Ron and Lesley Simon and their new mascot stand in front of the freshly painted Villa Magnolia, which opened this month in Italy after two years of extensive work.
The trees of Villa Magnolia include an entire orchard of almond trees in flower, and date palms.
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The stone-floored rooms now have an airy corner for wireless workspace. All the stone had to be cleaned and buffed and replaced where necessary when the Simons were working on Villa Magnolia.
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Old doors with stone lentils that had been sealed up were opened again by Ron Simon in a combination restoration-modernization of the 18th-century villa.
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Ron used his experience as a contractor and his own muscle to put up a “passagieta” with Doric columns leading to the saltwater swimming pool.
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Lesley and Ron Simon are shown in Naples, where they still spend the colder months -- before planting their organic garden for the next year and pruning almond and olive trees.
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Before: The villa, near Puglia, in Carovigno Brindisi, Italy, had the lines and the history Ron and Lesley Simon were looking for, but was in need of a lot of restoration.
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Ron and Lesley Simon and their new mascot stand in front of the freshly painted Villa Magnolia, which opened this month after two years of extensive work.
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