If you’re searching for accommodation here in Val d’Orcia, between Pienza and Montepulciano, you know the pattern:
From outside: Dreamlike. From inside: Grandma’s bedroom.
Authentic? Yes. Comfortable? Not really.
When Sarah and I bought ABBADIA in 2023, the interior was… let’s say different. Heavy furniture, floral curtains, yelling colors, outdated designs.
At the core, pure beauty — stone walls from two centuries, dark chestnut beams, and terracotta floors worn smooth by generations of footsteps. Everything else? We gently brought into the present.
Our goal was never to create a design hotel in Tuscany. We simply wanted to create the place we’d always searched for ourselves when traveling. A real alternative to typical Tuscan agriturismi: authentic like them, but modern and calmer.
Here’s how we did it.
Our Philosophy: Keep the Soul, invite the Calm.
Our farmhouse was built with stones from a Benedictine abbey founded in 1109. The ruins are still on our land — you can walk there, touch the walls monks touched centuries ago.
But Tuscan heritage laws are super strict. This means no further windows, no adding balconies, no new buildings whatsoever. When you buy in Tuscany, you will have to work with what is there.
But this is exactly what we intended – to work with history, not against it.
So, we kept the thick stone walls, the exposed wooden beams, the uneven terracotta floors and even the intimate room sizes of the former farming family.
No sprawling suites. Just authentic spaces telling their own story.
And then, we breathed new life into these ancient walls.
The Inspiration: Boho-Chic Meets Italy
We have stayed in many hotels. From sterile five-stars to overly rustic agriturismi that smelled more of mothballs than charm.
We knew exactly what we didn’t want: neither marble and gold nor overly rustic charm.
Our vision was to blend the timeless soul of a Tuscan boutique B&B with the relaxed, sun-drenched vibe of modern boho. The best of two worlds.
Boho brings sensual aesthetics, organic materials, and space to breathe.
Tuscany provides the depth of stone, terracotta, and history.
Put them together? You get rooms that feel both timeless and totally now. Old and young at the same time. Serious about quality, never about showing off.
Exactly how we wanted ABBADIA to feel. And exactly how it feels today.
Natural Materials: Our Boho-Design Approach
Sarah doesn’t follow design rules. She follows instinct. The knowing that nature offers everything we need. Organic materials that let us breathe. Textures that hold time and story. Colors that calm, not overwhelm.
The best design follows nature. We just have to see it.
Linen that breathes.
White curtains and stone-washed linen that carry you gently through the night. Throws in earthy tones that soothe the senses.
Reclaimed wood that speaks.
Tables crafted from ancient barn doors—each one a unique piece. Vintage sideboards and mirrors with character-filled cracks that tell their own stories.
Handwoven with soul.
Woven grass lampshades, each casting a different light. Jute rugs and natural baskets instead of plastic containers.
Gathered from nature.
Our decoration? Artichoke blossoms and lavender from our garden. Soft pampas grass from the stream down in the valley.
And colors? Just three.
White. Beige. Terracotta. That’s it. No bright colors. No patterns screaming for attention. Just… calm.
This is our sustainable design approach at ABBADIA.
What We Left Out - On Purpose
Here’s what you won’t find in our rooms:
No TVs. Because when you’re watching the sky turn pink over Val d’Orcia, a screen feels irrelevant.
No minibars. Those humming little refrigerators that ruin silence? Not happening. If you want chilled wine, we have plenty. If you want cold water, put it in the common fridge in our guest area.
No air conditioning. This one surprises people. “It’s Tuscany. It’s summer. How?” Those 200-year-old stone walls are 60 centimeters thick. Natural insulation. At night, open the windows – the breeze from the valley comes through. It’s enough. Believe us.
(Full transparency: Late July/August afternoons can get warm. But it’s dry heat, not humid. And we have powerful electric fans in our rooms that will do the trick, if needed)
No clutter. Every object has purpose – or beauty. If it’s neither, it doesn’t stay.
Sarah keeps a strict eye on this. Trust me.
Our Rooms: Five individual Stories
We have five rooms. Each one different.
Not because we planned it that way in the first place – but because the farmhouse is that way. Different ceiling heights. Different window placements. Different views. We worked with what was there.
Lazy
Once the old pigsty, now a gentle kind of luxury. Ground-floor ease with direct access from the inner courtyard — no stairs to climb. Terracotta floors, linen bedding, and underfloor heating. A peaceful hideaway for couples who love simplicity, warmth and space to slow down.
Comfy
On the first floor, where the farmers once stayed warm from the stables below. Today, a light-filled, lofty room with views over our olive grove and the ancient abbey ruins. Comfy blends rustic Tuscan charm with a hint of Ibiza style — airy, romantic, and unmistakably relaxed.
Cosy
Once the family’s sleeping quarters, now a cocoon of calm. This intimate first-floor room wraps you in linen textures and soft light, with views of century old almond trees outside. Cosy is for couples who come to reconnect — quietly, naturally, beautifully.
Dreamy
Our romantic room on the first floor. Once part of the farmers’ living area. Today, elegant, and timeless, with soft terracotta underfoot and views over the ancient abbey ruins. A linen-draped canopy bed makes Dreamy exactly what its name promises.
Snugly
Tucked under old chestnut beams on the first floor, Snugly is small but soulful — the kind of room that feels instantly like home. It looks towards Montefollonico’s hill, with vineyards and valley unfolding to the side. Quiet luxury for two – warm and embracing.
Each room is different, yet speaks the same design language – linen, reclaimed wood, natural light, terracotta. Each room feels like its own place. Five individual stories, not five copies numbered room 1 through 5.
What this means for your Stay
The best compliment we get from guests is not “wow, what a beautiful room.”
Rather it is “I slept better than I have in years.”
This isn’t just about design that looks good—it’s about design that feels good. At ABBADIA, we’ve created something that truly works: We call it Silent Luxury (Link: /silent-luxury-tuscany). Our guests feel it instantly, even before they understand why.
Materials that are natural.
Rooms that have soul.
Interiors that embrace.
Light that enters softly.
Silence that goes deep.
History you can touch.
One couple from Berlin told us: ” Even if the rooms aren’t massive, they provide so much space. Space for comfort, space for true recovery.”
Exactly. Space for you, for your thoughts, and for the person beside you.
The Mistakes We Made
Mistake #1: The first batch of curtains. Too thin. Tuscan sun in July came through like a spotlight. We returned them. Twice. Now they’re custom made and perfect – light filters through, but gently.
Mistake #2: Brown towels. Sounds luxurious, right? Except with Italian laundry service and their heavy use of candeggia (bleach)… they don’t stay brown. We switched to natural white. Problem solved. Looked better anyway.
We’re still learning. Still adjusting. That’s what makes ABBADIA what it is — a living home, not a rigid hotel formula.
What Guests Actually Say
Veronica & Christian, Rome: “Non sembrava un hotel. Sembrava la casa di un amico con un gusto incredibile.” (It didn’t feel like a hotel. It felt like a friend’s house with incredible taste.) Room Comfy.
Mireia & Xavier, Barcelona: “The room was so cozy, we couldn’t resist a long daily siesta. Now, that’s true luxury.” Room Cosy.
André & Stefan, Berlin: .”We’ve often stayed at ‘design hotels’ that were nice but felt terribly cold. This one is different. It feels alive. Warm. Human.” Room Dreamy.
The Philosophy in One Sentence
The best design isn’t something you notice — it’s something you FEEL.
That is how we dressed ABBADIA: a 200-year-old Tuscan farmhouse, reimagined with light, comfort, and modern grace. A quiet kind of beauty that invites you to slow down and simply be.
A place where Boho-Chic and the Tuscan soul merge into one single feeling.
Two worlds. One harmony.
Quiet. Warm. Beautiful.
This is our vision come to life. This is ABBADIA. Because true romantic hideaways whisper.
Want to See It for Yourself?
We have many beautiful pictures on Google Maps and TripAdvisor. But photos just can’t capture it. The weight of linen. The coolness of terracotta under bare feet. The silence at dusk.
You have to feel it, experience it.
If you care not just about where you sleep, but how you sleep — come see us.
Five rooms.
Boho Design.
Natural materials.
No screens.
Just space to breathe.
Write to us. Tell us when you’re thinking of coming. We’ll tell you which room might suit you best.
And if it feels right – for both of us – we will welcome you with open arms.
Welcome to ABBADIA.
Welcome to our Boho-Design Hideaway.
