Front view Details and larger version		Rear view Details and larger version

In the coming months, I'll share some of the trials and tribulations of my massive makeover of a Mediterranean mess. I hope you'll learn from my mistakes... and not repeat them exactly.

Much like bonsai, home renovation involves making the most of assets, and fixing or hiding the flaws. The design and building process is frustrating, exhilarating, and gratifying – all of which I hope to convey in upcoming articles.

	Move-In Ready – Prepare to be as blinded as I was by the boundless beauty of the "before".
	First Things First – Two big hazards must be dealt with before anything else gets done.