Exploring Our Second Home Renovation Journey in Italy

PART 157: It might be interesting to share how we pulled off living in Italy for part of the year. I will post some steps and what we are learning along the way.

We love every minute of it, and what was once a dream is our life!

We live in Tuscany in the Fall, then return again in the Spring, and spend the rest of the time in California (as I explained in a previous blog, we only live in Italy part of the year).

Step 1: As we explore areas in Italy, we discover some gems worth sharing. Some are well-known tourist magnets, and others are lesser-known but always amazing. 

This week, let's dive into our second house renovation project in Italy, which we are about to start.

Step 2: Background

If you follow this blog, you are already up to date on our first house renovation in Italy.

Our life in Italy has evolved naturally over time. Initially, we rented a place in Puglia for a few weeks, where our friends lived. This turned into another rental for the summer, and eventually, we stayed there for a year.

After much soul-searching, we concluded that Tuscany would be a better fit for us. While we loved the beach life in Puglia, we found it too reminiscent of Southern California, our home. We ultimately decided to move closer to the historical and cultural sites that interest us, as well as to other European countries that are easily accessible by car.

We purchased an incredible 16th-century house in Tuscany, where we lived until recently. We have now sold that property and are preparing to embark on our second renovation project in the area.

Step 3: First reno project

When we decided to renovate our historical home in Arcidosso, we wanted to preserve its charm while updating the amenities to suit the needs of two Californians. We had no intention of flipping the house; we planned to enjoy it ourselves.

Having renovated two houses in California, we had some understanding of the process. However, we were unfamiliar with sourcing materials in our area and contracting trustworthy workers for the project.

Fortunately, we had two excellent realtors—who are now our friends—who connected us with a contractor, architect, and other skilled craftsmen.

One aspect of the renovation that went smoothly was the quality of the workmanship. Our contractor took charge and was determined to complete the project before we returned to California. Our architect was knowledgeable about local codes, enabling him to submit the necessary paperwork for the renovation and obtain approval within a week. Meanwhile, our realtor assisted us with additional connections, like internet services, green energy companies, etc.

But our main challenge was sourcing materials.

In any renovation, the number of decisions can be overwhelming: Which tiles should we choose? What appliances do we need? Where should we place the outlets? How do we address various issues? What shower base and door should we select? What type of water heater is best?

I could go on and on.

Although our contractor had his own sources for materials, their selections didn't always align with our vision. For instance, his choices for the two showers were perfect, but the options for bathroom vanities did not provide the storage space we required. Additionally, we had a specific type of tile in mind that would harmonize with the existing wall tile in one of the bathrooms, which we couldn't find among his suggestions.

Early in the renovation, we realized we needed to visit stores almost daily to explore materials and bring our preferences to our contractor's attention.

This was where we lost a significant amount of time.

We scoured small specialty shops for tiles, faucets, electric outlet covers, lighting fixtures, shelving, mirrors, and countless other items.

After searching local shops, we drove to Florence and visited Technomat, a store similar to Home Depot, where we discovered renovation materials that weren't available in our area.

For lighting fixtures, however, we hit a dead end. We envisioned a rustic Tuscan industrial style, but only found super modern or overly traditional options. Eventually, we turned to Amazon in Italy and found the exact look we were looking for.

By the time the renovation was halfway completed, we had figured out where to find materials: specialty stores for some items, Technomat for others, and online retailers for specific needs.

We hadn't planned to replace the kitchen when we bought the house, but once we started using it, we realized it didn't meet our needs. We asked around and traveled many kilometers to visit kitchen stores until we found one that fit our design and budget.

Ordering materials at the last minute often led to delays. For instance, it took a month for our kitchen to arrive and a week for our shower doors to come. When we ran out of materials, work had to stop until the deliveries arrived, which wasn't an efficient way to move the project forward.

We learned a great deal during this renovation, and as we begin our second reno project, we can approach it more efficiently.

Step 4: The question

When my partner asked me, after the renovation was completed, if I would consider selling the house, buying a bigger renovation project, and starting all over again, I said, "No way!"

However, after a couple of weeks, I began to reflect on the idea. We could put our knowledge to good use, tackle a larger renovation project, and end up with a bigger house.

At a certain point, I said, "Well…maybe."

That "maybe" eventually turned into a "yes," and now we have sold that house and are starting our second renovation project in Italy!

Step 5: What is it?

We are about to buy (as of this writing) and renovate a property located near our current home. This property is part of a six-unit building and is conveniently owned by one of our contractors, who will be working with us on its renovation and subsequent purchase.

What does the property look like? It resembles a large, empty cement box with windows and no charm. The space has been completely gutted and is awaiting someone to breathe new life into it.

With our first property, the challenge was to maintain its charm while updating the amenities. In contrast, the challenge with this new property will be to infuse it with charm while installing the necessary amenities. Currently, it lacks a kitchen, bathrooms, and showers; it simply consists of rooms and windows.

Can we take on this project? Will it be too much for us?

I believe we can handle it.

Step 6: Our method

I tend to be quite methodical. I developed this approach as a teacher; it was essential for managing grading, correcting papers, meeting with students, and handling numerous assignments. I established a system to ensure I covered all my bases.

As we embark on this new renovation project, even before making a purchase, we took measurements and created a floor plan. We used this plan to visit our local kitchen cabinetry store with our contractor to design the kitchen. We also digitally arranged the furniture on the floor plan to determine the best locations for outlets. Additionally, we figured out a solution for the washer and dryer. We even revisited some of our favorite stores to select tiles for the kitchen and bathroom, as well as lighting fixtures and faucets.

Now, instead of scrambling, we have each room planned out along with all its materials before we have even closed on the house. We know where to source every piece of material we will need.

With the materials chosen and lined up, the contractor in place, and the permits secured from the local government office, we are ready to proceed.

This renovation should go much more smoothly than our first one.

And if it doesn't, you will be the first to know.

More next time.

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