HGTV's 'Castle Impossible' Stars Are Expecting — And Their Nursery Prep Is Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen
For most expecting parents, babyproofing means covering electrical outlets, installing cabinet locks, and anchoring furniture to the wall. For Daphne and Ian Fig, stars of HGTV's hit renovation series Castle Impossible, it means something entirely different — and exponentially more complicated. The couple is preparing to welcome a newborn into a crumbling, 500-year-old French chateau that they are still actively renovating, and the to-do list has never been longer.
Daphne, who is currently 7 months pregnant, and her husband Ian recently announced their exciting news on the second season of Castle Impossible, which premiered in May. The announcement has delighted fans of the show, but it has also added a new layer of urgency to an already monumental renovation project. As the couple told Realtor.com, their baby is coming whether the castle is ready or not — and that means babyproofing has officially jumped to the top of their priority list.
The Story Behind the Castle
For those unfamiliar with the show, Castle Impossible follows Daphne and Ian as they pour their entire life savings into restoring Chateau de Lesigny, a historic estate built in 1508 and located just 15 miles outside of Paris. The property, which Daphne inherited from her grandfather, sits on a sprawling 130-acre domain and spans four levels — a breathtaking but demanding undertaking for any renovation team, let alone a couple working largely from personal funds.
The chateau is not simply a family home in progress. The Figs also operate an on-site weddings and events business, using the income generated from hosting celebrations to help maintain the estate and fund the remaining renovations. By Daphne's own estimate, roughly 75% of the chateau still needs work. That is an enormous amount of square footage to secure before a crawling, curious baby enters the picture.
What Does Babyproofing a 500-Year-Old Chateau Actually Look Like?
Babyproofing a modern home is straightforward enough. Babyproofing a medieval French chateau is a project that requires creativity, historical sensitivity, and nerves of steel. The Figs face a unique set of challenges that no parenting book has ever truly addressed.
Uneven Stone Floors and Ancient Staircases
Unlike the smooth, level surfaces of a modern home, Chateau de Lesigny features centuries-old stone floors that are naturally uneven, worn, and sometimes cracked. For a baby learning to crawl or walk, these surfaces present a very real safety risk. Installing standard baby gates on a spiral stone staircase — a common feature in chateaux of this era — is far from a plug-and-play process. Every solution must be custom-fitted to stonework that was never designed with modern hardware in mind, and any modification must be done in a way that respects the historical integrity of the structure.
Open Spaces, Grand Heights, and Old Windows
The grandeur that makes Chateau de Lesigny so spectacular is also what makes it so challenging to childproof. Soaring ceilings, large open balconies, tall mullioned windows, and dramatic drop-offs between levels are architectural features that require careful safeguarding. Window guards, balcony barriers, and fall protection solutions must all be sourced and installed with the same care that has defined every other aspect of the Figs' restoration work — ensuring safety without compromising the castle's historic character.
Ongoing Construction Zones
With three-quarters of the chateau still under renovation, large sections of the property are essentially active construction zones at any given time. Exposed materials, tools, and unfinished surfaces are part of daily life at the estate. As the baby's arrival approaches, the Figs must create clearly defined safe zones within the château — spaces that are fully finished, secure, and entirely separated from areas where renovation work is still ongoing.
Balancing Renovation, Events, and a Growing Family
What makes the Figs' story so compelling — and so relatable despite its extraordinary setting — is the very human balancing act at its core. They are not professional contractors backed by a corporate budget. They are a couple who bet everything on a dream, and they are now adding the greatest responsibility of their lives to an already demanding schedule.
Running a weddings and events business on the property means the chateau must remain presentable and functional for paying clients even while renovations continue and a nursery is being prepared. The Figs must simultaneously serve as hosts, renovators, parents-to-be, and now safety inspectors — all within the walls of a building that is older than the United States by nearly three centuries.
Why This Story Resonates With So Many People
At its heart, the story of Daphne and Ian Fig is about far more than a castle. It is about the courage it takes to invest in something that matters deeply, even when the odds are daunting and the challenges are relentless. Now, with a baby on the way, their journey has taken on an even richer emotional dimension. They are not just restoring a piece of history — they are building a life inside it.
- Chateau de Lesigny was built in 1508 and is located 15 miles from Paris.
- Daphne inherited the property from her grandfather.
- The estate spans four levels and 130 acres.
- Approximately 75% of the chateau still requires renovation.
- The Figs fund their restoration through an on-site weddings and events business.
- Daphne is currently 7 months pregnant with the couple's first child.
Tune In to See What Happens Next
Season 2 of Castle Impossible is currently airing on HGTV, and fans can follow along as Daphne and Ian navigate renovations, run their events business, and now prepare to welcome a new member of their family into one of France's most extraordinary historic homes. Their story is a reminder that home — wherever and whatever it may be — is always worth fighting for.
Whether you are babyproofing a Paris apartment, a suburban split-level, or, yes, a 500-year-old French chateau, the instinct driving every decision is exactly the same: the desire to create a safe, loving space for the people you treasure most.