Reply
Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,320
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

DREAMY, RUSTIC ITALIAN HOUSE

[ Edited ]

It's in beautiful, green Umbria, and is occupied by Philadelphia interior designer Meg Rodgers, of Marguerite Rodgers Interiors, and her architect-husband.

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 11.23.27 AM.png

 

It's 200 years old, and, like many European farmhouses, was once a barn/house combo.  The livestock and poultry lived on the first floor, with the living space upstairs.

 

The mellow old stone, with the blue shutters against it, total charm.

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 1.24.02 PM.png

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.09.10 PM.png

 

Inside, the barn-like proportions give it the stately spaciousness of a villa, or a vast loft...    The graceful, repeating stone arches, the majestic high ceilings and beams, oh!

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 1.27.42 PM.png

 

This part of the sitting room has an antique chess table and pieces.  When Meg found the chess pieces, two were missing, and the shop owner was able to get two replicas made to perfectly match the vintage ones.  Ah, Italy!   Love that the linen-covered chairs are eclectic and not matching.

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 1.32.52 PM.png

 

Apologies for how dark many shots are-- I don't know why Homeworthy films some episodes without adequate light.  Maybe you can tweak your computer to see these treasures better...

 

I don't think I'd ever seen Meg Rodgers' work before.  She has exquisite taste.  Abstract screen behind her helps showcase the small, traditional drum table, completely unadorned.

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 1.39.04 PM.png

 

The turquoises and golds that show up in the color scheme, were derived from an abstract painting-- more on that later.  Accents of rich terra cotta, seen in the bench window seat and pillows.  The benches and window seats were old animal feeding troughs, left in the barn, which Meg has repurposed.

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 1.41.46 PM.png

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.07.08 PM.png

 

The radiator heating system in the room is unsightly, so she had lattice-like metal panels made, that were then framed in wood, to disguise the radiators-- there they are in the above picture, behind the bench and under the window.

 

 

Here's a closer in shot of one of them.  Ingenious, period-appropriate disguise!

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 1.46.45 PM.png

 

Vintage rugs, and sleek comfortable chairs, modern abstract painting. 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.19.24 PM.png

 

It's the painting that she took color cues from, for the room.  She got it, and some of the furniture and other paintings at the famous Arezzo antique fair, about a hour away. 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.20.40 PM.png

 

Her husband has collected a few choice architectural miniatures or samples-- look at this wonderful marble ruin below!  And in the picture above with the painting, there's a small plaster white building, next to the lamp.

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.18.21 PM.png

 

Old candlesticks on coffee table.  She says she lights them all the time, furthering the romantic feeling--

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.55.56 PM.png

 

Interesting inlaid stone on the coffee table--

 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.56.12 PM.png

 

There's a guy in Arezzo who finds antique wing chairs with the wonderful caning, etc., and re-upholsters them in yummy linen.  The savvy Italians have a way of 'relaxing' antiques with unexpected fabrics--

 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.56.54 PM.png

 

 

Meg and her husband clearly like a wide range of art, including campy vintage movie posters, like this "Bye Bye (or "Ciao, Ciao") Birdie" poster.  Ha!

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.21.06 PM.png

 

Below the poster, some of her fabulous old pottery.  They look like they might be old olive pots. She puts bunches of lavender in them, but has to cut it at night, with a flashlight, since by day the lavender is full of bees!

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.17.36 PM.png

 

Love the arty iron "raven" candlestick on table-- 

 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.57.11 PM.png

 

More stunning pottery--

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.17.21 PM.png

 

She liked that the kitten painting has similar colors to the pottery, so put them together--

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.17.49 PM.png

 

Upstairs hall is graced with Paul and La Liz--

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.18.07 PM.png

 

Better view of the "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" poster, in Italian!

 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.19.14 PM.png

 

This is their dressing room, just off the master, lucky ducks.

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.48.02 PM.png

 

This pup is her favorite of all their paintings.  What a sweetie.

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.53.02 PM.png

 

 

She also favors Cubist art, as do I.

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.18.21 PM.png

 

Many of the paintings are of Florence and Venice--

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.18.57 PM.png

 

Right off of this bedroom is a staircase that goes down to the first floor.  It forms a tiny terrace from which to view the lovely countryside--

 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.01.03 PM.png

 

Knowing a lot of you won't be as ga-ga as I am about the interior, here are a few extra shots of the outside:

 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.59.14 PM.png

 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.00.17 PM.png

 

 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 3.55.01 PM.png

 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.59.58 PM.png

 

 

Her husband sketches and paints out here.

 

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.59.26 PM.png

 

While she gets to read and muse over the landscape--

Screenshot 2026-07-24 at 2.59.44 PM.png

 

Whenever she went outside in the video, there was a roaring, cacophonous concert of cicadas.  Nice backdrop to the sleepy visual beauty of the place.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,320
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

Re: DREAMY, RUSTIC ITALIAN HOUSE

Hmm, when I first posted this, some of the thread was left out when I hit post!   I think I've reconstructed most of it now.

 

Wondering if this is happening because of the technical glitches here at the Q lately.  

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,016
Registered: ‎12-02-2013

Re: DREAMY, RUSTIC ITALIAN HOUSE

@Oznell 

 

Very interesting.  Caution: the keystone in the front archway needs to be secured as it may fall on someone.

 

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill
Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,320
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

Re: DREAMY, RUSTIC ITALIAN HOUSE

Ha, ha, keen-eyed @jlkz --  let's hope her architect-husband is keeping an eye on that....

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,016
Registered: ‎12-02-2013

Re: DREAMY, RUSTIC ITALIAN HOUSE

@Oznell 

 

The house I grew up in had arches on the first floor because it originally had been two houses joined before it was floated up the Schuylkill River in Philly.

 

The first home DH and I have had for almost 55 years had major additions over those years.  The huge dining room has a small arch doorway that we had a special door made to fit:

 

IMG_1348.jpeg

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill
Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,320
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

Re: DREAMY, RUSTIC ITALIAN HOUSE

@jlkz ,  thanks for posting--  how darling, and full of character!   Love your arch, door and room!

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,016
Registered: ‎12-02-2013

Re: DREAMY, RUSTIC ITALIAN HOUSE

The long and short walls were the outside walls of the garage and the front door entrance.  The stucco for the entire house had been greyish white but we did it over in the happy yellow and recently had it redone same color.  ( At this age, we had young fellows do the work !  They used  a sprayer where we had used big fat brushes ! )


IMG_6865.jpeg

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill
Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,320
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

Re: DREAMY, RUSTIC ITALIAN HOUSE

And a very nice, tidy job they did, @jlkz .   Cheerful, and pretty with the tiles and planters. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,016
Registered: ‎12-02-2013

Re: DREAMY, RUSTIC ITALIAN HOUSE

@Oznell 

 

I did the tiles with cement stain from Sherwin-Williams.  They were quite old, ugly and top worn away from power washings !  The tiles after 2 years came through the winters almost as great as when just finished !

 

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill
Honored Contributor
Posts: 37,710
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: DREAMY, RUSTIC ITALIAN HOUSE

@Oznell 

 

This is just so beautiful...to my eye.

 

Maybe not everybody would find it livable, but I sure do.

She has quite the eye, it seems all of the decorating and architecture is authentic. The grille disguising the heating system is beautiful and ingenious.

~Have a Kind Heart, Fierce Mind, Brave Spirit~