- 4 hours ago
Chateau DIY - Season 11 Episode 11
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00:00Across France are thousands of breathtaking chateaux.
00:06Many fallen into rack and ruin.
00:09Oh my goodness.
00:10I want the state of it.
00:12Now 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 they're good for 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.
00:45You're welcome.
00:46There'll be successes.
00:47I'm a bit giddy.
00:49Giddy? Giddy?
00:51And setbacks.
00:52Oh my God, what's that? It's a bat.
00:54But however hard the going gets.
00:58Oh my poor patio.
01:00These intrepid DIYers.
01:02No, not on the...
01:04I 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.
01:33Cleaning with a toothbrush behind bars.
01:35While for this pair, one wrong move and centuries of history could come crashing down.
01:43I've never electrified a chandelier.
01:46And we picked the biggest chandelier we have in the chateau.
01:53Amongst the stunning countryside and vineyards of southwest France stands the breathtaking 15th century Chateau Lagosse.
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.
02:29Today, 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 Lagosse, the big thing is the setting.
02:51The three terraces, the monumental staircase, the Disney Tower, and 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.
03:09But 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!
03:28...last year, we saw Anna and Edward expand their business by hosting an event weekend, which included wine tasting...
03:38Left! Right!
03:39...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.
04:19It 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.
04:42I know that we've gone really high. Now let go.
04:45How's that?
04:46OK, 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.
05:09You mean?
05:09Well, recently. In the last 40 years, we'll say.
05:13Because we've never touched them. We'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.
05:45I'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...
05:59I'll just assist when I'm needed, but that's it. I can't...
06:03It's way over my head, all of this.
06:05OK, I'll see you in a bit.
06:07All right.
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,
07:01who run it as a thriving events 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,
07:33Erin and JB bought the chateau for £560,000 in 2018.
07:41And when we saw them last summer, they'd 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 the 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.
08:45Yeah. Well, we just need to make sure there's nothing fragile underneath.
08:48Great. I'll move the glassware.
08:51Not trusted with it.
08:53Yeah.
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.
09:12You broke it.
09:13And you're taking those too?
09:15Yeah. Do yours.
09:20Yeah.
09:24Okay.
09:25On that side, it's good.
09:26Yeah.
09:31It is still balanced-ish.
09:35Unhook yours.
09:38Yeah.
09:41You still holding it?
09:42Yeah.
09:43Can you drop it?
09:46Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're good, we're good.
09:49Hang on.
09:50I 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.
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?
10:27Yeah.
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, 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.
12:08Since 2022, It's Chatelain have been American-born Christina and her Iranian husband, Sasan.
12:17Cheers.
12:18Who 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...
12:37It'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,
12:45thinking there's a million projects that we have to get done.
12:48I 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.
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...
13:17Finally!
13:19A stunning makeover.
13:23And creating a high-end poolside dining area for their guests.
13:30...
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!
13:53Ah, 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.
14:32With four-metre-high iron gates, situated at the far end of a 500-metre driveway.
14:41This is just a cleaning product that you dissolve in house 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.
14:53So, 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.
15:24Hey, I think we're going to need clean water and more product, I think, because it's just getting dirty again.
15:29Yeah.
15:29Okay.
15:30Thanks.
15:31See you.
15:31Bye.
15:33While Christina makes the long walk back to the nearest tap, Sassan is already thinking about the next stage of
15:41their plan.
15:42Definitely wanted to change the colour of the gate.
15:46Originally, we were thinking to paint it the same colour as our shutters, but we were very much impressed by
15:54a few gates that were black with 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, 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
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.
16:46And 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?
17:22Hmm?
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.
17:55So, 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, 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.
18:20You 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, where if you had to chip it off
18:30by 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, because that room is a really beautiful time
18:54capsule.
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.
19:21Right, 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 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 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.
20:18It'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, 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.
20:39However, 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.
20:59You 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 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 prioritise 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.
22:09We live and work at home and we live and work for the home, even though the home is a
22:14huge scale.
22:14To maintain it and to make it look pretty, it's one's life mission.
22:20I think we both feel the same.
22:22And sharing it with people, there's nothing better because we have people that have been here last year,
22:30they're coming back this year for the Gourmet Wine Stay.
22:32We've had people that have been here five, six times over the last 20 years
22:37and there's nothing better than that 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.
22:48But the restoration work 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.
23:09And Edward thinks he's made an enormous mistake.
23:14Only 200 steps more to go.
23:23In the Vendée, in the western part of France, it's the day of Erin and JB's cocktail party.
23:30And 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.
24:05OK, 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.
24:18OK.
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 I'm not sure how much upper body strength I have for this thing, because
24:40it is very, very, very heavy.
24:42It's dense brass, it has all these extra kind of fittings and things on it as well, so it is
24:47a 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,
24:56which are obviously kind of floating from the ceiling, so I'm not very convinced that I'm going to do this
25:03in any elegant or skillful way,
25:05but I shall certainly have a go, and I think if it's too heavy, we'll have to try and find
25:09another solution before everyone arrives.
25:14OK.
25:15Are you ready?
25:15Yeah.
25:16Three, two, one.
25:17Jesus.
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.
25:39OK.
25:43Good.
25:45Ah!
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 a bit, like, is it worrying, right?
26:03Oh, brilliant.
26:06There's only one way to know for sure.
26:09Are the light bulbs fitting OK?
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 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.
26:46There'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.
27:04It 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.
27:16Their 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.
27:52Yeah.
27:52Because one of my criteria was that I wanted a tree-line drive.
27:56Yeah.
27:56And we saw a few places that were fantastic.
27:59But when we realized this property actually, it's eight hectares and three hectares of woods.
28:05To see the size of our woodland is quite special.
28:08Yeah.
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.
28:25We 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 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, Christina and Sasan are determined to make the entrance to it
29:23even more impressive.
29:25So, 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 color scheme.
29:53Sasan and I actually had differing opinions.
29:55I wanted to do it the same color, 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 meters 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 black on the parts that I'm
30:24going 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 color, 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,
30:50and see how it looks, and that's it.
31:02I think I, 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 colors.
31:18I think we've made fairly good progress today.
31:20I mean, the gates are huge.
31:21We knew that they would take a lot longer than we would expect,
31:24but we've at least got those done, and I can start to visualize 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 Lagasse in southwest France,
31:58Edward 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, 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, er, because I don't like the concrete joints,
32:46but you know what, it's turned out quite good.
32:48It's, er, it's looking like I've not really touched it,
32:51which 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?
33:07I've done.
33:07Can you come and, er, 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.
33:18Erm, it's the most important view because, you know,
33:21you, you see the, it went, we used to see the problem from below.
33:25Can'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, and that, that was the, like, the worst point,
33:58and that looks amazing now.
33:59Yeah.
33:59We won't be embarrassed coming back up every time we show people around now,
34:02will 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, but they're in keeping,
34:20they're looking good, and that's the main thing.
34:23It was pretty frightful going away, but coming back and see it all done
34:28and finished, that 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 in as good a time period as that,
34:39we'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
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, 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.
35:41Every time we walked somewhere, we 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 to kind of re-utilize and put up on top.
35:55Each stone pine cone, though, weighs an enormous 80 kilos.
36:01So they've called in local crane operator, Ludovic, to help.
36:06Do you agree with me to be here on the scale?
36:10Do you have money?
36:13Yes, exactly.
36:15The weight is on your crew.
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.
36:39I think I agree with the two.
36:42Well, I'm going to take care of the two.
36:52Once the first of the two pine cones is safely strapped up, they need to lift it up four metres
36:59onto 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 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?
37:50Yay!
37:55Thank you very much.
37:57Thank you for the next time.
38:00Good evening.
38:01Well, that is a massive relief to have those up.
38:04Good.
38:05Let's go.
38:05All right.
38:09A few weeks ago, these 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 colour scheme.
38:38And Christina's salvaged stone pine cones adorning 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!
38:54Yes!
38:54Yes!
38:55Yes!
38:56Yes!
38:57Yes!
38:58Yes!
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 colour.
39:35Yeah.
39:36And I think the pine cones, they look like they've always been there.
39:39So, I like it.
39:42Yeah.
39:43With a busy summer of bookings ahead, they'll soon be able to unveil them to their guests.
40:06The rest of the group are okay.
40:08The rest of the group are okay.
40:12The rest of the group are okay.
40:21And it's not a small wiring fault.
40:22We still have time before everyone arrives, so let's hope we can find a solution.
40:30Uh...
40:32There 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.
40:41Um...
40:42Don't know what it was.
40:42Bad connection.
40:43I'm not quite sure why.
40:44Uh...
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 gonna be blinnies with smoked salmon and a mix of dill, lime, creme fraiche and cracked
41:07pepper.
41:08Erin takes charge of the cocktails.
41:12I'm making an elderflower martini.
41:15So, it's a new one.
41:16I haven't tried.
41:16I love cocktails.
41:18Um...
41:18But I've been making my own elderflower cordial, so I thought this would be quite a nice touch
41:23to introduce elderflower 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?
41:52I know.
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.
42:30It'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, hello.
42:52...this once-neglected room is filled with new energy.
42:58Welcome to the Red Salon.
43:00Hello.
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.
43:13A lot of fiddly work, but finally, ta-da!
43:16We 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've done an amazing work.
43:38I 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.
44:01It's very nice to see it coming back to life again.
44:03Oh, very pleased.
44:04Yeah, I'm 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.
44:36Got it?
44:37Hands down.
44:37Recommend a cherry picker to anyone.
44:40And it's breaking point for others.
44:43Oh, my poor Patio.
44:45What have you done to it?
44:47Oh, dear.
44:49Oh, dear.
44:50Oh, dear.
44:52Oh, dear.
45:05Oh, dear.
45:06Oh, dear.
45:07Oh, dear.
45:07Oh, dear.
45:08Oh, dear.
45:08Oh, dear.
45:08Oh, dear.
45:08Oh, dear.
45:08Oh, dear.
45:09Oh, dear.
45:10Oh, dear.
45:14Oh, dear.
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