Casa Bianca - renovating Italian houses

RENOVATING

Casa Bianca – an ongoing transformation

Renovating Italian Houses has become a little like renovating our lives!

Slowly stripping back to the essentials, seeing what is missing, and adding a touch of love.

Finding the bare bones.

Seeing what can be done with what you’ve got.

Restoring an old home means removing the signs of a life hard lived.

A fresh start, enhancing the beauty, removing the barriers.

Finding what is really important, enhancing that, recreating the space.

Renovating Italian Houses means letting in the sunshine.

Clearing layers of misunderstanding.

Deciding on our own future and moving constantly in that direction.

Finding our happiness.

Renovating in our beloved Italy means gathering friends.

Sharing stories, bringing laughter back.

Creating new echos.

Renovating Italian houses means replacing what doesn’t work.

Blending old and new.

Creating a view beyond normal life.

and the gang x

20 replies

Libby Hogan says:
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Hi Lisa,

this felt like I was in the movie of Under the Tuscan Sun-such beautiful descriptions woven together to give life to your house. It inspires me to come back in a few years and do up a house here in Mexico, so many crumbling beauties! Can’t wait to see the finished product!

Que tenga un buen dia.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Thanks so much for that Libby, we got our initial inspiration many years ago with that movie, mind you no team of Polish workers ever turned up to help us lol .
  A house in Mexico sounds intriguing, we should have the house ready for spring next year all going well. xx
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Lisa Wood says:
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Perfectly said Lisa – its almost like finding the true inner person behind all the layers.
I am so glad that we got to meet in Yandina QLD and stay connected online….one day soon I want to meet again, this time in one of your renovated Italian houses 🙂
Its been so good to follow your journey and to see you change, and to renovate your family along the way as well as Casa Bianca xxx
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Ha Ha you’d have to dust off a few layers on me Lisa. So exciting to hear about David’s big Birthday surprise, what a gift. Following along with you all has been a joy and our meeting still vivid in my mind. One day in Italy and then the next meet up will be Australia xxx
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Krista says:
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Oh Lisa, you inspire me so much. Sometimes renovating our farm seems like an insurmountable task, and we look around at the myriad jobs needing to be done and wonder how we’ll ever find the time and energy. But you remind me that it’s OK to just do the next thing, and then the next, knowing that eventually it will all come together and be worth all the working and waiting. XO
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  I loved seeing that pic with you farmhouse in the background, it looks gorgeous. Those purple peas are incredible. Time and energy are often in short supply here but we continue on ‘Piano Piano’…slowly slowly, it’s the lessons this simple life bring to our relationships that are the most rewarding even with the struggles and uncertainty. Your home will come together beautifully, each little element at just the right time xxx
  If I ever get back to Australia I’m coming for a visit xxx
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jann says:
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So gorgeous, all those yellows and pinks!!! I cannot even imagine how busy you’ve been, Lisa. Buon lavoro, and a big congrats to Sam!
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  When I worked in a shop in Australia my boss had a favorite expression…..it was the word RELENTLESS…..always made me laugh Jann. Busy Busy Busy as always you know what it’s like xxx
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Karene says:
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Hi Lisa,

I love all the pictures! You guys are cleaning out, in order to let in what should be there. I can see such progress on the house! So glad you are putting up a new balcony. Balconies or patios with a view are important to my well-being. Unfortunately, we don’t have one here, and I do think I suffer because of it.

And you’ve inspired me to seek out some gelato soon! 🙂

Karene xoxo
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  I love having a balcony and was secretly disappointed when Sam said it had to go. Just to be able to step outside and take in a view, or release some emotions, it’s one of my favorite spots in our house.
  
  One day you can come and sit on ours, oh and the link above (via my comment luv) worked x
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Ryrie Wild says:
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Hi Lisa
Wow! It looks great. Are you going to put a new balcony up? I love the pale gelato colours too. Maybe just one feature wall?
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Yes Ryrie we are putting up a new balcony, it will be in wood and in keeping with the historical spirit of the borgata. I love a balcony and it will have a view, you are having me think about those gelato colours, a clean and refresh maybe x
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Linda says:
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Love it! I hope to buy something with my sisters one day in the near future and live my own dream 🙂 I love following your Facebook page and blog.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Linda that’s so kind of you to say, thank you xx
  what a wonderful dream for you all
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Val Smith says:
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Hi Lisa. I hope you actually keep some of those soft Gelato colours. especially a soft lemon. It can look great in a bedroom. Sometimes I think we get carried away with all white. I know that I have been guilty of that. But I am changing my thinking and will in my new house when I move look at more colour options again..
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  I can imagine you surrounded by color in your new home Val, it would be nice to keep some of the original shades especially in the bedroom xx
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Charmain Giuliani says:
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wow wow wow your work is amazing.
and I can’t believe they were just living there in that space…
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Yes a family of five, it’s coming up well and can’t wait to see it finished and filled with friends x
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Kristin says:
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This is beautiful Lisa!
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Oh thanks so much for that Kristin, it’s hard to see the progress when you are right in the middle of the mess lol x
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