Our Italian Adventure: Before and After Our House Renovation

PART 119: 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 that are worth sharing. Some are well-known tourist magnets, and others are lesser-known but always amazing.

This week let's explore how our house renovation is going.

Step 2: We fell in love with our Tuscan home as soon as we saw it, but we knew some changes were necessary to fit our lifestyle. We didn't want to remove walls or make structural alterations, but we hoped to make it more "user-friendly," especially for American tastes, so we would feel more comfortable.

Here are some before and after images of our home renovation in Tuscany.

Step 3: The Kitchen

The original built-in kitchen was beautiful but not practical for us. It had minimal storage and no dishwasher, and the stovetop relied on a propane tank under the sink. The sink was also tiny, and there were no drawers for silverware and other utensils.

Before/After

We decided to remove the old kitchen and purchased and installed a new one featuring an electric stove/oven, a dishwasher, a large sink with a dish sprayer, and plenty of drawers and storage options.

The new kitchen actually occupies less space than the original and gives the room a more sleek and modern feel.

Since our pantry adjacent to the kitchen is too small for a refrigerator, we knew the fridge would need to be placed in the main room. To make it visually interesting, we chose a 1950s-style refrigerator and microwave.

Step 4: Converting the Dining Room into a Living Room

In our house, one main room was originally furnished with a large dining table in the center, which occupied most of the space. This room functioned as both a kitchen and dining area, leaving no room for a living space.

We didn't want a room dominated by a massive table with a sofa pushed against one wall. Our goal was to create a genuine living room with a sofa, chairs, a rug in front of a fireplace, and a smaller table for meals.

To achieve this, we explored space-saving furniture options and discovered a wooden dining table that folds up against the wall, resembling a mantelpiece. We also found some space-saving living room furniture with a mid-century modern design. To maintain unity between the kitchen and living room, we decided to continue with the green theme of the kitchen cabinets.

As a result, we now have a cozy living room with a fireplace and a dining area that we can open up during mealtimes. We chose not to place a TV in the main room but created a snug TV area upstairs.

Before/After

Step 5: Lighting

We frequently bumped our heads on the house's lighting fixtures, most of which were pendant lights. We desired a more modern industrial aesthetic for the lighting, so we searched extensively for rustic fixtures that would sit closer to the ceiling.

Our initial attempt to create an industrial lighting effect on the beams didn't turn out as expected, so we decided to redo the lighting by installing cable lighting between the rustic ceiling beams. The new lighting perfectly complements our home's Tuscan, mid-century modern, and industrial design themes.

We ended up replacing all of the lighting in the home, using fixtures with a Tuscan/industrial theme.

Step 6: Bathrooms

Initially, we had only one bathroom but realized we needed two. Thankfully, our realtor referred us to an excellent contractor and architect who assisted with designing, selecting materials, and obtaining the necessary local government approvals.

We decided to use part of the guest bedroom to create the new bathroom while preserving the rest of the room for a TV snug and a sofa bed for guests.

We opted for a sleek, modern design for the new bathroom that maximizes utility and storage.

Once we completed the new bathroom, we realized that the original bathroom also needed renovation. The half bathtub was inadequate for our needs, the sink and vanity were too large, and there was no heating. The hot water heater was about the size of a shoebox, which meant we had a lot of work ahead.

We chose to keep the original white wall tiles and created a shower area using similar tiles. We removed the vanity, built a wall between the shower and laundry area, and installed new lighting and a large mirror. We also installed an electric towel drying rack that functions as a room heater during the winter.

The result is a clean, sleek design that retains the original flooring and wood beam ceiling.

Before/After

Step 7: Bedrooms

For the main bedroom, we knew we wanted a king-sized bed, ample storage, and a TV. We aimed for the room to feel spacious and uncluttered. To achieve this, we rearranged the furniture to accommodate the larger bed, added a dresser that doubles as a TV stand, and installed a metal industrial locker under the stairs for extra storage. We also added a carpet to give the room a warmer atmosphere.

We wanted a multi-use space in the guest bedroom: it needed to serve as a sleeping area when we had guests, and a TV room and study/work area when it was unoccupied. We found a comfortable chaise sofa that could be used as a bed, included a dresser that could serve as a TV stand, and purchased a desk and lighting to create a study/work space in the window nook.

Before/After

Step 8: Work Areas

Whenever my partner or I need to work on our computers, we utilize a dedicated workspace in the guest bedroom and another in the living room. Additionally, we can have a third workspace in the attic, although we have not started that project yet.

Step 9: Other Improvements

In addition to the improvements mentioned above, we also made the following upgrades:

- Installed a clothes washer and dryer

- Replaced all the windows with double-paned glass

- Installed a large-capacity water heater

- Installed heating downstairs and in the bathrooms

- Created much-needed (hidden) storage

Step 10: The Result

The outcome of our renovation project is a Tuscan-style home that incorporates industrial and mid-century modern design elements. It is functional for both living and working and is equipped with the amenities we are accustomed to as Californians.

Video of main room: Video.

Insights:

Renovating a house in Tuscany has been a learning experience. Our patience was tested during the months we spent living amidst the renovation, but now it feels genuinely worth it.

More next time.

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