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00:00Christmas is a magical time of year one two three but it comes with a long list of jobs
00:13it's always good fun with the logistics like this and a tree this big especially if you
00:21live in an enormous chateau there's a lot more work involved than we ever imagined
00:26we're following intrepid owners take the weight out just trap man as they prepare for the festive
00:34season in France crunch time is pretty soon we'll witness the highs this is fantastic you're so clever
00:42Christmas has officially begun the lows this is literally chateau life and set backwards long
00:51the joy welcome to our Christmas wonderland exactly what Christmas is about three two one and magic
01:02look at the shuttle as they turn their castles into a winter wonderland
01:09today a supersize festive project drives one couple crackers you just think what on earth was I
01:26thinking about why don't I just have a simple Christmas new owners prepare to host their first
01:32chateau party we've moved over here and the learning curve is pretty much like that and a Christmas
01:39carpentry job backfires oh my god that's I'm bigger than that side in my head in the mirror
01:49in the snow-dusted Vienne département in western France sits the fairy tale chateau de la boutiniere
02:05this turreted beauty boasts 47 sumptuous rooms spread across five floors all surrounded by a 52 acre estate
02:18since 2021 it's been home sweet home for interior designer Alison and builder zion
02:28Christmas is extra special when you live in a chateau because the chateau is so enormous grandiose
02:38there's never too much you can be as manic as you like and we like to go for it and just fill the
02:45place with light and color it's every interior designers dream it's lovely isn't it I just follow
02:53your madness the problem is getting bigger and bigger located three and a half hours from Paris the
03:03couple bought the chateau for five hundred and eighty thousand pounds last winter they rolled up their
03:11festive sleeves to create a sparkling guest room complete with all sweet we did well very good I'm
03:22very happy ready to ho ho host their friends for Christmas welcome to your room it's fantastic you like the
03:33wardrobe yes then you just put from here this winter Alison has grand plans for the outside of the chateau
03:51oh yes that looks lovely last year in central London we saw this amazing building which had been turned
04:00into an advent calendar on the front they put the numbers in the windows they'd decorated the whole
04:06thing they'd flood lit it in red it was stunning and I came away with this idea we can do that
04:11you see on I can see what's going on though it's not just making 24 frames 24 windows 24 lighting no
04:22everyone is individual and every number you have to measure differently some of the windows is shorter
04:29some of the windows are wider it doesn't stop there I'm just wondering what is next it's a massive
04:38undertaking and the big reveal is planned for their Christmas party in just two days time bye bye see you
04:47later so while Zeon welds the bespoke metal frames outside Alison sets to work in the chapel with friends
04:58Joe and Gabriela this is Santa's little workshop here helping me out preparing the advent calendar these are the
05:06frames that go around the windows and what we're doing in here is putting all the garlands on and
05:11then wrapping the tiny lights with all our ideas here at the chateau it all sounds such a good idea at
05:19the time and then you start the work and the whole project grows and grows and grows and you just think
05:24what on earth was I thinking about why don't I just have a simple Christmas while her elves continue
05:32work dressing the mountain of frames Alison is keen to try one in position welcome to my storeroom
05:43wow they look good yeah they do don't they yeah these are the ones that we finished and this one is number
05:50eighteen so that's the first to go up that's the kitchen I'm gonna make a start because we've got so
05:56many this is the first one 23 more to go well that's looking good excellent
06:19ladies and gentlemen she's happy
06:23Zeon's first frame fits perfectly but with the rest of the chateau size advent calendar to create
06:32there are some long days ahead
06:35two hours east in the peaceful Auvergne region stands the charming chateau Chomet
06:45abandoned for four years it has 39 spacious rooms two sheets and outbuildings all nestled in a one acre estate
07:03it's now being brought back to life by new owners Debbie and Dave who moved in last year I am so super excited that
07:13we get to finally have our Christmas in the chateau I feel like a kid in a candy store because I have all this space to decorate and to actually have a fire a real fire to put stockings up I'm so excited even about that as long as they're not a fire hazard of course
07:33located an hour and a half north east of Limoges the DIY novices bought the chateau in 2023 for just 175 thousand pounds they've been renovating their grand salon and now they're on a festive deadline to finish it in this room we're planning to hold a party
08:01oh yeah our very first party to celebrate Christmas and being here I'm very excited we are decorating we are making things this from invitations to baubles to gifts one thing we need though a bar they can't have a party without a bar can you no you need to make me a bar with the party just over a week away there's a lot to do
08:29there's a lot to do first task the invitations and craft designer Debbie has had an idea of how to incorporate the chateau's history
08:40we're in a room that Dave calls the junk room and one of the treasures that I've come across is this twill fabric and I'm very excited about it because what I want to do is use this design turn it into paper create my own invitations using this fabric
08:58this fabric and also hopefully it is the same era that the chateau was actually built
09:0512 fabric was popular in the 18th century for its single color pastoral scenes to create her bespoke paper Debbie has called in some help from a friend and fellow crafter
09:17Bella has using her design knowledge taken the fabric that we found in the chateau this fabric was originally pink and I wanted blue invitations so we took a photo we put it into the computer and we came up with this so once we got this I have overlaid a little text for the invite and then to make it even more special I am using these beautiful
09:46decadent invitations they used to belong to my mum they're over four years old and unfortunately my mum passed away and this way I thought she would be part of the party as well it won't take us long no we just got to do 40 invitations
09:53their Christmas craft afternoon is underway but with a bar still to build and the whole salon to decorate these new Chatelaine have their work cut out
10:00coming up
10:07why is that window show smaller there's an advent calendar calamity
10:15looks like there's an emergency repair going on here because the frames too big for the window and some supersize Christmas shopping I think we might have bought the biggest heaviest bar to be
10:22I think we might have bought the biggest
10:41heaviest and heaviest bar to be
10:48in the winter sunshine near Bergerac in southwest France stands the historic Chateau de Césirac
10:59once home to pirates plundering the river below this nine-bedroom castle has two wings
11:09two wings and a medieval tower
11:15owning it is a festive dream come true for Brits John and Carmen Christmas in the Chateau is wonderful you get so many different options to dress up so many different rooms
11:27that's incredible yeah it's fantastic
11:33Merry Christmas
11:35it is like going back in time it's like going back to medieval times with all this stone around it's just fabulous it's just dreamy
11:43I love it I love it don't you yeah it's it's great do you have to eat it of course
11:49you always spoil it don
11:53located over
11:55two hours from Bordeaux
11:57the couple bought the fire-damaged Chateau
11:59two years ago
12:01for just one hundred and seventy five
12:03thousand pounds
12:05this year they began creating their first guest suite
12:11blimey you're dangerous
12:13and with Christmas visitors on the way they're racing to finish it
12:19we've got some work to do to the pirates rest
12:21it had no roof when we came here so we've had to sort of start from the top down
12:25we've got to go for it because we've got people coming to stay there at Christmas so we really need to get it completed
12:35these elves need to get busy
12:39so while John fires up the power tools to make some curtain palmet boxes
12:45inside Carmen's on paint duty
12:49I love doing the decorating making it all come to life
12:53John hates decorating but I actually love it
12:57which makes us quite a good pair really
12:59because he does all the proper building work
13:01and I can get on and do the exciting stuff
13:05she's designed a colour scheme
13:07which reflects the room's swashbuckling history
13:11that's quite an exciting colour isn't it
13:15do you think it's a purrty colour
13:17look at that colour of the sea
13:21to think that there were pirates in this room years ago
13:25is you know looking down on the river
13:27to see what boats were going by
13:29so they could jump on board and get all the loot
13:31oh it's really exciting
13:33it's like reading a book really isn't it
13:37let's get started
13:41oh that's lovely look how dark it is
13:47oh I love it
13:49that's a deep deep pirate ocean
13:51outside Long John Silver himself is hard at work
14:01it's always measured twice cut once
14:03and the plywood curtain rail covers are taking shape
14:07basically make a square box so the rail will sit underneath that
14:11and then that will fix the wall
14:13and the fact it's old wood doesn't really matter
14:15because we're actually going to be covering all over with cloth and lining
14:19so that's the plan
14:21just one more to do and that's it
14:23pelmet made
14:25pretty straightforward job I think
14:27and there we are
14:29voila as they say
14:31one pelmet ready to go to be covered
14:33how's that
14:35back inside
14:37Carmen's colour scheme is coming together
14:39but like Santa himself
14:41she's got a busy night's work ahead
14:45I've made a start and I'm really pleased with the colour
14:47it's really piratey
14:49the plan is I'm going to work through the night tonight
14:51to get the first coat on
14:53we need to get it done ASAP
14:57with a long list of jobs to tackle
14:59there's no room at this chateau for guests just yet
15:03further north near Poitiers
15:15Zion, his team of helpers
15:17and Alison
15:19are fitting the frames into their supersize advent calendar
15:23I have number 10 and 23
15:27so I'm going 10, 23
15:298 and 2, leave you there
15:312 is on the middle window
15:33we have a plan here
15:35we have to go according to the plan
15:37because we have
15:3924 windows, 24 different measurements
15:41so if we don't stick to the plan
15:43we're in trouble
15:45we'll be here until next Christmas
15:47number 16
15:49I feel like somebody in the auction room
15:51it's snow easy task
15:55as many of the windows are only accessible by ladder
16:03I'm just holding my breath a little bit
16:05because I can hear a few discussions about windows of different sizes here
16:07why is that window smaller?
16:09maybe
16:11it's the only one that has two shutters
16:13but we measure them according to the first shutter
16:17yeah, 76 and the frame is 83
16:21looks like there's an emergency repair going on here
16:23because the frame's too big for the window
16:25the frame's too big for the window
16:27so a bit of muscle brute force
16:29good bit of technical adjustment going on there
16:31only on Christmas
16:33once the frame is finally in
16:39that's it, bend it and push it in David
16:43Zion leaves his elves to it
16:45and heads back to his workshop
16:47to start on the numbers
16:53we have to do 1 to 24
16:55but it's not 1 to 24 24 numbers
16:59it's actually 39 numbers
17:03he begins
17:05by cutting the shape out of plywood
17:07number 1
17:09when you look at it from here
17:11it looks okay as number 1
17:13but it's a bit thin, you know
17:15so we need to make it last slightly fatter
17:23after gluing the number to some thick polystyrene
17:27Zion cuts around it
17:29using a hot wire
17:35not bad
17:37then covers
17:41with a layer of filler
17:43this is like a race against time now
17:45I'm hoping this is not going to dry on me
17:47you know
17:49when I was a little boy
17:51I used to help my mum making cakes
17:53what I'm going to do now
17:57is I'm going to let this set off
17:59sand it down, paint it
18:01and hopefully
18:03it will be one of many
18:07back inside
18:09Alison is creating the perfect
18:11Christmas castle
18:15I want lots and lots of candles
18:17so when our guests walk into the entrance hall
18:19it's going to be
18:21whoa, this is Christmas on steroids
18:23she sets to work
18:25creating some festive lanterns
18:27using greenery
18:29and red candles
18:31that has transformed a very boring candle folder
18:33into a Christmasy one
18:35using up scraps
18:37I'm really happy with that
18:39that wind is something else though
18:41I tell you
18:43it's been a busy day
18:47but with the weather taking a sudden wintry turn
18:51work outside
18:53has had to stop
18:55we've done really well today
18:57just against the clock
18:59because look at this rain now
19:01but we've managed to get all the frames up
19:03so we are actually on target with those
19:05the next job now is getting the numbers
19:07I have a lot of numbers to do
19:09my time is running out
19:11we'll be fine
19:13we're going to go there
19:15we'll be fine
19:17we'll see
19:19with their party in just two days
19:21Alison and Zion
19:23need to cross their fingers
19:25for some Christmas magic
19:3390 miles away in the Auvergne
19:35new owners Debbie and Dave
19:39are throwing themselves into party planning
19:43on a chateau scale
19:45oh my goodness I'm so excited
19:47I can't wait
19:49to find something amazing
19:53they've come to a brocante
19:55and top of their Christmas list
19:57is a bar for the Grand Salon
20:01bonjour
20:03wow look at this place
20:05that looks amazing
20:09there's so much stuff
20:11oh no
20:13it's mind boggling isn't it
20:14oh look at this one
20:15oh that's nice
20:16that is really nice
20:17how much is that
20:19mmm 380
20:21yeah that's a little steep isn't it
20:22considering we're going to
20:23cut the back off it
20:24and throw half of it away
20:25I think that's a bit much
20:27crocodile
20:29look at this one
20:31that is gorgeous
20:33shall we have a look
20:34certainly yeah
20:35it's a good
20:36is it the right height
20:37it's a good bar height
20:38that's good
20:39it's pretty enough
20:40it's a good price
20:41let's measure it
20:45is it good
20:46241
20:47so that's perfect to me
20:51now it's just the small matter
20:53of fitting it into the van
20:55I think we might have bought
20:57the biggest and heaviest bar to be
21:00have we done the right thing
21:15yes we have
21:16now you have to go slowly
21:18yeah
21:19because there is a bar sticking out of the van
21:22once they're safely home
21:25Dave sets to work
21:27transforming the sideboard
21:29first
21:31he needs to cut out parts of the back
21:33so that he can reach inside the cupboards
21:37when he stood behind it
21:39slightly more effort than I imagined
21:41but it's going quite well
21:43but it's my blade is so blunt
21:45that I'll probably need a lot more effort to get through it all
21:51for this elf taught DIYer
21:54it's a far cry from their old lives in Darlington
21:58we've moved over here
21:59and it's just
22:00the learning curve is pretty much like that
22:03so you have to learn drilling
22:05you know using jigsaws
22:07using saws
22:08plaster boarding
22:10furniture repair restoration
22:12the list is literally endless
22:15one down
22:17five to go
22:19he carefully removes the back panels from each section
22:24leaving the uprights for support
22:26et voila
22:28or as they say in French
22:29et voila
22:31I'm very happy with that
22:33and even though it looks like I've completely destroyed it
22:36it's going to look absolutely amazing
22:39just need to sand it down
22:41and then I can hand it over to Debbie to make it look pretty
22:45perfect
22:46doesn't that look great?
22:51that looks really cool
22:53and then you can get your glasses this end
22:55exactly
22:56oh well done
22:58and it's
22:59already ready
23:01so do you realise now you are the chateau's barman
23:04I'm just practicing where I'll be standing
23:07there's still a lot of work to do though
23:10before Dave can take his first festive orders
23:13and the party is just a few days away
23:22still to come
23:23you got it?
23:24heavy
23:25there's a battle with
23:27elf and safety
23:28you got it?
23:29yeah that was heavy
23:30my fingers
23:31and party plans are in jeopardy
23:35we didn't plan on a gale
23:37I'm going to lose her in the wind
23:38what can we do?
23:40we just have to call it a day
23:42near Poitiers in western France
23:52it's the day before Alison and Zion's Christmas Chateau party
23:56and they're battling the elements
23:59as you can see it's very windy
24:02the weather is against us
24:03and we're struggling a little bit
24:06we have puddles of water everywhere
24:08and I had to ask one of the boys just to use the digger
24:12and to create a little channel so we can get rid of the water
24:16we have people coming you know
24:17and we can't ask them to come in this muddy area
24:20so it's a bit of a struggle
24:25inside
24:26in the dry
24:28Alison is creating a festive display
24:31using homegrown foliage
24:33from their 52 acre estate
24:36these are the rose hips I gathered earlier
24:38these work very well
24:40little bit of red with all this green
24:42make a huge difference
24:44this is my little bit of space
24:46just doing these little details which I love
24:48and make the whole thing at the end of the day
24:51but I can just feel that the temperature is rising
24:54and I'm just going
24:55I'm chilled
24:56everything's fine
24:57in the workshop
25:01Zion has made all 39 numbers
25:04for their giant advent calendar
25:06and is racing to get them painted
25:09something about spraying is very satisfying
25:13you know
25:14you're holding a gun
25:15you push
25:16boom
25:17celebrating Christmas at the chateau
25:22is a new experience for Jewish born Zion
25:25it's funny I've spread number 18
25:28and then in my belief number 18 is a lucky number
25:32and is high high is God's name
25:37so God's with us
25:40well
25:43someone's on their side
25:45as after a wet morning
25:47there's a sudden break in the clouds
25:51we can manage maybe now to hang the numbers
25:54and do some electric work
25:56we are a bit up against it
25:58because this weather is so changeable
25:59it's a bit windy to go up a ladder
26:01we'll see how we get on
26:03we'll see how we get on
26:06with no time to waste
26:08Zion sets to work
26:09with the first pair of numbers
26:14we might need to tie them up
26:16just to make sure that they're not going to wobble
26:20close your eyes
26:27turn around
26:28oh yes
26:30that looks fabulous
26:32isn't it
26:33that really really does look good
26:35well done
26:36oh la la
26:37oh la la
26:38god
26:40it was Christmas every day
26:41it is
26:46despite the wind
26:47Zion and his team
26:49crack straight on
26:50with the rest of the calendar
26:52but as the afternoon goes on
26:55the weather gets the better of them
26:58it's cold
26:59it's freezing
27:00we achieved amazingly
27:02for this type of weather
27:04but you know what
27:05there's still a lot more to do
27:07it has been a real challenge
27:10not so much the design
27:11that's gone according to plan
27:13but we didn't plan on a gale
27:14I'm going to lose her in the wind
27:17so what can we do
27:19we just have to call it a day
27:21with time running out
27:22the couple are ho ho hoping
27:25for a Christmas miracle
27:32down south
27:33in sunnier climes
27:35beside the river lot
27:39another day
27:40another day
27:41John and Carmen
27:42are busy decking the halls
27:45or rather
27:46the new guest suite
27:47ready for their festive visitors
27:50today we've got to
27:51cut down a wardrobe
27:52to make it fit in a wall
27:54and I'm painting a
27:56what used to be a TV cabinet
27:58but I'm going to make it into
27:59like a tea and coffee cabinet
28:01Jazzy will up
28:02upcycle it
28:03make it great
28:04I'm going to paint it the same colour
28:05as the
28:07back wall
28:08which is pirate blue
28:09pirate blue
28:10I absolutely love the blue
28:11I think it's great
28:12it's deep and meaningful
28:14like the ocean
28:15that the pirates
28:16hold on
28:17and that walls a bit wavy
28:18like the ocean isn't it
28:20before Carmen
28:21tackles the upcycling
28:23she sets John
28:24his Christmas
28:25carpentry
28:26challenge
28:28the problem is John
28:29I really like the wardrobe
28:30I don't like it on that wall
28:32and the reason is
28:33that's quite a nice feature wall
28:34with the stone
28:35yeah
28:36therefore I'd like to move it
28:37to another wall over there
28:38but it's too tall to go on that wall
28:40we need somehow to make it shorter
28:44it's going to be a challenge
28:45look
28:46we'll give it a go
28:47I know if anyone can do it
28:48you can do it
28:49you're pretty good for the old
28:50woodwork
28:51we'll see what it looks like
28:52yeah
28:53I'm not promising anything
28:57then take the weight of it
28:58I've got the weight
28:59I've got the weight
29:00you got it?
29:01heavy
29:02dirty
29:03that's it
29:04that's it
29:05you got it?
29:06yeah
29:07my fingers
29:10oh
29:11only joking
29:12oh
29:13mind that door
29:15John's ever growing list of jobs
29:18is
29:19snow joke
29:21but Carmen heads downstairs
29:24full of
29:25elf confidence
29:27I love doing this
29:29it's the creative side
29:30I like to mess about with colours
29:32and materials
29:33and
29:34pretty things
29:36oh
29:40yes
29:41look at that
29:42good thing about these big brushes
29:44you can get right into the little crevices
29:46looks better already
29:49see this is really quick and easy to do this
29:51isn't it transforms furniture
29:53it's just fantastic
29:54I like it
29:56so far so good
29:57John meanwhile
30:02has been busy
30:04with the saw
30:05it's legless
30:08and he's crossing his festive fingers
30:13right
30:14well
30:15it is wonky
30:16oh my god
30:17that side's bigger than that side
30:19it's ridiculous
30:20I can't see my head in the mirror
30:22it's too tall
30:23it's too short now
30:25it's too short now
30:26we can't have that
30:27it looks silly
30:28I mean
30:30you can't
30:31it cuts your head off
30:33determined to never slay never
30:38they try it in position
30:40I'm not going to put it right against the wall
30:42it definitely leads forward
30:44that's the problem
30:45so we can definitely lean back
30:47oh that's alright
30:48from here
30:49I can see myself
30:50in fact
30:51that is now level with the wall
30:52that's alright then
30:53so the wardrobe's looking a little bit wonky
30:55and slightly lower than we thought it would be
30:59but we have a solution
31:00but
31:01yes we've come across a solution
31:03so it will all work out rosy
31:05we hope
31:06yeah I don't think anybody will notice when they come in
31:08I hope our guests are short
31:12this is turning into a nightmare before Christmas
31:15and their festive deadline is getting closer
31:26further north in the Auvergne region
31:29at Chateau-Fraumet
31:30it's party time for new owners Debbie and Dave
31:34there we go
31:36some to stop here
31:38we have a huge day
31:40our first ever party
31:41first ever
31:42Christmas party
31:44yeah
31:45first ever anything in the Chateau really
31:47indeed
31:48we have some little helpers
31:49uh-huh
31:50uh Soli Jo and Bella
31:51which is great
31:52it's very exciting
31:53it is
31:54I actually do feel like a little kid
31:55Dave's upcycled bar
31:57has been given a grey and gold makeover
32:00and Debbie and friend Soli Jo
32:03are finishing the bespoke paintwork
32:07we wanted to emulate
32:10the wallpaper
32:11and the grandeur of this room
32:15it looks beautiful as it is
32:16but we're going to make it chateau chic
32:21Dave meanwhile
32:22has been set to work
32:24with a duster
32:25to coin a phrase
32:26it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas
32:30once I've done the cleaning obviously
32:34because you can't get in a Christmas spirit when you're cleaning
32:37now though
32:39with the bar finished
32:41what do you think?
32:42oh wow
32:43doesn't that look amazing?
32:44that is special isn't it?
32:45you've got the most opulent home bar ever
32:49Dave can play barman in his very own chateau
32:54you need to stock up when it comes to Christmas
32:56and I think I've got all the bases covered
33:00while Debbie and Bella add their handmade decorations to the tree
33:06if you put one up there
33:08if you can reach up there
33:09and I'll put one down here
33:11hosting their first party
33:13in their finished salon
33:15is a Christmas dream come true
33:18actually a little bit excited
33:21but also
33:23not scared
33:24but
33:25is everybody going to like it?
33:27this room
33:28originally was basically reds and creams
33:33we have made it very blue
33:35but I'm very excited because it looks amazing
33:40Debbie adds a last bit of festive magic
33:43just to make the chandeliers look a little bit Christmassy
33:47two minutes because people will be arriving
33:50just need to clear these boxes and then we're done
33:53and just in the Saint Nick of time
33:58hello
33:59welcome to our first ever party
34:03how are you?
34:04very well thank you
34:05welcome
34:06where are we going?
34:07right you can come and see what we've been up to
34:13when Debbie and Dave bought the chateau
34:16this room was far from party ready
34:20crumbling walls
34:22and faded paintwork
34:27now
34:28the couple have brought it back to life
34:31with new wallpaper
34:33and a stylish blue look
34:38Dave's bespoke grey and gold upcycled bar
34:41is a perfect feature for entertaining
34:45and Debbie's handmade crafts and decorations
34:48bring magic and sparkle to every corner of this once again grand salon
34:55looks amazing as well
34:56we saw it when it was before they'd started and it's incredible what they've done in the short time
35:01the decorations are beautiful and it's a completely dramatic change
35:06it's lovely
35:07even barman Dave is mistletoeing the line with a new colour scheme
35:13I am making what Debbie is calling a Chateau Chaumet
35:18which is a blue Curaçao and Prosecco
35:21the guests are happy
35:27they're enjoying the bar
35:28they can't believe all the changes
35:29which is great
35:30it's a lovely feeling isn't it?
35:31yeah yeah definitely
35:33it's just amazing that we have this welcome
35:37and it just feels like home doesn't it?
35:39yeah it does
35:40it actually feels like home
35:41yeah it does
35:42it actually feels like home
35:43really nice
35:44it's a Christmas to remember
35:45for these brand new Chatelaine
35:47and there's an exciting year ahead
35:50Merry Christmas everybody
35:52Merry Christmas
36:01still to come
36:02John and Carmen are in uncharted waters
36:06we don't really know what we're doing here
36:07we're just playing it by ear
36:09and working out as we go along
36:11and with friends gathered
36:13it's the moment of truth
36:15for Alison and Zion
36:17one
36:18two
36:19three
36:27in the Nouvel Aquitaine département of South West France
36:31John and Carmen are getting ready to sew, stitch
36:35and be merry
36:37today is a soft furnishings day
36:39we're completing the chaise we hope
36:42but we've never done this before
36:43so it could be a complete disaster
36:46and we have to cover the pelmets
36:50it's all about getting those lines right
36:51and sharpness and neatness into what we're doing
36:54and it's going to be fun I'm sure
36:56two things we've never done before
36:57so it's a bit of a challenge isn't it John?
36:59yeah
37:00I like a challenge though
37:01we like a challenge
37:02they've brought the chaise lounge over from the UK
37:10and Carmen has already removed the old striped fabric
37:14hooray
37:16and begun its transformation
37:18looking forward to getting this finished
37:21it's been a long time coming
37:22so we've not got too much to do
37:25we've done the main seat area in the back
37:27we just need to finish off by putting this arm on
37:30and also the back piece here
37:32I know we're not professional upholsterers
37:35but I think you can get quite a nice effect
37:38as long as you take your time
37:42is that taut?
37:43yeah
37:46lovely job
37:47yeah
37:48it's just a matter of getting it right
37:49we don't really know what we're doing here
37:51we're just playing it by ear
37:53and working out as we go along
37:55I feel like a surgeon
37:56I'm making the incision
37:58it better be the right one
37:59glad she wasn't doing it when I broke my hip
38:04voila
38:05voila
38:06and then we just fold it under
38:08as we go basically
38:09mind my fingers
38:13upholstres are us
38:14look at that
38:15whoa
38:16that is lovely
38:19turn it round and have a look at it
38:21how's that look?
38:22oh my word
38:24oh yes
38:25I think we've done an alright job there John
38:27I think it's a lovely job
38:28I think that is going to look really nice in that room
38:35wow
38:36that is close
38:37that's as close as you want isn't it?
38:39it doesn't get any closer than that does it?
38:41oh yes
38:42it looks lovely
38:44I like it against that dark blue
38:46it's nice isn't it?
38:47that's
38:48oh
38:51it looks nice against the stone
38:56wow
38:57look at that
38:58very nice
38:59okay good
39:00these
39:01elf-taught upholsterers
39:03also turned their skills
39:06to covering John's handmade
39:08curtain pelmet boxes
39:11just put one in that corner there look
39:12because it
39:13it's keeping the tautness
39:14okay
39:15here?
39:16yeah
39:17that's it then John
39:18good okay
39:19I'm happy about that
39:20good
39:21alright
39:22let's get out of the way
39:24wow look at that
39:25what do you think John?
39:26I love it
39:27it's perfect
39:31nice
39:33wow
39:34they look great
39:35first time I've seen these curtains up
39:37I'm really happy
39:38it's all coming together now isn't it?
39:40it's been a busy few days for these chateau elves
39:43that's all right
39:44lovely they look really good
39:45look at that
39:46perfect
39:47perfect
39:48but they've taken another big step forward with the project
39:51the room's starting to come together
39:53I think it's going to look really nice
39:55what do you think?
39:56I think it's amazing
39:57it's really exciting to see it come from an empty shell and a roof to where it is now
40:03I can't wait to get it finished
40:05with a bed to somehow get up the tight spiral staircase and the whole room to dress and decorate
40:12they can't kick back with a Christmas cocktail anytime soon
40:17back in the Vienne Departement at Chateau de la Boutiniere it's the morning of Alison and Zion's Christmas party
40:31well today's the day and we still have an awful lot to do because yesterday was just such appalling weather we've been delayed
40:38the boys did amazing job and they managed to get most of the frames on with the numbers
40:46this morning we have a few bits that we need to finish
40:51connect the cables
40:52and after the cables we need to make sure that everything is going to work all in one
40:57just one switch
40:59boom
41:00I hope so
41:03while Zion tackles the lighting
41:06Alison and her team of elves are decorating an arch for the front door
41:12how many have you got down there?
41:14just two
41:15just chill one two
41:17it's hard to make your hands wet when it's so cold
41:22the whole chateau is a hive of festive activity
41:26this is the last one on this circuit
41:31we just want to dress something on the balustrades and we've got some beautiful natural garden berries
41:36because the rest of the chateau is now decorated so where do you stop?
41:39ah, where do you stop?
41:43connect the bottom one
41:45with his wiring finished, Zion lifts the arch into position
41:50okay, lift up and go, up and go, up and go, up, up, up, up
42:01thank goodness we've got no wind
42:05that looks stunning
42:07I can't wait to switch to on
42:08it's been a hectic couple of days
42:11it's been a hectic couple of days
42:13tackling their biggest ever Christmas decoration project
42:17all while battling the winter weather
42:20but finally
42:22it's party time
42:24oh, oh la la
42:26everyone's arriving, we're there, we got there
42:28we got there
42:31drinks anyone?
42:33after some mulled wine in the salon
42:35they braved the cold for the big reveal
42:40up you come, this way
42:45one, two, three
42:47one, two, three
42:49yay!
42:53amazing!
42:55very impressive
42:57very impressive
42:59very good
43:01after days of work
43:03Allison and Zion's chateau has been transformed
43:07into a super-sized advent calendar
43:10with 24 bespoke windows
43:13each with its own sparkling frame
43:15and the whole building
43:19bathed in festive red light
43:21a display worthy of any fancy shop front in the world
43:26it was incredible, I couldn't believe it
43:29it was fantastic
43:31absolutely brilliant
43:33it really, really shocked me really
43:35how good it was
43:39I think we did well
43:41we did
43:42I have to say, as an interior designer
43:43I am thrilled to pieces with this
43:46Zion could not have interpreted my idea
43:48any better than if he'd tried
43:50I haven't told Allison, but I've got another add-on
43:53for next year
43:55he's planning next year already, we haven't even finished this one yet
43:58I'm going to start it now, I don't want to get to the last minute again
44:00I'm very glad to hear that
44:02yeah!
44:04for now though, with the last door of their advent calendar
44:09finally open, this busy pair can hang up their tools
44:13and step into Christmas in style
44:16next time, one couple wrestle a super-sized tree
44:27oh it's a bit tall
44:29oh Sharon, you've got to get a star on
44:32John and Carmen are on a festive deadline
44:36swing this round
44:37mind my paint work
44:39and a Christmas party
44:41we've got a bit of a smoky room here
44:43goes up in flames
44:45this is probably a hostess's worst nightmare
44:47this is the worst nightmare
45:17but we'll be right back
45:19next time
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