A shower room problem and a marble find
Zaffrin O'Sullivan Zaffrin O'Sullivan

A shower room problem and a marble find

Where do you put a bathroom in a tiny Italian house that never really had one? Between an abandoned spa-bathroom plan, borrowed light, plumbing puzzles and a piece of Italian marble that doesn't quite fit, we are slowly working it out.

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Getting Down to the Bones of the House
Zaffrin O'Sullivan Zaffrin O'Sullivan

Getting Down to the Bones of the House

We start stripping back the floors of our tiny old house in San Donato Val di Comino, uncovering layers of rubble, an old fireplace and clues to its past. An evening of unexpected demolition, village festa chaos and the realities of renovating an old house.

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Why We Bought the Cantina Next Door
Zaffrin O'Sullivan Zaffrin O'Sullivan

Why We Bought the Cantina Next Door

Why we bought the cantina next door, what we learned about buying property in Italy, and why looking beyond the house can transform your renovation.

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Designing a Tiny House, Slowly
Zaffrin O'Sullivan Zaffrin O'Sullivan

Designing a Tiny House, Slowly

Follow the restoration of The Nook, a historic stone house in San Donato, Val di Comino, Italy as we uncover a remarkable groin vault and learn the art of slow restoration.

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Designing a Small House We Didn't Own
Zaffrin O'Sullivan Zaffrin O'Sullivan

Designing a Small House We Didn't Own

Before buying our tiny house in Italy, we designed every inch of it. How solving one impossible problem convinced us The Nook was worth restoring.

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How We Bought The Nook
Zaffrin O'Sullivan Zaffrin O'Sullivan

How We Bought The Nook

What began as the purchase of a tiny house in San Donato Val di Comino soon became an adventure involving surveys, a mysterious blue door cantina, seven sellers and a notary's office full of paperwork. This is the story of how we became the owners of The Nook.

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