How we got the House - Part I

How did you come to getting a palazzo in the first place?, recently asked Maryam.

The story does not begin in Italy.

Please follow me to Asia - more precisely to the most beautiful country in Southeast Asia: to Thailand. Thailand was our home for about five years. And it is still in our hearts. Since we are back in Asia, this time in China, we still spend holidays in Bangkok or at one of the white sandy beaches of Thailand. Everybody who has lived in Thailand loves the country and the people. And who can afford it buys an apartment in Bangkok or a holiday home at the beach. Although the law does not allow foreigners to own land or a house, everything is possible in ‘Amazing Thailand’.

During a beach holiday in Koh Samui, infatuated by life in paradise, we went on a house hunting tour. Just for fun. The young British real estate agents, one a former DJ, one a bar owner, were not much professional and not much inspiring confidence. However, at the second day they presented us the dream house at the dream beach for a dream price. We immediately fell in love with the location, a little private beach in the north of the Island and we loved the garden with its seven palm trees and direct beach access.


I already had remodelled the house in my mind and relocated the pool. The working title was ‘Casa Samui’. But to make a long story short, legally, we could have bought ‘Casa Samui’, but we could not have used the property for the next 28 years as it was leased by an American guy. His lease was illegally cancelled due to a signature forgery. Later we even met the American and his wife in person for dinner in Beijing. They were on their way back from Thailand where they took part in the court case. They even invited us to stay at ‘Casa Samui’ when stopping by. I think they liked that we played with open cards all the time and even supported their case.

While talking to friends in Bangkok about our investment plans in a house on the beach, our former boss tried to convince us to become his neighbour and invest in land at Natai Beach in Phang Na Province, just 20 minutes north of Phuket International Airport. It is another paradise. Miles of deserted white sandy beach. However this paradise was unfortunately cruelly hit by a Tsunami in December 2004. I feel like I could not find sleep in a house on the beach in this area of Thailand. That was why we thought of Samui in the first place. It is located in the Gulf of Thailand that cannot be hit by a Tsunami.

Well, this is the story why we did not get a property in Thailand (for now). And this was when I told my husband: let’s wait for our summer holiday in South Italy. I am sure, when we look at properties there, we might find something we like. The seaside is always a great place - wherever on this planet.

To be continued…

Palazzo To Do: Colours

Thinking COLOURS for decorating our house in South Italy I searched for 'Calabria' at flickr.
Yes, the house is in Calabria. About inbetween Naples and Sicily. The sea down here is really fantastic, crystal clear.





The last two pics are from Luca and Paddino on flickr.

Palazzo To Do: Layout and first Details

We have over thought the use of the different areas and floors and came to the following:

Seminterrato – Garden Floor:
Inside: 1 Bedroom, 1 Living Area, 1 tiny bathroom, 1 open kitchen and bar style eating area
Outside: 1 Garden (big enough for 2 sun beds and outside eating)
To check: Is tiny bathroom with shower possible in basement?
Style: ‘shabby-chic’ --> mainly leave old stone walls, ceilings and floors – combine with modern furniture
Colours: Orange, Yellow, White, Black, Mocca
Special: The Garden Floor has a separate entrance and can be used as independent apartment for guests.

Piano Terra – Ground Floor:
Inside: 1 Entrance Hall, 1 Living area, 1 Dining room, 1 open kitchen, 1 bathroom with washing machine and dryer, 1 working garage space
Outside: 1 Balcony (big enough for outside eating)
To check: can we take out separating walls between living – dining – kitchen for bigger space feeling?
Style: ‘smart casual’, ‘simple elegant’
Colours: Coral Red, White, Black, Mocca

Primo Piano – First Floor:
Inside:
Sea Side: 1 Master Bedroom, 1 Living area, 1 Master Bathroom
Piazza Side: 1 Children Room with small bathroom, 1 working or guest room, 1 separate WC
To check: can we have a shower in the small (overhanging) bathroom?
Outside: 3 small balconies to decorate with flower pots
Style: different room, different style
Colours: different room, different relaxing colour matching the blue sea and the green hills

Secondo Piano – Terrazzo – Terrace:
Inside: 1 small pantry including cooking facility and bar, 1 living area, 1 WC or small bath, 1 service area (water tank etc.)
Outside: Hugh Terrace (big enough for several sun beds, daybed, outside eating, small pool, flower pots)
To check: would floor be strong enough to carry pool?
Style: casual, simple, beach
Colours: fresh mint / cool blue, white

Shabby Chic Look for the Garden Floor - Seminterrato

They call it 'neo-shabby chic'.
This is how I can picture the basement of the Palazzo. Leave the stone walls and even the floor partly like it is to keep the charm. And than use some modern furniture with bright colour.

I found the picture in one of last year's issues from my favorite Magazine in Beijing: Casa International.

Coming out of the Dark

This is a very special day for me today:
I got my first COMMENT !
And this is so very special as I got it from one of my favorite blogs: My Marrakesh.
I am proud. Thank you Maryam!
This makes a difference in blogging!

Maybe I will write some posts in English to be readable for other 'design-art-beautiful-thing-lovers'.

Der Grundriss - Thoughts about the Floor Plan

Wir fangen an zu überlegen, wo wir drei, vier oder sogar fünf Schlafzimmer haben wollen. Wo sollen wir die fehlenden Bäder reinquetschen? Oder opfern wir eines der Zimmer für ein Bad. Und wenn ja, welches? Eins mit Meeresblick oder eins zur Piazza? Wollen wir separate Badezimmer oder ein Gemeinschaftsbad? Angesichts der Groesse des Hauses moechte ich eigentlich mein eigenes Bad.

Dass sich der Palazzo nicht so einfach für ein praktisches Wohnen eignet, haben wir nun auch gemerkt. Er ist für eine Familie alleine zu groß. Und für eine Familie mit vielen Gästen lässt er sich nicht so einfach aufteilen. Aber vielleicht sollten wir nicht so viel an Gäste denken, denn das ganze Jahr hindurch werden wir bestimmt nicht immer Besuch haben.

Haus am Meer gesucht - Seeking House at the Sea

Haus am Meer gesucht - oder wie wir an ein Haus in Italien kamen. Dazu muessen wir in Gedanken erst einmal nach Asien und zwar in das schoenste Land in Suedost Asien, nach Thailand. Thailand war fast fuenf Jahre unsere gemeinsame Heimat und ist es in unseren Herzen geblieben. Seit wir wieder in Asien leben, diesmal China, verbringen wir fast jeden Urlaub in Bangkok oder an einem der Traumsstraende Thailands. Jeder, der einmal in Thailand gelebt hat, liebt dieses Land und seine Menschen. Und wer es sich leisten kann, kauft sich ein Appartment in Bangkok, eine Ferienwohnung am Strand oder auch ein Haus am Meer. Letzteres ist Auslaendern nach aktueller Rechtslage verwehrt. Aber nichts ist unmoeglich in 'Amazing Thailand'.
Vom paradiesischen Leben in Thailand betoert gingen auch wir waehrend eines Strandurlaubs auf Koh Samui auf 'house hunting' tour. Rein aus Spass. Die windigen britischen moechtegern Immobilienmakler und Ex-DJs oder Nebenbei-Kneipiers waren nicht gerade professionell. Doch schon am zweiten Tag wurde uns das Traumhaus am Traumstrand zum Traumpreis angeboten. Wir hatten uns in den kleinen privaten Strand im Norden der Insel schon verliebt und auch in den Garten mit den sieben Plamen, der direkt an den Strand reichte. Das Haus hatten wir in Gedanken schon umgebaut und auch den Pool im Garten verlegt. Um eine lange Geschichte kurz zu machen: Wir haetten 'Casa Samui', so war mein Arbeitstitel, legal kaufen - aber die naechsten 28 Jahre nicht nutzen koennen, weil es von einem Amerikaner gepachtet war. Wir lernten den Amerikaner sogar spaeter privat kennen und duerfen, weil wir mit offenen Karten spielten, in unserem 'fast' Haus um sonst wohnen, wenn wir mal vorbeikommen.
Vom Immobilienkauf in Thailand wollen wir jedoch erst einmal absehen. Fuer die Sommerferien war dann auch - wie seit einigen Jahren - der Urlaub in Sueditalien geplant. Ich scherzte, wetten dass wir dort auch ein Haus finden werden, wenn wir uns umschauen? Wer spasseshalber sucht, der findet.