The Story Behind Transforming a 100-year-old Bellagio hotel

When we assumed ownership of this 100-year-old hotel in Bellagio perched above Lake Como, we knew two things for certain:

Location and Legacy

The location was jaw-dropping — sweeping views, unforgettable light, and the kind of soul only time can create.
We were inheriting a legacy. The previous owners had poured their hearts into the place, and we felt an immense responsibility to honor that.

Taking on the Renovation

The hotel buildings needed TLC (a lot). Thankfully, with years of experience in the building and furnishings industry, we weren’t afraid to get our hands dirty.
We poured every cent — and then some — into the first phase of the renovation: the terrace, five suites, and what will eventually be our apartment.

Unexpected Blessings and Bureaucracy

Our first bit of good fortune? Meeting the man known locally as The Godfather of Bellagio — an architect who’s built much of the town and who speaks fluent “bureaucracy.” He and his team helped us navigate the labyrinth of permits, engineers, and regulations — including one particularly tricky rule around “volumes.”

Plans Evolve and Budgets Double

What began as a plan to repurpose an old 50 sqm storage area beneath the suites into a modest one-bedroom quickly turned into a 150 sqm two-bedroom home with a fireplace and a piano room straight out of the Hollywood Hills. And what we thought would be a simple refresh of the suites evolved into a full-blown renovation using top-tier materials, energy-efficient systems, and artisan-level details

Dealing with Surprises

We were swept up in the design process, and suddenly… we were double our budget. We found the money. We signed the contracts. (Mind you, we signed based on a single 2D drawing.)
Then came the change orders. Excavation began. The mountain was chipped into. And then… surprise! The entire electrical and plumbing scope had been left off the original budget. That was our first “oh shxx” moment. There were others.

The Reality of Building in Italy

Building in Italy isn’t cheaper. And managing a project of this scale from the U.S. is not for the faint of heart. But we’ve been lucky, all things considered: our architect speaks English, and thanks to something charmingly referred to as the mafia law — a regional price-capping regulation — we have some confidence that we’re not getting fleeced as Americans. (My husband might disagree). Sometimes, you just need to trust the process.
Every morning brings a new decision, and almost every decision comes with a price tag.

The Hotel’s Crown Jewel

One major oversight? The terrace — the hotel’s crown jewel — wasn’t included in the initial scope. My husband, ever passionate about fireplaces, added one outdoors. I, ever passionate about stone, refused to settle for ceramic or concrete. After a visit to a local fabricator, I fell in love with a fossilized, brushed stone that felt alive. Of course, it cost four times more than the “fake” solutions — and came only in slabs that had to be custom-cut into tiles. But how could we not? We’re in Italy.

Artisans and Renderings

We were introduced to a small design firm (a friend of a friend of the godfather) that created renderings and helped us realize the project. I’m a sucker for hand renderings.
We’re now down to the wire — almost done. The terrace and suites are nearly finished, and we couldn’t be prouder. The quality of the work far exceeds what we’ve experienced in the States, thanks to the artisans we were lucky enough to bring in. Not tradespeople — artisans.

Putting Guests First

We paused our own apartment’s interior fit-out just to ensure the hotel was ready for high season. A small pickle: now we have nowhere to stay when we visit Bellagio. The hotel is fully booked (a good problem to have). So, I’ll be staying in the Mulino — a 60-year-old concrete mill we bought by the Il Perlo River. It’s not quite inhabitable yet… okay, it needs to be torn down and rebuilt. But I’m already dreaming of how to make it magical, with natural stone (of course).

A New Chapter Begins

This journey has been humbling, exhilarating, expensive, and wildly worth it. We are proud to be the new keepers of this 100-year-old Bellagio hotel, and we hope every guest feels the soul we’ve worked so hard to preserve and elevate.
Welcome to the new chapter.