Work continues at Charlotte Church's renovation of fashion designer Laura Ashley's former home in Powys, Wales.
The journey from the purchase to the start of the transformation of Rhydoldog House by the 35-year-old Welsh singer-songwriter is the subject of an eight episode series on the Really Channel, also streaming on discovery+.
The latest developments at the house during November 2021 feature mainly on the outside spaces and the 'test' bedroom and bathroom, while Charlotte waits for the designs to be drawn up and submitted for planning.
READ MORE: Inside the most expensive dream homes sold in Wales
Charlotte wants to change the historic house, which isn't listed, into a wellness and health retreat, and an occasional wedding venue too.
But the timescale is tight, with Charlotte hoping to open the retreat, at least in part, by June 2022. And the budget is escalating too, way above the level she was expecting.
Charlotte says: "It's all cost so much more than I anticipated, I'm £580k down on the project and I haven't got a great deal to show for it at all, and of course loads of it has been first fix, there's lots of invisible costs that are going into the walls and the floors and such.
"But still to be honest, I was only thinking that the house would cost me between £500,000 and £700,000 and it looks like it's going to be a hell of a lot more than that."
But as Charlotte waits for the designs to reimagine the house into its new chapter as a wellness centre, work is progressing outside, with the property gaining some of the outdoor features the Welsh singer had been visualising.
She is keen to increase the connection between the woodland, garden, barns and main house for better flow, and now some of those ideas have been realised, and to great effect.
Using stone from the site, a new front patio is laid, with sensory plants added between the crazy paving such as lavender and thyme, so as people stroll through the area they are accompanied by wafts of nature's best scents.
Gardener Juliet Sargeant brings the patio to life with climbers planted to start wrapping themselves around the columns and the building's front facade, such as clematis and roses, and every classic country mansion deserves a stunning climbing wisteria.
Charlotte is keen to bring the four main elements of nature to the garden - fire, water, earth and air - so there is a front flower bed dedicated to flaming red and orange plants, plus a new threshold slate step at the door that boasts a beautiful design that encompasses the theme.
There's a lion face with a Celtic symbol on its forehead and long, billowing hair to represent flames.
Another aspect of the outside design Charlotte was keen to see in reality was to utilise some gnarled oak stumps found in the forest and turn them into an archway that is the 'gateway into the underworld'.
After some thought, the arch takes shape supported by hidden metal rods, and the result is more profound than even Charlotte imagined - a gateway to the past telling a story of the history of the forest, of how the land used to be before the pine tree planting occurred.
To keep the theme of bringing the outdoors in, Charlotte has an idea she confesses is 'mad' - to fell a tree in the wood and build a staircase around its trunk as the new section of the main staircase in the mansion.
This is an important aspect of the house for specialist designers Ryan and Finley to achieve, but they chose a perfect tree and are confident it can be crafted into the statement staircase of Charlotte's vision.
A special visitor also arrives at the house for the first time since Charlotte bought Rhydoldog House, her 84 year-old grandad, or Bampee as he is known.
Having been a master plasterer for many years Charlotte says he is like her oracle, and he gives her some gems of advice.
Charlotte says: "I do think you were right way back when I first bought it and you were like, whatever you think you're going to spend, double it, add another half. You know I was stupidly thinking that I'd be able to do this for £500,000."
But Bampee is a very reassuring voice for Charlotte, drawing on his own vast experience and giving her support to keep going.
He says: "It's like a painting - you're looking at something that's half finished and you're thinking, what's that going to be like, you know?
"And then at the end of it you've got a Van Goch and you go 'Ta Da!' - it's all come out lovely!"
Charlotte Church's Dream Build began on January 11, 2022 on Really Channel, streaming on discovery+. Episode seven airs on Tuesday, February 22, at 9pm.
Never miss the best property, renovation and interiors stories, sign up for the Amazing Welsh Homes Property Newsletter here.
