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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!
00:18He doesn't have any idea of danger.
00:21They're taking on the challenge.
00:24These floorboards are gone.
00:25The 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.
00:41And businesses.
00:43Thank you so much. You're welcome.
00:46There'll be successes.
00:47I'm a bit giddy.
00:49Giddy? 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 side.
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.
02:06Outside, 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.
04:47I'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.
05:19Now 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.
05:45And I'm thinking if I just break a little bit of the concrete,
05:47it'll save me having to take three steps up.
05:52All I'm thinking is, how much more work will it be?
05:56But Ed always has a solution, so...
05:59I'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,
06:22or the road to hell, is yet to be seen.
06:31In the Vendée region of Western France,
06:34is the spectacular Chateau de Bornou.
06:40Set in 40 acres, this 19th-century property comprises 55 rooms
06:47and sits in the middle of a majestic moat.
06:53The lucky owners are former anaesthetist Erin
06:57and her French-born engineer husband, JB,
07:01who run it as a thriving events venue.
07:05Ooh!
07:07That's what I want to hear!
07:09I think it's an incredible privilege and honour
07:12that people choose to celebrate their special moments at our home.
07:16This is where we get a little bit of our reward
07:19for all the work we put in.
07:20It is essential for us to carry on looking after this place.
07:28Located just over 35 miles from La Rochelle,
07:33Erin and JB bought the chateau for £560,000 in 2018.
07:41And when we saw them last summer,
07:43they transformed a disused turret room
07:47into a stylish arts and crafts studio.
07:51All in all, good job.
07:53Good. Thank you.
07:55Thank you, boss.
07:58This year, they want to create a new event space
08:02in the Red Salon
08:04and are hoping to light up the room
08:07by converting its chandelier to electricity.
08:10One of the reasons we don't use this salon
08:13is because it's far too dark.
08:15I've never electrified a chandelier,
08:18neither did a year before,
08:20and I think we picked the biggest chandelier we have in the chateau.
08:23It's a huge challenge,
08:25especially as they're planning to host a cocktail party in here
08:28in 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,
08:42that might be the safest way of approaching it.
08:45Yeah. Right, we just need to make sure
08:46there's nothing fragile underneath.
08:48Great, I'll move the glassware.
08:52Not trusted, was it?
08:53Yeah.
08:54As chandeliers are notoriously tricky,
08:58Erin 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, lost a candle.
09:12And 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.
09:39Yeah.
09:41You're still holding it?
09:42Yeah.
09:43Can you drop it?
09:46Yeah, we're good, we're good.
09:48Hang on.
09:49Hang on, I can get it.
09:52Good.
09:54Oh.
09:55It's fine, you can let it go, let it go.
09:57Yeah, it's heavier than it looks.
09:59Yeah, 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 round like this.
10:16Mm-hmm.
10:17That fits on top.
10:18That's on top.
10:19Bulb.
10:19Bulb.
10:20Looks 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?
10:29Okay.
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, you don't really want to be passing
10:44cables 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, it'll be lights out
11:08at 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, outbuildings, and a pool, all enclosed within a 20-acre estate.
12:09Since 2022, it's Chatelain have been American-born Christina and 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, you know, we just were looking around wide-eyed, thinking there's a
12:46million projects that we have to get done.
12:48I look at my to-do list every week, and 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, the couple have been busy transforming the chateau into a luxurious holiday let.
13:13Giving the outdated swimming pool...
13:17Finalment!
13:19...a stunning makeover.
13:23And creating a high-end poolside dining area for their guests.
13:35Teamwork.
13:36Yeah, teamwork.
13:37Makes 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.
13:50Wow!
13:52Ah, oui!
13:54Ah, oui!
13:55Ah, oui!
13:55Très, très belle pièce!
13:56Magnifique!
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.
14:15It has lots of moss and things on it.
14:17It's the first impression that the guests will have, anybody 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 situated 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, especially for moss.
14:52So I have never tried it.
14:54This is the first time.
15:01It's like magic.
15:03Is that working?
15:04Yeah.
15:05This is very difficult.
15:06You can't get everywhere.
15:11This cleaner does really work, though.
15:13I 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.
15:23Hey, I think we're gonna need clean water and more product, I think,
15:28because it's just getting dirty again.
15:30Okay.
15:30Okay.
15:30Thanks.
15:31See you.
15:31Bye.
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 they were black
15:56with some gold on.
15:58Makes it very bold, if you like.
16:02So that's the idea.
16:04With 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, like, this is the most discreet part of it.
16:46And 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.
17:14It'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?
17:22Hm?
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,
17:42is 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,
17:51it'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
18:02if the others have all melted, and then I'll continue.
18:05To remove decades of candle wax,
18:09Erin 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 again.
18:20You 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,
18:40is 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...
19:13..it'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'll notice it at all.
19:30One 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,
19:53work on repairing two steps of their magnificent chateau staircase
19:58is 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 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.
20:25If 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.
20:39However,
20:40prizing 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,
20:53I think I'll go find some,
20:54some of the kind of,
20:55they're called Muelon local stones,
20:57so just, I've got a stock of them.
20:58You can pop those under,
21:00and then pop a bit of cement around,
21:02just,
21:02just like I say,
21:03to keep it in place.
21:08But every bucket of stones or cement
21:13involves a steep climb to the top and a tough trip down.
21:18So,
21:19while 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,
21:34groomer, wine stay,
21:35or any event that we hold at the chateau.
21:37So what we try and do is prioritize,
21:40and then do the major parts,
21:42and then the little jobs will still do them.
21:45I mean,
21:46we won't be sleeping much,
21:47but they need to be done.
21:49Everything is important,
21:50and everything has to be right.
21:56So the idea is, when I put some more mix on that,
21:59it's going to kind of create a little wall
22:01that's just supporting the front of this step.
22:04And with it being all together,
22:06I think it should last a few years.
22:08We live and work at home,
22:10and we live and work for the home,
22:13even though the home is a huge scale.
22:15To maintain it and to make it look pretty,
22:18it's one's life mission.
22:20I think we both feel the same.
22:22And sharing it with people,
22:24there's nothing better,
22:25because we have people that have 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,
22:34six times over the last 20 years,
22:37and there's nothing better than that,
22:39than for people wanting to come back
22:41and to share the love and joy.
22:43The countdown to the new season of events is on.
22:48But the restoration work on their showstopper of a staircase
22:51is set to run and run.
23:01Still to come,
23:03Christina 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 Vendée,
23:24in the western part of France,
23:26it's the day of Erin and JB's cocktail party.
23:30And after almost a week of cleaning intricate pieces of brass,
23:35as well as freshly wiring 16 individual lights,
23:41the chandelier is finally ready to be rehung.
23:45Well, it took us longer than we expected,
23:47but 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,
23:57so 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,
24:13because in case we drop it.
24:14Yeah, exactly.
24:15We've got 16 light bulbs and not a spare one, so...
24:18OK.
24:19But before the big switch-on,
24:21they have the small matter of reattaching the 75-kilo chandelier
24:27to its hooks,
24:28hanging more than two metres off the ground.
24:32This is really, really heavy and, um...
24:35I'm not sure how much upper body strength I have for this thing,
24:40because it is very, very, very heavy.
24:42It's dense brass,
24:43it has all these extra kind of fittings and things on it as well,
24:47so it is a really heavy and fiddly job,
24:49because not only do I have to have the strength
24:51to actually put it up there,
24:53you've got to also align it with the hooks,
24:56which are obviously kind of floating from the ceiling,
24:58so I'm not very, uh...
25:01convinced that I'm going to do this in any elegant or skillful way,
25:05but I shall certainly have a go,
25:07and I think if it's too heavy,
25:08we'll have to try and find another solution
25:10before everyone arrives.
25:14OK.
25:15Are you ready?
25:15Yeah.
25:16Three, two, one.
25:18Oh, Jesus.
25:20OK, hang on.
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.
25:38Oh.
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,
26:00but, like, is the wiring right?
26:02Oh, brilliant.
26:03LAUGHTER
26:06There's only one way to know for sure.
26:09OK, that's it.
26:10Are the light bulbs fitting OK?
26:13Um...ish?
26:14So 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.
26:25..it's the moment of truth.
26:28Close your eyes, you might 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 gonna 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.
26:57With their guests due in just a couple of hours,
27:00JB can only hope it's an easy fix.
27:04It 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.
27:16..their celebratory cocktail party is hanging in the balance.
27:28Over at Chateau de La Salle,
27:30Christina and Sasan are heading back out
27:34to work on their enormous front gates.
27:37An essential job,
27:39because 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,
27:52because one of my criteria was that I wanted a tree-line drive.
27:56And we saw a few places that were fantastic,
27:58but when we realised this property actually,
28:01it's eight hectares and three hectares of woods,
28:05to see the size of our woodland is quite special.
28:08Instead of just the trees lining the driveway,
28:10we actually have the whole park, which is a huge bonus.
28:14While working on the gates,
28:16the couple have also discovered
28:19they share their woodland with some interesting locals.
28:23Look at how big they are.
28:25We decided to put the wildlife camera here.
28:29One night, there was a family of 27 white boar
28:35crossing the camera.
28:37Our neighbours have told us that this area has truffles,
28:41and that there might be some mushrooms and truffles in here,
28:44but we've never seen them.
28:45I think these guys get to them first.
28:49Common across France,
28:51there are estimated to be over a million wild boar
28:54roaming the countryside,
28:56often living in large family groups.
28:59Living on such a property has been such a blessing for us.
29:02We both love the wildlife.
29:03You know, being able to see things like this
29:06kind of makes it all worth it, right?
29:09And 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
29:23even 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?
29:44Cleaning 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.
29:57And Sasan really liked the striking black and gold combination.
30:01So, I let him have this win this time.
30:04So, we'll see how it looks.
30:07I'm sure there's an easier way to do this,
30:10but we're quite far from electricity or from water.
30:14It's, you know, 500 metres down the driveway
30:16to 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 I, we end up leaving the gold painting to you.
31:07Because you're a lot more patient.
31:10You think?
31:10With a test section painted,
31:13it'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,
31:25but 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
31:41and grand plans for the stone columns as well,
31:45there's still plenty of work ahead.
31:54Back at Chateau Lagasse in southwest France,
31:58Edward has filled the gap under the top step with stones and concrete
32:03and 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.
32:23It'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, Ed?
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.
33:35Oh, 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...
33:43Record time.
33:45You have, yes.
33:46I'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.
33:55And that, that was the, like, the worst point,
33:58and that looks amazing now.
33:59Yeah, we won't be embarrassed coming back up
34:01every time we show people around now, will we?
34:03Definitely not.
34:12I'm really happy with how the steps turned out,
34:14because they're in keeping with the rest of the steps.
34:17They're not perfect, they're not level,
34:19but they're in keeping, they're looking good,
34:21and that's the main thing.
34:23It was pretty frightful going away,
34:25but coming back and see it all done and finished,
34:28that was amazing.
34:30That was the cherry on top of the cake.
34:31That was a beautiful job done.
34:33You've just got to keep that rhythm going,
34:35and if we can get the other jobs done
34:36in as good a time period as that,
34:39we've got no problem whatsoever.
34:41Anna and Edward's monumental staircase
34:44may be ready for the first guests of the season,
34:48but with a chateau of this scale,
34:50it's going to be a real struggle
34:53to get everything else done on time.
35:01Still to come, there's trouble at the top.
35:07What do you think, JB?
35:10And Erin and JB's party is in peril.
35:14Let's hope we can find a solution.
35:23In southwest France at Chateau de La Salle,
35:26the 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,
35:39it was almost like Christmas.
35:41Every time we walked somewhere,
35:42we found something new,
35:43and the pine cones were one of the things that we found.
35:45They were just sitting on the ground,
35:47and I realized that the gates seemed a bit bare,
35:50so they seemed like the perfect thing
35:51to kind of re-utilize and put up on top.
35:55Each stone pine cone, though,
35:58weighs an enormous 80 kilos.
36:01So they've called in local crane operator,
36:04Ludovic, to help.
36:06Do you agree for me to be here on the ladder?
36:10Do you have money?
36:13Yes, exactly.
36:15The weight is on your crew.
36:19Yes, exactly.
36:20I will guide you.
36:23The only nervousness that I have
36:25is that the main weight of the pine cone is on the top.
36:30If he grabs his string around the bottom,
36:34it tips.
36:34So I'm not quite sure how exactly we can do,
36:37but we will see.
36:39I think I agree with two.
36:42I agree with two.
36:44I agree with two.
36:44I agree with two.
36:44But as the weight is there,
36:45I'm afraid it will do this.
36:46I put a little five to keep it here.
36:49Exactly.
36:52Once the first of the two pine cones is safely strapped up,
36:56they need to lift it up four metres 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,
37:27they'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,
37:44will Christina and Sasan know if their idea has worked.
38:01Well, that is a massive relief to have those up.
38:04Let's go.
38:05All right.
38:09A few weeks ago,
38:11the Chateau gates were far from an impressive entrance.
38:15With old peeling paint covered in years of muck and moss,
38:21uninspiring and uninviting.
38:26Now.
38:29They've been transformed.
38:31The ironwork brought back to life
38:34with Sasan's bold black and gold colour scheme.
38:38And Christina's salvaged stone pine cones
38:42adorning 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.
38:52Yes, the pine!
38:54Yes, the pine!
38:56It's very, very beautiful!
38:58I love the black combination.
39:03Christina and Sasan's new gates certainly make a great impression.
39:08They work a lot,
39:10and they have a place full of charm,
39:12which is absolutely magnificent.
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.
39:28But it's not.
39:29But I think we achieved something that means a lot to us.
39:33Super happy that we picked that colour.
39:35Yeah.
39:36And I think the pine cones, they look like they've always been there.
39:40So, I like it.
39:42Yeah.
39:42With 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.
40:08But 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 where 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, it's a case of divide and conquer.
40:56So, while JB prepares the canapes...
41:00They're going to be blinis with smoked salmon and a mix of dill, lime, creme fraiche and cracked pepper.
41:08Erin takes charge of the cocktails.
41:12I'm making an elderflower martini, so it's a new one I haven't tried.
41:17I 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.
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, 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.
42:30Its 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.
42:52This once neglected room is filled with new energy.
42:58Welcome to the Red Salon.
43:00What do you think?
43:01Wow, 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.
43:13A lot of fiddly work, but finally, ta-da!
43:15We 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.
43:32Cheers.
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 in
43:47the Red Salon.
43:48Santé.
43:49Santé.
43:50Santé.
43:53Santé.
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.
44:00It was 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, and with a new space for guests to enjoy, the future for Erin
44:13and 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?
44:47Oh dear.
45:13Oh no.
45:15Oh no, oh.
45:17Oh no, oh no.
45:18Oh no, oh no.
45:19Oh my poor cemetery.
45:21oh our gutsy, that will be your iritter.
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