Restoring a Home in Italy
(a book about 22 beautiful homes restored by their owners)
by: Elizabeth Minchilli
Country Homes & Interiors
(magazine article; August 2003)
http://willowdecor.blogspot.com/2011/06/amazing-tuscan-stone-villas.html
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Guests Comments:
Villanova looks amazing in the photos--it is even better in person There were places for privacy, including the spacious bedrooms and many outdoor garden 'rooms' for reading as well as wonderful areas large enough for us all to gather together to eat and hang out. The proximity of the pool to the house was wonderful because we found we could be in the house yet still aware of the goings on at the pool. We could have spent the whole vacation in the sunny, comfortable, roomy master suite! The location is stunning. Waking up to the mists across the rolling green hills with a view to Todi from the balconies and ending the day catching fireflies which the kids took to bed in pasta jars with walking and jogging the gravel roads of Torregentile in between made for perfect idyllic days.
The house is fully stocked with every modern amenity. It honestly could not have been any more perfect. We look forward to returning.
---Siri
The Villa was absolutely perfect. Our wedding was a success and all who attend, and worked, the occasion commented on how beautiful of a venue it truly was. Also, please, again, extend many thanks to Triestina. Her food was fantastic and she couldn’t have been kinder to our non-Italian speaking family!
---Lindsay and Mark
2010 family video sent by Mikel with "Thanks for a wonderful holiday!"
We wanted to tell you how thoroughly we enjoyed your wonderful house. Every detail -- from the culinary herbs planted in the garden to the comfy chairs by the pool -- shows how much care and thought you put into making your home special. I just read Elizabeth Von Arnim's The Enchanted April and realize that the romantic idyll she writes about called San Salvatore could as easily have been Villanova. Enchanted is the right word for what you've created.
---Suzy, Stuart and Justine
We had a fantastic time in Italy. Your house is wonderful and you have done a terrific job with the restoration. We so enjoyed Triestina as well.
---Bruce and Celia
This was the fifth rental we have had in Italy, so we have some experience, and it was by far the most enjoyable place we have stayed. Everything about it seemed to show thoughtful decision making. The proximity yet privacy of the pool was terrific. There were all different rose bushes around the pool, which must be gorgeous in June. The other plantings, especially the fruit trees lent a warm, generous atmosphere. The outside dining area with the fully grown pergola, the beamed ceilings, the two strategic balconies, we absolutely loved it! We managed to have a romantic family vacation -- quite a feat with a nine, seven, three and two year old. The design of the house had a lot to do with that. We loved the kid-friendly plates, movies, cups, glasses, books, etc. (Our kids loved them even more.) We brought our nanny with us, and the downstairs suite worked perfectly. She had a gorgeous room and was able to enjoy some privacy. Upstairs the kids paired off in the bedrooms, just as they do in our Manhattan apartment. Anyway, a year is a long time away, but we would love to return if you would have us. What are other times of the year like? Anyway, our sincere thanks for your part in creating a place for our most wonderful family vacation ever.
---Chris and Suzanne