Buying an old stone house in Istria: what to check before you sign
The romance of a stone house in a hill village is real. So are the questions about ownership, structure, access and permits. Here is what to check, and who to ask, before you commit.
The Journal
Build & Renovate
Pergolas and shade for terraces: materials, design and what works by the sea
A terrace without shade is empty from noon until evening. Vines, timber, steel, sails or louvres: how to choose shade that suits an Istrian house and survives the bura.
When can you build in Istria? Construction work and the tourist season
In many coastal towns, noisy building work is restricted in summer. Here is how the season shapes a construction or renovation timeline, and how to plan around it.
Outdoor kitchen design: how to plan a kitchen for a Mediterranean terrace
In Istria, summer life happens outside. An outdoor kitchen that is well placed and built from the right materials turns a terrace into the heart of the house.
Smart home features that make sense in a holiday villa
Not every gadget earns its place in a house you visit a few times a year. The smart features that protect a holiday villa, help guests and save money, and the ones to skip.
How to choose a builder and contractor in Croatia: a practical guide for owners
The builder you choose will shape your house more than any material. Here is how to find, compare and work with a contractor in Croatia, especially if you live abroad.
Renovating a stone house in Istria: what really drives the cost
Two stone houses of the same size can cost very different sums to renovate. The difference is rarely in the finishes. It is in the walls, the roof, the access and the decisions made in the first month.
The energy-efficient villa: heat pumps, solar panels and shade
In Istria, an efficient house is as much about keeping summer heat out as winter warmth in. Here is how the main pieces fit together.
Interior doors and joinery for stone and modern houses
You open them dozens of times a day and rarely think about them. Interior doors, frames and fitted joinery decide how a house feels, sounds and ages.
Pool houses and outdoor showers for Mediterranean villas
Wet feet on the stairs, towels on the sofa, chlorine in the bedroom. A pool house and a good outdoor shower keep the summer by the water, and the house clean.
How to keep a stone house cool in summer without fighting it
Thick stone walls can keep a house pleasantly cool through an Istrian August, or turn it into a slow oven. The difference is in how you use them.
Designing a pool for a holiday villa: position, size, finishes and upkeep
In Istria, the pool is often the heart of a holiday villa. Getting it right is less about size and more about sun, wind, privacy and what happens around the water.
Windows and shutters for coastal homes: what to choose by the sea
Salt, sun and the bora are hard on windows. How to choose frames, glass, shutters and fittings for a house on the Istrian coast, and what to ask before you order.
What drives the cost of building a villa in Istria
Two villas of the same size can cost very different amounts. Here is where the money really goes, and which decisions move the total most.
A Mediterranean garden with native plants: less water, more character
The plants that already grow wild around Istria are the ones best suited to a villa garden. How to plan one that looks good in August without a sprinkler running all night.
Buying property in Croatia as a foreigner: what to know before you sign
EU or not, buying a house in Istria is very possible. What matters is knowing which checks to make, which professionals to involve and in what order.
Lime plaster and breathable walls: how to treat an old stone house
Damp patches, flaking paint and a musty smell often start with the wrong plaster. Why old stone walls need lime, and how to get it right.
Building a house in Croatia: the permit process step by step
From checking the spatial plan to the use permit, here is how building a house in Croatia works in outline, and who does what along the way.
In collaboration with Lampisa
Made in Istria, made for your room
Tables, beds, sofas, kitchens and storage, drawn for your house and built in Istria on a plywood structure, never particleboard. Better than the retail park, without the showroom price.