Most people can only dream of owning a house with a beautiful view Italy‘s iconic Lake Como.
However, few would accept an example that is over 300 years old and in dire need of renovation.
Yet that’s exactly what one couple, who bought a house originally built in 1719, decided to do.
Tom, van France and his Australian wife Tess have traded the comfort of a move-in modern home for the ultimate challenge as they convert the structurally compromised 18th century property into their forever home.
The couple got the keys to the house in October last year, and while they haven’t shared the purchase price, they have hinted that their new home cost a fraction of the price of an apartment in both Milan and Sydney.
“There were some delays along the way, mainly around getting a mortgage as a foreigner and the delayed delivery of the parking spaces included in the sale (spoiler alert: we’re still waiting on that),” they told Travel Mail.
The pair are now documenting the highs and lows of their ‘Stairmaster Reno’ project on their Instagram page and YouTube channel, Lake Como projectchronicling their interior design journey, DIY projects, and ambitious efforts to source materials and furnishings.
The beautiful view of the lake, the outdoor swimming pool and the hectares of greenery are undeniable advantages. However, they admit that they “knew from the beginning that it would be a big project.”
In one videothe couple reflects on the first time they stepped into the Lake Como estate and said, “TThe view was incredible. The house needed a lot more work than we expected. But once we walked into the garden, there was no turning back.
“Sometimes the best decisions on paper don’t make the most sense, they just feel like something you can’t think about and miss.”
Tom and his wife Tess decided to buy an 18th century house on Lake Como, Italy
The pair admit the house needed ‘a lot more work than we expected’ but don’t regret taking on the project
Apart from the regulated work such as plumbing, electrical and floor reinforcement (which requires licensed local builders), Tess and Tom carry out the entire project themselves.
“We’re going to paint, tile bathrooms, build the kitchen, lay floors and do all the fun stuff,” they say.
This includes complete demolition, window upgrades, mold removal, structural updates, installation of new kitchen and bathroom suites including a brand new outdoor kitchen, painting and outdoor landscaping.
In one clamptackled the pair of moldy bedroom ceilings that were crumbling from an old cracked pipe.
They described taking it down as an incredibly ‘dusty’ job, but once the mess was cleared they were able to confirm that the beams were structurally sound.
Tess and Tom reveal that they ‘didn’t really start with one fixed renovation budget’ to tackle the massive transformation.
“Our approach has been to keep the essential professional work as reasonable as possible and then save money by doing as much as possible ourselves,” they explain.
Online images show the extreme lengths the couple went to to transport items to their new home, which is located on a hill next to other properties.
In one dramatic moment shared on their Instagram page, a helicopter is seen towing what appears to be a huge log across the scenic lake, before gently lowering it onto the estate.
In one clip, the couple tackled moldy bedroom ceilings that were crumbling due to an old burst pipe
Along the way, Tess and Tom made ‘a lot’ of surprising discoveries in their new home – from original centuries-old floors to a porthole.
“One of our favorites was discovering an original porthole window overlooking the lake that was completely hidden behind a fireplace that had been added to the kitchen around the 1970s,” they say.
‘We also discovered the original 1719 Moltrasio stone floor beneath the gray washroom tiles and a thick layer of rubble, as well as original cotto lombardo, the local terracotta, hidden under layers of linoleum and glue in the bedrooms.
‘A lot of what we’re doing is undoing some of the stranger additions and cover-ups from the 1970s and trying to bring back the original character of the house.’
Where air transport is not available, Tess and Tom face the grueling task of moving building materials over steep paths. Meanwhile, builders use specialized tractors to haul things for them.
In one videosaid the couple, “One of the realities of renovating an old house on Lake Como is figuring out how to get the materials.
‘Luckily we found a great local team of builders who know these old pedestrian streets inside and out and move materials using their mini tractors (which means we don’t have to helicopter everything in like many people do!).
“But as for the hundreds of vintage marble tiles we bought for the house… that’s all on us. Weighing around 10kg each, carrying them around the village has become our free gym membership! And free entertainment for the neighbors.’
When it comes to sourcing materials and furniture, the couple has embraced the thrill of second-hand markets and thrift stores like Mercatino Franchising – whether it’s a trendy bathroom sink, a set of tableware or a custom-made statement mirror.
For €285, the couple bought a 1950s Italian mirror, a pink Art Deco ceiling lamp, vintage wall lamps, a 1950s Dante chair, two sets of Italian glass and decanters, a vintage towel holder, a chandelier and an eight-seater outdoor table that they plan to restore.
The couple endured the difficult task of moving building materials over steep paths to their home
Since starting the renovation, Tess and Tom have made impressive progress, officially reaching the ‘halfway point’ of their project at the end of May.
And while the 300-year-old property has faced many challenges, language hasn’t been an issue for the couple, as Tess speaks Italian.
Even with this linguistic advantage, the couple admits that there “can definitely still be a cultural barrier when it comes to things like timelines, communication with builders and some interesting billing processes!”
The couple says: ‘Our biggest piece of advice would probably be to have a good local architect oversee the project with you.
‘Initially we tried to manage everything ourselves, but after a few struggles along the way we finally appointed someone to help us with the next stages and start the planning and permitting for our loft conversion.
‘We’re already realizing how useful it is to have someone local who understands how everything works, and who can help us decipher what is simply the Italian way of doing things and when we might need to push back a bit!
‘The other challenge is maintaining the same level of attention to detail when someone else is doing the work.
“No one will ever care about every little detail as much as you do when it’s your own home. Keeping an eye on all of that while working full-time and doing much of the renovation ourselves has definitely been a juggling act.”
Inspired by the vintage pools of Palm Springs, they revitalized their yard with manicured gardens, fully tiled exterior walls, freshly painted table sets, a transformed pool overlooking the lake and the addition of lounge chairs.
‘We see the house slowly coming back to life. We have already started to bring color back to the garden and pool, and it was very special to get the first glimpse of what life here will ultimately be like,” say Tess and Tom.
But the couple hope to make it their ‘forever home’ and ‘can’t imagine wanting to leave it’
‘Every time we sit in the garden, look out over the lake or jump in the pool after a long day of working on the house, we remember why we took it on in the first place.’
Despite all the hard work they have to put into the property, the couple say they have “no regrets at all” and instead feel “incredibly happy.”
They plan to make it their “forever home” and “can’t imagine wanting to leave it.”
‘It’s our little piece of paradise, although with a 300 year old house we’re pretty sure it will continue to bring us projects for the foreseeable future!’ the couple insists.
As for the future, Tess and Tom hope to one day renovate a little cabin in the mountains where they can escape to in the winter and ski.
“But we should probably finish the house first,” they add.
