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Contadina dwelling

Old Italian country house restored wit love

This is how artist Andrea Tana talks about her Italian house: 'Spontaneously we took a walk and it was love at first sight from the moment I laid eyes on what was to become my home. The abandoned ruin in the middle of fields and abundant fruit trees. .. the old stable which is now my studio and the beautiful drying barn known as the Temple where meals are taken most of the year . By a miracle I was able to acquire the property. Richard and I immediately ventured into the "abbandonata" gathering planks and beams which were lying hidden under all of the overgrowth to climb onto the fragile structure. The original structure which remained had windows on the upper floor but no roof..... the lower floor was, as usual the pig sty. Not much had been touched except for a wall in the main salon which easily came down.. two windows had been blocked. Views directly out of a Renaissance landscape. Never touched the the windows which were there and opened the two that were closed. This was a typical contadina dweling and I never wanted to change the character, but honor the beauty of the natural material of which it was built. Happily the builders who worked on Casale were happy that I respected its character an the work was not complicated. Being a collector my nest has become a rustic blend of things I love to have around me'.