Couple Restore Crumbling 300-Year-Old Italian Villa: ‘Interior Goals’

A British-Italian couple have accomplished an extraordinary feat, transforming a derelict villa in the heart of Tuscany, Italy, into a resplendent residence.

Jordan Kamellard, from London, England, and his partner Emanuele Neri decided to breathe new life into the forgotten home—which they purchased after struggling to keep up with inflated rental prices in Florence, Italy. The couple channeled their resources into property flipping, a venture that led them to their ultimate project, a centuries-old villa in the Tuscan countryside. Abandoned and neglected, the property presented a challenge but also a chance to restore a piece of history. Their efforts, which they have documented on social media, have garnered widespread support.

“When we came across what would be our future home, it was in a very sorry state; abandoned for decades, and with the onset of structural issues,” Kamellard, known online as @jordankamelleri, told Newsweek. “We thought it would be a tragedy for the property, [dating] from the 1700s, to be lost forever.”

The villa, which had languished for decades, was on the brink of collapse, but the couple decided to take it on after turning their attention away from renting.

“During our first year in Florence, we realized that, due to the huge tourist demand for short-term rentals in the city, the cost of long-term rentals for people who actually wanted to live there was so astronomically high that it was cheaper for us to get a mortgage and buy a fixer-upper,” Kamellard said. “Fast forward six years and three property flips later, and here we are, having just finished renovating the Italian villa of our dreams.”

Before committing to the project, the couple consulted older locals about the villa’s former glory. This dialogue helped them envision the restoration, and fueled their determination to revive the villa in a manner that retains its historical quirks. The renovation ended up taking nearly a year, with much of the work being done by the couple themselves.

“It also took a couple of years prior to complete the sale and put together all of the plans, so it was more of a three-year project in total,” Kamellard added.

Kamellard and Neri, a Tuscan native, documented their journey on Instagram. They shared a post to the platform on June 13, which sped through the villa’s transformation from a derelict structure to a gleaming example of baroque architecture.

Captioned, “abandoned…Rotted…Irretrievable? Not according to us,” the short reel showcased the meticulous restoration of the villa’s exterior, ornate windows, and expansive garden. The couple had hashtagged the post, “interior goals.”

The villa now boasts a pristine, cream-colored facade, complemented by detailed ornamentation beneath large double windows. Kamellard had hoped that these features would make up for the “sloppy” postwar renovations that had inhibited the property from returning to its former glory.

Its Tuscan-style garden features neatly pruned plants and trees, while its balconies are home to stylish cast-iron seating. Inside, the villa merges historical charm with modern amenities, maintaining a bright and airy ambience.

“Despite it being such an old house, we actually run an energy surplus most of the year round, thanks to all the modern tech we put into it,” Kamellard said. “[We built] a temple to traditional design that’s fit for the 21st century.”

While they are pleased with the result, reaching it was not cheap. The couple spent double the amount of money that they paid for the property on renovation costs, but remain delighted with the home they have created.

Thanks to regular social-media posts, the couple’s very personal renovation soon turned into a viral sensation that has captivated audiences around the world. Their post from June 13, which showed off before and after shots of the property, has amassed 95,000-plus likes.

“Amazing job,” one viewer wrote, while another added: “Bravo! What a stunning transformation. You must be so proud!”

“It’s such a heartwarming feeling to have the love that we’ve put into this project multiplied a million times over by the social media response,” said Kamellard, who calls himself a “property nerd.”

“Some people like to nitpick, and that’s OK, but most just put into words their own personal metaphor for the heart-eyes emoji—and that’s really cool.”

Their journey, driven by a passion for historical preservation and modern living, has not only given them a picturesque dream home but has also rekindled Kamellard’s interest in the architectural heritage of Tuscany.

“Having found this long-lost diamond in the rough, it really feels like we have both built a personal relationship with this villa,” Kamellard said.

He added: “We gave her back her pride of place in the village.”

Kamellard and Neri met in Rome a decade ago. Their romance led them to London, where the high cost of living soon prompted a move to Florence.

“We transferred to Florence for a bit of a lifestyle bump as our money would go further there,” Kamellard said. “The art, culture, and those famous Tuscan sunsets didn’t hurt either.”

With their renovation wrapped up, It looks like the couple will be enjoying those sunsets for some time to come.