A nightmare property with a killer view: Couple snap up 18th-century Lake Como home before realising the 300-year-old property needed 'more work than we ever imagined'

Most people can only dream of owning a home with sweeping views across Italy's iconic Lake Como.However, few would take on one that's more than 300 years old, and in dire need of renovation. Yet that's exactly what one couple, who have purchased a house that was originally built in 1719, have decided to do.Tom, from France, and his Australian wife Tess have traded the comforts of a move-in-ready modern house for the ultimate challenge, as they turn the structurally compromised 18th-century property into their forever home. The couple got the keys to the house in October last year, and while they haven't shared the purchase price have hinted that their new home cost a fraction of the price of an apartment in both Milan and Sydney.'There were a few delays along the way, mainly around getting a mortgage as foreigners and the delayed completion of the parking spaces that were included in the sale (spoiler alert: we're still waiting for those),' they told Travel Mail.The pair are now documenting the highs and lows of their 'Stairmaster Reno' project on their Instagram page and YouTube channel, Lake Como Project, capturing their interior design journey, DIY projects and ambitious efforts to source materials and furniture. The beautiful lakeside views, outdoor pool and acres of greenery are undeniable perks. However, they admit they 'knew from the beginning that it was going to be a big project'.In one video, the couple reflect on the first time they stepped inside the Lake Como property and said: 'The view was incredible. The house needed far more work than we'd imagined. But once we walked into the garden, there was no going back.'Sometimes the best decisions don't make the most sense on paper, they just feel like something you can't overthink and miss out on.' Tom and his wife Tess decided to buy an 18-century home in Lake Como, Italy The pair admit that the house needed 'far more work than we'd imagined', but have no regrets about taking on the projectAside from regulated work such as plumbing, electrics, and floor reinforcement (which requires licensed, local builders), Tess and Tom are handling the entire project on their own. 'We'll be painting, tiling bathrooms, building the kitchen, laying flooring and doing all the fun bits,' they say. This includes full-scale demolition, window upgrades, mould removal, structural updates, fitting new kitchen and bathroom suites, including a brand new outdoor kitchen, painting and exterior landscaping. In one clip, the pair tackled mouldy ceilings in the bedroom that were crumbling from an old burst pipe. They described tearing them down as an incredibly 'dusty' job, though once the mess was cleared, they were able to confirm that the beams were structurally sound.Tess and Tom reveal they 'didn't really begin with one fixed renovation budget' to tackle the huge transformation. 'Our approach has been to keep the essential professional works as reasonable as possible and then save money by doing as much of everything else ourselves as we can,' they explain. Online footage shows the extreme lengths the couple have had to go to in order to transport items into their new home, which is situated on a hill beside other properties.In one dramatic moment shared on their Instagram page, a helicopter is seen hauling what appears to be a massive block over the scenic lake, before carefully lowering it onto the estate grounds. In one clip, the pair tackled mouldy ceilings in the bedroom that were crumbling from an old burst pipeAlong the way, Tess and Tom have made 'quite a few' surprising discoveries in their new home – from original flooring dating back centuries, to a porthole window. 'One of our favourites was discovering an original porthole window with a view of the lake that had been completely hidden behind a fireplace added to the kitchen around the 1970s,' they say.'We also discovered the original Moltrasio stone flooring from 1719 underneath the grey laundry-room tiles and a thick layer of rubble, as well as original cotto lombardo, the local terracotta, hidden underneath layers of linoleum and glue in the bedrooms.'A lot of what we're doing is actually undoing some of the stranger additions and cover-ups from the 1970s and trying to bring the original character of the house back.'Where air transport isn't available, Tess and Tom face the gruelling task of moving building materials up steep paths. Meanwhile, builders use specialised tractors to haul things for them.In one video, the pair said: 'One of the realities of renovating an old Lake Como house is figuring out how to get materials up to it. 'Luckily, we found an amazing local team of builders who know these ancient pedestrian streets inside out and move materials around using their mini tractors (saving us from having to helicopter everything in like a lot of people do!).'As for the hundreds of vintage marble tiles we sourced for the house though… that's all down to us. At around 10kg each, carrying them through the village has become our free gym membership! And free entertainment for the neighbours.' As for sourcing materials and furniture, the couple have embraced the thrill of secondhand marketplaces and thrift shops like Mercatino Franchising – whether for a jazzy bathroom sink, a set of chinaware or a bespoke statement mirror.For €285 (£244), the pair picked up a 1950s Italian mirror, a pink Art Deco ceiling light, vintage wall lights, a 1950s Dante chair, two sets of Italian glass and jugs, a vintage hand towel holder, a chandelier, and an eight-seat outdoor table that they plan on restoring. The couple have endured the difficult task of moving building materials up steep paths to their homeSince beginning renovations, Tess and Tom have made impressive progress, officially reaching the 'halfway' point of their project in late May. And while the 300-year-old property has come with plenty of challenges, language hasn't been an issue for the couple, as Tess speaks Italian. Even with this linguistic advantage, the couple admit 'there can definitely still be a cultural barrier when it comes to things like timelines, communication with builders and some interesting invoicing processes!'The couple say: 'Our biggest piece of advice would probably be to have a good local architect following the project with you.'We tried to manage everything ourselves at first, but after a few struggles along the way, we've finally appointed one to help us with the next stages and start the planning and permissions for our attic conversion. 'We're already realising how helpful it is to have someone local who understands how everything works, and who can help us decipher what's simply the Italian way of doing things and when we might need to push back a little more!'The other challenge is maintaining the same level of attention to detail when somebody else is doing the work. 'Nobody is ever going to care about every tiny detail quite as much as you do when it's your own home. Keeping an eye on all of that while working full time and doing a lot of the renovation ourselves has definitely been a juggling act.'Inspired by vintage Palm Springs pool areas, they have breathed new life into their garden with manicured grounds, fully tiled outdoor walls, freshly painted table sets, a transformed pool that overlooks the lake and the addition of sun loungers. 'We're seeing the house slowly come back to life. We've already started bringing colour back into the garden and pool area, and it's been really special getting the first glimpses of what life here will eventually be like,' Tess and Tom say. But the pair hope to make it their 'forever home' and 'can't imagine wanting to leave it''Every time we sit in the garden, look out over the lake or jump in the pool after a long day working on the house, we remember why we took it on in the first place.' Despite all of the hard work they're having to put into the property, the couple say they have no regrets 'at all' and instead 'feel incredibly lucky'.They plan to make it their 'forever home' and 'can't imagine wanting to leave it'. 'It's our little piece of paradise, although with a 300-year-old house we're fairly sure it will continue giving us projects for the foreseeable future!' the pair insist.As for the future, Tess and Tom hope to one day renovate a small cabin in the mountains where they can 'escape to in the winter and ski'.'But we probably need to finish the house first,' they add.