Tuscany Treasure: Old Italian Farmhouse Turned Into a Stunning Holiday Home

London-headquartered holidayproperty sharing company August has turned this old farmhouse in a Tuscan spa town into a gorgeous holiday home.

This villa in Tuscany is one of the newest properties that’s been renovated by London-headquartered holiday property sharing company August.

“As our homes are co-owned by multiple families of various sizes, ages, nationalities and lifestyles, our brief is always to design something true to the region, fun, robust, and functional,” says Max Lozinski, August’s head of design, who oversaw the redesign of this 4,000 square foot villa that’s surrounded by idyllic Tuscan countryside.

The villa sits in the hills above Montecatini Terme, a well-known Tuscan spa town, and features five bedrooms, a private pool, and a tree-shaded terrace overlooking the rolling hills.

Similar to many other August holiday homes, with this project, Lozinski’s goal was to create a carefully curated oasis with lots of antiques, books, and vintage pieces, that looks as if it has evolved over time.

“At the end of the day, this is a holiday home, so entertaining and family time sit squarely at the centre of the brief. The property has multiple outdoor dining spots, a generous pool deck with an outdoor kitchen, and lots of spots for an aperitivo overlooking the fantastic view,” he says.

The overall volumes of the home are unique. The bedrooms feel spacious, yet cosy, the ground floor has excellent circulation, and all the communal spaces look out to the valley below.

“It’s particularly special as night falls and the lights start twinkling below.”

A former historic farmhouse, the rustic property has gnarled beams, terracotta floors and stone walls, which serve as a wonderful backdrop for a sophisticated colour palette that references the warm hues seen on the facades of the nearby village of Montecatini Alto.

The home looks to the town of Carrara in the distance, and local marble sourced from Carrara was used in the master bathroom and the kitchen to further connect the house to the landscape. “We used Carrara in the bathrooms because this material is so classically Tuscan and effortlessly luxurious,” Lozinski says.

The villa has two floors. On the ground floor is a garden room with Crittall Windows that was set up as a lounge area. Adjacent to this lounge is a large kitchen featuring traditional Tuscan hand-painted tiles, Carrara surfaces, and a small dining table.

Also on this level is a dining room with a pair of full-height arched windows that frame views of Montecatini, and beyond, a large antique dining table that’s offset by contemporary art pieces and a large architectural light feature, and a large living room that’s split into an informal zone with a TV and a more formal symmetrical lounge with an elegant fireplace.

Across the hall is a ground floor bedroom, with an en suite hammam-style bathroom. On the upper level are more bedrooms – a master bedroom with an en suite and a walk-in wardrobe, and two guest bedrooms that share an elegant, large bathroom. In this shared bathroom, Lozinski chose chequerboard inspired by the elegant arcades and grand palazzos of Northern Italy.

Over the course of four months, Lozinski and the August team restored the property's original features and worked with local artisans such as Roberto, an 80-year-old upholsterer and furniture maker, Indivino, a local high-end contractor, and local olive farmers to retain the authentic spirit of the property and site.

Many of the antique and mid-century pieces used to furnish the interiors were sourced from a traditional Brocante in the nearby town of Pietrasanta. These luxuriously rustic pieces are complemented by bright, patterned contemporary lighting and fabrics from Soho Home, Pooky, and Victoria + Albert, and reupholstered striped chairs and loungers.

The house’s old wine cellar was converted into a hammam-style shower room – a nod to the area's spas – and the cellar’s barrel vault was accentuated with tiled arch details referencing the aqueducts that cross the region.

Lozinski and the August team used soft, warm hues throughout the home, a nod to the painted houses in the mountain villages surrounding the property. Faded pastel tones were used to create a sense of calm, and the doors and windows were framed with neutral borders for a classical Italian look.

The striped sofas in the lounge were influenced by the churches in the region, such as those found in the city of Orvieto, which were built with contrasting white and grey marble.

Lozinski purchased several beautiful antiques that were already in the old farmhouse. This served as visual anchors within the different spaces, bringing the past into the present.

“I love the idea that a table stays with a house and holds a history of long lunches and decadent dinners around it,” he says.

“The Soho Home armchairs brought a little mid-century glamour to the living room. Our headboards are a mix of locally crafted bespoke with some more traditional ones that set the tone for the bedrooms.

“The red Victoria + Albert bath in the family bathroom provides a pop of colour in an otherwise neutral space … playful, yet elegant.

“With our design approach, the renovated holiday home feels elegant and fresh, but still rooted in the Tuscan vernacular. It’s a sanctuary that’s both rustic and true to its agricultural roots, but also comfortable, chic, and timeless.”