From the Journal

Journal

Guides on buying, renovating, and designing in Italy — written for Americans and international buyers navigating Italian property.

Bright dining area opening onto the garden: a home shaped around how people really live
Design

From Dream Home to Ideal Home

The dream home is an image; the ideal home is an answer. How to move from one to the other without losing beauty along the way.

June 30, 2026 · 13 min read

A US passport held up against a world map, planning a move from America to Italy
Buying

US Taxes and Your Italian Home: A Guide for Americans

Social Security, 401(k)s, the 7% flat tax, FBAR: how the US–Italy tax picture works when you buy property in Italy.

July 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Overhead view of archive folders and document boxes, representing building permit paperwork
Renovating

Italian Building Permits: CILA, SCIA & Permesso

A clear guide to Italian building permits: how edilizia libera, CILA, SCIA, Super SCIA and the permesso di costruire differ, plus timelines and amnesties.

July 15, 2026 · 14 min read

Apartment window over the rooftops of historic central Rome
Renovating

Apartments in Central Rome: A Renovation & Design Guide

Heritage rules, light, and compact layouts: how to design and renovate an apartment in central Rome.

June 21, 2026 · 8 min read

Eclectic room with stained-glass windows and furnishings from mixed eras
Design

Five Italian Design Styles and How to Bring Them Home

From Roman classicism to Sicilian baroque — five distinct Italian aesthetics and the palettes that define them.

June 15, 2026 · 2 min read

Historic interior with a marble floor and period decorative details
Renovating

Renovating a Historic Italian Apartment Without Losing Its Soul

Preserve original moldings, doors, and floors while making the home livable — a design guide to historic apartments.

June 14, 2026 · 8 min read

Renovated kitchen with a window-side sink and teal tile backsplash
Renovating

What a Home Renovation in Italy Really Costs

Realistic budgets for Roman apartments, Tuscan farmhouses, and coastal villas — permits, labor, and hidden costs.

June 10, 2026 · 2 min read

Contemporary living room with a linear fireplace and grey sofas
Design

A Home's Flaws and Strengths: Reading Them Like a Designer

Low ceilings, dark rooms, awkward columns: how to turn a home's flaws into character.

June 7, 2026 · 8 min read

Cozy living room with a red armchair and record player, the feel of an Italian home
Buying

Buying a Home in Italy as an American: The Complete 2026 Guide

Codice fiscale, taxes, the rogito, and the team you actually need when purchasing property in Italy.

June 1, 2026 · 3 min read

Open-plan kitchen with an island, resolved into well-defined functional zones
Design

Difficult Floor Plans: Design Solutions for Awkward Layouts

Long corridors, irregular shapes, columns in the way: interior-designer solutions to make difficult floor plans work.

May 31, 2026 · 8 min read

Restored decorated cement-tile floor in a period apartment
Renovating

Restoring Period Floors: Cementine, Terrazzo & Cotto

Cement tiles, terrazzo, cotto, and marble: when to restore instead of replace, and how to make a period floor shine.

May 24, 2026 · 8 min read

Black-and-white hexagonal mosaic tile floor, the majolica alternative to parquet
Design

Parquet vs Tile: How to Choose the Right Floor

Warm wood or hard-wearing tile? A room-by-room guide to choosing between parquet and majolica tiles.

May 20, 2026 · 6 min read

Dim interior room warmed by the glow of a table lamp
Design

Colors for a Dark Home: Brightening Low-Light Rooms

Warm whites, butter yellows, and sage: the colors that lift a dark, low-light home without renovating.

May 17, 2026 · 7 min read