Kitchen counters, steps, and more!

Enrico came late this morning to install the paper on the stairs so that workers could access the upper floors: poor thing has the dreaded "febbre" (fever), so we directed him sternly not to breathe on us and to go home.

The day was spent in much activity. Electricians hung light fixtures and completed various bits and bobs around the place. The plumber came, fiddled a bit, and left. Umberto and Bogdan finished pouring the new steps to access our storage/utility room. Alessandro and Roberto spent time working on Florence's bed. And in the afternoon, the counters were installed!

This is the easy piece

Stove installed!

Out of the truck...

...Up the stairs...

...Through the dining room...

Nearly there!

We were happy with how the ceramic top echoes the travertine
elements in the house

The sink is a flush-mount

Maurizio working on the dishwasher

Florence being Rapunzel

There's a story on these light fixtures: they're actually wrought iron candle-holders from the 1800s (1700s? I have to look it up) that were electrified with the addition of surface-mounted wires. However, they're too narrow to cover any kind of traditional electric box. There was much consternation when Roberto and co looked at the situation because they did not want visible wires or junctions. They ended up carving out a little cranny in the plaster to hold the wire. Roberto wasn't thrilled with the first fixture because it came out a little from the wall; his diagnosis was that the fixture was curved. I could see from the side that actually, there was a little nut on the bottom edge. I mentioned to him that the NEXT trough (for the second fixture) should include a gouge to accommodate the nut. Once he saw and accepted the issue, nothing would do but that he should take down the first fixture to gouge it similarly. It now lies flat against the wall.

Roberto (electrician) being lovely

Florence, Jeremy, and I also worked on cleaning the main floor's spaces and the master bedroom, since we have a helper + truck arriving tomorrow morning bright and early to help us schlep the big stuff to the house. So exciting!

It's extraordinary how much fine dust an irregular wood floor will trap. We ended up using the driest possible mop and working in tandem to dry the floor right away with a rag. It is slow, but had pretty good results. It took over an hour to clean one bedroom, but it looks fantastic! We did preparatory sweeping for the rest of the floor, having pulled up all the protective cardboard carpets.

And afterwards, a well-earned gelato in the piazza.

Love,

Alexandra