Originally the main entrance to the first floor was via the loggia on the west
side. Although engagingly authentic, that's rather inconvenient if you're
carrying anything or want to unload a car. So, the previous owner solved
this by creating a new front door on the north side of the house and
linking it to the terrace sloping down from the garden with a metal bridge.
This has been replaced and an external storeroom and laundry have been
set into the earth terrace. This connects to the house via a stone bridge
with brick arches, which now forms the main approach to the first floor
front door, which is also being widened.
side. Although engagingly authentic, that's rather inconvenient if you're
carrying anything or want to unload a car. So, the previous owner solved
this by creating a new front door on the north side of the house and
linking it to the terrace sloping down from the garden with a metal bridge.
This has been replaced and an external storeroom and laundry have been
set into the earth terrace. This connects to the house via a stone bridge
with brick arches, which now forms the main approach to the first floor
front door, which is also being widened.
The biggest change being
made is to convert the
ground floor into an
open-plan dining and
drawing room, together
with a large kitchen.
Because this was where
the animals were kept,
there was no internal
access to the first floor,
so a new staircase is also
being built. The ceiling in
what will become the
dining room is being
replaced because the
condensation caused by
moisture rising from the
animals' breath had rotted
the metal beams
supporting the barrel
vaulted ceiling. This has
been replaced with a
chestnut wood beamed
ceiling.
made is to convert the
ground floor into an
open-plan dining and
drawing room, together
with a large kitchen.
Because this was where
the animals were kept,
there was no internal
access to the first floor,
so a new staircase is also
being built. The ceiling in
what will become the
dining room is being
replaced because the
condensation caused by
moisture rising from the
animals' breath had rotted
the metal beams
supporting the barrel
vaulted ceiling. This has
been replaced with a
chestnut wood beamed
ceiling.
Back again inside the house, on the first floor there will be two reception
rooms and two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. There will also be
a guest cloakroom and W.C. One of the reception rooms will be a library.
rooms and two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. There will also be
a guest cloakroom and W.C. One of the reception rooms will be a library.
You can see from the first two thumbnails top right, which are of the
ground floor as it used to be, that there wasn't much internal light. So,
two large double doorways in the south-facing wall have been created that
open onto the terrace. These provide ample light for the double drawing
room that now spans the width of the house. The bucolic view of the
valley this affords is an added bonus.
ground floor as it used to be, that there wasn't much internal light. So,
two large double doorways in the south-facing wall have been created that
open onto the terrace. These provide ample light for the double drawing
room that now spans the width of the house. The bucolic view of the
valley this affords is an added bonus.
There is a large vestibule inside what used to be the
main external entrance, which leads into the dining
room. Here, built into the underside of the loggia
located on the west side of the house, there is an
old forno a legna (wood fired oven).
main external entrance, which leads into the dining
room. Here, built into the underside of the loggia
located on the west side of the house, there is an
old forno a legna (wood fired oven).
On the second floor there will be two more bedrooms, each with its own
bathroom.
bathroom.
A new window in the larger of the two
bedrooms will let in much more light.
This faces East and is where the
wardrobe stands in the thumbnail to the
right.
bedrooms will let in much more light.
This faces East and is where the
wardrobe stands in the thumbnail to the
right.
On the east side of the house a terrace has been built to use for outside
dining. This is where most meals will be taken during the summer months.
dining. This is where most meals will be taken during the summer months.
Looking south -
the future
drawing room
the future
drawing room
Looking north -
the future
dining room
the future
dining room
Laying the new
floor looking
towards the
dining room
floor looking
towards the
dining room
The south wall
before opening
the doorways
before opening
the doorways
The first
doorway
doorway
The completed
doorways
doorways
Although this takes up quite a lot of space, it has been retained and will be
restored to full working order. On the other side of the entrance from the
oven, under the external stairs leading up to the loggia, there will be a
guest W.C. and cloakroom. Doors will be fitted into the external entrance,
which is currently completely open.
restored to full working order. On the other side of the entrance from the
oven, under the external stairs leading up to the loggia, there will be a
guest W.C. and cloakroom. Doors will be fitted into the external entrance,
which is currently completely open.
The loggia roof
being replaced
- the original
beams were all
rotten
being replaced
- the original
beams were all
rotten
The front
entrance when
the house was
acquired
entrance when
the house was
acquired
Building the new
storeroom and
laundry
storeroom and
laundry
The view from
the other side
the other side
The new front
door takes
shape
door takes
shape
The storeroom/laundry add very useful space to the ground floor. This
means that the kitchen is much bigger (6m x 6m) than would otherwise
have been the case. One of the new storerooms will become a wine cellar.
means that the kitchen is much bigger (6m x 6m) than would otherwise
have been the case. One of the new storerooms will become a wine cellar.
There is a great
view and the front
part of the terrace,
which is raised like a
stage, is shaded by
the trees. This
front area will be
paved in the same
terracotta tiles as
the bridge leading
to the front door.
All of the stone
used to build it has
come out of the
house or the garden.
view and the front
part of the terrace,
which is raised like a
stage, is shaded by
the trees. This
front area will be
paved in the same
terracotta tiles as
the bridge leading
to the front door.
All of the stone
used to build it has
come out of the
house or the garden.
Before building
the terrace, this
was just a bank
of earth
the terrace, this
was just a bank
of earth
The front of the
terrace is big
enough to take
a table for 20
terrace is big
enough to take
a table for 20
The quality of the
stonework is
impressive
stonework is
impressive
Taken after the
first plants had
been set into
the bank
first plants had
been set into
the bank
The replacement
beams above the
dining room
beams above the
dining room
The fireplace in
the front
reception room
on the first
floor
the front
reception room
on the first
floor
Part of one
bedroom on
the second
floor before
the house was
acquired
bedroom on
the second
floor before
the house was
acquired
Building the
bathroom and
vestibule for one
of the bedrooms
bathroom and
vestibule for one
of the bedrooms
The new doorway
at the eastern end
of the drawing room
at the eastern end
of the drawing room
The new arched
entrance to one of
the two bedrooms
on the second floor
entrance to one of
the two bedrooms
on the second floor
Casa
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Click on the images below for an
enlarged view.
enlarged view.
Progetto ristrutturazione e trasformazione
Casa
The farmhouse is being substantially modified. The building is 400 years
old and has been altered in various ways over the years. It's arranged
over three floors. When it was still a farmhouse, the ground floor was
used for stabling the animals and the upper two for accommodation.
old and has been altered in various ways over the years. It's arranged
over three floors. When it was still a farmhouse, the ground floor was
used for stabling the animals and the upper two for accommodation.
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