Kitchen
Dining room
Living room
A bedroom
Interior & Exterior
The owners were lucky to have had, in Claudio Rossi, a builder who delights in restoring ruined farmhouses as traditionally as possible, preserving architectural features such as exposed beams and original terracotta floors, yet making sure the creature comforts are all there too.
On the ground floor is a fully equipped, sunny kitchen leading to the dining room; both have French doors onto the garden. The sitting room, with its typically Tuscan fireplace, also has French windows to a pergola on the shady north side of the house. There is a utility room, boiler room with linen store and a big downstairs cloakroom. Centrally heated throughout, there is a wood burner in the dining room.
An internal spiral staircase, and outside stone stairs, lead to a landing on the first floor off which are two big double bedrooms (one with twin beds). Each has its own loo, bath or shower room attached. The owners decided against trying to cram in three bedrooms, so there is a spacious feel to the upstairs and the platform at the top of the outside staircase has become a favourite spot for sundowners and stargazing.
A separate building, just 20 feet from the main house across a paved courtyard, houses a studio/double bedroom with its own central heating, loo and shower. The bed is cleverly designed to provide a choice of a double bed, two singles or a single bed and an armchair.
Casetta del Brinco is amply furnished with a comfortable mix of the antique and contemporary. Bookcases are stuffed with art books as well as a wide range of other reading matter, much of local relevance (so you can read up on a place and its treasures before visiting). There are also maps and guides for the region.
The house is surrounded by garden, with stone paved, shaded pergolas on the north and on the south sides. Another stone paved area joins it to the studio.
A short distance away is the large (40 x 17ft) pool with another pergola along one side providing shade to read under. There is plenty of space for sun-loungers and other outdoor furniture; even in winter you can lunch out on a sunny day.