Elizabeth & Sam
Shabby-chic-loving antique restorers looking to bring their “Northern charm” to France and renovate a “doer-upper” chateau into rentable gites.
About Elizabeth & Sam
After meeting at a black-tie do in Wigan 20 years ago, the pair have been married for 18 years and live together in The Wirral, where Elizabeth grew up.
Elizabeth has always been creative and studied art at college. She qualified as a silversmith and goldsmith a few years ago, and also recently worked as a support worker for people with mental health. Elizabeth’s parents used to own an antique shop, which is where her love of furniture, upcycling and passion for home décor stemmed from.
Sam is originally from Bolton and works in an emergency control centre. Coincidentally (or some may say “fate”!) his parents also had an antique shop when he was growing up, and this shared bond and mutual experience led the couple to take on the mantle and re-open up the shop together.
The pair do everything together and are best friends. Sam says that his wife knows him even better than his twin brother!
Their DIY journey
Elizabeth and Sam are both very skilled when it comes to DIY, and together have completed 3 full property renovations. They love to restore properties back to their original look, including sourcing antique fireplaces, doors and other original features through auctions, Ebay etc.
The couple have a particular passion for renovating furniture, and have travelled the length and breadth of the country to source bargains! They used to run a furniture shop together, and specialised in antique and “shabby chic” pieces.
As well as their own homes, they have helped out in their families’ properties with jobs including installing bathrooms, kitchens, re-laying flooring, and putting up walls. Sam trained as a tiler several years ago, and between the two of them, there is nothing the pair are afraid of trying themselves.
The Dream
Buying a “doer-upper” property in France has been Elizabeth and Sam’s dream for many years. They both share fond memories of family holidays in France growing up, and have a mutual love for the country and culture.
They have previously looked at properties over there, but anything on a chateau-scale is out of their budget.
The plan would be to open up a B&B and have gites at the chateau. Sam used to work as a supervisor at an upscale wedding venue, and after working on several famous faces’ weddings, including fellow Boltonian, Paddy McGuinness, the pair would love to extend their hospitality background by also hosting events at the chateau.