American Couple Discovers Hidden Costs and Medieval Secrets in Italian Renovation Project

Kristina Knighten, 40, and Paul Cordier, 48, purchased a centuries-old property on Lake Iseo in Lombardy, Italy, in 2020 for €23,000 (approximately $25,000 USD at the time), after deciding against buying a home in Chicago. Both had faced difficulties securing mortgages in their home countries due to living and earning abroad, leading them to pursue a new life together in Italy.

Initially aware the house needed a new roof and upstairs floor, the couple soon discovered the extent of the required work was far greater. "We didn't know that in fact it needed a new everything," Kristina Knighten told the Daily Mail. The pair had saved around $40,000 USD (approximately €35,000) for the purchase and subsequent renovations, but found that hiring local contractors quickly depleted their funds.

They now work as freelance teachers in the local area, living frugally and reinvesting their savings into the house. Paul Cordier also contributes by undertaking much of the renovation work himself. As of early 2024, the flooring and roof repairs were complete, with plastering and repointing the walls among the remaining tasks.

During the renovation, the couple encountered significant structural challenges, including a bowing lintel above a downstairs window. "If the lintel were to break, that wall would have crumbled in a significant way," Knighten explained, noting the need for an engineer to reinforce the structure. These unforeseen issues added substantially to the project's cost.

Amidst the challenges, the renovation also revealed historical treasures. After removing old plaster from the interior walls, they uncovered what they describe as "gorgeous medieval stone walls." This led to the painstaking process of repointing the exposed brickwork. A medieval window, previously bricked up, was also discovered, offering clues to the house's age, which they estimate to be from at least the 1700s. Italian historical records for individual residential properties do not extend that far back.

Knighten estimates the total cost of the renovation, by the time it is finished, will reach approximately €120,000 (about $129,000 USD). The couple is currently living in a nearby apartment provided rent-free by Paul's sister, though this arrangement also presents rustic challenges, including the absence of central heating and an outdoor bathroom.

Despite numerous setbacks and a reluctance to set a firm completion date due to funding uncertainties, Knighten expressed that the experience has been valuable. "We've learned a lot," she stated, adding that they have "totally fallen in love with this town, with the neighbours, it's such a beautiful community." While acknowledging they might not have made the same decision if they had known the full scope of the project beforehand, both she and Cordier do not regret taking on the extensive restoration.