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00:01Across France are thousands of breathtaking chateaux.
00:06Many fallen into rack and ruin.
00:09Oh my goodness.
00:11Now being brought back to life by plucky new owners.
00:17Careful! He doesn't have any idea of danger.
00:21They're taking on the challenge.
00:23These floorboards are gone. The only thing the good floor is the fire.
00:27To transform these once unloved buildings.
00:31Hands down recommend a cherry picker to anyone.
00:34Back into incredible homes.
00:37Holy chandelier!
00:39This is just phenomenal.
00:42And businesses.
00:43Thank you so much. You're welcome.
00:46There'll be successes.
00:47I'm a bit giddy. Giddy? Giddy?
00:50And setbacks.
00:52Oh my God, what's that? It's a bat.
00:54But however hard the going gets.
00:57Oh my poor patio.
00:59These intrepid DIYers.
01:02No, not on the...
01:03I know, I know.
01:05Get to live the dream.
01:08As kings and queens of their very own castle.
01:15Today, one couple, one ancient staircase, no room for error.
01:23I'm trusting the process, even though inside of me I want to say, don't do it.
01:28Another Chatelaine is doing hard labour.
01:30It's a little bit like prison, I guess, cleaning with a toothbrush behind bars.
01:35While for this pair, one wrong move and centuries of history could come crashing down.
01:44I've never electrified a chandelier and we pick the biggest chandelier we have in the chateau.
01:53Amongst the stunning countryside and vineyards of Southwest France stands the breathtaking 15th century Chateau Lagasse.
02:05Outside, the grounds stretch for 71 acres, including a private lake and a luxurious pool set at the foot of
02:16a magnificent stone staircase.
02:20While inside, it boasts over 100 rooms, including three elegant salons.
02:30Today, it's the home of Anna, Edward and their two children, Charles and Emma.
02:37And since it was bought in 2003, the couple have turned it into a highly successful wedding venue.
02:46I think with Chateau Lagasse, the big thing is the setting, the three terraces, the monumental staircase, the Disney Tower,
02:55and it just goes on and on.
02:56It's sprawling and you just can't get the feel of the place until you're actually stood here.
03:01The fact that you can just go for a walk around the lake and there's always a point where you
03:05can take the perfect picture with the lake and the chateau in the background.
03:08But once you walk onto the terrace, past the hysteria, it just opens up and you just fall in love
03:15with the place.
03:16I think there's no better place in the world.
03:21Located just over half an hour from Bordeaux...
03:25Welcome, guys! Cheers!
03:27Last year, we saw Anna and Edward expand their business by hosting an event weekend, which included wine tasting...
03:38Left! Right!
03:40..a spot of antique shopping...
03:43A little bit hot.
03:45..and a slap-up gourmet meal.
03:50Today, following its success, they're preparing to host a second one in just a few weeks' time.
03:59We're getting ready for the start of the season.
04:01We have our first event happening, a gourmet wine stay.
04:06We need to get the chateau ready and there's lots to be done.
04:09Today, we're going to start off with a job that's been niggling probably Anna as well.
04:13We have two steps on our huge monumental staircase outside and they've kind of dipped a little bit.
04:20It needs to be looking right for the season because every single bride goes down those steps.
04:25Every single guest over the weekend goes down those steps.
04:28So, it's a really important feature.
04:38Could you push it up a bit?
04:40And again. And again.
04:41I know that we've gone really high. Now let go.
04:44How's that?
04:46I think that's good.
04:48I'm going to do work so that if in the future we get on to properly renovating these,
04:53without kind of ruining the style and the ancientness of the step, it won't be a problem.
04:59On a closer look, Edward finds the unexpected.
05:04I think this has actually been repaired some time recently.
05:08You mean?
05:09Well, recently.
05:10In the last 40 years, we'll say.
05:13Because we've never touched them.
05:14We've been here 22 years.
05:15But yeah, you've got some kind of cement-y concrete there.
05:19Well, that piece from probably in the 60s or 70s, that can come off.
05:26I think Ed knows what he's doing, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
05:32So I'm trusting the process, even though inside of me I want to say, don't do it.
05:43Somebody's put a lot of concrete there.
05:45I'm thinking if I just break a little bit of the concrete, it'll save me having to take three steps
05:51up.
05:52All I'm thinking is how much more work will it be?
05:56But Ed always has a solution, so I'll just assist when I'm needed, but that's it.
06:02I can't. It's way over my head, all of this.
06:05OK, I'll see you in a bit.
06:07All right.
06:11Right.
06:13Edward has taken the first step in a giant chateau job.
06:19Whether it'll take him on the stairway to heaven or the road to hell is yet to be seen.
06:31In the Vendee region of Western France is the spectacular Chateau de Bornou.
06:41Set in 40 acres, this 19th century property comprises 55 rooms and sits in the middle of a majestic moat.
06:53The lucky owners are former anaesthetist Erin and her French-born engineer husband, JB, who run it as a thriving
07:03events venue.
07:07That's what I want to hear.
07:09I think it's an incredible privilege and honour that people choose to celebrate their special moments at our home.
07:16This is where we get a little bit of our reward for all the work we put in.
07:20It is essential for us to carry on looking after this place.
07:29Located just over 35 miles from La Rochelle, Erin and JB bought the chateau for £560,000 in 2018.
07:41And when we saw them last summer, they transformed a disused turret room into a stylish arts and crafts studio.
07:51All in all, good job.
07:53Good. Thank you.
07:55Thank you both.
07:58This year, they want to create a new event space in the Red Salon and are hoping to light up
08:06the room by converting its chandelier to electricity.
08:11One of the reasons we don't use this salon is because it's far too dark.
08:15I've never electrified a chandelier, neither did a year before.
08:20And I think we picked the biggest chandelier we have in the chateau.
08:23It's a huge challenge, especially as they're planning to host a cocktail party in here in just a week's time.
08:32So here's the beast.
08:36The chain looks like it weighs tons.
08:39Yeah, well, I think if we take it down in sections, that might be the safest way of approaching it.
08:44Right, we just need to make sure there's nothing fragile underneath.
08:48Great, I'll move the glassware.
08:51Not trusted, was it?
08:55As chandeliers are notoriously tricky, Erin and JB aren't taking any chances.
09:03Incoming.
09:04Especially as it weighs over 75 kilos.
09:08I'm going to be in charge of these two branches.
09:11Oh, I lost a candle.
09:12You broke it.
09:14And you're taking those too?
09:15Yeah.
09:17Do yours.
09:20Yeah.
09:24You've done that side, it's good.
09:26Yeah.
09:31It is still balanced-ish.
09:35Unhook yours.
09:38Yeah.
09:39Got it?
09:40Yeah, yeah.
09:40OK.
09:41Are you still holding it?
09:42Yeah.
09:43Well, then you're fine.
09:44Can you drop it?
09:46Yeah, yeah, yeah.
09:46We're good, we're good.
09:49Hang on.
09:49Hang on.
09:50I can get it.
09:52Good!
09:54Oh!
09:55It's fine, you can let it go.
09:56Let it go.
09:58Yeah, it's heavier than it looks.
09:59Yeah, that is actually pretty heavy.
10:02But we didn't smash anything, so that's good.
10:06The hard part, though, is about to begin.
10:09How to wire it discreetly.
10:13Basically, it's going to be round like this.
10:16Mm-hmm.
10:17That fits on top.
10:18That's on top.
10:19Bulb.
10:20Bulb, looks amazing.
10:21So you're going to have to drill a hole through the cup, right?
10:24Because how is that going to get into there?
10:26Yeah.
10:27Otherwise, that's going to look pretty ugly, isn't it?
10:29OK.
10:31What sounded like just running a couple of wires
10:34might turn into something a bit more complex.
10:37Seeing the chandelier up close, all the beautiful details
10:40and very intricate workmanship,
10:42you don't really want to be passing cables
10:44and hiding all of those beautiful elements,
10:47so a lot of pragmatic but also aesthetic decisions need to be made.
10:51We like a challenge.
10:52That's what chateau life is all about.
10:54So, yeah, we'll just have to think quite carefully
10:58about how we approach this, I think.
11:00Erin and JB will need to put their thinking caps on
11:04because until the puzzle's solved,
11:07it'll be lights out at their cocktail party.
11:16Coming up...
11:18Only nervousness that I have,
11:20if he grabs his string around the bottom, it tips.
11:24There's an expensive balancing act
11:26and JB discovers that rewiring comes at a cost.
11:32Focusing strongly not to drill my hand.
11:43In the idyllic Gascony Hills of southwest France
11:47stands the beautiful 18th century Chateau de La Salle.
11:53This former hotel comes with 21 stylish bedrooms,
12:01outbuildings and a pool,
12:04all enclosed within a 20-acre estate.
12:08Since 2022,
12:11Itch Chatelain have been American-born Christina
12:14and her Iranian husband, Sasan.
12:17Cheers!
12:19Who left behind their hectic lives in London.
12:23The chateau life has changed our life in every aspect.
12:27Our mind, our heart is in the chateau.
12:30We even dream about it.
12:32Sometimes crazy dreams, but...
12:38It's been quite a journey so far.
12:40I think in the beginning we moved in,
12:43you know, we just were looking around wide-eyed,
12:45thinking there's a million projects that we have to get done.
12:48I look at my to-do list every week,
12:52and it doesn't get smaller.
12:54Not when you walk around with me it doesn't.
12:57True.
13:04Perfectly positioned between Bordeaux and Toulouse,
13:07the couple have been busy transforming the chateau
13:11into a luxurious holiday let.
13:14giving the outdated swimming pool...
13:17Finally!
13:20..a stunning makeover.
13:23And creating a high-end poolside dining area
13:27for their guests.
13:35Teamwork.
13:36Makes the dream work.
13:38Last time, we saw these DIY novices
13:41transform a cluttered storage room...
13:45There is a ton of stuff to move out.
13:47..into a sumptuous guest library.
13:51Wow!
13:52Ah, oui! Ah, oui!
13:54Très, très belle pièce! Magnifique!
14:02The next project they want to tackle
14:04is on almost every Chatelain's to-do list.
14:09Today we are going to finally try to get the gate cleaned up.
14:15It has lots of moss and things on it.
14:17It's the first impression that the guests will have,
14:20anybody who drives in will have.
14:22The place is beautiful, I think the welcome is not quite.
14:27But like every job here, it's on a chateau scale.
14:31With four-metre-high iron gates,
14:35situated at the far end of a 500-metre driveway.
14:40This is just a cleaning product that you dissolve in hot water.
14:45I don't think it's anything chemical, necessarily.
14:48It's just the cleaning of very heavy-duty products,
14:51especially for moss.
14:52So, I have never tried it, this is the first time.
15:01It's like magic!
15:03Is that working?
15:04Yeah.
15:05This is very difficult, you can't get everywhere.
15:11This cleaner does really work, though.
15:13I thought we'd have to scrub the mould off.
15:15Hey, show me your sponge.
15:17It looks like I've been doing a lot more work than you.
15:23Hey, I think we're going to need clean water and more product,
15:27I think, because it's just getting dirty again.
15:29Yeah. OK.
15:30OK. Thanks.
15:31See you. Bye.
15:33While Christina makes the long walk back to the nearest tap,
15:38Sasan is already thinking about the next stage of their plan.
15:43Definitely wanted to change the colour of the gate.
15:46Originally, we were thinking to paint it the same colour as our shutters,
15:50but we were very much impressed by a few gates that were black with some gold on.
15:58Makes it very bold, if you like.
16:02So, that's the idea.
16:03With a lot of cleaning and sanding ahead, though,
16:07the couple's dream of golden gates is still a long way off.
16:20Over 200 miles away, at Chateau de Borneau,
16:25Erin and JB have finally worked out how to wire up the brass chandelier
16:30that has illuminated the Red Salon for the past 160 years.
16:36So, we've decided to try to drill it here, the very bottom part of the kennel.
16:42We are thinking that this is the most discreet part of it.
16:47And so, yeah, just need to get the safety gear on and start.
16:52Having never attempted this before, JB needs to tread carefully.
17:03I'm focusing strongly not to drill my hand.
17:14It's going to take forever. How many do we have to do?
17:1716.
17:18Fun.
17:19But won't it be amazing when we have light in that room? Hmm?
17:23Yeah.
17:24An arduous job, but it'll be worth it, honestly.
17:28While JB puts his plan into practice,
17:33Erin is busy restoring the rest of the brass.
17:37I'm testing a technique that's worked really well with copper, actually.
17:42It's just using a tomato-type sauce with vinegar in it.
17:46It just saves a lot of buffing and polishing.
17:49I mean, you can see already, as it's sitting there, it's already coming out gold.
17:53Just the, like, acid content is already working.
17:55So, yeah, that's good.
17:58So, that's the first lot done.
18:00And then I'll just go and check in the oven if the others have all melted,
18:03and then I'll continue.
18:05To remove decades of candle wax, Erin has had the novel idea
18:10of first putting the wax-covered pieces in a warm oven.
18:15So, you do have to work quite fast all the wax to re-solidify us again.
18:20See, that's much better.
18:22Because this one was particularly bad.
18:25Especially because there's all these grooves on the back of the plate,
18:29where if you had to chip it off by hand, you never get a nice finish.
18:32So, this is actually a really, really great technique for this.
18:37This project, what I love about it is it's a genuine 19th-century grand chandelier,
18:44which has always been here.
18:46This chandelier has always been on my wish list to do up.
18:51Because that room is a really beautiful time capsule,
18:55it really is very much how the house was built
18:57and hasn't been touched in probably over 100 years.
19:00It's coming up nicely.
19:02Really nice to see it coming back to beautiful again.
19:05I think it will look amazing.
19:07With the brass starting to sparkle,
19:13it's down to JB not to get his wires crossed.
19:21Right, so...
19:22Yeah, so that's how he's going to be.
19:24So, it's very subtle. We barely see the wire.
19:27I don't think he will notice it at all.
19:29One done.
19:3116 still to go.
19:34It's taken JB a long time to work out,
19:38but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel.
19:50Back near Bordeaux, at Anna and Edward's,
19:54work on repairing two steps of their magnificent chateau staircase is continuing.
20:01OK, well, it's free.
20:02And all of the old concrete has been removed.
20:06I think I'm kind of ready to get that first step.
20:11All blocked up and ready.
20:13I can't really complain too much about somebody putting that concrete underneath.
20:17It's pretty much exactly what I'm going to do now.
20:20So, it's really important to respect the stone and respect the age of these stairs.
20:24If I thought that I couldn't do it without endangering the kind of lifespan of these stones,
20:31I wouldn't touch it, but what I'm going to do is going to be something that you won't ever see
20:35and it's just going to support, basically.
20:40However, prizing away the hefty 200-year-old chunk of stone unearths a larger problem.
20:48Quite a lot of material missing under there.
20:51I think I'll go find some...
20:55They're called Muelon local stones, so I've got a stock of them.
20:58You can pop those under and then pop a bit of cement around, just like I say, to keep it
21:03in place.
21:08But every bucket of stones or cement involves a steep climb to the top and a tough trip down.
21:18So, while Edward tackles this back-breaking project,
21:23Anna starts to bring one of their three terraces up to scratch.
21:27There's always a huge list of jobs to be done for chateau experience, gourmet, wine, stay, or any event that
21:36we hold at the chateau.
21:37So, what we try and do is prioritize and then do the major parts, and then the little jobs will
21:44still do them.
21:45I mean, we won't be sleeping much, but they need to be done.
21:49Everything is important and everything has to be right.
21:56So, the idea is when I put some more mix on that, it's going to kind of create a little
22:01wall that's just supporting the front of this step.
22:04And with it being all together, I think it should last a few years.
22:08We live and work at home, and we live and work for the home, even though the home is a
22:14huge scale.
22:15To maintain it and to make it look pretty, it's one's life mission.
22:20I think we both feel the same. And sharing it with people, there's nothing better because we have people that
22:27have been here last year.
22:29They're coming back this year for the gourmet wine steak.
22:32We've had people that have been here five, six times over the last 20 years, and there's nothing better than
22:38that than for people wanting to come back and to share the love and joy.
22:42The countdown to the new season of events is on, but the restoration work on their showstopper of a staircase
22:51is set to run and run.
23:01Still to come, Christina and Sassan have some unexpected guests.
23:07Look at how big they are.
23:09And Edward thinks he's made an enormous mistake.
23:14Only 200 steps more to go.
23:22In the Vendee, in the western part of France, it's the day of Erin and JB's cocktail party.
23:31And after almost a week of cleaning intricate pieces of brass, as well as freshly wiring 16 individual lights, the
23:41chandelier is finally ready to be rehung.
23:45Well, it took us longer than we expected, but I think I'm pretty pleased with it.
23:49We don't actually know whether our wiring has worked or not.
23:53We are inviting guests over this evening to see our chandelier, so it's going to be a little bit embarrassing
23:58if we turn it on and there's no light.
24:06OK, so...
24:07What have you got left to do, then?
24:09We are not going to put the light bulb on now, I think, because in case we drop it.
24:14Yeah, exactly. We've got 16 light bulbs and not a spare one, so...
24:18Yeah. OK.
24:19But before the big switch-on, they have the small matter of reattaching the 75-kilo chandelier to its hooks,
24:28hanging more than two metres off the ground.
24:32This is really, really heavy and, um...
24:36I'm not sure how much upper body strength I have for this thing, because it is very, very, very heavy.
24:42So, it's dense brass, it has all these extra kind of fittings and things on it as well, so it
24:47is a really heavy and fiddly job.
24:49Because not only do I have to have the strength to actually put it up there, you've got to also
24:54align it with the hooks, which are obviously kind of floating from the ceiling.
24:58So, I'm not very convinced that I'm going to do this in any elegant or skillful way, but I shall
25:06certainly have a go.
25:07And I think if it's too heavy, we'll have to try and find another solution before everyone arrives.
25:14OK. Are you ready?
25:15OK.
25:15Yeah.
25:16Three, two, one.
25:18Jesus.
25:20OK.
25:22Can you hold it?
25:24Kind of.
25:26OK, line is in.
25:29Ooh, yeah, yeah.
25:31Oh, OK.
25:33Right.
25:34Like a jigsaw.
25:39OK.
25:43OK.
25:44Good.
25:46Success.
25:48No celebration because we still don't know if it works.
25:52Before securing it, we'll try it, the chandelier.
25:56Yeah, OK.
25:58Suddenly, my self-confidence is like melting away, but like, is the wiring right?
26:02Oh, brilliant.
26:06There's only one way to know for sure.
26:09Are the light bulbs fitting OK?
26:12Um, so far, yes.
26:17Looking good.
26:18With all the bulbs in place...
26:21I hope it turns on.
26:23Shall we test it?
26:24Yeah.
26:25It's the moment of truth.
26:28Close your eyes.
26:29The light bulbs may be bright.
26:30Hopefully.
26:32Oh!
26:33The first time in 160 years that we've had proper light in this room.
26:37So it's pretty good.
26:39Bravo!
26:40This is very good news.
26:42Seems to be one bulb that's not working.
26:44What's going to say?
26:45Oh, hang on, there's two.
26:46Oh, gosh!
26:48So is that a wiring fault?
26:51I love the fact that your first suggestion is that it would be a wiring fault.
26:56With their guests due in just a couple of hours, JB can only hope it's an easy fix.
27:03It cannot be a wiring issue.
27:06It's been done, like, at the highest level.
27:09But until he can solve the problem...
27:12Not working.
27:14OK.
27:16Their celebratory cocktail party is hanging in the balance.
27:28Over at Chateau de La Salle, Christina and Sassan are heading back out to work on their enormous front gates.
27:37An essential job, because not only are they the first thing guests see, but they mark the start of a
27:44beautiful 500-meter drive.
27:49It was love at first sight when we first came down the driveway, because one of my criteria was that
27:54I wanted a tree-lined drive.
27:56And we saw a few places that were fantastic, but when we realised this property actually, it's eight hectares and
28:03three hectares of woods,
28:05to see the size of our woodland is quite special.
28:08So they're just the trees lining the driveway, we actually have the whole park, which is a huge bonus.
28:14While working on the gates, the couple have also discovered they share their woodland with some interesting locals.
28:23Look at how big they are.
28:24We decided to put the wildlife camera here.
28:29One night, there was a family of 27 wild boar crossing the camera.
28:37Our neighbours have told us that this area has truffles, and that there might be some mushrooms and truffles in
28:43here, but we've never seen them.
28:45I think these guys get to them first.
28:49Common across France, there are estimated to be over a million wild boar roaming the countryside, often living in large
28:58family groups.
28:59Living on such a property has been such a blessing for us.
29:02We both love the wildlife.
29:04You know, being able to see things like this kind of makes it all worth it, right?
29:08Them on the camera or live, I think, really makes it special.
29:14And now they've discovered how wonderful their woodland is,
29:19Christina and Sasan are determined to make the entrance to it even more impressive.
29:26So, while Sasan removes the last bits of loose paint...
29:31All these shapes, it's very difficult to sand.
29:38Christina's confined herself to cleaning up.
29:41It's a little bit like prison, I guess, hey? Cleaning with a toothbrush behind bars.
29:48Eventually, it's time to try out the new colour scheme.
29:53Sasan and I actually had differing opinions.
29:55I wanted to do it the same colour, and Sasan really liked the striking black and gold combination,
30:01so I let them have this win this time, so we'll see how it looks.
30:08I'm sure there's an easier way to do this, but we're quite far from electricity or from water.
30:14It's, you know, 500 metres down the driveway to get anything that we need.
30:19It's very fiddly, because we're not taping anything,
30:21and I don't want to get black on the parts that I'm going to do gold.
30:25And we haven't really decided where I'm going to do gold yet.
30:29But Sasan has a good idea of which bits to bling.
30:34Today was always supposed to be about the colour, the style.
30:39It's fine, it's definitely better.
30:44I don't know if it is the gold I wanted,
30:46but we give it a second quote in a few days when it's dry,
30:51and see how it looks, and that's it.
31:02I think we end up leaving the gold painting to you, because you're a lot more patient.
31:10You think?
31:10With a test section painted, it's the moment of truth for Sasan's colours.
31:18I think we've made fairly good progress today.
31:20I mean, the gates are huge.
31:22We knew that they would take a lot longer than we would expect,
31:24but we've at least got those done.
31:27And I can start to visualise what it's going to look like.
31:29I think it'll be really impressive with the black and the gold accents.
31:33It'll be a much, much better entrance than it is now.
31:38But with a lot of intricate painting to do, and grand plans for the stone columns as well,
31:45there's still plenty of work ahead.
31:54Back at Chateau Lagos in south-west France,
31:59Edward has filled the gap under the top step with stones and concrete,
32:04and is now ready to move the lower ones back into place.
32:19I'm just wedging that last one up a little bit.
32:22It's not a level job, it's a looking good job.
32:25It has to look like the rest of the stones on here.
32:30I think we're getting there.
32:41I didn't want to do the joints, because I don't like the concrete joints,
32:46but you know what, it's turned out quite good.
32:48It's looking like I've not really touched it, which is what I was looking for.
32:54I think I'm going to get Anna to sign off on this now.
32:58And when you live in an enormous chateau,
33:02modern technology is easier than shouting.
33:05Yes, sir?
33:06I've done.
33:07Can you come and have a look at the steps, see what you think?
33:10Yes, I'm coming to have a look now.
33:15I'm really liking the look of this from below.
33:18It's the most important view, because, you know, you see the...
33:23We used to see the problem from below.
33:26Can't wait to see this, Ed.
33:28This has been a sore spot for a long time.
33:32It's looking really good, Ed.
33:34Oh, thanks.
33:35You've done a great job. I wasn't... I mean, I wasn't sure.
33:38I knew you'd do it, but I wasn't sure how long it'd take, and you've done it in...
33:44Record time?
33:45You have, yes. I'm impressed.
33:48Yeah, only...
33:50I'd say somewhere in the region of 200 steps more to go.
33:53Well, you made the start, and that, that was the, like, the worst point, and that looks amazing now.
33:59Yeah, we won't be embarrassed coming back up every time we show people around now, will we?
34:03Definitely not.
34:12I'm really happy with how the steps turned out, because they're in keeping with the rest of the steps.
34:17They're not perfect, they're not level, but they're in keeping, they're looking good, and that's the main thing.
34:23It was pretty frightful going away, but coming back and see it all done and finished, that was amazing.
34:30That was the cherry on top of the cake. That was a beautiful job done.
34:33You just got to keep that rhythm going, and if we can get the other jobs done in as good
34:37a time period as that, we've got no problem whatsoever.
34:41Anna and Edward's monumental staircase may be ready for the first guests of the season.
34:48But with a chateau of this scale, it's going to be a real struggle to get everything else done on
34:56time.
35:01Still to come, there's trouble at the top.
35:07What do you think, Jimmy?
35:10And Erin and JB's party is in peril.
35:14Let's hope we can find a solution.
35:22In southwest France at Chateau de la Salle, the grand entrance gates are painted, and now Christina wants to add
35:32a final flourish.
35:34Today we are finally going to put the pine cones up on the columns.
35:38When we first moved in, it was almost like Christmas. Every time we walked somewhere, we found something new, and
35:43the pine cones were one of the things that we found.
35:45They were just sitting on the ground, and I realized that the gates seemed a bit bare, so they seemed
35:50like the perfect thing to kind of reutilize and put up on top.
35:54Each stone pine cones, though, weighs an enormous 80 kilos. So they've called in local crane operator, Ludovic, to help.
36:06You agree with me, being here, on the ground?
36:10You're going to be able to keep it here?
36:12Yes.
36:13You have to keep it here.
36:14Yes.
36:14Yes, exactly.
36:15The weight is on your ground.
36:19Yes, exactly.
36:20Yes, exactly.
36:20I'm going to guide you.
36:23The only nervousness that I have is that the main weight of the pine cone is on the top. If
36:31he grabs his string around the bottom, it tips. So I'm not quite sure how exactly we can do what
36:37we will see.
36:52Once the first of the two pine cones is safely strapped up, they need to lift it up four meters
36:59onto the top of the column.
37:16It looks very tiny now. Now that it's up there, it looks a lot smaller than it did on the
37:24ground, but I think by the time it's in place, they'll probably look like they've been there the whole time.
37:29So that's what we're hoping for anyway.
37:34Only when both of the solid stone pine cones are safely in position, will Christina and Sasan know if their
37:48idea has worked.
37:50Yay!
37:55Thank you very much. Thank you for the next time.
38:00Well, that is a massive relief to have those up. Let's go. All right.
38:08A few weeks ago, these chateau gates were far from an impressive entrance. With old peeling paint covered in years
38:19of muck and moss, uninspiring and uninviting. Now, they've been transformed.
38:31The ironwork brought back to life with Sasan's bold black and gold color scheme. And Christina's salvaged stone pine cones
38:42adorning the pillars on either side.
38:45Before the first guests of the summer arrive, the couple are keen to show them off to some local friends.
38:52Yes.
38:53Ah, yes, the pins.
38:54Yes, the pins.
38:55Oh, yes, the pins. Oh, yes, yes.
38:55Oh, yes, yes.
38:56The pins are really beautiful.
38:58I love the black ни-buying combination.
39:03Cristina and Sassan's new gates certainly make a great impression.
39:09The challenge that we have with the gate is that it comes across as such an easy project.
39:26It's just painting the gate. It's not, but I think we achieved something that means a lot to us.
39:33Super happy that we picked that colour. And I think the pine cones, they look like they've always been there.
39:40So, I like it.
39:43With a busy summer of bookings ahead, they'll soon be able to unveil them to their guests.
39:59Further north, Erin and JB are still struggling to get the last light to work.
40:06The rest of the group are okay, but not your bulb.
40:10And with their guests arriving for the celebratory cocktail party in less than an hour, the pressure is on.
40:19It may just be a small worrying fault. We still have time before everyone arrives, so let's hope we can
40:24find a solution.
40:31There you go. Yeah, it's on.
40:34Oh, well, that's good.
40:35It's working now. Good.
40:37Well done. That's good news.
40:39I feel relieved. It's working. I don't know where it was. Bad connection. I'm not quite sure why.
40:44But no, it looks very good.
40:48With the puzzle finally solved and time of the essence, it's a case of divide and conquer.
40:56So, while JB prepares the canapes...
41:00They're going to be blinnies with smoked salmon and a mix of dill, lime, creme fraiche and cracked pepper.
41:07Erin takes charge of the cocktails.
41:11I'm making an elderflower martini. So, it's a new one. I haven't tried. I love cocktails.
41:18But I've been making my own elderflower cordial, so I thought this would be quite a nice touch to introduce
41:24elderflower cordial to my French friends.
41:26I think hosting and using these chateaux as they were built for parties is just such a fun thing to
41:33do.
41:36With drinks being poured and the nibbles almost done, it's just a case of adding the last-minute finishing touches.
41:46Oh, it's nice in here. So bright.
41:50So bright, isn't it?
41:58Things are looking good.
42:05Just a week ago, the Red Salon was considered dark and dingy, untouched and unwelcoming.
42:15Today, it's been transformed into a vibrant, inviting place to entertain.
42:23The chateau's original chandelier, now a stunning centerpiece.
42:30It's shining brass and bright lights, enhancing the room's unique character, creating a well-lit space that's now perfect for
42:42parties.
42:46And with the help of Erin and JB's friends, this once-neglected room is filled with new energy.
42:58Welcome to the Red Salon. What do you think?
43:01Wow, it looks great. I saw it before, and it was, I don't want to say awful, but it's brilliant
43:08now.
43:09Did you clean the brass?
43:10Yes, it took a long time to clean the brass. A lot of fiddly work, but finally, ta-da!
43:16We have electricity in the salon, which is good.
43:19So nice. Perfect. Oh, I'm very pleased.
43:23Now they have their friend's seal of approval, it's time to toast their hard work.
43:30Cheers. Cheers.
43:36I think they've done an amazing work.
43:39I think everybody was very happy to be here to celebrate the new chandelier.
43:43It's so wonderful to see you all, and I hope this is a start to a new cocktail season in
43:47the Red Salon.
43:48Santé! Santé!
43:50Santé!
43:54It was so nice to see our friends, and to finally use a room that's been sort of shut up
44:00in the shadows.
44:01It was very nice to see it coming back to life again.
44:03Oh, very pleased. Yeah, very pleased indeed.
44:06It's a great start to the year, and with a new space for guests to enjoy,
44:12the future for Erin and JB is looking bright.
44:24Next time, Edward Scales' new chateau heights.
44:28I think I'm going to start taking the chateau apart now.
44:33Another couple are on the up too.
44:35Got it? Hands down, recommend a cherry picker to anyone.
44:39And it's breaking point for others.
44:43Oh, my poor patio, what have you done to it? Oh dear.
44:48There's nothing here.
44:52There are no trees, I'm going to put it on the up too.
45:08Yeah, I'm going to do it.
45:09You know, it's fine.
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