9625 Furniture and other suggestions

Just got back from a trip to see how the house is coming along and to buy at least beds so we won't be sleeping on the floor when we come out in July/August!

Rain has delayed the house (by 2 weeks they reckon but i can't see everything being finished in a month's time (roof not finished, no plaster, no heating, no cotto floors, no sanitary wear in the bathroom etc!)) but should be squat/camp-able in July (at least by us if not by friends)!

We went to Elettro Idea in Comunanza and got some great (good brands/stylish looking) appliances at a good price. We also went to fallimenti in Tolentino - if anyone has been to the one in Amandola and been impressed then you HAVE to go to Tolentino as they have MUCH more choice. Got beds, 360cm dining table and 12 chairs (solid wood) leather sofas, bedroom chairs & lots more for a really great price. Some of it is definitely cheaper than Ikea and much is local (or at least Italian) and made of solid wood. Will be back in July for more sofas, wardrobes etc etc.

Also found a good place in Servigliano for a kitchen - it's called Gatto and is opposite the Grease Hairdressers on the main road out towards Amandola. They've given us a good quote which would be really cheap if we (ie me) weren't going for stone worktops. They also have some nice furniture at reasonable prices (but not as cheap as Fallimenti)

Most of the places we have used have been recommended by places we have stayed. We've stayed in different places each time (in part because of availability and in part depending on whether the children are with us or not) which has worked well as different places have recommended different suppliers. (It also helps that my husband speaks some Italian (based on excellent Spanish, rusty Latin and a Michel Thomas crash course!) as most shops don't and that I am willing to mime (very entertaining when I was showing the plumber the layout for the bathrooms!))

Chris