Italian Living - creating the rustic lounge room

RENOVATING

A very Rustic Loungeroom

‘The longer you are in a place the more you get under its layers’

Frances Mayes

Our rustic lounge room is starting to take shape, this is the room I long to see finished. The one we will live in, the place to read and write, to sit with friends and to cuddle up with the kids. Stripping the awful plastic paneling from the walls of our rustic lounge room gave us back the bones of the room.

We had purchased plaster sheeting to cover the damage and all the nail holes but I couldn’t bear to loose the original walls. They have the gentlest undulations and could never be described as even which is of course exactly the way I love the house to be….original and filled with character.

We have taken up the boards, we hoped for the original rock underneath like the kitchen but no luck. The boards are all safely stored and cleaned ready to use again somewhere in the house. Our friend Claudio bought us over one huge slab of rock to go between the two rooms and it is the perfect gift for us, it will be here for hundreds of years to come.

After sandblasting the beams the walls in the kitchen have taken on a buffed ochre tone far from the original chalky white. The difference is clearly seen when one is next to the other. We will now need to clean down the walls in the kitchen and re coat them.

I’m thinking of the many layers of color in this room and the people who lived here before us. What is the story behind the traditional deep blues and greens through the house, right now we are happy to see them disappear along with the black soot.

I know many readers wanted us to keep these tones but the house is just so dark inside and I need some light to take us into Winter and it’s three months of darkness.

Walking through the lounge at night is an obstacle course ducking the head at both doorways and avoiding the piles of rock. We have no lights in this room or in the stairwell only moonlight coming through the open window. Sam took the window out to lay the stone on the ledge and now we just have the bars with no glass.

We have windows and doors being made to measure and can only hope they arrive with time to fit them before it starts getting cold. They are due to be started in September and my friend Molly tells me it gets cold leading into Winter here by October.

Keep calling him she tells us, Italian time isn’t like time in Australia.

You could say I’m in love with our beams, each one is unique with a warmth that smiles into the room. I’ve only hit my head once, poor Sam hasn’t been so lucky and has numerous scars.

I walk through the house now ducking at just the right moment and don’t even think about it until a visitor arrives and we have to tell them to watch out for the beams. It’s a little like a dance the house and I take part in .

The doorway has been widened slightly and we won’t be putting a door back on, the rock will continue right through the two rooms. Now we will be able to get the lounge and furniture through. Sam and Claudio have been deep in discussion regarding the opening and how to finish it. Claudio is often over at our house and he has an insight born of the valley. He has lived in Malpertus his entire life and knows the way the buildings breathe, the history and the way they are all intertwined.

Each day I fall further in love with this valley and her secrets.

Our rustic lounge room is taking shape, soon it will be a room to relax, write, play and entertain. Maybe one day you’ll join us here.

and the gang x

42 replies

Margaret says:
at

Hi Lisa,
I really enjoy reading of your adventures. You all are inspirational. I just read ‘Really Renovating Italy’ on Living Langhe and it was mentioned that you all searched for the cheapest property in Piedmonte to find your place. How did you go about that? Thanks, M
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Ciao Margaret,
  We searched for the cheapest house on Subito It and yes we then bought it lol xx
  Living in the Langhe are great people and loved having them over to visit, it’s great to see a man blogging for a change. xx
  Reply
Kaye Bonato says:
at

It’s looking wonderful Lisa, although I’m just another of very many to say so. I can’t wait to see the living room completed…..along with you, no doubt! Well done guys.
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Well the boys have been laying the rocks which weigh a tonne and are now set in place over half the floor. Tonight we will have to step on just the right rocks and a little jump near the door. Can’t wait to have a space to write other than the kitchen table xx thanks for all your great comments over at the fb page by the way I love seeing you xxx ciao lisa
  Reply
Jillipen says:
at

Love the ceiling, it will be a lovely room.
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  our friends have gorgeous triple vaulted ceilings it always pays to look up in Italy lol xx
  Reply
jann says:
at

Absolutely gorgeous beams, Lisa! You’ve been so busy. I adore your old sooty blue walls, but I would have painted them white, too. (As outdoor walls, they would’ve been perfect!) Thank you, as always, for this very exciting peek into your lives. xxxxx kisses & forza & buon corraggio
Reply
Lisa Wood says:
at

gosh its so going to look good when its all finished, I love the way the rooms are looking bigger because you are making them lighter in colour!! Those beams look incredible, the flooring will look so good – will you be painting all the walls white? So can imagine the deco – the rustic look and the country homey feeling 🙂
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  I have so many ideas and the great thing is I don’t have to rush or think about selling down the track this one is a keeper. Our life is so simple now and next year we hope to be able to get a van and explore Europe again with the kids. sending love to you all xx
  Reply
Janine says:
at

Wow Lisa…. this is a lovely chapter. I can feel you two have the spirit of the house under your skin now and seem to be navigating a new course with great vision. Having Claudio on the team sounds like an absolute gift. Go with your feel for the place…it looks like it’s in great hands now…e buon ferragosto! xx
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Janine I just re subscribed to your blog as I don’t seem to get updates. You know I just love the simplicity and detail he multitude of tiny moments you share. Each one is like a tiny present beautifully wrapped. Don’t forget to come for a visit, sending you much love xxx
  Reply
  - Janine says:
    at
    
    Thank you Lisa. Such a beautiful description…The real gift is in the giving as you know. Buona domenica! xo
    Reply
    - Lisa Chiodo says:
      at
      
      Grazie dear Janine, and still love thinking of that coffee in Melbourne with you and the great conversation xxx
      sending love x
      Reply
    - Lisa Chiodo says:
      at
      
      Grazie dear Janine, and still love thinking of that coffee in Melbourne with you and the great conversation xxx
      sending love x
      Reply
Krista says:
at

I’m sitting here with the biggest smile on my face as I read of all your plans and dreams and progress. 🙂 I love that you’re making it so bright in there. That will make such a huge difference on dark, stormy days. You guys are doing a BRILLIANT job. 🙂 xo
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  I think we’ll need every scrap of brightness through the winter as the valley is very close and doesn’t get much sunlight for about ten weeks. Can’t wait to experience our first winter here and see how we manage. People have been doing it for centuries so I guess we’ll be fine lol x sending lots of love xxx
  Reply
Wynne says:
at

Oh, I LOVE the idea of a slab as a wall…wonderful! And beams just make the rooms into perfection. Can’t wait to see it all!
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Won’t be long now Wynne and you’ll be here xx can’t wait to meet up with you at last x
  Reply
Julie collett says:
at

Wow looking fantastic , the wooden beams now tell a story , as the rest of the house will . .you both are a inspiration to all xxxxxxx
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  yep it’s coming along now the walls are coated and we have half the floor down. It is a big holiday in Italy today so we are going up the mountain with our friends for a bbq love to all xxx
  Reply
Sarah Shearer says:
at

Wow, what a difference, you have been really busy. Can’t wait to see the changes when we get back. I will for now follow your progress here. We have seen loads of places for you both to renovate on our travels.
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Sarah wait till you see it and today the guys started to lay the rock with half the room now placed and it looks great. Thanks for coming here to visit and you know having your own blog that it makes a big difference when you are trying to build it xx Don’t talk about more reno’s arghhhh
  love to Ally xx
  Reply
josephine catalano says:
at

I truly admire you all for taking such a leap of faith and having the stamina to take on such a difficult task and with kids no less-I tried living in southern Italy many years ago and after 4 yrs my homesickness was too much and we returned to the States-I worried so much about the kids adjusting–They did fine-It was me-mom-who couldn’t hack it-Now that we’re retired,we spend 2 months a yr in my husband’s native home in Benevento and we really look forward to it-Keep up the good work- and Tanti complimenti–Bravissimi-Ciao e buon lavoro
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Four years is such a long time Josephine the first time in Italy we lasted two years before heading back to Australia. I was very homesick and my Nana was sick. How old are your kids? Sounds like you have a good balance now with part of the year in Italy great to meet you and ciao ciao lisa x
  Reply
Bill Sansone says:
at

With 40 years of experience as an architect I know how challenging restoration projects can be…especially when it’s your own home. Following your posts and seeing the photos, all I can say is I think you’re doing it “right” by preserving the true character of the old house. Your appreciation of its materials and construction preserves not only the integrity of the original house but also an important part of our heritage. Thank you for sharing your experiences and keep up the good work.
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Hi Bill wonderful to meet you and sorry I somehow missed replying. We see so many renovations especially in Italy which seem to strip the character of the building completely. Some friends from Wales put us onto this site which you might be interested in ….http://www.spab.org.uk/
  ciao for now and love seeing you over on fb as well
  x
  Reply
Belinda Hutchinson says:
at

I’m so in love with all the textures.
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  yes I love the layers and multiple textures of the house, so Italian x
  Reply
Doug Porter says:
at

Thanks Lisa, Loving these insights into your new life.
xox
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Most welcome Doug, I’m taking my own advice and spending more time building the blog lol xx
  Reply
Susan says:
at

Looking good, the room is so fresh and bright, so glad you didn’t keep the old colours!!
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  glad to hear that Susan, I thought I might be on my own with that one. It’s amazing the difference to the room and now we can actually see the end wall, before it was totally dark. x
  Reply
antonellamorrell says:
at

Wow Lisa and Sam…. looks fantastic, can’t wait to see it! Well done, looks so bright and airy
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  You’ll love it and once we get set up it will be a great room for movie nights says Sam….he worked at Harvey Norman and we had surround sound at our old house. Luca would watch Star Wars and it sounded like a space ship was landing on the roof lol x
  hope all is well with you both and woof to Kia x
  Reply
Allegra says:
at

Wow, it’s really taking shape, looking fantastic! Hope we get to see it soon! And definitely keep hassling the window people; we’ve learnt being polite and patient doesn’t get you anywhere here, though it’s proving hard for us Brits to overcome our innate instinct to not want to be perceived as pushy! 😉
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Yes I’m a bit worried about the windows turning up in time as I feel the cold. Sam has been around to see him a few times and I have my fingers crossed, how are your renovations going? We visited a friend on the weekend and it was wonderful to see a house that had been completed and so beautiful and warm, gave me hope and a glimpse of what ours could look like. With Sam being Italian he knows how to ‘push’ like an Italian lol xxx
  hope to see you soon
  ciao lisa x
  PS if you have ‘comment love’ on your blog you can automatically link up here on your comments x
  Reply
Moira says:
at

Have only been following your blog and posts on FB for a short time but have relished the events and changes that have been occurring. I admire the work and love, you are all sharing in this wonderful adventure as a family and relish the blog to keep us intrigued in this Italian life and restoration of your new home. Lisa wishing you happy times and good health.
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Oh it’s not always sunshine and lollypops I can tell you, still we usually come out smiling and face another day together. The thing I am most enjoying even though it is sometimes a hard lesson is the relationship I’m building with my family and how we are all learning together. I am learning to slow down and smell the basil lol
  Great to chat with you here and sending love
  ciao lisa x
  Reply
Lyn says:
at

Hi Lisa, it is going to be just beautiful. Love reading your posts. We hope to return to Italy one day……just love it 🙂 <3
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  It gets in your blood doesn’t it, once you’ve been you want to return. As a backpacker in my 20’s I remember being told that if you rub the snout of the boar statue in Firenze you will return to Italy and I have done that on more than one occasion and here I am xx ciao lisa
  Reply
Frances says:
at

Hey Lisa – where is my comfy seat going to fit – near the window if possible please!!!

Ciao F
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Yes and that will be near the heater as well, I sound like ‘sheldon cooper’ looking for the perfect spot. I am already planning a little space just for me in that corner near the window so I’ll put in a nice comfy seat with your name on. ciao lisa x
  Reply