italian living room design ideas

the itria valley in southern italy is famousfor stone houses with conical roofs. they're called known as trulli. farmers used to live here with their livestock. today they're much sought-after holiday homes. often they are located far off the beatentrack, like elisabetta trullo, with its two cupolas. wood used to be stored in the smaller building-- the other one was the living quarters. "when i saw this building for the first time,i fell in love with it instantly. it was situated magically in this landscape-- like a little doll's house in the midst

of an olive grove. i bought it immediately - even though it wasjust a heap of stones." that was 2003. less than a year later, she had had the trullorestored. its many nooks and crannies and four-metrehigh dome were carefully reconstructed. "the family lived under this central dome. the parents used to sleep together with theyoungest children here in the side alcoves on the left. the older children used to sleep up here onwooden boards under the roof."

to create additional light and space, elisabettacerioli had openings made in metre-thick dividing walls and windows enlarged. the kitchen and dining table are located inwhat was once the goat shed. the reconstruction of the trullo's conicalroof was particularly time consuming. it was completely dismantled stone by stone-- and then reassembled. "the stones are individually shaped and laidin such a way that air can circulate, but that rainwater is diverted and doesn't getthrough to the inside. it's an old craft, which is now being takenup again by young people and the tradition revived."

the dry stone wall style of construction hadan ulterior motive here: in the past -- when imperial checks were imminent --, farmersused to dismantle their roofs, transforming their homes into a stall for livestock – andthus dodging taxes. an entire town was even created based on thisprinciple. in the 17th century, feudal lord girolamomake this tax-saving method of construction obligatory. nowadays, it is listed as a unesco world heritagesite -- and draws tourists from all over. elisabetta has extended her trullo -- addinga swimming pool, patio cover and modern annexe at the rear.

the bedrooms and guestrooms are accessiblefrom the front. she retained the original limestone wallsand floors wherever possible. the smallest room is located under the cupolaof what used to be the wood store. what used to be a dwelling place for poorfarmers has been turned into a luxurious house with 200 square metres of living space. elisabetta's favorite spot is the light-filledliving room. "this is the rear of the main trullo and herei had large glass walls installed -- to let in more light and to protect against the windand the cold in winter. you feel as if you're sitting outside, butyou're in the warm house."

at first, elisabetta planned to use the trulloas a holiday home. but family and friends enjoy visiting herhere the whole year round. "some of the ceilings are maybe a bit low,but they also give you a sense of how the farmers lived here many years ago." meanwhile, she has begun producing her ownolive oil on the hectare of adjacent land. she now lives and works most of the year here.

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