We are back for an exclusive tour of the magnificent Chateau Tour, and this time, we are heading upstairs! The dynamic duo behind the estate, Angela and Dick, are our guides, offering a vibrant peek into the heart of their wedding business. They are in the midst of final preparations for a bustling three-day wedding event, but they carved out time to show us the stunning transformations in two key suites: the Honeymoon Suite and the Potagerie Suite.
The adventure begins in the Honeymoon Suite, which has undergone a complete refresh this year to get it up and running for the wedding season. Angela, who is intimately involved with the brides, explains that every room needed some love. The suite is grand, described on the original architect plans as the most important bedroom of the house. A major change includes a minimized bar area, with a fridge now discreetly placed, upholding the house rule that you should never be more than five meters away from a bottle of bubbly.
The room’s evolution is detailed, moving from a space that initially had no sofa and only blinds on the windows to its current elegant state. Soft, sand-textured paint from Little Greene adorns the walls, creating a gentle, waterfall-like effect without the repeat pattern of wallpaper. The focal point is a reproduction Louis bed, chosen after a long search for something suitably grand, now adorned with fourteen pillows and cushions. From the window, there is a new view of the active work happening in the walled garden below, a project we are promised more details on later.
Next, we are led into the turret area, affectionately dubbed the Wallpaper Museum. This space holds deep personal history, born from a treasure trove of vintage wallpaper salvaged from the attic just before it was nearly discarded. The harlequin diamond pattern lends a whimsical, theatrical feel. Now, it serves a poignant purpose: when the Bride Comes, she often leaves her wedding dress here the night before the wedding. It becomes a sacred, photographed moment, whether the couple stays together in the suite or not. The room is filled with eclectic finds, including two large chairs from Barnard Castle and a unique egg timer purportedly meant for “ladies of the night.”
Our journey continues into the Potagerie Suite, a room Dick originally named the Photography Suite for its views. Angela reveals this space was a love token to Dick and Sophie. It overlooks Dick’s cherished walled garden, a feature any gardener would covet. The decor is a playful, thematic nod to the garden with art deco carrots, bees, and depictions of alliums in the wallpaper. The ensuite bathroom is a standout, featuring a notable copper and emerald green color scheme and a spectacular shower head that, while beautiful, has the quirky trait of dripping until it empties after use.
The tour winds down in a corridor that acts as a family gallery, filled with cross-stitch, watercolors, and illustrations. As Angela departs to get her nails done for the upcoming wedding, the camera remains with Quinton, who offers a final guided look at these personal mementos. The entire walkthrough showcases a labor of love, where every imperfection in the wall tells a story, and every investment, from a roller iron for efficiency to vintage finds, is made with their wedding guests and family legacy in mind.
