Journal · 2026-03-04
Buying and renovating a home in Tuscany: a design checklist
Before you renovate a Tuscan house, check three things: what the building already gives you (light, walls, floors, height), what the local rules allow, and what the house has to do for you — a family home and a high-end rental need different plans. Everything else follows from those answers.
1. Read the house before you change it
Most Tuscan properties come with something you cannot buy: thick walls, worn terracotta, beams, deep window reveals. Walk through the house at three different times of day and note where the light lands. That map decides where the seating, the dining table and the workspace belong — long before you choose a colour.
Photograph everything as it is now. You will want those before images later, and they force you to look properly.
2. Decide what the house has to do
A house you live in yourself can be layered and personal. A house that also rents needs to survive turnovers, be photographed well, and read clearly in the first three images on a booking platform.
If rental income matters, plan for it from the start: durable finishes, generous lighting, enough seating for the sleeping capacity, and a hero space that photographs beautifully.
3. Authentic, not clichéd
Sunflowers, heavy dark rustic furniture and terracotta everywhere is not authenticity — it is a stereotype of Tuscany sold to visitors. Real local character comes from the materials of the region used honestly: lime plaster, stone, olive wood, linen, handmade ceramics, iron.
Mix them with contemporary shapes and restrained colour and the house reads as personal and of its place at the same time.
4. Budget the layers, not just the furniture
Lighting, textiles and window treatments are usually underestimated and always decisive. Reserve a real share of the budget for them.
Also reserve budget for the final photo shoot. It is the one item that keeps returning value: on the rental platform, on your site and every time you share the house.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need an interior designer if I already have an architect?
- They solve different problems. The architect resolves structure, layout and permits; interior design decides how the space feels, functions day to day and photographs. On most Tuscan renovations the two run in parallel.
- How long does a Tuscan villa interior take?
- For a holiday rental, plan three to six months from first visit to the final photo shoot, depending on how much building work is involved and on lead times for custom pieces.
- Can you work remotely if I do not live in Italy?
- Yes. Most owners are abroad during the project. I visit the property, present the concept remotely and lead the execution on site, including the painters and contractors.