Lime plastering in Abruzzo

It is sad to hear that you cannot find local workmen trained inthe old techniques who are interested in sensitive restoration. It always amazes me that people living in ancient houses can install garish floor tiles and aluminium doors and windows.

I think it's a very interesting dilemma you raise Karen re aluminium doors and windows - my husband is a highly skilled cabinet maker and is very dubious about us having any external wooden doors/frames/windows ( we will have a wooden front door!!! ) - he says the sun causes too much shrinkage in the timber plus it causes the joints to then open - he's an absolute perfectionist and says he'll be painting 24/7 to protect it.  We've got the most beautiful hand made wooden doors and windows here in the UK - so it's going to be a real shock to the system - I'm sure we'll find something that looks like wood we've already seen some - but still not the same - and our house is eons old!!!! 

We have double-glazed PVC windows (they look like timber) in our old 18th Century watermill and they are superb. Best thing we could ever have. They were not installed by us, the former owner did it and I thank him for that. I love old buildings and try to keep old features as much as I can, but certain modern conveniences are simply great and difficult to beat. My husband (retired architect) thinks the same. After all, we have modern bathrooms and kitchens which are just part of our lives. On the other hand, aluminium doors would not look the same. Obviously, that kind of PVC is expensive, but worth the extra money.

Was it Mike Wye who came over by any chance My AbruzzoHome? My husband (he's a plasterer) is going to one of his courses next year.

OMG no we could not afford his fee!I did a course here some years ago and it was a very good introduction so I hope that your husband enjoys it!