#68 Building a Stove Bench | Renovating an Abandoned Stone House in Italy

We bought this stone house in Italy during the pandemic in 2020. The house was a ruin and we saved everything we could, unfortunately that meant only four stone and clay walls! The back wall, against the terrain, was close to collapse; the roof beams were eaten and basically reduced to dust; the inside separation walls were easily taken down and the whole project turned into a heavy renovation/rebuild.
Follow our journey as we turn this old stone house into a beautiful home 😊.
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[@erneststevenson3872]

Your Black Wolf performed his responsibility to warn you of approaching strangers. Then he was clearly agitated to see the good hemp floor being cut up. But in the winter he will appreciate the warm house along with you. All of us look forward to your moving in, come December.

[@ChristopherBreedy]

Great video as always. Hoping to get as big as you someday.

[@williamsmith1197]

It's my favorite Sunday show. 👍

[@anabel9499]

la típica casa mediterranea, y toda con material natural!! saludos desde barcelona!

[@prestocoop]

that is one substantial bench!

[@harrietlivengood6793]

The bench is a lovely addition to your home. I love your loyal, faithful and protective fur baby, Caiú. ❤️🐾

[@JohnMillar5312]

In Australia it is mandatory to wear dust masks when cutting concrete etc, prevents silicosis which will eventually cause lung damage. We have hundreds of young trades people with this disease, many from cutting stone bench tops and concrete. Great work hope you are in by Christmas

[@ТатьянаЯкунина-ч9щ]

Да, это обязательно, здоровье не купишь ....

[@ereticoselvatico]

Anche se ho visto tutti i vostri video questa volta non ho saputo resistere e vi faccio i complimenti per tutti i lavori eseguiti. Penso che uno dei peggiori sia quello di ripulire le mezzane di cotto; anche noi quando ristrutturammo la casa circa 20 anni fà le utilizzammo per il pavimento e noi le pulimmo con l'acido; oggi probabilmente avremmo usato il vostro metodo. Saluti dalle alpi Apuane.💪💪

[@ateliermavi]

Grazie mille!!! 💖 anche L’acido è un’ottima soluzione ma abbiamo provato con la levigatura perché ne avevamo troppe da pulire 🫠 Un abbraccio fino alle Alpi apuane

[@BrianWalker-jk8we]

Always in awe of the love and craftsmanship built into this project. The background music is delightful. Waiting to see the stove. What are we going to watch when you've finished 🙈!

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you! ☺️ Once the house is done, we will maybe try to bring you along on some of our professional projects!

[@guerro327]

❤ I can’t wait to see the floor! Such attention to detail.

[@xzytqweo3538]

It looks great! More you do the more you learn and become better at. I will make one observation - you forgot to make a hole for the cord to go through to the outlet. Sure you can drill one out, however remember you place the welded mesh in the top and 9 times out of 10 you will hit the metal while drilling. But you can always look back at the video and see where there maybe a clear spot of just masonry to drill through. I have made this "booboo" before but can be fixed. Until next time, take care.

[@ateliermavi]

We will make the hole later, same for the air intake 😊

[@idontthinkso666]

They didn't forget. Those holes are always drilled later. They have special coring bits that cut through stone & metal. The pro way is to drill when the unit is installed, guarenteeing accurate placement. The amateur leaves a hole/tube in advance, only to find out later it is in the wrong location.

[@cathybrewer8958]

Smart idea for the stove bench. And did a beautiful job making it too. The best idea was the hempcrete floor. To be able to cut into it made it easier to lay the air pipe in it. Great job. Waiting on the tiled floor.

[@paulpopielski5261]

You are a wonder to watch and all my best wishes I send to you. Thank you and God bless.

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you 🤗

[@christinewenner1508]

We really enjoy your processes. The details are exciting! The materials you use are exciting! In America we are unfamiliar with your techniques . This is going to look amazing! Those rock walls are beautiful your knowledge of materials are impressive. The breathability of walls and sub-flooring adds to the character of the home. We aren’t architects but appreciate craftsmanship!

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you! ☺️

[@yveserichot2304]

Love the environment & your happy place ❤

[@moskaliaky_na_giliaky]

I hope this is a stand for a large aquarium😊😊😊

[@brown-eyedgirl858]

WOW! 🙌♥️👏 Innovative, beautiful and functional! 😍🙏 your home is coming together!

[@davidbiddle3257]

E molto piacevole sentire parlato italiano!

[@Cooldaddio2]

Nice bench. Good job.

[@svetlanesheva]

Прецизна работа,пазите местата с найлони и работите внимателно!Браво!Не всеки е така търпелив и усърден!Желая ви късмет ,здраве и много любов!!

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you very much! 💛

[@lindamounts2193]

I think you did an excellent job on the bench. For me, I would not have wanted it to be so stark white next to that beautiful wall. Just me, though.

[@Jeff-vt8kn]

It will be a joyous Christmas and one you will remember all the hard work you did to move in.

[@SaintCoemgen]

Also heat fully by wood in our stone house. And also buried the air inlet for the main wood stove in the floor. However, given winter temps can here often go down to -6C or more in the winter over night (seen it go to -14 C) so very cold mornings when starting a new fire, I buried my air pipe much deeper to avoid a long cold strip on the floor. I mainly mention this for others, in different climates, as something they may need to consider. 🙂

[@ateliermavi]

Good to know, we will definitely bury it deeper if we were to do it again!

[@ingridbranham2859]

Absolutely love your videos. Thank you.

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@LorrieMello]

The bench is rustic and modern. It’s well crafted. Bravo 🙌

[@daisyduke1659]

Freaking Beautiful!

[@valentinamoore9456]

Good thing that the floor is not made of regular cement. It would have been more work an took longer to break it. Looking good. Can't wait for next week video. Ciao

[@JeanLoupPETREQUIN]

Cette technique va vraiment s'appeler "le revêtement Rachel et Emilien" avec le nombre de personnes qui l'utilisent ! Ah ah ah ! Bravo pour votre travail à vous !

[@ateliermavi]

😅

[@alicekenworthy9603]

The bench is really amazing … your attention to detail is why it turned out the way it did … well done. Can’t wait to see the final “look” once the stove has been installed. As usual your planning allows for a successful week !!! Durban SA 🇿🇦

[@graciemaca6996]

You will both definitely have a unique home when you are finished. The pointed stone walls are not something everyone has in their home, but you have created them beautifully. Great job with the pipe in the floor. The stove 'platform' / bench looks strong and well built.😊 I hope that you are able to get your heat put in before the Winter rush so you can be moved in by the holidays! ❤👍

[@ThePatty308]

Bravi forza e coraggio 😂❤❤

[@jeanh9329]

Nice!!!!!! Jean from Arizona 🦎🐍🌵🌴🌻🦂🌞

[@pierrekernanec1883]

Vous vous obstinez à faire du bon boulot !!! Bravo à vous deux.

[@ateliermavi]

Merci 🤗

[@bonniefrench9884]

Beautiful bench ! Great work ! Well done ! 👍😊

[@snezanagavrilovic5908]

Grazie per il bellissimo video, vi seguo dall'inizio. Saluti dalla Serbia🌍

[@ateliermavi]

Grazie 😊

[@ninafodale]

A whole lot of work but totally worth it because it looks great!👍😍

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you!

[@lafarrar8000]

Hello! I LOVE the new bench. What a "smashing" idea to install the wood burning stove there and have extra seating and storage as well!! You're both so smart. And the bench itself is stunningly beautiful. I was not sure that I would like it but the finish that you decided to put on it makes it so classic in design and simply beautifully in color and texture! BRAVO/BRAVA!!! Regards, Leslie Ann

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@52daa]

What a great team you are! Congratulations on the bench! Really impressive work and it perfectly fits your space. So glad you’re able to use the bits left over from the contractors. Thank you again for sharing your story and home with us all😊. Looking forward to next video

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you 😊

[@pessubbipunctis2844]

Sta diventando un vero gioello la vostra casetta! Non vedo l'ora di vederla finita! Complimenti!

[@ateliermavi]

Grazie mille! 🤗

[@matteovietri5789]

Bravi, bravi, bravi!

[@neutonrenda2303]

Great job, loads of character, suits your place.❤👍

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you!

[@SensizCennet]

Bence yapılan yapıyı da taş ile yapmak çok daha estetik görüntü yapabilirdi.

[@jeanhawken4482]

The products you use are just so exciting. Thankyou

[@aureliecontal4261]

elle se transforme bien cette maison , aucun défauts à la perfection c'est magique

[@Andbygrace7024]

Terrific solution....

[@heidibarlow6687]

Beautiful ❤

[@soniawoolley366]

Love that concrete looking seat !!!

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you!!

[@tip00former1]

When are you going to licence the hypnotizing "Rimworld" music as your background? 😵‍💫Would fit perfectly 👌 And don't forget that gritter fence on your air-intake 😎I subbed 🥳

[@suzanneperron549]

The bench is very handsome! Can’t wait to see the wood stove. Also that camera angle on the air intake going thru the wall was pretty funny and got a laugh out of me…very creative 😁

[@kennstransky]

Good Sunday morning from Vermont USA where it is cool and hot coffee is needed. Your wood stove will arrive just in time.

[@shehazi695]

Looks great!

[@mariasansur2548]

Perfecto!!! Ha quedado muy bonito e integrado. Enhorabuena por vuestro trabajo tan pulido y bien hecho. Estoy impresionada de vuestra capacidad de trabajo y vuestros acabados finales. Se ve tanta técnica como amor que le estais poniendo a esa casa maravillosa. ¡Vaya tarea pulir las baldosas de terracota! pero el resultado merecerá la pena.Teneis muy buen gusto. Un saludo desde España.

[@ateliermavi]

Muchas gracias! Quedan todavía muchas baldosas a limpiar, sobre los 500 😅

[@alichamani4147]

Excellent 👌👍

[@sorensenDKuki]

Nicely done, that custom bench will radiate the heat well when sitting on it. I think Blaklader needs to send you both clothes for the colder months. 🥶

[@KristaMarkstrom]

Recently found your channel. Haven’t had the opportunity yet to see all your past videos. Love watching what you are creating together! Your home is already beautiful.

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you ☺️

[@gregs7918]

Beautiful Bench !!!

[@susankillian2805]

I love your determination and drive! Last weeks video and this one I did not have any translation. Enjoyed it still.

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you! You have to activate the subtitles under the video, they are available in 12 languages 😉

[@carlossimoescampos1]

Very good job, young man!! An amazing couple you are.

[@ilariabarnett8700]

Dai che piano piano state arrivano a fine progetto!!! Bravi ❤

[@albertoarcudi8431]

E' sempre un piacere ascoltarvi e vedervi all'opera. Date un grattino a Caiù da parte mia, grazie e ciao!

[@bernardsicard1991]

Bravo les archis pour la qualité de finition de vos travaux !

[@ateliermavi]

Merci 🤗

[@beverlymartin1414]

Good Morning! Majic words" heat" and possibly "moving in by Christmas" ❤❤❤❤❤

[@ateliermavi]

Nothing sure yet 😉

[@alechit4]

Mira como te cuida enseguida empezó a ladrar❤❤❤❤

[@gesperrteruser5223]

Good ideas and great work.

[@marilynlautner2454]

You both amaze me. Your ideas and construction skills are amazing!

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you 🤗

[@sepponakkila]

Thanks for the video. 👍

[@ateliermavi]

Thanks for watching!

[@marcoemme483]

Bravissimi. Perdonatemi se vi faccio notare un errore. Il tubo rettangolare che prende aria dall'intercapedine deve terminare con una rete contro insetti e topi. Vi consiglio un colino inox comprato dai cinesi, quelli a forma di mezza sfera. Scusatemi ancora....

[@ateliermavi]

Non è un errore, era previsto e sarà fatto 😉

[@quaredisch]

fantastico! love it.

[@Django44]

Excellent work as usual. We heated with wood (in Canada) for 25 winters, so a question: did the contractors confirm that length of underfloor fresh-air intake channel? As you likely know, the relationship among a number of factors in a wood-burning device is crucial to ensure adequate volume of fresh air so the fire burns most efficiently. Too little and the fire is always 'slow'; too much and it always needs damping down to prevent over-heating, a "too-fast" fire. (The type of wood and its percent-dryness is another factor.) Not to alarm you, but a friend's house burnt to the ground for this very reason - a too-hot fire (left unattended). Secondly, at 15:03 that looks like a rubber mallet being used to tamp down the block. You might find a dead-blow hammer more suitable for this job - ask at your building supply source. The advantage is its weight and - it doesn't bounce. Keep up the good work - you have classic and timeless design tastes.

[@549RR]

I'm also Canadian, & also immediately questioned the length of the intake. Our camp on Superior has wood fired stoves, but they primarily pull their combustion air directly from the room via grates rather than an outdoor inlet, and I think that the logic behind building codes requiring outdoor inlets is that it is more about eliminating the possibility of a deficit in indoor air rather than actually feeding the fire itself (in a mythical world where a building is perfectly air tight and you might get starved of air). I can only assume that their stove will have the usual adjustable grates to draw air directly from the room as well, and this is mainly just about fulfilling code. At least with their high ceiling they should definitely get a good draw / draft up the flue!

[@Django44]

Yes you raise a good point; that may well be the purpose of the air 'channel'. Their new wood-burning appliance will more than likely have been made with all of this in mind. In other words the underfloor feed will serve as a supplementary supply of air.

[@ateliermavi]

It is about code indeed! Being an indirect intake, the stove will draw from the interior space, the air intake making sure there is no air deficit in the room!

[@ateliermavi]

The length of the air intake pipe is about 3 meters, which is up to code around here 🙃

[@laurencemarchal8530]

Hello ! 😊 Je m'étais trompée. On est loin du rangement à chaussures que j'avais imaginé 🙄😂 Pour autant, c'est un très joli banc parfaitement réalisé et qui se marie très harmonieusement avec la pierre. Il me tarde de découvrir votre poêle à bois. Bravo pour la récupération de matériaux, autant que possible 👍 J'ai trop hâte de voir la suite. Le sol, avec les carreaux de terre cuite 🤩 Ce sera superbe. Câlins à poilue !

[@ateliermavi]

Merci 🤗

[@pietrogiorgiofasoli5477]

Bravi

[@wbklausmeyer]

AMAZING!😍

[@donnadornbusch6738]

Great job!

[@Adriano979]

Che bello! Guardando voi sembra tutto facile. Siete bravissimi! Un conto è essere architetti, un altro è saper mettere le mani su attrezzi e materiali con risultati impeccabili. Come avete imparato? Soprattutto Vince perché è lui che fa la maggior parte dei lavori e anche i più delicati.

[@ateliermavi]

Impariamo facendo! Dopo aver letto un sacco di teoria e dopo aver guardato anche un sacco di video di pratica sull'argomento!

[@Adriano979]

@@ateliermavi complimenti per tutto, dalla scelta dei materiali, al gusto che avete, all'impegno e l'amore che ci mettete. Bravi anche nel montaggio dei video che non è da poco neanche quello. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@jfender4381]

Stylééé et top pour la récup !

[@ateliermavi]

🥰

[@EmrahTürkmen-z8y]

Your channel name is very nice. Its Turkish meaning is Blue. I think you combined the first syllables of both of your names. "MAVI = BLUE" 😊

[@ateliermavi]

We did combined our names 😉 but blue is nice too!

[@tonychef4008]

Complimenti ragazzi ottimo lavoro a me piacerebbe se il lato di fianco alla stufa ricoperto in legno massello grezzo e trattato è un idea un abbraccio dagli italiani che vivono in Brasile 🤗🤗🥰🥰

[@andrewmaiden3738]

Another great video, the house is coming along nicely. A thought crossed my mind when I saw you digging the floor for the air intake and its proximity to the underground heating pipes> Had you previously considered using a stove for hot water and underground heating at the same time as being a heater or was it too complicated and expensive?

[@ateliermavi]

There are no underground heating pipes ☺️ we would prefer to use solar for heating the water, but that will be a future project!

[@rejanemedeiros2001]

Tudo lindo, um paraíso 🇧🇷❤️

[@danieltilev6302]

I"'ve been watching your journey guys, maybe since the first episode, but the calm music in the background is over the top this time! Keep up the good work and I hope to see a Christmas tree in the house sometime in December!🥰

[@Katrina2335]

Belo trabalho ❤ Rachel e Emilien sigo também

[@lazios]

Ho una curiosità (da profano quale sono): credevo avreste riempito i tavelloni (magari con un materiale leggero), invece li avete lasciati vuoti, immagino abbiate fatto i dovuti calcoli e lo strato di cemento (con la rete) è sufficiente a sostenere il peso della stufa, giusto? Vabbè, posta la mia questione (credo superflua, è la prima cosa a cui avrete pensato) vi rinnovo i complimenti, non credo siano molti i professionisti che lavorano in modo così preciso e pulito.

[@ateliermavi]

Grazie mille! ☺️ Sono soprattutto i due architravi pre-fabbricati che sosterranno la stufa, per questo non era necessario riempire i tavelloni!

[@lazios]

@@ateliermavi Grazie per la risposta, effettivamente nella mia riflessione non avevo tenuto conto dei 2 travetti. Ne approfitto per complimentarmi per la parete con le pietre a vista, spicca alla grande, fosse stato tutto in pietra immagino potesse risultare "pesante". Insomma, per quel poco che conta (deve piacere a voi, non a me) mi sembra che oltre le tecniche costruttive abbiate dato il giusto valore al lato estetico (la bellezza non è solo fine a stessa, è importante).

[@bryanlogue8035]

Fantastic build. The air feed will need to be drilled through the new concrete slab ?

[@ateliermavi]

Yes exactly! ☺️

[@peachettte]

Great work once again! I'm a little surprised to see you not go with electrical heating as a renewable source of energy. Is it so you don't burden your solar too much as that is going to be your main electricity source?

[@ateliermavi]

We don't have solar yet, it might be a future project!

[@dirkvoges6218]

Perfecto!!

[@ursularibeiro5424]

Como vai ficar o piso do chão pois acho que vai ficar difícil de limpar.

[@NancysBungalowLife]

I was happy to see a bench like this built in its entirety; well done! We want to do something similar in our house in Abruzzo someday so we will be sure to study your technique. How did you find all of the antico cotto tiles for the floors? I can't wait to see that part of the project completed!

[@ateliermavi]

We found them on marketplace and drove to Piemonte twice with a truck to collect them!

[@frannypeony2076]

Looking fabulous!!! 👀👀👀 Intrigued about the tile cement?!? How do you clean the surface? Is it waterproof? 🧐

[@ateliermavi]

We will probably paint it so it is washable! It's not waterproof

[@miguelgomezcayuela2249]

Hola chicos muy bien pensado estufa de leña parece más acogedor aún en esas casas así tan rústicas 😮😮 y ese banco a quedado muy bien y un pregunta de qué están echos esos bloques para cortar tan fácil con una sierra 🤔🤔🤔😠😠😪 , cada vez me gusta más cómo va quedando un saludo y hasta el próximo vídeo 💪😂

[@ateliermavi]

Es cemento cellular, un material muy ligero y poroso, pero con buenas qualidades a la compresión 😉

[@miguelgomezcayuela2249]

@@ateliermavi Que cosas hay ahora lo fácil que se manejan y cortan 😂😂😂 igual que un bloque pero más ligero 🤔😮😮

[@Cooldaddio2]

Here we go.

[@MrPooties]

The house is coming along so well and it's great that now you have just to "fine tune" it. Probably been asked and answered but I've missed it: what's the name of the borgo right underneath you? The one you always show at the opening of the videos? ♥ Also a lot of pets to Caiù!

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you ☺️ we are keeping the name of our village secret as it would be too easy to find our adress with it 😉

[@mnossy11]

Personally, I would have sanded the bench once more. Those little ridges and edges are going to catch on EVERYTHING (fabric, etc).

[@ateliermavi]

We will, just in antoher video!

[@kurtschneider9463]

My parents raised us jazz music. Will you be installing a sound system at the estate. If I step across the pond to come visit, will you have jazz at the estate?

[@ateliermavi]

We'll have all the music 😉

[@peterhicks3516]

Where will the stove sit, under the bench or on top of it? if on top, then you will need a hole in the bench to allow for external air.

[@ateliermavi]

Yes we know, this is why we brought the pipe under the bench right? The hole will be done by the technicians

[@aljazkuzner]

Nice job! Cant wait to see the stove. Do you think you could use lime for all the work instead of cement and white glue? Could this be an alternative? Im asking since you have a lot of experiences with lime. Thanks

[@ateliermavi]

It could be an alternative but you would have to find fiberglass rebars: as the lime is breathable and corrosive it would eat away the iron rebars. The finish could have easily be replaced with a sand and lime plaster, but we wanted to experiment on this too ☺️

[@aljazkuzner]

Thank you so much! Much appreciated@@ateliermavi

[@marciamariabressanelli7853]

I love your channel. I have a curiosity. Did you paint the stone wall? I remember was a dark grey stone. Can you tell the paint you used? I want to use in our house in France 🇫🇷. Thank you ❤

[@ateliermavi]

We didn't paint the stone walls, we just pointed the joints in between!

[@calcosta6094]

Ficou ótimo o banco vcs sempre caprichosos fazem tudo limpinho sem bagunça da gosto de assistir o vídeo de vcs parabéns casal 👍🇧🇷

[@ateliermavi]

Thank you 😉

[@marielenejarno423]

Bonne idée ce banc, mais je n'avais pas deviné que le poêle serait dessus. Moi aussi j'ai un poêle de marque italienne et j'en suis contente mais à pellets. Les bûches iront sous le banc sans doute. Bonne continuation à bientôt.👏👏👍😃🏡

[@joaofernandes2495]

Olá!!! Sou fã de vocês, fazem tudo com muito carinho. 👏👏👏👏

[@ateliermavi]

Obrigad*s 🤗

[@ЕленЕлена-ы4н]

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