Ciao From Guardia...

The house is incredibly comfortable and cozy! I've really enjoyed getting the kitchen together and doing some decorating.. finding a lot of little treasures left in the house and have received a few gifts from friends..

 

Home Improvements on the Italian Casa Continue..

I leave for Italy tomorrow morning and should be packing, but I just received the the latest pictures of the home that is waiting for me on the other side of the ocean..

I am completely blown away by how our house has been transformed into a home before my very eyes!

The Entry Way and Front Door to the House

It is very emotional for me to see how the entire Orso family (and in particular, my project manager Pasquale) have taken care of so many little details of my home to create a warm inviting place that I am dying to see!!!  I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight!

Bathroom accessorized

I am also excited to see all the new friends I have met during this wonderful adventure!!.  The Orso family (of course!) , some are friendships that were made in guardia, some are friends that have recently moved to guardia and are living there now, and lastly Laurie and Francisco that live in Los Angeles, but are going to close on their house at the end of April. 

 A huge party is already in the works !! I hear there will  be live music ( a dozen local musicians) and of course lots of wine!!

I feel strange listing prices.. but I want to let people know how affordable and easy it is to renovate a house in Guardia.. there are houses in all shapes, sizes and budgets:

House - $30,000
Furniture - $1200
Fridge - $400
Painting and fixing the walls the entire house - $1500 (included labor and materials)
Water Heater - $400
Electric work - $200
Wifi - $100
Misc cleaning & other  - $200
Total Cost - $34,000

Having a little slice of heaven in the middle of paradise.. priceless

I hope some of you feel inspired to come and check this place out for yourselves!

I can't wait to cook and have friends and family around the kitchen table

To be continued from italia ...

Home Improvments Continued....

New Refrigerator .. the rest of the kitchen came with the house (fireplace is just to the left)

New Bed Room Furniture Delivered and Assembled!

Home Improvement Guardia style..

Before and After pictures of the Master Bedroom and the Kitchen Fireplace..

 

I'm really happy with the way everything is turning out!!

Going Back to Guardia to Set Up Our House !!!

Photo courtesy of Roberto Amado - Guardia Sanframondi taken March 23, 2013

Guardia Sanframondi continues to grow as a few more expats have purchase homes in Guardia.. So far, Texas, California and New York are being represented!!  It is becoming somewhat of a tight knit group with everyone keeping in touch and comparing notes. All of the people that have bought houses are very different and have purchased a house in Guardia for different reasons. The one thing we all have in common is the overwhelming feeling of being embraced by the honest & incredibly helpful people of Guardia that have made this such an amazing journey!!

It seems like there is always something new and fascinating to discover about Guardia!!.. for any of you interested .. check into facebook friending:  Guardia S.Normanno .  Normanno daily posts pictures of the historical town and conducts open forums on historical sights and fun facts about Guardia.  ..  

       I am going back to Guardia Sanframondi at the end of April to finishing furnishing the house and getting it ready as a family vacation - 2nd home that me and my family and friends will enjoy for many years to come.

I am trying to figure out the best way to bring a little piece of Texas back for my visit in April.. Everyone in Guardia seems to enjoy the cultural experience of trying new foods and seeing a little piece of america.  Last time I went I took Chips, Salsa and Margarita Mix ( + tequila) which everyone seemed to enjoy!  I am open to suggestions if anyone has any great ideas .. remember I have to be able to put it in my suitcase... 

The older gentleman,  Archangelo that I bought the house from in December, finally moved out of the house and handed over the keys to my project manager last month.  (Archangelo had moved out of the house for a while, but I think had a hard time parting with the keys to his home he had lived in his entire life) .  In the end, he was happy how everything turned out, and I hope he will be happy with some of the work that has already been started.

I can hardly stand the excitement to see all the progress that is being done on our little house!!

Kitchen and fireplace  with a fresh coat of paint

 

With minor renovations started just a few weeks ago, I am already seeing a tranformation taking place via pictures that I receive almost daily to keep me up to date with the latest improvements..



Showerhead!!!!



Armando - Extraordinary Painter and Replaster Specialist - at our Front Door

You would think that having work done on  a house overseas would be very difficult, given the language barriers (remember, I don't speak italian, and in guardia very few people speak english) nevermind not being able to oversee the work myself, but it has been a very stress free and easy project so far, thanks to my project manager who has spent so much time getting bids, sending me pictures and providing all of the detail to make sure I'm happy with all the work. 

So far we've been able to do the following done :
- Purchase a bedroom set and nightstands (so I have a place to sleep when I get there)
- Purchase a refrigerator (included delivery and intallation)
- Paint and  repair any plaster in the entire house
- Install a water heater that was from this century (the old one requred wood pellets??)

- Install a showerhead in the bathroom 

-Get the internet installed



Painted Stairway



The prices have been generally less expensive than it would cost to do similar work in the US.

I'll have a full update once I get back with more pictures, and hopefully another happy chapter of the adventures of home buying in Guardia Sanframondi.

My New bedroom set in the boxes

I have some great before and after pictures .. but I am having some technical difficulties getting the pictures loaded!  I can't wait to get it fully furnished and decorated !!!
To be continued, Ciao!!