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Chateau DIY S11E11
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00:00Across France are thousands of breathtaking chateaux, many fallen into
00:08rack and ruin. Oh my goodness. Now being brought back to life by plucky new
00:15owners. Careful! He doesn't have any idea of danger. They're taking on the challenge.
00:24These floorboards are gone. The only thing they're good for is the fire. To
00:28transform these once unloved buildings. Hands down recommend a cherry picker to
00:33anyone. Back into incredible homes. Holy chandelier. This is just phenomenal. And
00:42businesses. Thank you so much. You're welcome. There'll be successes. I'm a bit giddy. Giddy? Giddy?
00:51And setbacks. Oh my god, what's that? It's a bat. But however hard the going gets,
00:58oh my poor patio. These intrepid DIYers. No, no. I know, I know. Get to live the dream. Cheers.
01:08As kings and queens of their very own castle. Today, one couple, one ancient staircase, no
01:21room for error. I'm trusting the process, even though inside of me I want to say, don't do it.
01:28Another Chatelaine is doing hard labor. It's a little bit like prison, I guess. Cleaning with a toothbrush
01:34behind bars. While for this pair, one wrong move and centuries of history could come crashing down.
01:43I've never electrified a chandelier. And we picked the biggest chandelier we have in the chateau.
01:53Amongst the stunning countryside and vineyards of southwest France stands the breathtaking 15th
02:01century Chateau La Gosse. Outside, the grounds stretch for 71 acres, including a private lake,
02:13and a luxurious pool set at the foot of a magnificent stone staircase.
02:20While inside, it boasts over 100 rooms, including three elegant salons.
02:29Today, 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 La Gosse, the big thing is the setting, the three terraces, the monumental
02:52staircase, the Disney Tower, and it just goes on and on. It's sprawling.
02:57And 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
03:05take the perfect picture with the lake and the chateau in the background, that once you walk onto
03:10the terrace, past the hysteria, it just opens up and you just fall in love with 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,
03:34which included wine tasting,
03:38left, right, a spot of antique shopping,
03:43a little bit hot, 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. We have our first event happening,
04:04a gourmet wine stay. We 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. So it's a really important feature.
04:38Could you push it up a bit? And again, and again. I know that we've gone really high. Now let
04:43go.
04:45How's that? I think that's good. I'm going to do work so that if in the future we get on
04:51to properly
04:52renovating these without 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, because we've never touched them. We've been here 22 years.
05:15But yeah, you've got some kind of cementy concrete there.
05:19Now 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, so
05:33I'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.
05:53All 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.
06:05Okay, 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.
07:20I think it 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.
07:40And when we saw them last summer, they'd transformed a disused turret room into a stylish arts and crafts studio.
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.
08:10One of the reasons we don't use this salon is because it's far too dark.
08:16I'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.
08:45Right, we just need to make sure there's nothing fragile underneath.
08:48Great, I'll move the glassware.
08:51And...
08:52Not trusted, was it?
08:54As 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. Oh, lost a candle.
09:12Oh, you broke it.
09:13And you're taking those too?
09:15Yeah.
09:17Do yours.
09:20Yeah.
09:24Okay.
09:25You've done that side, it's good.
09:26Ooh, yeah.
09:31It says it is still balanced.
09:34Ish.
09:35Unhook yours.
09:38Yeah.
09:39Yeah, yeah.
09:40Okay, you still holding it?
09:42Yeah.
09:43Well, then you're fine.
09:44Can you drop it?
09:46Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, we're good, we're good.
09:49Hang on.
09:49Hang on, I can get it.
09:52Good.
09:54Oh.
09:55It's fine, you can let it go, let it go.
09:58Yeah, it's heavier than it looks.
10:00Yeah, that is actually pretty heavy.
10:03But we didn't smash anything, so that's good.
10:06The hard part, though, is about to begin.
10:10How to wire it discreetly.
10:13Basically, it's going to be run like this.
10:16Mm-hmm.
10:17That fits on top.
10:18That's on top.
10:19Bulb.
10:19Bulb 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?
10:30Okay.
10:31What sounded like just running a couple of wires might turn into something a bit more complex.
10:37Seeing the chandelier up close, all the beautiful details and very intricate workmanship,
10:42you don't really want to be passing cables and 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 about how we approach this, I think.
11:00Erin and JB will need to put their thinking caps on because until the puzzle's solved,
11:07it'll be lights out at their cocktail party.
11:17Coming up.
11:18Only nervousness that I have, if he grabs his string around the bottom, it tips.
11:24There's an expensive balancing act, and 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 stands the beautiful 18th century Chateau de la Salle.
11:52This former hotel comes with 21 stylish bedrooms,
12:01outbuildings, and a pool, all enclosed within a 20-acre estate.
12:08Since 2022, it's Chatelain have been American-born Christina and her Iranian husband, Hassan.
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. We even dream about it.
12:33Sometimes crazy dreams, but...
12:38It's been quite a journey so far. I think in the beginning we moved in,
12:43you know, we just were looking around wide-eyed thinking there's a million projects that we have
12:47to get done. I look at my to-do list every week, and it doesn't get smaller.
12:55Not when you walk around with me, it doesn't. True.
13:04Perfectly positioned between Bordeaux and Toulouse,
13:07the couple have been busy transforming the Chateau into a luxurious holiday let.
13:14giving the outdated swimming pool a stunning makeover,
13:23and creating a high-end poolside dining area for their guests.
13:35Teamwork. Yeah, teamwork. Makes the dream work.
13:38Last time, we saw these DIY novices transform 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 is on almost every Chatelain's to-do list.
14:09Today we are going to finally try to get the gate cleaned up. It has lots of moss and things
14:16on it.
14:17It's the first impression that the guests will have, anybody who drives in will have.
14:21The place is beautiful. I think the welcome is not quite.
14:27But like every job here, it's on a Chateau scale, with four-metre-high iron gates situated at the far
14:36end of a 500-metre driveway.
14:41This is just a cleaning product that you dissolve in hot water. I don't think it's anything chemical, necessarily.
14:48It's just the cleaning of very heavy-duty products, especially for moss. So, I have never tried it. This is
14:54the 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. I thought we'd have to scrub the mold off.
15:15Hey, show me your sponge.
15:17It looks like I've been doing a lot more work than you.
15:24Hey, I think we're going to need clean water and more product, I think, because it's just getting dirty again.
15:29Yeah. Okay.
15:30Okay. Thanks.
15:31See you. Bye.
15:33While Cristina makes the long walk back to the nearest tap,
15:38Sassan 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 they were black with some gold on.
15:58It makes it very bold, if you like.
16:02So, that's the idea.
16:03With a lot of cleaning and sanding ahead, though, the couple's dream of golden gates is still a long way
16:12off.
16:20Over 200 miles away, at Chateau de Borneau, Erin and JB have finally worked out how to wire up the
16:29brass chandelier that 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 like this is the most discreet part of it.
16:47And so, yeah, just need to get the safety gear on and start.
16:53Having never attempted this before, JB needs to tread carefully.
17:03I'm focusing strongly not to drill my hand.
17:13It's going to take forever.
17:15How 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?
17:24Yeah.
17:24An arduous job, but will be worth it, honestly.
17:28While JB puts his plan into practice, Erin is busy restoring the rest of the brass.
17:37I'm testing a technique that's worked really well with copper, actually, is just using a tomato-type sauce with vinegar
17:46in 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.
17:58So that's the first lot done.
18:00And then I'll just go and check in the oven if the others have all melted and then I'll continue.
18:05To remove decades of candle wax, Erin has had the novel idea of first putting the wax-covered pieces in
18:14a warm oven.
18:15So you do have to work quite fast or the wax sort of re-solidifies again.
18:19You see, 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, which has always been here.
18:46This chandelier has always been on my wish list to do up.
18:50Because that room is a really beautiful time capsule.
18:55It really is very much how the house was built and 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.
19:20Right, so,
19:22yeah, so that's how he's going to be.
19:25So it's very subtle.
19:26We barely see the wire.
19:27I don't think you'll notice it at all.
19:30One done.
19:3216 still to go.
19:34It's taken JB a long time to work out, but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel.
19:50Back near Bordeaux, at Anna and Edward's, work on repairing two steps of their magnificent
19:57chateau staircase is continuing.
20:01Okay, well, it's free.
20:03And all of the old concrete has been removed.
20:06I think I'm kind of ready to get that first step all blocked up and ready.
20:13I can't really complain too much about somebody putting that concrete underneath.
20:18It'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.
20:32But 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, they're called Muelon local stones, so I've got a stock of them.
20:59You can pop those under and then pop a bit of cement around, just like I say, to keep it
21:04in 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 backbreaking project, Anna 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, groomer, wine stay,
21:35or any event that we hold at the chateau. So what we try and do is prioritize,
21:40and then do the major parts, and then the little jobs will still do them.
21:45I mean, we won't be sleeping much, but they need to be done. Everything is important and everything has to
21:51be 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. I think we both feel the same.
22:22And sharing it with people, there's nothing better, because we have people that have been here
22:29last year. They're coming back this year for the Gourmet Wine Stay. We've had people that have been here five,
22:34six times over the last 20 years, and there's nothing better than that, than for people wanting to come
22:41back and to share the love and joy. The countdown to the new season of events is on. But the
22:48restoration
22:49work on their showstopper of a staircase is set to run and run.
23:01Still to come, Christina and Sassan have some unexpected guests.
23:07Look how big they are. And Edward thinks he's made an enormous mistake.
23:14Only 200 steps more to go.
23:22In the Vendée, 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
23:38individual lights, the chandelier is finally ready to be rehung.
23:45Well, it took us longer than we expected, but I think I'm pretty pleased with it.
23:50We don't actually know whether our wiring has worked or not. We are inviting guests over this
23:55evening to see our chandelier, so it's going to be a little bit embarrassing if we turn it on and
24:00there's no light.
24:05Okay, so. What 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. Okay.
24:19But before the big switch on, they have the small matter of reattaching the 75 kilo chandelier
24:27to its hooks, hanging more than two metres off the ground.
24:32This is really, really heavy, and I'm not sure how much upper body strength I have for this thing,
24:40because it is very, very, very heavy. It's dense brass. It has all these extra kind of fittings and
24:46things on it as well, so it is a really heavy and fiddly job, because not only do I have
24:50to have the
24:51strength to actually put it up there, you've got to also align it with the hooks, which are obviously
24:57kind of floating from the ceiling, so I'm not very convinced that I'm going to do this in any
25:03elegant or skillful way, but I shall certainly have a go, and I think if it's too heavy, we'll have
25:08to
25:08try and find another solution before everyone arrives.
25:14Okay. Are you ready?
25:15Yeah. Three, two, one.
25:19Okay, hang on. Can you hold it?
25:24Kind of.
25:26Okay, mine is in.
25:28Ooh, yeah, yeah.
25:31Oh, okay.
25:33Right.
25:34Like a jigsaw.
25:39Okay.
25:43Okay, good.
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, okay.
25:58Suddenly, my self-confidence is like melting away a bit, like, is the wiring right?
26:03Oh, brilliant.
26:06There's only one way to know for sure.
26:09That's it.
26:10Are the light bulbs fitting okay?
26:13Um, 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.
26:29You may be bright.
26:30Hopefully.
26:32Oh!
26:33The first time in 160 years that we've had proper light in this room, so it's pretty good.
26:39Bravo!
26:40This is very good news.
26:42Seems to be one bulb that's not working.
26:43What's going to say?
26:45Oh, hang on, there's two.
26:47Oh, 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.
27:04It cannot be a wiring issue. It's been done, like, at the highest level.
27:09But until he can solve the problem...
27:12Not working.
27:13Okay.
27:16...their celebratory cocktail party is hanging in the balance.
27:28Over at Chateau de la Salle, Cristina and Sassan are heading back out to work on their enormous
27:36front gates. An essential job, because not only are they the first thing guests see,
27:42but they mark the start of a beautiful 500-metre drive.
27:49It was love at first sight when we first came down the driveway, because one of my criteria was
27:54that I wanted to treeline drive. And we saw a few places that were fantastic, but when we realized
28:00this property, actually, it's eight hectares and three hectares of woods. To see the size of our
28:06woodland is quite special. Yeah. Instead of just the trees lining the driveway, we actually have the
28:11whole park, which is a huge bonus. While working on the gates, the couple have also discovered they
28:19share their woodland with some interesting locals. Look at how big they are.
28:25We decided to put the wildlife camera here.
28:29One night, there was a family of 27 wild boar crossing the camera.
28:37Our neighbors have told us that this area has truffles and that there might be some mushrooms
28:43and truffles in here, but we've never seen them. I think these guys get to them first.
28:49Common across France, there are estimated to be over a million wild boar roaming the countryside,
28:56often living in large family groups. Living on such a property has been such a blessing for us. We
29:02both love the wildlife. You know, being able to see things like this kind of makes it all worth it,
29:08right? I'm on the camera or live. I think really makes it special. And now they've discovered how
29:16wonderful their woodland is, Christina and Sasan are determined to make the entrance to it even
29:23more impressive. So, while Sasan removes the last bits of loose paint...
29:31All these shapes, it's very difficult to sand.
29:38...Christina's confined herself to cleaning up.
29:41It's a little bit like prison, I guess, hey? Cleaning with a toothbrush behind bars.
29:49Eventually, it's time to try out the new colour scheme.
29:53Sasan and I actually had differing opinions. I wanted to do it the same colour,
29:57and Sasan really liked the striking black and gold combination, so I let him have this win this
30:04time, so we'll see how it looks. I'm sure there's an easier way to do this, but we're quite far
30:11from
30:11electricity or from water. It'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, and I don't want to get
30:22black on the parts that I'm going to do gold. And we haven't really decided where I'm going to do
30:27gold yet.
30:29But Sasan has a good idea of which bits to bling.
30:33Today 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, but we give it a second coat in a few
30:49days 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.
31:10With a test section painted, it's the moment of truth for Sasan's colours.
31:18I think we've made fairly good progress today. I mean, the gates are huge. We knew that they would
31:22take a lot longer than we would expect, but we've at least got those done, and I can start to
31:28visualise
31:28what it's going to look like. I 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 southwest France, Edward has filled the gap under the top step with stones and concrete,
32:05and is now ready to move the lower ones back into place.
32:19I'm just wedging that last one up a little bit. It'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, but you know what?
32:47It's turned out quite good. It's looking like I've not really touched it, which is what I was looking for.
32:54I'm going to get Anna to sign off on this now.
32:58And when you live in an enormous chateau, modern technology is easier than shouting.
33:06I've done. Can 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.
33:17And it's the most important view, because, you know, you 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.
33:35Oh, thanks.
33:35You've done a great job.
33:36I wasn't, I mean, I wasn't sure.
33:39I knew you'd do it, but I wasn't sure how long it'd take.
33:41And you've done it in...
33:44Record time.
33:45You have, yes. I'm impressed.
33:48Yeah, only, I'd say somewhere in the region of 200 steps more to go.
33:53Well, you made the start.
33:55And 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,
34:21and that's the main thing.
34:23It was pretty frightful going away, but coming back and see it all done and finished,
34:29that was amazing. That 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
34:37good a 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.
35:05They say, s'il vous plaît, un peu plus.
35:08What do you think, JB?
35:10And Erin and JB's party is in peril.
35:14Erin, let's hope we can find a solution.
35:23In southwest France at Chateau de La Salle, the grand entrance gates are painted,
35:29and now Christina wants to add a 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,
35:42we found something new, and the 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,
35:50so they seemed like the perfect thing to kind of re-utilize and put up on top.
35:56Each stone pine cone, though, weighs an enormous 80 kilos.
36:01So they've called in local crane operator, Ludovic, to help.
36:06You agree, for me, to be here, on the ground, and you're going to...
36:11You have to hold it.
36:13Yes, exactly.
36:15The weight is on your crew.
36:19Yes, 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.
36:30If he grabs his string around the bottom, it tips.
36:35So I'm not quite sure how exactly we can do, but we will see.
36:52Once the first of the two pine cones is safely strapped up,
36:56they need to lift it up four meters onto the top of the column.
37:16It looks very tiny now.
37:21Now that it's up there, it looks a lot smaller than it did on the ground,
37:25but I think by the time it's in place, they'll probably look like they've been there the whole
37:28time, so that's what we're hoping for anyway.
37:34Only when both of the solid stone pine cones are safely in position...
37:44Will Christina and Sasan know if their idea has worked?
37:59Well, that is a massive relief to have those up.
38:04Good.
38:05Let's go.
38:05All right.
38:09A few weeks ago, the chateau gates were far from an impressive entrance.
38:15With old, peeling paint covered in years of muck and moss.
38:22Uninspiring and uninviting.
38:26Now.
38:29They've been transformed.
38:32The ironwork brought back to life with Sasan's bold black and gold color scheme.
38:39And Christina's salvaged stone pine cones adorning the pillars on either side.
38:45Before the first guests of the summer arrive,
38:48the couple are keen to show them off to some local friends.
39:02Christina and Sasan's new gates certainly make a great impression.
39:08And they work a lot, and they have a place full of charm, which is absolutely beautiful.
39:17The challenge that we have with the gate is that it comes across as such an easy project.
39:26It's just painting the gate.
39:28It's not.
39:29But I think we achieved something that means a lot to us.
39:33Super happy that we picked that color.
39:35Yeah.
39:36And I think the pine cones, they look like they've always been there.
39:40So, I like it.
39:42Yeah.
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,
40:16the pressure is on.
40:19It may just be a small worrying fault.
40:22We still have time before everyone arrives, so let's hope we can find a solution.
40:31There you go.
40:33Yeah, it's on.
40:34Oh, well, that's good.
40:35It's working now.
40:36Good.
40:37Well done.
40:38That's good news.
40:39I feel relieved.
40:40It's working.
40:41Don't know what it was.
40:42Bad connection.
40:43I'm not quite sure why.
40:45But no, it looks very good.
40:48With the puzzle finally solved and time of the essence,
40:53it'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,
41:06creme fraiche and cracked pepper.
41:08Erin takes charge of the cocktails.
41:11I'm making an elderflower martini.
41:15So it's a new one.
41:16I haven't tried.
41:17I love cocktails.
41:18But I've been making my own elderflower cordial,
41:21so 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
41:31is just such a fun thing to do.
41:36With drinks being poured and the nibbles almost done,
41:41it's just a case of adding the last-minute finishing touches.
41:46Oh, it's nice in here.
41:49So bright.
41:50So bright, isn't it?
41:58Things are looking good.
42:04Just a week ago, the Red Salon was considered dark and dingy,
42:11untouched 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.
42:38Creating a well-lit space that's now perfect for parties.
42:46And, with the help of Erin and JB's friends,
42:50Hello, nice to see you.
42:51Hello.
42:52This once neglected room is filled with new energy.
42:58Hello.
42:58Welcome to the Red Salon.
43:00What do you think?
43:01Wow, it looks great.
43:03Really?
43:03I saw it before and it was, I don't want to say awful, but it's brilliant now.
43:09Did you clean the brass?
43:10Yes, it took a long time to clean the brass and a lot of fiddly work.
43:14But finally, ta-da, we have electricity in the salon, which is good.
43:19So nice.
43:20Perfect.
43:21Oh, I'm very pleased.
43:23Now they have their friend's seal of approval, it's time to toast their hard work.
43:30Cheers.
43:31Cheers.
43:36I think they have 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
43:47in the Red Salon.
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
44:00shadows. It's very nice to see it coming back to life again.
44:03Oh, very pleased.
44:04Yeah, very pleased indeed.
44:06It's a great start to the year.
44:09And with a new space for guests to enjoy, the 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?
44:36Hands down, recommend a cherry picker to anyone.
44:40And it's breaking point for others.
44:43Oh, my poor Patio, what have you done to it?
44:46Oh, dear.
44:49Oh, dear.
44:51Oh, dear.
45:16Oh, dear.
45:17Oh, dear.
45:18Oh, dear.
45:20Oh, dear.
45:21Oh, dear.
45:21Oh, dear.
45:22Oh, dear.
45:22Oh, dear.
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