I spent a lot of money to buy a smelly villa and renovate it | From start to finish
It all began with a dream—and a bad smell. I had always wanted a villa, something charming with history and character. So when I found an old stone villa on the edge of the countryside, I jumped at the chance. It was big, affordable, and… well, it stank. I’m not exaggerating—the place smelled like a mix of wet dog, moldy cheese, and mystery. But I saw potential. Or at least I tried to.
The first step was figuring out where the smell was coming from. Turned out it was everywhere—in the carpets, the walls, the pipes, even the old wooden beams. I ripped out everything. Goodbye funky carpet, rotten furniture, and ancient wallpaper. Once the place was gutted, I had it deep cleaned, fumigated, and aired out for weeks.
Then came the fun part—renovation. I hired a local architect and a team of builders who helped bring my vision to life. We opened up spaces, added huge windows for natural light, and kept some original charm like stone walls and antique fireplaces. Every surface was scrubbed, sanded, and sealed. We put in new floors, a modern kitchen, and spa-style bathrooms.
It took nearly a year, way more money than I planned, and about ten stress meltdowns. But when I walked through the finished villa, smelling nothing but fresh paint and lavender candles, I knew it was worth it.
Now it’s my favorite place on Earth. Cozy, quiet, and odor-free. A stinky nightmare turned into a dream home—one deep breath at a time.
