Thursday 4 February 2010

Save the Tiles!

At the weekend we were finally able to do a little bit of work in the house. A family friend had been storing furniture in there and finally we were able to move it all into the garage which was being used by a neighbour but is now empty.


We were working in the downstairs room which would originally have been used to keep the animals but since the 50s had been used as a kitchen. The room has been divided in two but as you can see from the following picture, originally there was an arch in the middle. We plan to open up this arch and make a big kitchen / dining room.




The first room is tiled from floor to ceiling, the top part with these amazing blue and white tiles.



Our job on Saturday was to painstakingly remove these tiles without breaking them so that we can clean them up and use them in the new kitchen.


Some of them were already cracked and broken but we managed to save quite a lot.



It felt really good to get into the house and do some actual physical work, even if it was just a small job. Next week Matteo has an appointment with the solicitor to change the house into his name and then finally we'll be able to submit our plans for planning permission. Things are starting to move albeit a bit slowly!



9 comments:

life and the memoirs said...

Hi Sarah Elizabeth,
The renovation of your house is an amazing project! How long do you estimate it will take? Great that you were able to save some of those beautiful blue and white tiles, being able to reuse them is very special. I'm really going to enjoy reading about your 'project' as it unfolds :)

Sara Louise said...

Wow! What delicate work.I cannot wait to watch how your house transforms. I'm going to live vicariously through you :-)

sugoandsunshine said...

what a sweet little fireplace that is! no doubt, this place will be looking great when you're done! Paperwork takes forever in Italy. I swear a woman could concieve and give birth while waiting on paperwork. Wishing you luck! (we have been renovating for the past 10 years....lots of hiccups).

Fay said...

Those tiles are amazing!! Definitely worth the hard work to preserve them. Can't wait to see how you use them in the kitchen. Fay x

Amanda said...

Wow - what a renovation you and your fiance are undertaking! Love those tiles. Can't wait to see all the progress of your lovely home to be and also of your wedding :) Thanks for popping by my blog this morning (P.S My husband is never one to buy me flowers usually so I was VERY surprised!!)

Catherine said...

Dear Sarah, Your home in Italy is just breathtaking! Seeing you work on the tiles in a hat and coat reminded me of when we were first working on our house. The heat in the house wasn't turned on at the time so we worked day and night (fall and winter) in hats and coats! Look forward to following your amazing renovation. Trina

BonjourRomance said...

Bonjour Sarah,
Thanks for the update on the 'renovation adventure' - the tiles are amazing, so glad you were able to save so many. Good luck with all the paerwork, hope all goes well. You both must be so excited.
Bonne week-end!

Denise | Chez Danisse said...

Wow, this looks like an amazing project. The rooms joined by the archway will be beautiful and those tiles were definitely worth saving.

Anonymous said...

hello my dear you should check now things are a bit different now...
Matteo