Rustic Farmhouse - Clearing out Casa Bianca

RENOVATING

Our Gelati House …. becomes Casa Bianca

No matter the set backs with our rustic farmhouse we always keep moving forward.

Over the past month I’ve been out of action with a mystery illness. Sam has continued to work on ‘Casa Bianca’ next door to our house, we hope to have it habitable so friends and family can come to stay with us and experience life here in the valley we love so much. Lots of work to be done, nothing new for us but we will be taking it slowly till I’m recovered.

Maybe I can come in at the end for the ‘house dressing’….I don’t mind missing out on all the cleaning.

Bianco on the outside and gelati flavored on the inside, the latest addition to our rustic farmhouse is just a delight. Sam has been clearing the rubbish from inside the house and the main rooms are now cleared. Four tractor loads so far.

Under these stairs are two cellars which are crammed with more rubbish, the doorways are tiny and I haven’t even taken a look. The doors and windows need replacing, every surface needs a good clean and the whole place needs flea bombing.

This room will be gutted, cleaned, painted and something needs to be done with the flooring. All of the rubbish has been cleared out and only the old fridge and cabinet are still in here now.

I’m already imagining the transformation photos, I’m picturing the rustic farmhouse of my imagination, somewhere friends and family can come to visit and experience life in the valley. We’ve left all the windows open to start to air it out. It will take shape quickly once cleaned, then we start looking at new sink, and furnishings.

I like the old fireplace, everything else will get pulled out and we’ll start from scratch. The doorway leads into the stairwell and across from this room is another largish airy room that was used as a bedroom. The window looks out over the old original road.

After so many renovations this doesn’t phase me at all, although now being unwell I haven’t been able to help out, just supervise from a distance for short periods of time before heading back inside to rest.

So we’ve been through many renovations in Australia and now this is our third rustic farmhouse in Italy, hopefully our last for a few years.

The staircase up to the main bedroom has a small lean, and seems to also have a bit of a twist. It’s an art form making it to the top level without whacking your head on the ceiling, Sam has a few new scars. Ahhh the master bedroom…..what can I say?

Everything is going, the furniture will be broken up so we can get it out, and then used for firewood. The room is actually quite big and although it has the most mold we think it’s coming from a leak somewhere in the rock roof. I’m not sure what will happen with the old stairs, perhaps a spiral staircase instead.

Thank you again for all your well wishes and love, I’m still struggling with exhaustion, and now a bad cough, aches and pains, and menopause thrown into the mix…..Bonus. Having just about given up hope I sent out some messages to our English speaking friends and guess what found a Doctor (I thought he was a musician lol) and I hope to get some thoughts about what might be going on with my health.

It’s been almost four weeks now since I went to the hospital and I don’t feel much better. Something has to give……hopefully it won’t be me.

and the gang x

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Susan Priano says:
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Thanks for the photos! It’s great to see the inside. I’ve often wondered the size of the homes in which people from the villages live. Not all of Italy has homes like the one Frances Mayes restored. In Malito, CS, last summer I entered the small home of a family of five, two parents, two boys, and nonna. The main room for entertaining (~9 meters sq) had an older fashioned dining room set with table, chairs, sideboard, and bureau, a sofa, a grand flat screen TV. After they asked of my home I showed them a photo of my living room in Berkeley, CA. I was a little embarrassed as they must have thought it elegant and grand at 30 sq meters! Yet, my home of less than 1200 sq ft or 110 sq meters is small for the US!
Prayers for your strength and of your family during this difficult time.
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Terri Affanato says:
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I admire your “stick-to-it” attitude and your vision to see beauty in chaos! I’ve enjoyed following your journey and life in the valley. I am about to undertake a renovation of a lovely 16th century home in Cava dei Tirreni, in the out skirts of Naples and transform this lovely home of my business partners late mother into a B&B. The family is very happy to see the home “come back to life” and I hope that I do not disappoint them! As an American living part-time in Cava, I hope to bring a warm feeling of an American home to this Italian beauty! I have a fraction of the amount of work that you are doing, and already my head is swimming! I tip my hat to you and will keep following your blog and social media to be inspired! My best wishes to you, Sam and the kids for a long and happy life in the valley!
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Kaye Bonato says:
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People were living there? It will be fantastic I’m sure when you and Sam work your magick on it.
I do hope you start recovering from whatever has been ailing you.oxoxox
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Oh yes a family were living here with three kids. It should come up well and wish I had a magic wand lol .
  Slowly getting better and more active.
  xxx
Wynne says:
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Wow…amazing what Sam has accomplished already! Can’t wait to see it in all its glory.

Glad you found a doctor…fingers crossed this illness gets a proper diagnosis and treatment. Love to all!
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Once he gets going he is hard to stop lol, the house will be great when done and perfect for your next stay hmmmmm x
  Doctor was fantastic and hoping this viral thing will ease up soon.x
Kerrie says:
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As requested trying to leave you a message on the blog. Looking forward to following your renovation of this house. I agree with Debbie the Kitchen dresser would look great revamped unless of course it is full of worm! The Italian treatment for woodworm is half camphor half diesel painted all over a couple if times . Mindi expect you have found that diesel has many uses other than as fuel in Italy, makes a great deter ant for the dreaded calibroni!
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Oh thanks for that Kerrie, it really does make a difference for bloggers if you leave comments. FB is wonderful and I love sharing at fb but the blog belongs to me lol .
  Keeping the dresser and will just clean and give it a clear finish. xxx
Gina - Our Global Adventure says:
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Wow! I can’t wait to see how you and Sam work your magic on this new project of yours, so much potential there, I know you will create a welcoming retreat for your friends and family 🙂
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Ciao Gina, I can’t wait to see who will stay here first, we have my in laws coming next year and it will be great for them. x
Debbie Rein says:
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Hey Lisa
Hope your health improves quickly now. That house is something TV shows are made of, so top effort to you both. I actually like that kitchen dresser looking cabinet – are you going to do something with that? Is it as good as the photos make it look?
We are still going with our renos – still. Making headway.
Keep writing and taking photos – love them.
Debbie Rein
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Well we were going to get rid of the kitchen cabinet but you convinced me otherwise. It was just a gut reaction to get rid of all the remains of the previous people and start fresh. At least now when house hunters international come back in a year we’ll have something to show them lol .
  I love hearing about your reno’s, makes me feel less crazy….we’re not the only ones mad enough to do it xx
- Debbie Rein says:
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  Yeah Lisa, I sometimes think crazy is a good description. I badly sprained my ankle just over a week ago. Yesterday decided to see if I could climb a ladder (I really want the last coat of paint on this built-in cupboard I am doing – for linen) Got growled at from my Farmer. OK maybe I will leave it a bit longer haha
  
  Think we ‘may’ go rustic timber look in the kitchen.
  
  Keep your photos coming – love seeing them. xx
lynda sharples says:
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Oh Lisa , I am in love immediately! What an exciting project this will be …….Hoping it will be a distraction from your illhealth I hope……Just rest and open your arms to receive all the good wishes and good health vibes, love and light that are being sent to you. I can already envision a beautiful guest house ……xxx
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  I think after so many renovations I don’t even see the mess rather the end result. A beautiful guest house…..that makes me smile, I can’t wait to fill it with wonderful memories and yes taking it slowly until I am fully recovered from this virus x
Ryrie Wild says:
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Wow this looks like so much hard work to get into a liveable state! I cannot believe the amount of stuff that the previous people left behind. Sam has certainly done a good job of getting rid of the junk. Please whitewash those pink walls, and I have to say those stairs do not look at all safe. It is going to be interesting watching the changes that you will make in this new house.
Hope you are feeling better soon, Lisa. There is nothing worse than feeling ill and not knowing what it is. Hope the new doctor can get you sorted out 🙂
All the best,
Ryrie
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Not really Ryrie, a good clean and paint can work wonders. The stairs are a piece of work and no idea who put them in, they must have been drunk. The pink walls will be going and we will have neutral walls and new wooden windows and doors.
  
  The Doctor friend really put my mind at rest and it was so nice to be able to explain my own symptoms in my own words and understand the reply. xxx
Korrine MIller says:
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Oh my goodness Lisa! lol! Definitely a lot of work ahead but if anyone can make it look amazing it’s you and Sam. Love the staircase and it certainly has so much character to it, can’t wait to watch it transform and see the final result. I hope you start feeling better soon xxx
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  That staircase is a cracker isn’t it, it looks a bit like I feel lol x
  slowly improving and hope all is well with you xx