You might consider contacting a curator from Blois or Chambord. What with all the carved salamanders, the house could have belonged to a minister or other important person under Francois 1. As king, Francois 1 chose the salamander for his emblem because apparently it's the only animal that can walk through fire and survive. Thanks for the great tour.

@isabelled4871

23 күн бұрын

Yes. My theory is that they came from a long line of notaires royaux. You weren't a notaire around 1860 if your father wasn't also a notaire, and it goes on. A notaire royal was at the top and was appointed by the King. Maybe François 1er appointed the first one, and they were probably from the nobility (gens de robe = dealt with the Law) Or the haute bourgeoisie at least. Being notaires they were definitely well aware of their family's ancestry. The Law has always been serious business in France !

@MarianneInmarsilia

23 күн бұрын

Maybe you can replace the inner wooden doors in the front entrance hall with triple glazed glass doors to insulate from sound and cold whilst preserving the pretty front doors. That strange looking plug is actually a mini fuse “box” for a few extra plugs or switches that were added at some point. You obviously need to have the electrics all redone ! ⚡️ 💡 Your new home is lovely and going to be really beautiful when you’re done with it ❤

WOW

I am so excited to see how you progress through this process. I love that you are looking into all of the historical detail. I wonder if you have met Pamela Shields? She's a British historian and writer who lives in Amboise and she is super knowledgeable on much of the history that could open up pathways to understanding the architecture of your house. If you haven't had the chance to connect and are interested, I can make introductions.

Oh my, what a wonderful house! So much light and space and possibilities. And work, of course. Bon courage. 👏🏽

@AustintoAmboise

21 күн бұрын

Merci beaucoup!

It’s a great property. So excited to watch the renovations take place

It's so beautiful! Thanks for the full tour. I just renovated a 5,000 square foot house, so I understand the weight the work ahead can carry .. but as you finish each project, you'll be encouraged to keep going! I'll also say... My home in France won't need quite as much work 🙌.

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

I bet you're relieved to have a smaller project when you move to France! So exciting - can't wait to see more!

The library is just outstanding 😊

Good morning! Just wanted to suggest getting a little cooking plate either electric if your electricity system can handle it or a double camping stove with a little gas bottle... that would allow you to cook for yourself and save you having to go out every time you want a hot meal...

@AustintoAmboise

21 күн бұрын

We should have a stove delivered shortly. Fingers crossed! 🤞

Handsome home! It has such good bones. Those living room walls might be hemp board or hemp plaster or even horse hair. I've got hemp board in an older house and most of it is covered in wallpaper by former owners. Peeling back, scouring off the wallpaper paste, and lightly plastering any super rough parts has yielded good textures. I'm now priming and painting and the finish looks like it's all hand plastered. 😊 Good luck!

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

Interesting! I bet your walls will be beautiful. Thanks for watching!

It can be overwhelming especially when you are alone. It is baby steps. Have heart.

@AustintoAmboise

24 күн бұрын

Thankfully I'm only alone temporarily. 🙂 Thanks for watching!

Glorious fireplace!!! Love the tour, thank you 😊

It’s easy to find correct spelling / usage of French. Grande and petite are feminine forms, but salon is a masculine noun. Of course, if you talk about it in English, you might say “petite” because you pronounce the t, but when you write it out, you will show you are savvy by leaving off the e when referring to le petit salon or le grand salon. What a great opportunity to observe and listen to the language around you. Wishing you well! (Ph.D. In French here)

@AustintoAmboise

22 күн бұрын

I'm not savvy yet, obviously! 😂 Many mistakes will be made as I'm just learning French. But I would much rather try and make glaring errors than worry too much about always being correct, which makes me nervous to even try (which is exactly what I went through when living in Germany in my twenties). Thanks for watching!

What a beautiful home! Perfect size too! I'm dying to see the hobbit house!

I just love your art nouveau chandelier in the petit salon. The Escher style tiles on the doorway floor between the petite salon and the sale a` manger are found in many pre-war villas in Italy. I have seen them on stair landings, and common room floors, not in kitchens. When you retile the front hallway, may I suggest you use a tile border in whatever design you choose. It will frame the area nicely, and is a common practice in old stately villas (of any size). The colors in the floor tiles, the stained glass door windows, and the hearth tiles of the sale a` manger leads me to believe that the green and black tiles in the fireplace surround are not original, albeit quite old. If one is loose and can be safely pried off, you may see the older tile under the cement. But, in the modernist aesthetic, you could leave the green tiles and be creative in your paint colors. I believe the hearth tiles are newer than the original floor tiles as well. It's hard to be sure just with the video, but that's my guess. The green tiles in the fireplace surround in the library however, are different. The old French tiles were definitely installed whenever the library was built and decorated with the salamander motif (1500's?). I'm glad you are going to use it as an office, as I'm confident it was always an office. And I think the push buttons were bells for clients to use in the early days of electricity. Again, hard to really know from just the video. It is clear to me that a diplomat, or lower level member of the court, lived in that house and worked there centuries ago. I also think off the kitchen area there was a room suitable for a live-in cook/maid. The toilet room was normal when they were first installed because typically a maid's bedroom would have a sink in it. You see those a lot in the top level bedrooms of old villas. Thanks for the great tour! Buona fortuna, dall'Italia.

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

Love the idea of the border on the entrance way tile! We would love to add one. As for the library/office - it's most likely not as old as the 1500s. The house seems to be a jumbled mix of more than one house, and perhaps some part of it is very very old, but it doesn't have any Renaissance era details that we have found. One of the plaster figures in the painted alcove has a date of 1902, so we think that's when that room was decorated, in a Gothic revival style.

@ciaobella8963

17 күн бұрын

@@AustintoAmboise That would make sense. The Gothic revival style was popular for many years. Like I said, it's hard knowing anything for sure through a video. But I am certainly enjoying your videos. Buona giornata!

het is een prachtig groot huis ik denk dat de bibliotheek vroeger een trouwzaal is geweest ik versta de taal niet altijd goed maar was het vroeger geen gemeente huis dan zou het wel kunnen

Great tour of your house. Thank you! We are off to France in 11 days. So excited❤️.

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

Bon voyage! Have a wonderful trip!! 😀

Your house will be fabulous when some love is given to it. Yes the European terminology will take some getting used to, but ground floor is actually the ground floor, what you call stained glass is lead light glass,,,,, and French bureaucracy does take forever but worth it

Nice tour of your property , a lot of work ,in front of you , but I am wondering with which room you will start !!!...bon courage ...,in your french too ...

Have you looked into creating your own encaustic tiles for your entry? That might be a fun way to feed your artisitc side and interesting to watch.

@toots4205

23 күн бұрын

p.s. I think adding an entry vestibule is a great idea! It could solve so many problems, noise, cold air and privacy, without taking away any integrity of your home. Can't wait to see what you guys decide!

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

Creating my own encaustic tiles would be amazing and fun, but with so much to do, I don't think I want to take that on. Cool idea though!

@toots4205

16 күн бұрын

@@AustintoAmboise I totally understand that. Might be a fun project for one of your art retreats when you guys are ready.

I wonder if it would be worth the time and money to lower your front entrance electric boxes so they could be in or under console type tables . Consoles would be useful to put keys on when entering 🥰❣️

@AustintoAmboise

24 күн бұрын

We haven't decided what to do with those cabinets yet, but console tables would be much nicer!

That beautiful library would be a great tv room

In France the ground floor is the parterre. It is called the same in the Netherlands.

Loved the video! 😊

Thank you for the whole house tour. I’m loving your channel and can’t wait to see how your renovation progresses. Keep up the good work.

@AustintoAmboise

22 күн бұрын

Thanks so much! 😊 So glad you're enjoying the videos and coming along for the ride!

Love the library for sure!! i wonder if there are any secret openings in the mantel piece?? Also maybe more surprises behind the book shelf next to the alter opening??? Can't wait!!!

@AustintoAmboise

22 күн бұрын

Possibly! We have looked and not found anything else hiding yet, but who knows...

So many beautiful features that you can transpose throughout the house , there is so much history, so excited for you both 😊 ….definitely a religious room

love love love the linen fold touches on the doors and fireplaces!

I was surprised to see so many bathrooms upstairs. Don't really see that much from yesteryear. Very charming.

You ought to include a chateau reference in your title…..the chateau-verse has a large following….as you already know….your property has potential, be careful with renovations, weather there you have to consider letting brick breath , etc….do your home work….and seek out your fellow transplants to France, they can have great advice for you….😊

@AustintoAmboise

22 күн бұрын

Yes, I've been contemplating different ways of using the word "chateau" in my titles, descriptions & tags, and trying different things. It's important to not use the word in a way that is misleading, because if the algorithm gods view it that way it will really backfire on me and I'll get far less traction with my videos. But I did add the phrase "chateau vibes" to this title - let's see how that works! 🙂 Thanks for watching!

Wow what a massive house you and Partick have! Excited to see how you'll renovate it before it becomes a stunner. Great ideas a d all the best. Very happy to know you won't be there alone soon.

Might be worth testing for asbestos- there are companies who do that to avoid expense. The plaster and paintwork looks 19th century to me like the La Lande chapel. Notaries were important people in French towns and villages so maybe another line of enquiry. They had money to spend to make their offices look impressive to their clients (Maybe the decorations were done by a client?).The French like to switch up the decor quite regularly - I think that accounts for most of the covering up of stuff - it's great that some featues survived the 1920s/30s/40s 50s/60s/70s. Also a house like would have had 2 or 3 maids/housekeepers doing cooking and cleaning and they would have to work around the quirks in the house etc. Bonne chance avec votre renovations! Over and out from the UK!

@LetsBuyAChateau

19 күн бұрын

That's a good idea... It being the home of a Notaire!

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

We are fairly certain it was the home of a notaire.

Thanks for the tour ! I'm excited to see the journey ! That garden area has great potential as well ! It's like a secret garden ❤

@AustintoAmboise

21 күн бұрын

That's exactly what we think. Our own little secret garden in the city. We are so lucky to have it!

I'm only a few min into this video, I couldn't wait, I just have to tell you how refreshing and interesting your videos are because you are so honest about your reno. I love that you show the "real " before. The stuff that others seem too embarrassed to show, but it's what I find more interesting and inspirational. So thank you ♥ I love your place, even with the street noise 😊

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

Wow, thank you! 😊 So glad you're finding our videos fun to watch and inspirational.

So many wonderful features. I know that you will make the most of them. Thanks for taking us along.

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching!

👏👏👏🥰

The last video you said you would let us see the furniture you bought....when can we see it?.....can't wait

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

I just posted a new video that shows the furniture and decor I've gotten so far from the brocante and the auctions! 🙂

Grand Salon

7:40 Yes, I would guess that the dining room tiles are much older, perhaps original. Two things to note: First, the colors were popular during the Gothic Revival period, and your house has stunning Gothic Revival details. So they go with that. Second, the tile pattern has a border running around the perimeter, which your black & white does not. No self-respecting tile setter in the 19th century would have set tiles without a border! The black & white floor was certainly post WW2. If you decide to re-do the black & white, even if you continue with the B&W color scheme, please do consider setting a border. It would be a nice touch. 18:43 I remember when you removed the fabric wall covering in the alcove and found the red wall. It looks like you'll find something in the other alcove as well. I'm noticing that the decoration painted under the arch gets cut off. I suspect there are another few inches behind the back of that alcove and the painted decoration continues further.

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

Thanks so much for your very interesting and informative comments. I hadn't thought of the house as having Gothic Revival style, but I totally see it now! Also, we took another look at the alcove where the painting is cut off, and we think you're right. We're guessing it was a wide doorway there that has been closed off at some point. Wish we could knock the wall through and see what's there. Don't think the neighbors would like that though. 😅

Im glad you watch Stephanie's chan so you can really appreciate the paintwork in your home , just amazing ! One of the first things i would do is live with it / figure out what walls can be removed . Personally, i love sight lines open airy aesthetic. Since we have such better cooling heating tech maybe so many little rooms wouldnt be needed ? 🥰

@AustintoAmboise

23 күн бұрын

We don't want to change too much about the structure/character of the house, so I don't know if we'll be removing any walls. Thanks for watching!

@lorie76yt

23 күн бұрын

@@AustintoAmboise Good! To each his own of course, but sometimes I don’t understand why people buy an old house and then just renovate the character right out of it Buy a new house and leave the old stuff to the ones who love it ❤ Anyway, love what you’re doing 👍🏻 :)

I have a suggestion about haw to keep the old front door - its the face of the house ! : I understand about the old uneven floor - replace the first part with same same color tiles and put up a glass por ch/ windbraker and allow the old floor to continue from here - please dont rib out to much it is the soul of the house and the proportions and patina is so important …

@AustintoAmboise

23 күн бұрын

We're not going to remove the front door! That's not the idea at all. We're putting in a partially glass set of doors inside, like a little porch like you are describing. 🙂 As for the floor, that is a really nice idea to leave the old tile at the front (inside the little porch). Thanks for watching!

Beautiful house! ❤

Keep up the good work. New Orleans.

Hi Beth, I’d be interested to know what your plans are for the big bedroom.

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

Well we aren't exactly sure, we just know that we want to restore the boiserie. We want to keep what we can and remodel in a way that preserves the historic elements as much as possible, while also creating a comfortable guest bedroom.

What a bright, interesting house! A real treasure along with the garden..And your videos are very enjoyable! Little detail, I noticed you wrote " grande salon" and "petite salon" on screen ... it should be "grand salon" and "petit salon" . It's that persnickety french masculine/feminine grammar rule.... In french, salon is a masculine word so you use the masculine versions of adjectives to describe it. Grand and petit/masculine. Grande and petite / feminine :)))))

@AustintoAmboise

22 күн бұрын

Merci! 😂 Many mistakes will be made as I'm just learning French. But I would much rather try and make glaring errors than worry too much about always being correct, which makes me nervous to even try (which is exactly what I went through when living in Germany in my twenties). Thanks for watching!

@pomme800

22 күн бұрын

@@AustintoAmboise Absolutely, I agree and your French neighbors will love you for it. The only way to learn a new language. I'm so sorry my comment came across as critical, it wasn't meant to be but tone doesn't translate on paper...I will be mindful of that in the future.I so admire the way you are tacking this life project, the care and research you are putting in....Bravo ❣..and much encouragement from Montreal xxx😘

@AustintoAmboise

22 күн бұрын

Merci beaucoup! And I did not find your comment too critical. Pas de souci! 😊

and Petit Salon. (au masculin)

"Grand Salon", not "grande". Gender matters a lot in french. Which is the most difficult part of. the language. If you need new concrete tiling or even old concrete tiling, there's a marvellous street in Pézénas where all the brocante shops are located and the fabulous tile-maker who will make them to order if need be.

@AustintoAmboise

22 күн бұрын

Merci! 😂 Many mistakes will be made as I'm just learning French. But I would much rather try and make glaring errors than worry too much about always being correct, which makes me nervous to even try (which is exactly what I went through when living in Germany in my twenties). That town sounds incredible, but it's a long way from Amboise, so working with a tile maker there is probably too impractical for us right now. Thanks for watching!

Dear Beth, the plug at 14:48 is most probably for old cables to connect the TV to the TV antenna that you probably have on the top of your roof. Probably completely useless now. Your house has a great potential and Amboise is such a nice city. Me and my family live near Paris but we have a country house near Loches. Touraine is so great! Kind regards

@fabricechenille7458

23 күн бұрын

… and the cable behind you @24:46 is most probably an extension

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

Thanks for the info! And thanks for watching. 😊

At 14:48, the white box seems to be a circuit breaker.

If you have to upgrade the electric, will you have to pull down more wall plaster? You’ll probably have to wait to do the electric before certain projects can be completed I imagine.

@AustintoAmboise

21 күн бұрын

We're planning to have the electric redone this fall. None of the walls are in a finished state right now; every room needs renovation. So it will be the perfect time to do it! Thanks for watching!

Incredible! Wondering how much your home cost 🏠

@AustintoAmboise

17 күн бұрын

The pricing of homes in Amboise is varied of course, based on size, location, condition, etc. We were lucky to find a house and garden of this size right in the old quarter. It seems to be a bit of a rarity. But here's the website for the realtors that sold us this house, Nestenn. You can browse their listings to get some idea: nestenn.com/?action=listing&prestige=0&transaction=acheter&list_ville=37400+Amboise

Sorry, hope you don't mind me correcting the french!

@AustintoAmboise

24 күн бұрын

Of course not! Thanks for your help. There will be tons of mistakes. 😂

@laceyjane4285

24 күн бұрын

Exciting times ❤

Lots of potential. Yikes! Some of those tiles are "interesting".

@AustintoAmboise

21 күн бұрын

Ha ha! Indeed they are. Thanks for watching!