Meet Julie & Ronald – Our Story
Hi! We are Julie & Ronald. Julie is Belgian, and Ronald is Dutch. Together, we have four amazing children. Our three adult children, Beau, Rob, and Juup, live in the Netherlands and Belgium, each carving their own path in life. Fortunately, we see each other often—it’s so easy to travel between Belgium, the Netherlands, and here by plane!
Our youngest son, Zeb, lives with us in Italy. He’s fully adapted to life here, speaks fluent Italian, attends school, and plays football in Ostuni.
Our Journey to Villa Gufo
In 2019, we began our search for a home in Puglia. It was not a spur-of-the-moment decision but a well-thought-out plan. After viewing countless properties and plots of land, we finally found this place—and instantly fell in love with the breathtaking view. It was a perfect match, and our adventure in southern Italy began!
Below, you can see what Villa Gufo looked like before the renovation: a small summer house on the upper level and a large storage area below. Our home is located in a “zona blu”, a protected nature reserve.
The Story Behind the Name – Villa Gufo
“Gufo” is Italian for owl. The first time we drove to what would become Villa Gufo, a beautiful daytime owl flew right over our heads. In Italy, where superstition is deeply rooted, this is seen as a sign of good luck and prosperity. When we were searching for a name for our villa, we immediately thought of that special moment—and so, Villa Gufo was born!
Welcome to our dream in Puglia!
The small house on the first floor was completely stripped and renovated. It is now home to the two Panoramica Suites. The old pergola was removed, and a brand-new living area with a kitchen was added.
The panoramic terrace sometimes looked more like a swimming pool, so it was in urgent need of replacement.
The large storage area on the ground floor was renovated and transformed into four bedrooms and four bathrooms. A brand-new living area was also added. There was originally a staircase leading down from the terrace, which was completely removed. A new staircase was repositioned towards the back to create space for the entrances to the rooms.
A New, Sustainable Pool at Villa Gufo
When we arrived here, there was no pool on the property, so we had one completely built from scratch. As you can see in the photos, this is not a standard prefab or in-ground pool—everything was built by hand!
Since we are located in a protected nature reserve, we had to comply with strict regulations:
- Maximum size utilized – The pool measures 10m x 4m, the exact limit allowed.
- Natural coating – The finish had to be white or in natural tones (sand, beige). Blue or other colored pools are not permitted here.
- Chlorine-free water – To protect the environment and nature, the use of chlorine is not allowed.
- Saltwater Pool with Special Filtration – Our pool is fully saltwater filtered, making it not only better for the environment but also gentler on the skin.
It was quite a challenge to get all the construction materials and concrete trucks here. The trucks in this area are slightly narrower and more compact to navigate the narrow streets and sharp turns more easily.
Our Patience Was Tested in 2020
In 2020, our patience was truly put to the test with the arrival of COVID-19 in Europe. Everything went into lockdown, and construction came to a halt. We had to adjust our plans, and our move to Italy was postponed. However, even during COVID, we spent several months in Italy and used this time to apply for the swimming pool permit.
By the end of 2021, construction could finally resume, and in 2022, the villa was completed.
Today, we still work hard every day to make Villa Gufo even more beautiful and comfortable. We take advantage of our winter closure to carry out larger projects. For example, at the end of 2023, we started improving the driveway, expanding the parking area, and enhancing the garden with new features like a firepit.
We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved, and it is truly heartwarming to see our guests enjoy the villa and this beautiful place.
