Château du Plessis

House Guide: Gold Room

The Gold Room (a.k.a. "Marie-Antoinette" room) is one of the two bedroom suites located on the first floor. The suite is accessed by climbing the spiral staircase in the tower at the end of the Entry hall.  You enter the room through the door on the right hand side of the landing via a small hall.  For your convenience, you might want to fully open the curtain hiding the door.  There is a light switch immediately to the right of the door, and another one on the left side of the door leading to room itself.

• Lights
• Windows, Curtains, Shades & Shutters
• Bathroom & Dressing Room
• Linens
• TV & Radio
• Heat & Fans
• Locks
• Fireplace

Lights

Since there are perhaps a few too many switches scattered around the room, the following is a list of the switches locations as well as their purposes:
On the left side as you enter the room:  There are 2 light switches by the door:
• The left rocker switches operate the two sconces by the bed.
• The right rocker switches operate the lamp on the right side of the chimney
By the bed (West or closest from the door):  There are 2 switches by the bed:
• The switch closest to the bed operates the 2 sconces by the bed
• The switch farthest from the bed operates the bedside lamp.
By the bed (East or farthest from the door): There are 2 switches by the bed:
• The switch closest to the bed operates the 2 sconces by the bed
• The switch farthest from the bed operates the bedside lamp.
Manual Switches: 
• The torchere by the door is operated by a sliding dimmer switch on the floor
• The lamp on the left side of the chimney is operated by a switch on the cord.
• The lamp on the chest od drawers is operated by a switch on the cord.
• The lamp on the round table is operated by a switch on the cord. It is on a timer (6:45AM to 8:AM and 8:30PM to 11:30PM) and can be left "on" if convenient to you (it is to us)

Windows, Curtains, Shades & Shutters

In summer time, we tend to keep one or both windows open.  However, the windows must be closed (particularly the West side window) during rain falls.  We always lower the screen when a window is opened.  In winter, we usually keep both windows closed.  At night we lower the shades for privacy.
Windows open toward the inside in France.  This requires some thought and care when operating the windows.  Before opening the windows, the drapes and the balloon shades must be open.  Before opening and closing the screens, the window must be opened.  Before opening or closing the shutters the windows and the screens must be open.  Sounds confusing?  Well it is, but you will rapidly get the hang of it.
Both windows are equipped with:
• 1 set of drapes opening with a cord on the right side of the window
• 1 set of balloon shades, operating vertically with a roll chain or horizontally with a cord on the left side of the window
• 1 sliding window screen (“moustiquaire”) operating with a spring loaded pull in the middle of the window
• 1 pair of shutters folding to the “open” position and secured with a rotating clamp, sliding inside of the steel plate in the “closed” position.
Windows:  Before opening or closing the windows:
• First lower the balloon shades and then open them fully with the cord (left and side)
• Open the drapes with the right hand cord
• To open or close the shutters, the window must be open. 
• Before closing the windows, make sure that the screen is fully raised.
Screens:  The screens are in fact rollup shades outside the windows.  To close the shades, open the windows (see above) and pull the cord down.  To lock the shades down push the little white plate on both sides all the way down and lock by pushing the little switch toward the frame.  Make sure the screen is securely locked before releasing the cord (the spring is pretty strong and the screen will fly open and stop with a loud crash, perhaps tearing or breaking if you let go of the cord).
To raise the screen, grab the cord, and push inward the 2 little white locks at the bottom.  Slowly raise the shade holding the cord until it is fully raised (the spring is pretty strong and the screen will fly open and stop with a loud crash, perhaps tearing or breaking if you let go of the cord).
Shutters:  The shutters provide security and privacy. To close the shutters, first open the windows (see above).  Then unlock the rotating clamp, and unfold the shutters while making sure that they unfold inside the steel plate.  You can lower the screens with the shutters closed if you keep the window opened.  You must raise the screens if you want to close the window with the shutters closed.

Bathroom and Dressing Room

The access to the bathroom is through the small hall just outside of the room.  The dressing room is through the angled painted door at the end of the room.  In it you will find a portable ironing board and a steam iron.  We usually take them out to the bedroom.  To turn on the iron, just plug it in any of the outlets.  The iron is heavy and delivers steam in abundance, so you will need to refill it every 5 or 10 minutes.  The iron has an automatic shut-off feature, but we prefer to unplug it as soon as we are finished.
The dressing room should have ample room for your belongings.  Most empty suitcases will fit in the dressing room as well.  There is a library step stool to reach the upper shelves.  To access the drawers, make sure to fully open the curtain hiding the shelves and drawers.

The bathroom is heated via the towel rack which is connected to the central heat.  There is an independent electrical heating switch but we prefer that you do not use it.  The bathroom is quite warm enough when the heat is on, and when the heater is off as well.
The bathroom fan is “ON” all the time and is quite effective, so there is no need to open the door for ventilation.  Be sure to securely close the shower door when taking a shower.  If by accident you spill water on the floor, be sure to wipe it off as soon as possible as the bathroom floor is not waterproof.  There is a squeegee inside the shower wall.  We appreciate it if you would squeegee the shower door after each shower as water drops leave permanent stains on the glass door.
To take a shower you turn the left side valve the opposite way to the “shower" icon.  The right side valve controls the temperature.  35 degrees is comfortably warm.  For “hot” shower you might want to go to 40 degrees by depressing the safety lock button.  Be sure to test the water temperature to avoid scorching.
There is a hair dryer is the third drawer.  The mirrors open with push/pull locks.  You can use the “medicine” cabinet to store your toiletries when staying here.  We would very much appreciate your wiping off and drying the marble sink area as standing water tends to leave permanent water spots on marble.
The toilet has two flush buttons; the small one gives a light flush, the large one a double flush.
All bathroom supplies and cleaning products are stored in the cabinet below the sink on the left side.

Linens

There is one set of clean bed linens on the bed, and two change sets in the armoire (one cotton set for summer and one flannel set for colder nights) or in the bench seat at the foot of the bed.  Each set is composed of:
• a contour queen sheet
• a flat top sheet
• 4 pillow casesThere are 2 full sets of towels in the bathroom and a full 2 replacement sets under the right hand sink. 

TV & Radio

You will find a Radio and a TV in the armoire.  The remotes are in the armoire. The radio is normally tuned to “France Classique” (102.5) which is a very good station.  To turn the radio on press the “power” switch.  To play a CD simply push the “open” tray” and insert the media.  Then depress the “play” switch.  To turn off, press the “power” switch.
To turn the TV “on” press any of the channel number 1 to 7.  Channel 1 through 6 is distributed via a French satellite dish on the roof.  To switch channel simply push the appropriate number or the Program + or – button (right side of the remote).  The volume controls are on the left side of the remote.  The icons are almost intuitive.
To watch CNN, BBC or other select “channel 7”.  This will select the “international satellite”.  If there is no picture you need to turn the satellite box “ON”.   To turn the box on or off as well as to select the desired channel you will need to use the black CanalSat remote.  For specific operation and channel directory, please refer to the TV operation section in the “House Manual”.
Note:  Make sure to leave all 3 remotes in the armoire upon departure.

Heat & Fans

The central heater on the 3rd floor is pretty sophisticated and keeps the room and the bathroom comfortably warm during the winter season.  The heater is usually turned off from May through September.  Should you run into a cold spell, please contact the Gardien or Karen to have them turn the heater “on”. 
There is a day and night setting.  The day setting keeps the room to between 65 degrees and 68 degrees (depending somewhat on rapid shifts in outside temperature and more likely on which door is kept open or closed.  The night setting (10 PM to 6 AM) keeps the room between 60 degrees and 64 degrees.
The bathroom setting is 2 to 4 degrees warmer.
During the summer, the weather can be warm and humid.  Usually opening both windows fully (see window section above) will provide adequate ventilation with a gentle East-West cross draft.  However, if it gets particularly warm, you might want to use the ceiling fans.  DO NOT pull the chains hanging from the fans.  Instead, the fans are operated via a white remote control unit located on top of each night stand.  There are 2 buttons.  The top one is inoperative as the fans do not have a light feature. The lower switch operates the 3 speed fan.  The icon and the display indicate the chosen speed. Note:  Make sure to leave each remote on top of the respective night stand upon departure.

Locks

All doors have key locks or privacy locks.  The door to the tower stairwell locks with a key.  Please keep the key in the lock at all times.  The door to the Balzac room can be locked with a key either from the Balzac room, or from the hallway side.  Depending on your relationship with whomever occupies the “Balzac” room you might decide to permanently lock that door or to keep it open to allow both rooms to communicate.
Both bedroom doors have key locks.  The dressing room does not have a lock.
The bathroom has a privacy lock from the bathroom side.

Writing Desk

Before using the writing desk, please pull out the two metal rails on each side (below the fold down door) in order to support the writing surface. Make sure you pull them out all the way to prevent scratching the fold down lid.

Fireplace

The fireplace is decorative only.  Please do NOT light a fire in the bedroom under any circumstances.

Feel free to browse or read any of the books or listen to any of the CD’s.  However, we will appreciate your not removing any of them from the room.  We welcome your comments on how we can make the room more comfortable or enjoyable.  Feel free to comment on these instructions if anything is unclear or incomplete (or unnecessary for that matter).