Italy's fragmented past saw the Country divided into dozens of tiny independent states, bequeathed in a plethora of small urban settlements which offered the neighbouring countryside a place of aggregation and trade closer than the capital city. Many towns and villages, the so called borghi, still bear the signs of their turbulent history in their interesting buildings and monuments which are a testimony...

If the housing market in 2014 gave concrete signs of recovery, in 2015 the increase of transactions will continue, although prices seem to be still falling. Stability will be reached over the next two years. What happened in 2014 The year that we have just left behind, showed concrete signs of recovery for the Italian real estate market. After years of negative trends, the transactions increased by 3.6%....

It is hard to determine the impact Expo Milano 2015 World’s Fair has on the ongoing recovery (albeit, slow) in Milan's real estate market. Despite different perceptions, real estate brokers agree that the turmoil due to upcoming World’s Fair in Milan in May has contributed to boosting a sector that has experienced years of severe crisis. The main signs at the national level come as usual from big...

These tools may not be on the market yet, but someday they'll change your life. WHAT’S IN MY FRIDGE? That’s the question we all probably ask every day. This prototype smart fridge will read the RFID of the products and will let you know what’s in your fridge, without opening the door and wasting energy. THE MILKMAID: MILK MADE SMART Unsure if your milk is still good to drink? The Milkmaid promises...

2014 officially closed with a growth in real estate sales by 1.6%. Also the disbursement of mortgages is improving, with an increase by 9.2% if compared to the previous year. Turnaround for the housing market in Italy, which is coming back after 7 years of declines: according to ISTAT, 2014 closed with an increase by 1.6% on 2013 and a total of 594,431 sales. The increase covers all geographical areas...

With a little imagination and our suggestions your dream bedroom can meet your expectations. When decorating a new house, bedroom usually is not on the list of priorities, but this the room where you fill up your batteries, so it needs to be set up as your personal heaven. When decorating, you need to pay attention to the design of each detail. Wood, in its natural form, can meet the need of a beautiful...

Everyone loves a good gallery wall. But how do you get it right? Here are some common mistakes people make when hanging a gallery wall. 1. Not Using Various Artwork Sizes Use a couple of larger pieces to focus the eye. "I usually vary the sizes of the artwork, especially on a large wall, but I like having two or three large, important pieces to help focus the eye - and they usually tend to hover towards...

Do not be hasty in the choice and arrangement of your curtains: they are one of the most important parts in your home. Just follow these 5 simple suggestions to give your room a unique look thanks to your curtains. 1. When hanging curtains, make sure you get proper fullness: it is recommended your curtains to be twice or even two and a half times the size of the window. 2. Always hang curtains as close...

Italy, a country that you should be looking to invest in! Why? Mention Italy to some people and they all they know about is what the press is telling them about Italy, they often have a perception of a country that has nothing to offer an investor. How wrong they are! Now is the time to invest in Italy, especially if you have the finances for acquisition. Italy has the innovation and technology and now is...

The Rent to Buy "magic formula" allows you to live in a property immediately, as if it were for rent, but the fee will be considered as a down payment on the purchase price. The “Rent to buy” contract allows people to buy a house in a moment of difficulty in obtaining mortgages; at the same time constructors and private owners will have more possibilities to sell unsold properties. As a matter of...