We talk with Carla Fuochi, founder of DreamHome, who shares the challenges and lessons learned during her renovation projects in the Sinai Peninsula.
Q: Carla, what are the main difficulties when renovating a house in this area?
Carla: Renovation work is often more complex than it seems. Trying to always satisfy the client can become a double-edged sword, both during the execution and afterward, especially here in the Sinai.
Another major issue is choosing the right person to carry out the work. This decision must be taken very carefully, as the final result can bring a range of problems: some solvable with additional costs, others requiring the entire work to be redone.
Q: Have you had direct experiences that taught you these lessons?
Carla: Absolutely. It has happened to me more times than you can imagine, and you can’t know how much money these misjudgments have cost me. I lost in one sense, but I gained experience. Step by step, year after year, I have learned a lot.
Q: What is the biggest risk when trusting the wrong person?
Carla: The risk is believing that any request can be completed without issues. Always be wary of someone who says “yes to everything.” I understand how gratifying it is to see your ideas accepted and feel perfectly aligned with a space: it’s normal and human. But when the work is finished, you will often find that many things do not match your requests, and these so-called professionals will start giving excuses, as if they didn’t know from the start.
Q: What are the most common problems encountered?
Carla: Some of the most frequent include:
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Crooked walls
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Cracks between walls and roof causing moisture infiltration and continuous cracks
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Roofs with insulating materials that detach after the first rain
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Leaks from drains, sinks, or hoses
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Tiles that move because grout is empty
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Low-quality wood that swells or peels quickly
Continuing would be redundant: anyone experienced in renovations knows exactly what I mean.
Q: So being told “no, this cannot be done” is a positive thing?
Carla: Yes, absolutely. It’s not a disappointment, but a true blessing. It means you can create something better together, professionally, avoiding costly and frustrating mistakes. Every project teaches how essential it is to rely on those who truly know the trade, especially in complex contexts like the Sinai.
