Lessons Learned During Our Tuscan Home Renovation Journey

PART 151: 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 back again in the Spring, and in California for the rest of the time (in a previous blog, I explained why we live in Italy only 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 stay closer to home and reflect on some things we are learning as we renovated our house in Tuscany.

Step 2: Contractor and architect and local codes

We began our renovation project in Tuscany, thinking that, similar to our previous renovation in California, we simply needed a contractor to start the work. As the house is in a historical center, we assumed that we wouldn't need any approvals or permits as long as we didn't alter the exterior. We soon realized we were mistaken; we had to file paperwork before we could begin.

Our contractor mentioned, "I have an architect I've worked with for years. He can handle the paperwork and obtain the necessary approvals for you."

We learned that either an architect or a "geometra" , is essential for researching local building codes and managing the paperwork needed to initiate major renovations on a property. We also discovered that working with an architect with a good relationship with the contractor can significantly streamline the process.

Our architect was reasonably priced compared to the costs in California. He conducted inspections before, during, and after the work, ensuring everything complied with local codes. The paperwork was submitted to government office in Grosseto, and he got it approved within a few days.

When it comes to finding a reliable architect, "geometra" or contractor, recommendations from realtors or local friends are the best resources. Fortunately, we were referred to an excellent architect and contractor who performed quality work at a reasonable price.

Remember: things work more smoothly and quickly in Italy through relationships.

Step 3: Looking for materials: Speciality shops versus big box stores like Tecnomat

When we started renovating our house in Tuscany, we asked our contractor to source all the materials for us, including tiles, vanities, showers, and lighting, as we were unfamiliar with where to find supplies in Italy.

After spending a few days on-site, we discovered a mix of specialty shops and big-box stores in our area of Tuscany. It seemed that in Italy, at least in our part of Tuscany, there were either expensive specialty shops offering a wide range of products—from tiles to custom bathrooms—or large big-box stores, with little in between.

We decided to refine some of our contractor's choices and see if we could build our renovation project around a selected color palette and theme while keeping in budget.

Initially, we visited the specialty shops and found some unique tiles for our kitchen backsplash that complemented our chosen decor color of green.

However, we noticed that some of the smaller specialty stores dramatically increased our budget for showers, bathroom vanities, faucets, lighting, and other renovation materials.

We set out to find sources for general renovation materials, such as showers, faucets, sinks, toilets, and more. We discovered Tecnomat, which is Italy's closest equivalent to Home Depot. We drove to the location near Florence to explore their selection and look for shower tiles that we needed for the next day. To our pleasant surprise, we found a wide variety of options and were able to select the right color and size. Additionally, we came across good-quality toilets, mirrors, vanities, and faucets that could be useful for future renovation projects. We concluded that Tecnomat is an excellent source of essential renovation materials.

Step 4: Swapping out a kitchen

We found that we could replace our kitchen, including all the appliances, for less than it would cost in the U.S. In Italy, it's common to purchase a complete kitchen package that includes cabinets and appliances, often with installation included. Deciding to install a new kitchen was an easy choice for us.

Step 5: Ordering materials and waiting

In our region of Tuscany, several independently owned home and builder supply stores exist. Most materials, such as tiles, showers, sinks, and toilets, must be ordered rather than readily available in stock. We initially assumed that everything displayed in the stores would be in stock, but this was often untrue. As a result, work sometimes had to stop while we waited for orders to arrive.

In the future, understanding this situation will help us submit orders well before we need the materials from local suppliers.

Step 6: Visiting Ikea is helpful

During our renovation, we realized that the bathroom we were designing lacked sufficient storage. The existing bathroom had no drawers or cabinets, and the flat wall mirror provided no extra space for our bathroom supplies. We visited a local builders' supply store to explore various vanities and storage options, but we couldn't find anything that suited our design or needs.

"I don't want to step into an IKEA in Italy!" I told my partner months earlier. However, we needed storage ideas and didn't know where else to go.

Fortunately, the trip was helpful, as it gave us ideas even if we decided to purchase elsewhere.

While exploring the model bathrooms at IKEA, we came up with great solutions to create more storage in our space. In fact, we decided to cancel the order for the bathroom vanity we had initially placed with our local building supply store and found a different option elsewhere that offered ample storage.

Whether you choose to purchase or not, visiting IKEA is a fantastic way to browse and gather ideas for a renovation.

Step 7: Local stores and Amazon

I prioritize supporting local stores over big box retailers or Amazon. Down the street from us in our town, there is an electronics store where we bought our clothes dryer, toaster, and a shop vacuum.

When we need materials for our renovation, we first explore local businesses. If they don't have what we're looking for, we head to Tecnomat. If we still can't find it there, we go to Amazon.

We recently needed to replace the lighting fixtures in our home but couldn't find anything that matched the modern Tuscan style we were trying to achieve at our local stores. The options available either appeared too old-fashioned or too "space age" modern. In the end, we turned to Amazon, where we easily found lighting fixtures that suited the style of our house. If anything arrived and looked different than expected, we returned it to Amazon through our local post office.

Our rule of thumb is to first check local businesses, then big box stores, and lastly, Amazon.

As we embark on our journey of building a life in Italy and renovating our house in Tuscany, we are learning valuable lessons along the way. One of the most important discoveries we've made is that relationships matter and referrals are essential. We now view this process as an adventure rather than merely something to endure.

More next time.

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