Welcome to our journey renovating a 300-year-old farmhouse in Northern Tuscany. On this site, we’ll share updates about our progress, notable places we visit, interesting stories from our journeys, and other random ruminations.
Follow Along
In addition to this site, we have a YouTube channel. To date, we’ve mostly been paying contractors to do the work, which doesn’t make for compelling videos, so updates there have been sporadic.
We also have an Instagram account, which will be updated more regularly. We’re often getting photos from the builders, so you can probably find the latest there.
If you’re not into social media (which we can appreciate), then subscribe to our email newsletter.
Get In Touch
Want to connect? Send me an email: hello@nepetahouse.com.
We maintain all these channels for two main reasons: First, it helps us connect with others who are doing similar renovation projects. Second, we’ve learned so much from others who are sharing their experiences, that this is our (little) way of giving back.
Why “Nepeta” House?
Nepeta is a type of mint common to Italy, and especially our area. It has a unique sweet and minty aroma, which is particularly notable when the sun comes out after a quick rain. Nepeta is a common seasoning in Tuscan cooking and is described as a cross of mint, oregano, and notes of thyme. If you see an Italian recipe that calls for mint, oregano, and thyme, the original recipe likely used nepeta.
Nepeta grows abundantly around our house and the smell is one of the first things we notice when we visit. Every time I smell nepeta, it brings me “home” to our house.