Restoring a House in Tuscany

Book excerpt: A hands-on account of buying and restoring a house in Italy. Written by Anne M. Bauer, a Norwegian diplomat who has worked with the UN in New York, with UNESCO and its Cultural Heritage list in Paris and the FAO in Rome. Mrs Bauer now lives part of the year in her restored farmhouse in Tuscany. She has assisted others in interior decorating and restoring houses in Italy and she has acquired extensive insight in what it takes to buy and restore in Italy, the craftsmen needed, the legal framework and the aesthetic issues involved. Her unique coffee table book, finished in real linen, illuminates the history and traditions of Italian farmhouses and the captivating countryside in which they are situated. This new publication emphasises the importance of cultural heritage by highlighting architectural details, local customs, ... Mrs Bauer shows how old, deserted farmhouses can be turned into modern, comfortable homes without losing their original character. She also introduces garden ideas with low maintenance plants, outdoor spaces and swimming pools integrated into the landscape.