After five years of renovations, a woman who bought an abandoned Italian house for one euro has revealed the stunning transformation that has taken the house from dilapidated to dreamy.
Chicago’s Meredith Tabbone decided to make a bid on an abandoned house in Sicily after an initiative was launched to auction abandoned buildings from €1 (US$1.09) in a bid to revitalize the village.
After extensive work, the 17th century house, which had no electricity or running water, is now equipped with a spa, outdoor kitchen and wine cellar.
“The house was in very poor condition, but in many ways it was everything I expected and more,” said the 45-year-old financial advisor.
“It had so much charm.”
Meredith Tabbone (pictured), from Chicago, decided to make an offer on an abandoned house in Sicily after municipalities launched an initiative
Meredith bought the house in 2019, with a starting bid of $1.09, offering $5,600 for the building in Sambuca di Sicilia, Italy.
The timing of the one-euro housing scheme was coincidental, with Meredith exploring how to get Italian citizenship to move to Europe in 2016.
She had discovered that Father Michael’s great-grandfather, Fillippo Tabbone, came from Sambuca di Sicilia, a small village in Sicily.
When she first saw the 700-square-foot house, it was completely unlivable, with an asbestos-filled roof and no windows.
After spending $850 to repair the roof in an environmentally friendly way, she purchased the building next door in August 2020 to turn it into a 3,000-square-foot property.
“At first the plan was just to make it a little getaway house,” Meredith remembers.
‘Although we originally just wanted it as a small retreat, we turned it into a dream home.’
It took Meredith five years and $490,000 to renovate the vacation home and outfit it with all the bells and whistles.
Meredith bought the house in 2019, offering $5,600 for the abandoned building in Italy’s Sambuca di Sicilia
When she first saw the 700-square-foot house it was completely unlivable – with an asbestos-filled roof and no windows – but now it is her dream home. The photo shows a house after renovation
After years of hard work, the 17th century house, which had no electricity or running water, is now equipped with a spa, outdoor kitchen and wine cellar
Meredith says ‘the sunsets are spectacular’ over her newly renovated property in Sicily
Meredith says the five-year renovation was “worth it.” “It ended well,” the homeowner continued. ‘It’s modern, but consistent [with the original architecture]. It’s a holiday home’
While she’s happy with how her European home has turned out, the Chicago native admits it wasn’t always what she had in mind.
However, she insisted it was definitely a “fixer upper” to say the least.
‘It was worth it. It turned out well,” the homeowner continued. ‘It’s modern, but consistent [in the original architecture]. It’s a holiday home.’
Meredith has since purchased two guest houses in the same village for $38,500, which are in need of minor repairs.
But she doesn’t stop there. She has also purchased a disused building for $74,000, which she plans to convert into an art gallery and an apartment where artists can stay.
Meredith is currently gathering plans and staff to begin renovating the gallery later this year.
After five years of hard work, Meredith’s holiday home was finally completed in April 2024. The photo shows one of the completed bedrooms
She now enjoys her new stay in Italy for four months a year. In the photo the house during the renovation
She is reaping the fruits of her hard work in her new holiday home. In the photo you see the house before the renovation
After five years of hard work, Meredith’s holiday home was finally completed in April 2024 – and she now enjoys her new home in Italy for four months a year.
‘[The renovations were] very slow and annoying,” she admitted.
But her hard work and patience finally paid off.
“The sunsets are spectacular,” she enthused.
Meredith recommends people buy a house for one dollar, but says it’s not for the faint of heart.
“I went all in,” she said. “If you can muster the strength, it will be worth it.”