We bought a house in a gorgeous town in sunny Italy for £19.5k – we’re doing it up with items from the dump
A COUPLE shared how they are renovating their Italian home on a budget after buying the abandoned house for just £19,500.
Kristina Knighten, 38, and Paul Cordier, 46, explained that they have been sourcing items from the local dump to repurpose in their home.
The couple said they never expected to settle down in one place but fell in love with the Lake Iseo region after visiting on holiday six years ago.
They were shocked by the affordable housing market and went back a year later to buy a two-bed “fixer-up” for £19,500.
Kristina and Paul hired a contractor for around £59,000 to replace the roof and flooring.
However, Paul will be finishing the remainder of the structural work by himself to save money.
The Londoner has also been able to find some gems from the local dump, including a brand new sink, some butchers blocks to use as tables, and materials to build a kitchen.
“He started making regular trips to the dump, he started dropping things off and coming back with other things.” Kristina recalled.
“He came back with a sink in perfect condition, it was a style we really like – for free.”
However, she revealed that not every dump trip contained jackpot finds.
“He also came back with a toilet and bidet. I’m not a huge fan of that one,” Kristina said.
Paul also built a kitchen worktop from repurposed wood, which Kristina described as “sturdy and lovely.”
The pair revealed that they are trying to stick to a budget of £85,000 to £93,000.
In order to do so, they plan to use what they can from the existing home, including the previous owners bed frame.
“We want to keep a rustic look to the place,” explained Kristina, who is originally from Chicago.
“We’ll have traditional lime wash plaster and exposed wood beams and salvaged things hodgepodge together, I hope it comes to life.”
Kristina and Paul, both teachers, met in late 2013 while working in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Rules on buying in Europe as a Brit
Finance Director Ross Irvine shared some of the steps to keep in mind if you're looking to invest in a home in Europe.
- Apply for an ‘overseas mortgage’ or ‘international mortgage.’
- Applying for citizenship can help increase your chances of obtaining a mortgage.
- Before signing paperwork, get a bank guarantee, read everything carefully, and keep receipts of all transfers.
- Some countries may require you to have your will drawn up before buying property.
Source: William Russell
They started dating in 2014 and had a “nomadic lifestyle” and have visited over 30 countries together.
The pair had never planned to settle in one place but had been cobbling a deposit together for an investment property in Chicago.
But after a trip to Italy in 2018 they stumbled across Lake Iseo.
“It was super dramatic, it took our breath away,” recalled Kristina.
After having a look at the housing prices, just to be inquisitive, they couldn’t believe how cheap it was.
They could afford to use their $40,000 – equivalent to £30,500 – to buy in cash.
The couple went back the following summer and found an abandoned house.
“It needed a lot of work, it was left like the last time she had been there,” Kristina said.
“There was a toothbrush in the bathroom and the beds were made.”
The couple closed on their purchase in summer 2020 and had only $10,000 – equivalent to £7,500 – of their deposit remaining after all the legal costs.
Then living in United Arab Emirates, they decided to wait and save some more money before starting renovations.
The pair moved permanently and rented an apartment in the town from summer 2023 while work on the property started in March 2024.
“The roof is done, the sub flooring is done,” Kristina said.
The couple are now living with Paul’s sister’s Izabella, 44, who bought a place in the idyllic spot after visiting for their wedding in April 2024.
While her house also needs a full renovation it is currently habitable.