I guess we would count this as my official introduction to get this party started.
Hi!!! I am Stephanie Synclair and I currently live in a small town outside of Atlanta, Georgia. But, I am Alabama born and bred.
I guess I will make a long story short.
In 2013 I spent a year traveling through Europe and Asia. My first stop was Sicily, Italy in a small town called Sferracavallo. Myself and my son, then probably around 7, instantly fell in love with this town. The kindest people ever. So much so that when our month was over there, we did not want to leave. We have been back to Italy several times since then and my desire has always been a home there and a home here in the US.
Since then, I’ve been here in the United States building a couple of businesses but the tug to move to Europe never left. I’d been thinking about it for the last year and was actually leaning toward France because my French is MUCH better than my Italian (thought they’re very similar languages)
During the pandemic, before countries started opening back up, I decided it was time to take the plunge. I started looking online, joining home groups on buying homes in France and really started getting serious about creating a life in Europe. After searching a few weeks, Italy came up again and I realized that small Italian villages were easily affordable for cash purchases as I did not want to get a mortgage if I didn’t have to. After all, whats better than one of the small Italian villages that I was so fond of so many years ago.
So, a few months ago I decided that I was buying a home in Sicily. I always thought “country home” when thinking of moving to Europe, but when the opportunity to move to a small village came up, it just felt right. And, it was priced right. To be able to move to a small village and integrate into the community actually felt “safer” than moving alone to a country house just myself and the kid. (I have a 14 year old son). This way, we can walk to all of the things we need, sit in the piazza daily and people watch and get to know our new neighbors.
I bought a 15th century 2 bedroom 3 bathroom home and I am working on finding the owner of the one next door so that we can tear the wall down and expand. Until then, I will be transforming my small 1400 village home into something architectural digest would kill to come photograph. At least that is what I am telling myself.
The goal is to not create anything cookie cutter and to truly create an Italian country home feel, in a village home.
I have been doing a ton of research of blogs and Instagram accounts for homes in Italy and what comes up are people sharing their manor homes, which are gorgeous, but who is showing these more quaint village homes.
I decided that would be my little niche in the corner of the internet and I would take you on the journey. I don’t know who would be interested in this, or anyone for that matter but if all else fails, this will be an amazing online diary of how this crazy woman woke up one day, decided she wanted a home in Italy and bought a house… virtually.
I will be seeing the home in person for the first time in just a few weeks and I will be sure to share the details. I am so very excited for the very long trip. It really should only be about 7 hours but with airline shortages, there are no direct flights so I am stuck on flights with 2 or more layovers. But, I feel grateful to be going.
Until then, I will be sharing dream kitchen, bathroom and master bath ideas to hold me over.
