French la Vie

Renovating my friend Laurie’s Italian property has been a creative adventure, filled with countless moving parts. The first step was clearing out the space, a process that involved removing years of accumulated personal belongings, furniture, and memories. As we cleaned out what was once someone’s home—perhaps 50, 60, or even 100 years ago—we uncovered a life that had been lived in that place. We carefully recycled some items, kept others, and spent a lot of time deciding what to preserve and where to place it.

The logistics were challenging, but with amazing people who helped us along the way.

with trucks (!) navigating tiny roads and spaces, and the back-and-forth trips up and down stairs. Plenty of stairs!! We spent days with dirty hands, hair, and clothes—each step bringing us closer to the renovation.

Once the space was cleared, the real work began: deciding what to do with plumbing, electricity, heating, flooring, windows, and everything in between. The goal was to blend the old with the new, so we spent hours scouring second hand shops, recycling centers, warehouses, basements, and attics, cleaning, waxing, and restoring pieces bit by bit.

It’s been a process of patience and persistence, and while we’ve worked steadily, we’ve also built deep friendships and meaningful relationships along the way, we’ve shared unforgettable moments. It’s not just about the renovation—it’s been about creating, one step at a time, and learning/discovering Italian/Italy in the process.

It is not just about the logistics. It’s about vision. You have to see the place finished before it’s even begun. Not in a daydreamy “Wouldn’t it be nice?” kind of way, but in the gritty, creative, “I know what this can be” kind of way. It’s about imagining the flow, the space, the feel, long before you pick out light fixtures or paint colors.

And let’s be real—being open to the unexpected is a must. When you’re renovating an old house, nothing goes exactly as planned, and the surprises can be, well, plentiful. The floors creak, the pipes leak, and the walls hold secrets you never could have anticipated. So yes, make a budget—but also throw in a budget for those unplanned “whoops” moments. They will come, and trust me, they will make you laugh (eventually).

You’ve got to stick to your vision, yes. But you also need to remain flexible enough to roll with the punches, especially when your dream space starts looking a bit more like a construction zone than you imagined. It’s the determination to see it through, combined with a bit of humor and a lot of patience, that turns this whole process into something truly rewarding.

So grab your tools (and your sense of humor) and get ready for the ride—because creating something beautiful from an old space isn’t just about walls and wires, it’s about turning a vision into reality, no matter what curveballs come your way.