PART 100: 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 close to home and share what we are learning as we create one bathroom and renovate another in our historical home in Tuscany.
Step 2: When we were finalizing the purchase of our house in Tuscany, we wanted to ensure that we could add a second bathroom. At first, it seemed feasible to utilize the space in the second bedroom, but we faced a challenge due to a window on the wall where the new bathroom would be located. It was crucial to maintain the window for the bedroom.
Fortunately, our realtor in Tuscany offered more than just real estate services. They also provided design and building code research. Our realtor connected us with his designer, who created a 3-D model of the proposed bathroom with measurements and assured us that it would meet local building codes (https://www.remax.it/trova/agenti-agenzie/agenzia/ecocasa ).
When we asked how much the designing service would cost us, he said there was no cost and that it is one of the services they offer their clients.
After our offer was accepted, we obtained the house in February and began work on creating a new bathroom and renovating the main one.
As for the things we learned during the bathroom renovation process, some key discoveries included...
Step 3: Sinks and vanities.
We noticed that pedestal sinks and rounded sink vanities with edges that extend into the room are pretty popular in certain parts of Italy.
Once we were back in California, we asked our contractor in Italy to choose everything for our new bathroom. We had a plan and a set budget and were eager to begin the bathroom renovation.
Upon our return to Italy, before construction started, we visited the local builders' supply store to see the selected materials. Due to the limited space, a pedestal sink had been chosen for the new bathroom, but we realized it would not provide the needed storage.
After deciding that the pedestal sink wouldn't work, we impulsively ordered a small vanity that could fit into the space. Once we installed it, we realized it also wouldn't work as the storage below was more for aesthetics than function. We returned the vanity and continued our search for a suitable replacement.
Ultimately, we found the perfect sink, vanity, and faucet at Ikea. Now, we have an excellent sink, a modern faucet, and plenty of storage in the drawers below.
But what about the sinks with the curved part that protrudes into the room? That's what we had in the main bathroom.
Step 4: The curved sink
In some of the bathroom designs we've seen in the houses we've viewed, it's common to find a vanity with a sink that extends beyond the front of the vanity. This design is meant to catch water while brushing teeth or washing one's face.
However, in our main bathroom, the oversized vanity with a curved sink lip in front and the bidet in the back left very little room to stand in front of the sink. As a result, we decided to remove the large vanity and the curved sink lip and replace them with a more modern square sink and vanity that provides ample storage space below.
Step 5: The bidet
Most Americans are not in the habit of using a bidet, and the space was so tight in both of our bathrooms that it was easy to get rid of one and not create one in the new bathroom. (Better to avoid going into hygiene details).
Step 6: Toilet tank.
I was searching in Italy for the same type of toilet that we have in California, where the water tank and toilet are one unit. However, I discovered that this model type is rare in Italy.
When we visited a bathroom specialty shop to inquire about toilet models, we were informed that the most recommended model had the tank embedded inside the wall. If this isn't feasible due to the type of wall, the second option is a suspended tank above the toilet. The least recommended option is the one with the tank attached to the toilet.
"But," I objected, "what if there's a problem in the tank or I need to replace parts? Isn't reaching inside the tank attached to the toilet easier?" He shook his head. "It is simple to access the water tank inside the wall and make any adjustments that need to be made."
After discovering that installing a toilet water tank inside our stone walls would be a significant undertaking, we decided to stick with what we were familiar with. We opted for "the least recommended design," which is the water tank attached directly to the toilet. Although it's not molded into one unit like in California, it features a sleek and modern tank attached to the toilet's base.
This solution was the best fit for us.
Step 7: Rain shower head
I prefer shaving in the shower, but it can be tricky with a rain shower head. It's challenging to step out of the water to apply shaving cream because the water keeps getting in my eyes and washing the cream off. Turning the water off and on to shave is also inconvenient.
We have wall-mounted shower heads in California, and I assumed it would be the same in Italy. However, we soon discovered that rain shower heads seem to be the norm, and wall-mounted ones are the exception.
We visited a specialty bathroom store in Grosseto looking for a wall-mount showerhead, but they only had rain models. It seems that they are currently the most popular type in Italy.
I searched Amazon Italy and found a few wall-mount models, but since our construction was well underway and the rain shower heads were already installed, I decided to stick with them for the time being. If we do a future renovation, I will opt for the wall-mount instead.
Step 8: Storage
When exploring historical houses for sale in our Tuscany neighborhood, we noticed that most had minimal storage space. We also observed that older buildings in Italy did not seem to prioritize creating any storage in the bathrooms. This wouldn't work for us, so we have been looking for ways to maximize storage in smaller spaces.
Our storage solutions so far include bathroom vanities with ample storage below and an industrial-style metal cabinet that fits under the window in the main bathroom. We are also considering converting the bathroom mirrors to medicine cabinets in both bathrooms and figuring out how to utilize the space behind the doors of both bathrooms.
Our journey continues as we seek storage solutions for our historical house in Tuscany.
Insights:
Creating and renovating a bathroom in Italy has been an enlightening experience, exposing us to cultural, architectural, engineering, and design differences compared to what we are accustomed to. We aim to integrate some of these differences by blending Californian influences with common Italian elements. Our goal is for our home to immerse us in Tuscan life while still providing familiar and comfortable elements for us as Californians.
More next time.
SECOND EDITION NOW ON SALE FOR $2.99! “She Seduced Me: A Love Affair with Rome.” https://a.co/d/4Bx0Eh3.
Amazon Italy- my book “Lei mi ha sedotto. Una storia d'amore con Roma”: https://amzn.eu/d/13nuZCL.
Comments