Palazzo Pizzo featured in German "1richtungsblog"

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Today this blog is featured in 1richtungsblog written in German language by Anita.  Her American experience of 7 years in Dallas definately brings a fresh spirit into her daily updated blog.  Style Spion a leading German blog calls her the "German Decor8".

She frequently features private homes, fellow bloggers and artist. And I am happy to see that the German blog scene has developped. All the German language blogs in her blogroll are inspiring as well. And I am happy for the very friendly feature - in German language of course - about our renovation project in Italy.

Maybe you wonder, why I am writing in English language and not in German, as I am not only born in Germany but also at the moment based in Germany.

So, here is my explanation, why blogging in English :

When I started blogging - almost three years ago (!) - I wrote my first posts in German language :

My very first post on December 31, 2006 :  Ein Abenteuer beginnt
Then, January 7, 2007: Haus am Meer gesucht
The third and last in German language on February 7, 2007:  Der Grundriss
(not sure where the pictures have gone)

Okay, I am admitting that one post per month was not enough to attract a crowd of readers and commentators, but I felt that the German blog scene was somehow boring - at that time. I could not find anything interesting or inspiring I would have liked to link to.

And then my absolute favorite blogger of that time - Maryam - left a comment on my blog :  I wish I could read your blog:-(

That were the magic words that made me start writing in English.

I do really enjoy the English writing group that blogs about interior design, home & garden and all inspiring beautiful things. However, I am open to meet the German scene as well.


And that's why I am going to greet them in my mother tongue :

Hallo und willkommen auf meinem blog !!!!  Schaut Euch um, fuehlt Euch wie zu Hause. Mehr auf Deutsch spaeter ...
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cool products for bathrooms

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Shower Pluvia by Rapsel

Recently I came across this fancy shower. The wall mounted shower's spiral column not only ends in a rainshower head but also functions as shower curtain rail ! (diameter about 80 cm). - It seems like a space saving solution.

I do not have experienced the above shower, but I am a very lucky girl to have this one at my home (in Germany):

It is a steam shower ! It is the Wellbox Easy by megius

We love it. Especially in these cold days, after sport or just to relax and get a nice skin. Of course you can also use the shower function alone without the steam funtion. It is an Italian brand (sure, nice design!) and you can choose among different versions (size, colour, finish). We have a white one (125cm x 90cm) with wooden floor and wooden chair.

 
steam shower Wellbox by megius

We got the idea from our friends who are renovating an entire house and they were telling us about getting a steamshower and all its advantages. - When you get a built in one, it could be more expensive then a ready box.
The same friends told us that they are going to get a Turkish toilet. What is that ? we asked ...
Since I spent a weekend in Istanbul I know that all toilets in Turkey - whether in five star hotels, night clubs, museums or simple restaurants - all have it - the bidet funtion. It is two in one !
 
"shower" toilet by Temtasi

Since we have one in our newly renovated bathroom (in Germany) we are very happy. Italians always have bidets in their bathrooms, however sometimes you just do not have enough space.

"shower" toilet Tuana with bidet funtion by Temtasi
(this seems the best looking model)

And to finish my post about fancy bath equipment I would like to share my favorite sink :


sink Gran Kanal by Rapsel

I posted it before - I love it because it is the smallest double sink that we could find. It is only 111 cm long and is big enough for two people to use at the same time. It is space saving and has an aesthetical modern look. (The Vero serie by Duravit is similar and less expensive.)


PS: I hope you like me sharing some of my favorite bathroom equipments. Sometimes when I want to make up my mind about products, I like to read customers comments. (I am not getting paid for that post.).
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Update: I want to mention another post of mine where I am praising some less fancy and cheap DIY bathroom ideas.  
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How time flies - with capers

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Over the weekend I checked my photo files about our palazzo. That means I had to go through summer holiday files of four years ! And we do not have just one summer holiday file per year. It was quiet a lot ... but of course very enjoyable. Not only to see the progress (the slow progress!) of our renovation project but also to see our child grow.

I found these funny photos below, that we apparently took every year. I call the serie "capers harvest on our terrace" (capers = caperi).


caperi August 11, 2006
This picture was taken when we saw the house for the very first time.

My Italian mother-in-law - always having space in her handbag - is collecting capers with our son.
This is still at the very first visit to the house in August 2006.


One year later: July 2007
Meanwhile the house is ours.
But we have not started the renovation yet.
Still harvesting capers ...

... and enjoying the view (summer 2007)


March 2008: renovation in progress
The terrace is the roof of the second floor and needs sealing.
The caper plant was taken out and the balustrade paint plastered.


Tow years later, August 2008 : uups ! A tiny caper plant popped up again !
The roots must be very stong and resistant.
Not good for roof and walls underneath. Water could infiltrate. Special treatment is necessary.


Three years later, August 2009 : Done !
No more capers. New tiles and security grid.

Although the tiles are beautiful and the iron grid is necessary - I still can't stop thinking that I like the charme of the old dilapidated condition - more? This is one of the difficulties, I think, when renovating. How to stop dilapidation without changing the character of a building or interior too much.


To get a broader picture, I am posting the sea side facade before and after:

August 2006, not our house yet


Sea side facade March 2008


August 2009
The palazzo from the sea, 54 meters above sea level

Some readers might know my sea side pictures. But since I am posting for almost three years and the renovation progress is so slow, some of you might have forgotten about the "look". Here are some more before and after posts.
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10 Simple Actions to contribute to save the Planet

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Today is Blog Action Day and I am participating because our planet is in danger. Every human being that is able to think should be aware about how much our planet is threatened by climate change, global warming and shortness of resources, to name some environmental problems which again cause social unbalance that can result in poverty, terror and war. It is a very complex subject. Our children and grandchildren will face tough times.

But where to start and who to start ?
Today, blog action day is focusing on the environmental problem "climate change".
Please take a minute and read the following what you could do today and maybe next week and more and more often :

10 simple actions to contribute for a better Planet :

1) Replace a regular light bulb with an energy saving light bulb

2) Move your radiator down one degree in winter (and the aircon up 1 degree in summer)

3) Use less hot water (it costs energy to heat water)

4) Air dry your clothes instead of using a dryer as often as possible

5) Only run your dishwasher when there’s a full load and use the energy-saving setting

6) Unplug electronics from the wall when you’re not using them (even when turned off, cell phone chargers and televisions use energy. The energy used to keep display clocks lit and memory chips working may account for 5 % of total domestic energy consumption !)

7) Plant a tree - or think twice before cutting down a tree ! (a single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%.)

8) Buy locally grown food (transportation is polluting and consumes energy) - and buy fresh food instead of frozen (frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce).

9) Eat less meat !!! (The production of 1 kg of beef consumes about 13,000 liter of water !!! And methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath.)

10)  Drive less ! Walk, bike or use public transportation !

(source: Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth)


Today I will buy fresh food at the local farmer's market, eat no meet and use public transportation ! (easy in't it ?! But every little contribution of every human being counts !)

What is your contribution or tip ?!


Follow these links for more information about saving the planet (who is thinking, what to do and how to contribute) :

Club of Rome
Global Marshall Plan
An inconvenience truth

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Update:
I would like to recommend the following posts on CLIMAT CHANGE
http://flowerhillfarm.blogspot.com/2009/10/blog-action-day-2009-climate-change.html
http://selfdestructivebastards.blogspot.com/2009/10/wake-up-humanity.html

If you have another interesting post let us all know with a comment !
To check the other 13 thousand something participating blogs go to --> blog action day 2009

Remark: I had to change the publishing time, delay 2 hours in order to have this post appear on Oct. 15, blog action day. Now my two posts on Oct. 15 just appear in a different order. That's all. Sorry for confusion.