In this episode of Coffee Break at the Château, Mascha and Bérengère pull back the velvet curtain on the "glamorous" springtime reality of living in a 19th-century masterpiece.

While the exterior of Les Belles Ruries looks like a dream of white and pink blossoms, the interior has become a literal ice-box.

When the estate’s temperamental boiler, "The Beast," enters a permanent coma, Mascha is forced to host professional video calls with Dutch clients while wearing a fur hat, a scarf, and her husband's heaviest hunting jacket.

Meanwhile, just one kilometer away at Le Mortier, Bérengère reveals the "High Ceiling Tax"—the classic trade-off between the prestige of a Grand Salon and the warm toes of a cozy farmhouse.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The "Empire" Illusion: Why 19th-century architecture was designed for light, not for modern heating.

• The Beast vs. The Humans: The struggle of managing a historic boiler that prefers hibernation.

• Expat Diplomacy: How to explain purple knuckles and thermal layers to logical Dutch clients as a "local fashion statement".

• The 1km Commute: When to abandon the "Lady of the Manor" title for an espresso and a seat by a working stove.

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Music | Title : More Coffee ©Ealot

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