Yeah. I loved it. That would be my finale. I told you I was super excited when it got started because I was such a fan of Escape the Chateau.

[00:27:32] Shari: Which do you like better if you compared them?

[00:27:34] Rhonda: initially, I'm gonna say Escape to the Chateau, because. Like, if I could have lunch with anybody in the world, I would have it with the Strawbridges.

But I know that sounds strange, but I just like them so much and I just have a million questions about that whole renovation, and I saw it a little bit from start to finish. Right? The, the part that they let you see, this is just an early taste. 

[00:27:56] Shari: Uhhuh.

I think I'm more connected to Castle Impossible because I think Ian and Daphne are so connected to this being something in her family and her family's legacy, and that that is the biggest differentiator between what they're doing and the Strawbridges. 

[00:28:14] Rhonda: So, yeah, there's something to their sweet naivete that I, I really enjoy. And it's a beautiful chateau. It's a beautiful building, and I, hope for their success, I really do wish them success.

[00:28:25] Shari: And that wraps up the season finale of Castle Impossible, from ceiling moldings fit for a king to a bed that literally couldn't fit through the door. 

Daphne and 

[00:28:35] Rhonda: heavy bed. 

[00:28:36] Shari: yes, delivered Royal Realness and then some.

[00:28:39] Rhonda: They gave us drama. They gave us drapery and a drive-by from some wild boars because no renovation is complete without an unexpected animal cameo.

[00:28:49] Shari: I loved how they tied it all back to the legacy of the Chateau, the king's cake at the end Chef's wait no, sitting ovation from our vintage office chairs for that sweet full circle moment.

[00:29:02] Rhonda: Those, those thrones are never comfortable, you know that. Right?

[00:29:04] Shari: No. Mm-hmm.

[00:29:06] Rhonda: But can we talk about the bed budget? You start at 400 euros and end up fighting off antique collectors with 7,000 euro bids. Yeah. I won't complain about the prices at Restoration Hardware anymore.

[00:29:21] Shari: Nope. And then we have to give a royal nod to Francis the caretaker, 

and honestly, the perfect character to end the season with. That reveal had heart, history and just the right amount of HGTV Sparkle.

[00:29:35] Rhonda: agree 

for this week's special posting on Instagram and Facebook dropping side by sides of the rooms before and after the fabric walls because. Wow, those before shots look like an abandoned set of the haunting of Versailles.

 I'd like to give a bestie shout out to our new BFF Gay who lives in Las Vegas. Gay had some serious surgery recently, and her son recommended our pod to her while she recovered. And even though she's really a food network lover, she said it was like hanging out with girlfriends. So good luck with the recovery Gay, and thanks for listening.

[00:30:08] Shari: Oh, that's so sweet. 

Now as always, we've got some apologies to make. I'm sorry to team accent walls are timeless, 

People who think wild boars are cute, and anyone who ever thought buying furniture online was low stress.

If you are vibing with us and your brain is basically made of HGTV at this point, you need to catch up on all of our episodes at designingbitches.com. We're literally everywhere you listen to podcasts, so hit that follow, like, star or whatever button your app throws at you. We're not picky. We're just needy.

Well, until next time, besties. Bye.

[00:30:43] Rhonda: Bye. See you soon.