Trading Manhattan for Miami for a small village in Italy’s deep south is not your typical migration move. But when creative designer couple Michou Mahatani and Thomas Fuchs bought and restyled an ancient palace in Puglia, they were looking for a simpler, fuller existence.
And that’s exactly what they found. The home furnishings entrepreneurs settled in Soriano Cavour, a quiet municipality in the heart of the Salento Peninsula, between Lecce and Gallipoli and the Ionian and Adriatic seas. Away from tourist-filled beaches but close enough for everyday conveniences, this community proved to be the ideal location for them.
The two designers said they weren’t trying to flee America, but instead wanted to pursue a more authentic and inspired lifestyle in a place where traditional craftsmanship still exists. Mahtani, 53, first fell in love with Italy while studying abroad in Florence as a teenager in the late 1980s, but when she visited with Fuchs, 62, in 2010, they both realized that Italy offered the possibility of realizing their dreams.
“Like many tourists, we initially came expecting beautiful beaches and food, but what won us over was the authenticity of everyday life,” Mahtani told CNN on behalf of the couple.
The couple avoided popular locations and explored dozens of villages in search of a suitable location, at one point rejecting a remote farmhouse because it wasn’t within walking distance to a doctor, pharmacy, or supermarket.
In the end, they bought a 3,200-square-foot late 18th-century aristocratic mansion for 250,000 euros, or about $280,000. They decided to sell their properties in Miami and New York, where they split their time, and relocate.
An additional 350,000 euros (approximately $390,000) was spent on renovations aimed at preserving the three-story building’s historic charm, with its four roof terraces overlooking the church’s bell tower, original barrel-vaulted ceilings, and thick limestone walls. They hired local artisans to help the village’s economy, sourcing antique furniture, pottery, stone, and linen from nearby artisans.
“Our goal was for the house to feel unmistakably Italian, unadorned but deeply rooted in its surroundings,” says Mahtani.
Apart from the classic all-white aesthetic of Apulian buildings, their palaces are painted in blues, greens, and oranges. The front door is painted a glossy deep sea blue and features orange chairs purchased at a local flea market.
“This house reinforced our belief that luxury is not about filling your home with expensive items,” Mahtani says. “It’s about immersing yourself in work made by people whose names you know, whose workshops you’ve visited, and whose families have practiced the craft for generations.”
The couple say the renovation was an important source of inspiration for their joint venture’s commercial designs. They took inspiration from Salento’s warm limestone, deep Mediterranean blues, olive greens, terracotta and soft whites to create a softer palette for their products.
“Living inside a 19th-century Italian palace changed the way I thought about scale, proportion, texture, and light,” Mahtani says.
“Throughout the day, sunlight streams across the limestone walls, creating ever-changing colors and shadows that will influence everything from textile palettes to future lighting collections.”
Their move to Italy was primarily motivated by a desire to slow down from their frenetic lifestyle.
“The pace of American business was relentless,” Mahtani says. “We wanted to create a life where beauty, community, craftsmanship, and relationships were part of every day, not something shoved into the weekend. Puglia offered just that: authentic, deeply rooted in tradition, and surprisingly affordable compared to many regions in Italy.”
Over the past 13 years, they visited dozens of towns across southern Italy until they found Soriano Cavour.
What immediately surprised them was that it was not a tourist destination. Children playing in the square, lively chatter, church bells marking the rhythm of the day – just “living life”.
Its outdoor atmosphere reminded Mahtani of the close-knit community and sense of belonging he experienced growing up in Jamaica.
Their business was thriving in the United States, but due to tariffs and post-COVID inflation, most of their collection was made in Italy, so they realized it made sense to move to the country of production while still on the job rather than wait for retirement.
“I realized that while we were putting off our own lives, we were always designing beautiful lives for others,” Mahtani says. “We didn’t need a big house or property. We needed more meaningful time.”
The move was not to leave America, but “to create balance,” he added.
“In New York and Miami, our days were filled with meetings, traffic, elevators, deadlines, and constant travel. Here, our front doors face directly onto a historic square, church bells replace sirens, and neighbors stop and chat every morning,” Mahtani says. “Life feels slow, but for some reason it feels rich.”
Instead of having to deal with glass skyscrapers and environmental pollution, they spend their days surrounded by centuries-old stone buildings under “endless blue skies.”
A typical morning starts with a coffee on the terrace, followed by a walk to the village square and a stop at a local cafe, crowded with residents. They then return to work from their home, which also serves as a creative studio. Dinner, made with simple, fresh ingredients, is served on the terrace at sunset.
Several afternoons each week, they explore local beaches, visit local markets and antique fairs, meet potters, and discover new villages in search of “architectural inspiration.” I also enjoy diving into the world of Puglia’s cuisine at food fairs and traditional taverns.
For Mahtani and Fuchs, one of the most challenging parts of renovating an older property was maintaining its original features while integrating modern amenities such as new electrical, plumbing, insulation, HVAC, and a custom kitchen. The house had been vacant for many years before it was purchased, so although it was structurally sound, it needed renovations.
And renovations bring their own problems, especially adapting to labor practices in Puglia, where things are done differently than in the efficiency-oriented America.
“In southern Italy, relationships come first,” says Mahtani. “It was very important that we took the time to get to know the builders, electricians, masons, and cabinet makers. Trust is developed through coffee, not email. It certainly requires more paperwork and patience, but once you get the rhythm, the process is incredibly rewarding.”
Another challenge was coordinating the various transactions. In the United States, one contractor often manages the entire project, whereas in Italy, individual specialists handle different aspects of the work. This meant that electricians, plumbers, masons, carpenters, painters, and window fitters had to be individually coordinated.
Supply delays and adapting to a different pace required patience, but there was no language barrier. Mr Mahtani has the advantage of speaking fluent Italian, unlike many foreign buyers.
Tackling Italy’s bureaucracy was also difficult, especially when it came to obtaining the necessary permits, circumventing historic regulations, and establishing public utilities.
But the couple were pleasantly surprised to find that many construction costs in Puglia were significantly lower than in the United States.
Their work still takes up most of their day, but at Soriano Cavour, work is integrated into life rather than “competing with it.”
Holding Italian residence visas, the couple enjoys “lazy” lunches and leisurely evenings on the terrace, often just listening to the sound of church bells announcing the passage of time.
“There’s a deep sense of community here that you don’t often experience in American cities. It makes time feel richer,” Mahtani says.
“In the end, moving to Puglia wasn’t about finding a beautiful house; it was about finding a more beautiful way of life.”
