We are now in the fourth week of plasterwork and the rooms are coming together one by one. The house is full of plaster and our clothes (and hair and pockets and ears and phones and gloves) are full of powder. 

Over the past couple of months I’ve been asked to share my story through some online interviews and feel lucky to have been able to have these conversations! I wanted to share links to them here for anyone who would like to read more.

It’s a new year and although it’s felt like we’ve just been in some strange time warp for months now, I am trying to stay hopeful that this year will bring some better things ahead.

After I found my favorite Etruscan pattern I went to work to create the repeating tile pattern. Simplifying a bit and inverting the original so that the darker teardrop shapes resembled cypress tress which dot the landscape. 

In general, my idea for the overall interior concept was to keep everything quite neutral, paired back, and artisan. However, there were a couple of small spaces in the house that I’d had these long-held ideas of where I’d like to bring in more of a flair and unusual element to the design. 

One of the things I’m really enjoying throughout this process is getting to visit so many workshops of the artisans who are working on the different elements of the house. It’s at the stage now where many details are needing to be addressed…

…Well maybe not an era, but we’re at least coming towards the end of the first part of the building contract - the part that covers the full structural section.

The next layer of concrete was poured yesterday. This was to cover the pipes and tubes for the plumbing and electricity that had woven a spider’s web over the entire foundation.

They say that it’s the inside that counts, and if that applies to houses as well, then we’re much further along than it may seem.

One of the parts of this process that I’ve really looked forward to is deciding on the details and furnishings of the interiors. As the rooms are taking shape and a next phase now is beginning after the structural part is coming to a close, I find myself visualizing the spaces a bit clearer. 

It’s funny how time can get away from you. Sometimes it feels like just inching along and other times like you could swear it was only a week ago since you last wrote a blog post when it’s actually been over a month!

Another meeting that happened in these past few weeks was another visit to the vivaio to sit down with the landscape designer to see their initial ideas and then to view the plants and trees in person to make final yay or nays. 

In the last week the work has continued moving forward. Since the concrete pour for the final roof section was finished last week, the curing period was complete and the supports removed. Then the walls for the main bedroom all went up. These were the final exterior walls to be finished so the house is now practically the shape that it will be from now on.

This past week has been one of those periods when the progress on the house is quite visible. The week began with the final wooden shuttering and ceiling tiles being put in place for the final roof section.

One of my favorite things to do is scrounge around at an antique market or junk shop. And although I’d happily find either one anywhere, here in Italy I love it even more as there are so many interesting (and usually old) objects to find.

After yesterday’s general summertime update I thought I’d write about more of the logistics that have been taking place with some of the on-site visits of many people involved in the project.

Although this summer (and year) are completely strange and new for everyone, the summertime here in some ways has remained the same. There are still beautiful sunsets, fields of sunflowers, and plenty of outdoor dining into the long evenings.

…A few days ago I had one of those moments where I felt a bit overwhelmed with the number of plates spinning at the same time in regards to this project - but at the same time realized none were completely time-sensitive.

…On the way home, we stopped in Carrara which is on the way, and is of course one of the most famous marble quarries in the world. The mountain in an of itself it a spectacular site, and the quarry opens up like a gleaming white cavity on the side of the slope.

The clay from the lot that I’d worked into a little votive shrine for the entrance wall of the house has finally been fired. After a friend told us that we could just find one of the ceramichisti to fire it for us, we went to the only one we’d seen around the area just to ask.