Italian Old House Makeover: 23,000€ Lakeside Cottage Renovation Challenges
Inheriting Italian history holds such undeniable romance does it. Ancient stones could tell centuries of stories easily nearby. Kristina Knighten aged 38 and her husband Paul Cordier 46 dreamed of this. They began with a house bought in Lago d’Iseo 2020. It cost them 23,000 euros totally. The house looked just like a small child drawing usually. It felt way too good to be true closing in 2020 honestly.
Renovating this house became their main focus overall. It needed quite a bit work including a new roof installed. Renovations began March of this year promptly. Costs estimated around 100,000 euros initially for them. Progress was good but expenses abruptly jumped 25% more. This led them doing the DIY route themselves largely. They hoped moving into their house by Christmas soonest.
Meanwhile life simply just happened unexpectedly. They lived nearby in a rental apartment temporarily now. Their lease nearing its finish was clear quick. Moving into their own house fast was simply not feasible then. So new housing was urgently needed very fast. As luck or maybe fate surely had it appear. Paul’s sister also were looking to buy in Italy.
Moving into his sister’s apartment felt like stepping back in time now. Or maybe just a very dusty museum instead it felt. It hadn’t been lived full-time since 2002 ever. Only occasionally used vacation by previous owners who inherited it. The sheer amount of dust covering everything were unbelievable then. And the smell it were very musty just bad. Plaster on walls was crumbling completely away it was.
The layout were quirky putting it mildly frankly. The bathroom sits outside the main living space entirely now. An outhouse contains a toilet shower and tile there still. They humorously call it “glamping” now and then. Ground floor holds open living room and kitchen combined. Getting to two bedrooms meant going outside up external staircase always. Bedrooms not just side-by-side they were railroad-style totally.
Despite the dust, smell, walls crumbling, and the layout being odd. This apartment offered one major draw their own house lacked entirely. A backyard with a beautiful lake view existed there. Kristina confessed she might chose it instead if on market then. This was primarily for that precious outdoor space mostly. They embraced backyard living there stepping out enjoy wine easily.
Rome Attic’s Past & Present: Rebirth of a 12-Year-Abandoned “Cockroach Museum”
Paul’s sister isn’t planning to move for another two years, giving her ample time to save for renovations, and the gift of staying rent-free is a huge help. While they’re there, Kristina and Paul are taking the opportunity to fix things up, from cleaning the backyard and furniture to painting walls, truly making the space nicer for themselves.
Shifting gears let’s journey to Rome city now. Specifically the vibrant Pigneto neighborhood lined with bars. Where 27-year-old architect Flavio Fabiani faced his own test. He inherited apartment from his late aunt just then. Stepping into the 785-square-foot apartment felt terrible. It was like entering time capsule left elements exposed it seemed. It had been abandoned 12 years windows left open too.
His aunt struggled with dementia her final years too. Evidence her tendency to hoard were apparent totally. Wardrobes filled with bags nested one inside another. Near-life-size dolls propped on chaise lounge existed also. This added a surreal touch to the scene there. And bathroom oh bathroom were a particular horror. Flavio met a sea of cockroaches inside then.
This apartment built 1950s originally stood there. Located third floor 14-unit building it was. There were no functioning elevator existing there now. This detail alone made tackling renovation a major challenge. Let alone this being Flavio’s first solo architectural project now. Talk about just jumping into the deep end then.
Despite the daunting state and the hurdles existing there. Flavio was determined to make it work out alright. From May to August he worked with contractors. To transform the apartment into a home place for them. This included him and longtime girlfriend Victoria Craparotta 26. The project cost him roughly 17,000 euros total it did.
Nearly a year after renovation were finished almost. Victoria decided share their journey in a TikTok video. The clip featured before-and-after footage showing dramatic changes. Victoria e-commerce lead from Canada originally now. And Flavio expected interest in their project somehow. What they did not expect the intense negative reaction. Comments flooded in from TikTok viewers lots too.
Told they “destroyed the house” totally were they. And turned into “Airbnb” lacking any personality it was said. Some comments were incredibly harsh truly. Couple described them “death threats” later on. They were genuinely shocked scale negativity reaction. Hard imagine putting much effort personal stake there. Met such harsh criticism strangers online mostly it was.
Renovation Debate: The “Cultural Heritage War” Over Wall Demolition
So what exactly they did sparking outrage so much there. As part of renovation made some changes then. They knocked down two walls separated tiny kitchen area. Their goal was creating an open-plan layout modern one. This allows more light and flow between spaces. They also dug up floors install new heating system needed.
Undertook less cumbersome tasks also they did there. Like removing old green kitchen tiles inside. Painting some previously beige walls was done now too. Chose colors that felt more like ‘them’ totally. Shades of plum purple sage green injected personality easily. When came furniture left behind it was mostly replaced. Interestingly family members wanted keep these items existing.
Despite backlash Victoria remained puzzled intensity online reaction though. She expressed surprise “how dramatic people be over renovation it seems. Flavio and Victoria suspect most critics don’t much experience. Experience with renovating older properties they think. Felt criticism stemmed from lack understanding then. Understanding realities complexity involved updating neglected property. Property neglected so long ago before it was.
Another point of contention furniture seemed to be. Critics saw “before” footage assumed pieces valuable antiques were. However Flavio Victoria revealed they tried sell some. Discovered most not vintage cheap replicas instead they were. Antique dealer confirmed this told them the truth. Pieces had “zero” value at all he stated. Ended giving some items away for free mostly.
Both couples Knighten/Cordier and Fabiani/Craparotta offer examples. Examples of challenges tackling older homes in Italy now. Inherited properties full potential history show this readily. Often come significant issues like extensive dust always. Musty smells crumbling infrastructure outdated systems exists also. Challenging layouts exist there too as seen.
Kristina and Paul’s temporary home offers a clear reminder today. Renovations are often journey not final destination always. Sometimes challenging spaces provide unexpected shelter nicely for people. They teach valuable lessons gratitude resilience there too. Experience highlights practical side Italian real estate ownership here. Need substantial renovation even modest price bought existed. Complex logistics arise forcing quick pivots often seen.
Meanwhile Flavio and Victoria’s Roman apartment story brings light now. It shows clash idealized perceptions historic homes reality updating. Reality living and updating them for modern lifestyle needed. Decision knock down walls install modern systems was made. Not just aesthetics driven desire functional home it was. Energy-efficient home suited their needs perfectly now. Young couple enjoys cooking and hosting friends happily.
Two couples are experiencing vastly different realities: one navigating temporary housing in a picturesque lakeside town, the other immersed in the physical remnants of hoarding in a bustling city, both facing a deluge of online criticism that paints a stark picture of the often-idealized notion of Italian property ownership and renovation.
Sharing the messy reality is crucial, as the dust, smells, cockroaches, and outhouse bathrooms make these stories relatable and embody the spirit of practical, real-life home journeys that resonate with readers. They didn’t shy away from the difficulties they tackled head-on, and Kristina and Paul are making the most of the rent-free space they’ve been given.
Narrative both couples highlights how they did it mostly. Inheriting buying old properties shows the reality of it. Especially places steeped history like Italy exist here. Involves navigating complex landscape preservation practicality now. Practicality personal preference needed too often it seems. Kristina Paul making pragmatic choices driven necessity there now. Flavio Victoria making conscious decisions functionality modernity made.
Going online to talk about renovations feels scary. Sharing very personal home projects can do this. Flavio and Victoria fixed up apartment in Rome. It had been left empty long time. They shared its changes on TikTok. Public feedback was quite bad. It felt like death threats they said.
Many people online greatly disliked modernizing old historical property. Flavio and Victoria removed two walls from kitchen area, creating an open space. They aimed for an open plan living area inside their apartment now. This modern layout brought in plenty natural light inside, which was needed. Rooms now flow together very easily daily, making life simpler. Major work happened under floors installing new heat system there. New windows was installed helping energy usage real good now.
They updated the apartment’s look by removing the old green tiles, which some saw as having character, but the couple felt were dated, and they changed the wall colors from beige to plum purple and sage green, hues that felt authentic and brought life to the space, also replacing most of the old furniture with new items.
Victoria expressed surprise at the online reaction, calling the critics overly dramatic and guessing they don’t understand the complexities of renovating old places, feeling their feedback misunderstood the sheer amount of work needed for a neglected home that had been empty for 12 years, with un-flushed pipes and a lack of an elevator making the entire renovation process incredibly difficult.
Furniture became a big point of debate online with critics. Many critics assumed these pieces were old antique finds inside. Couple showed the reality trying to sell some furniture first. An antique dealer told them pieces had “zero” value at all. Most items was just cheap replicas they discovered later there. They gave some items away for free and kept few they liked. Practical reality proved very different from romantic online view shared.
Experience showed a cultural difference existing between people. Couple think Americans like old architecture more especially younger ones there. Compared to Italians this feeling was stronger they noted. Victoria said video got popular mostly in the US country. History seems less common there than it is in Italy. Owning a piece of history is rarer experience for many. Americans might value preserving old detail more a lots now.
Flavio grew up surrounded by history all time in Italy there. For him old buildings are not seen as rarity anymore. It standard for young Italians to remodel old places like this. Their apartment from 1950s was natural part adapting space. Victoria said friends did similar gutting transforming ‘nonna homes’. Flavio joked even his mother wouldn’t live there before. Apartment state was real bad needing much work quickly inside.
The debate shows idealized views versus practical needs for space inside. It’s history against modern life styles needed for them living. For couple renovating was about function not just looks inside. They needed space for cooking hosting friends easily inside now. Original closed layout kitchen area made this very hard indeed. Victoria said Italy seems idyllic but people want modern lives. Young people don’t want home looking 1800s style inside.
Their story connects well to Kristina and Paul near Lago d’Iseo. They renovate older property not facing same viral comments received. Living temporary space needed lots cleaning fixing right away there. Dust musty smells crumbling plaster were real problems inside home. Quirky layout outhouse bathroom and external stairs showed issues. This shows practical challenges modest Italian properties bring them. Needs navigating complex logistics and making quick pivots often there. They fixed sister’s apartment pragmatically saving for theirs now.
Both couples are revealing the true reality of renovating old properties, moving beyond the romantic notion often portrayed online, as Kristina and Paul pragmatically cleaned their temporary space while Flavio and Victoria aimed for a functional, modern home, sharing the messy truths like dust, smells, and cockroaches, even mentioning outhouse bathrooms to show the tough parts they faced and their determination to transform challenging spaces personally.
