Picture this: you’re strolling through Rome’s charming streets, gelato in hand, dreaming of owning a little slice of Italy’s magic. For Flavio Fabiani and Victoria Craparotta, a young millennial couple, that dream became reality when they inherited an apartment in Rome’s lively Pigneto neighborhood. But what began as a fun project to plan their dream house of a lifetime became an international scandal, complete with Internet wrath and death threats. Who knew a redo would be so contentious?
Flavio, a 27-year-old architect with a vision, and Victoria, a 26-year-old Canadian e-commerce businessman, were eager to accept this challenge. The apartment, previously the home of Flavio’s late aunt, was a time capsule emptied for 12 years, windows thrown wide to welcome dust and leaves. It was not only old-fashioned; it was a dusty, chaotic nightmare that needed an intervention. To this couple, it wasn’t just a rehab, but an opportunity to create a home that reflected their full-color, contemporary lifestyle.
Something they did not anticipate was how their own project would ignite a cultural firestorm. Post-transformation on TikTok, they were amazed at millions of views and a torrent of condemnation calling them out for desecrating history. This adventure was not about fresh paint and open space; it was a learning experience about balancing dreams, money, and unwanted advice from strangers in the virtual world. Let us walk into their tale and the wider tide of millennials following their Italian dreams.
Walking Into a Dusty Time Capsule
As Flavio walked into his aunt’s apartment for the first time, he got the impression that he was walking into an abandoned museum. Dust had accumulated on everything the floors, the furniture, even the walls while leaves scattered on the ground hinted at years of neglect. The apartment, built in the 1950s on the third level of a 14-unit building, hadn’t changed in over a decade. Oh, and no elevator? That was merely the beginning of the behemoth project that lay ahead.
The room was a testament to the last few years of Flavio’s aunt, lived with dementia. Wardrobes were filled with bags inside bags, a doll nesting of memories. Almost life-sized dolls lined up on a chaise lounge, the chilling reminder of her tendency to accumulate. It was tragic and overwhelming, a look at a life that had to be respected so something else could fill its space. To Flavio, this was no redo; this was his maiden major commission as an architect, an opportunity to warm up his artistic muscles.
The bathroom, though, was a whole different beast. Entering to discover a “sea of cockroaches” that had fully settled in for years in pipes that had not been disturbed for years was a wake-up call to realize that more than a good coat of paint would be required on this job. The pair was greeted with the intimidating challenge of turning this abandoned, 785-square-foot building into a sleek new home on a very small budget of 17,000 euros ($18,400) in the process. There was love, determination, and a whole lot of cleaning products required.
Heritage apartment challenges:
- 12 years of accumulated grime and dust.
- Stashed goods, bags, and dolls that filled every square inch.
- A roach-infested bathroom that desperately needed extreme plumbing surgery.
- No lift, so material transport was a logistical nightmare.
A Vision Takes Shape
Flavio and Victoria weren’t rehabbing an old apartment; they were constructing a house based on their definition of contemporary living. Flavio, a young architect, viewed potential where others might see destruction. Along with Victoria, they set out to rehabilitate between May and August, working in conjunction with contractors to bring new life to the property. Their aim? A light, airy, functional home that reflected them.
One of the most daring moves they made was breaking down two walls to make the space open-planned. The compact, walled kitchen in the beginning was just a remnant of history, lacking functionality for two cooking enthusiasts who enjoyed the camaraderie of cooking together. Breaking down the walls made the space flow continuously between the kitchen and living areas, ideal for inviting friends over or cozying up on chilly nights. It was a pragmatic decision, but one that was enormously personal too, touching a chord for their deep sense of unity and of belonging.
Along with the decorating, they did necessary repairs to render the apartment habitable. They tore out stale floors for a new heating system, replaced single-pane windows with double-pane energy-saving windows, and abandoned the retro green kitchen tile for a sleek modern appearance. A coat of paint in bold plum purple and sage green against beige walls added some zing and created the stagnant space into a home that was full of life and welcoming.
Major renovation alterations:
- Removed two walls to construct an open-plan kitchen and living space.
- Added a new heating system to stay warm all year round.
- Added double-pane windows for energy conservation.
- Painted walls with bright, fashion colors such as plum and sage.
The TikTok That Rocked the Internet
After months of diligent work, Victoria decided to document their journey on TikTok in a bright before-and-after video. They anticipated a handful of likes, possibly some nice comments from acquaintances. But no, the video became viral and accumulated more than 7.4 million views. The couple was overjoyed until the comments set in. What they believed was a congratulatory gesture over their new home turned into an opinionated war zone, with people spewing insults at them for “spoiling” the apartment’s character.
The backlash was intense, with some commenters sending death threats and others lamenting the loss of the apartment’s “old-timey aesthetic.” Victoria was stunned, saying, “I’m still shocked at how dramatic people can be over a renovation.” To them, the criticism felt like a misunderstanding of their reality working within a tight budget, dealing with a cockroach-infested space, and creating a home that suited their needs, not an idealized version of Italy.
They described their decisions as having been driven by need and prudence rather than a wish to erase the past. With only 17,000 euros to spend, they could not possibly undertake the elaborate, historically accurate restoration being called for by some. And Italy’s “superbonus” tax credit encouraged them to go ahead and make the switch to modernize for energy efficiency in compliance with national objectives to live sustainably. It was a reminder that remodels are as much about practical limitations as individual creativity.
Why the backlash hurt:
- The couple’s modest budget and practical requirements were dismissed by critics.
- The “vintage look” was standard for Italian “nonna” houses, not extraordinary.
- An upgrade was required to be eligible for energy-efficiency rebates.
- Cyber indignation boiled a nuanced, individual endeavor down to oversimplification.
Cultural Conflicts and Vintage Legends
The video blog uncovered an interesting cultural divide. Being immersed in history on all sides they turn in Italy, it is only natural that the younger generation decides to restore older flats with a little more modern twist. Flavio reported that his friends had all renovated like “nonna houses” for their own styles, stating, “Not even my mom would live in that house, and she’s 60!” Critics of “vintage” furniture were largely inexpensive copies, attested by an antique dealer, of minimal historical significance.
Victoria explained that peak viewership of the video was in America, where older buildings aren’t as common and are more romanticized. In Italy, houses built in the 1950s aren’t old some date back millennia! This contrast was what stoked the anger, with Americans getting to indulge in “old” in a manner Italians, living amongst history every day, don’t necessarily. For Flavio, vintage in day-to-day life came naturally, not something to be saved at any cost.
It is a conflict that redrew to the couple the authority of perception. While they experienced a functional change, others experienced a loss of charm. It’s one that shows home remodeling as intensely personal, an articulation of individual life and values. To Flavio and Victoria, their recently renovated apartment was an uncompromising declaration of what they believe in young, new, and willing to make their mark in Rome.
Cultural differences in home renovation:
- Italians like to restore old houses to accommodate modern living styles.
- Americans sentimentalize older houses because they are relatively rare.
- The apartment’s “retro” accessories were largely inexpensive imitations.
- Renovating is an expression of personality, not merely a cosmetic process.
More Italian Dreamers, More DIY Adventures
Flavio and Victoria are hardly the only ones to be restyling Italy’s old houses. Coast to coast, millennials are rolling up their sleeves in pursuit of their own Italian dream. Consider Kristina Knighten and Paul Cordier, for instance, who purchased a quaint two-bedroom home on Lago d’Iseo for 23,000 euros. Love at first sight a humble home with a roof pitch, near the lake and train station, sketched straight from the drawing board of a child.
Their 100,000-euro renovation was derailed when expenses increased by 25%. To save money, they did it themselves, and most of the work was accomplished by Paul. When their lease expired, they relocated to Paul’s sister’s neighbor’s apartment, which they purchased sight unseen for 39,000 euros. For cheap housing, they’re renovating it, accepting dust, crumbling plaster, and oddities such as an outhouse bathroom. It’s not glamorous, but it’s theirs, and they’re getting by.
In the Italian Alps, even further north, Isis Sturtewagen and Bertus Brokamp purchased a 16-hectare farmhouse containing 27 rooms for 185,000 euros. It’s a massive undertaking, but they’re thinking long-term, hoping to restore more than 10–20 years and ultimately rent out the rooms. Their YouTube channel, chronicling their odyssey, has almost 100,000 subscribers and inspires their ambition. These stories show that Italy’s magic isn’t just in the past but in the hands of those creating its future.
Italian renovators have some common threads:
- Budget constraints cause creative, do-it-yourself solutions.
- Older houses come with quirks like outdated electrical systems or floor plans.
- Personal vision fuels the changes, no matter what expert opinion says.
- Renovations walk the line between functionality and fantasies for a special life.
Living the Dream, One Hammer Swing at a Time
For Flavio, Victoria, Kristina, Paul, Isis, and Bertus, restoration in Italy is not merely a matter of renovating old homes it’s a matter of constructing lives. Every nail set, every wall smooched with paint, is a step toward a home that honors who they are. Whether an open-plan apartment in Rome, a lake-front fixer-upper, or a grand Alpine farmhouse, these restorations are acts of love, ingenuity, and perseverance.
The web can have opinions, but these couples are concerned with their reality: pinched budgets, functional needs, and wanting spaces that home. In Italy, where history is a living, breathing presence in everyday life, modernizing isn’t about eliminating the past it’s about making it serve today. As Kristina said about their quirky temporary home, “It’s not ideal, but we’ll do it.” That’s the spirit of these dreamers embracing the mess to create something beautiful.
These tales remind us that the true magic of Italy is that it inspires. From Rome to the Alps, millennials are transforming dusty antiquities into bright homes, demonstrating that with imagination and determination, you can create your own slice of la dolce vita. It’s not always simple, but as these couples show, it’s always worth it.
Why these makeovers matter:
- They express personal identity and contemporary lifestyles.
- They weigh functionality against visions of belonging and connection.
- They demonstrate a capability for coping with challenge and criticism.
- They demonstrate Italy’s charm is half about the future, half about the past.
