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Fredrik Eklund Shares First Look at 13th-Century Tuscan Home with Husband [VIDEO]

Fredrik Eklund is expanding his real estate empireโ€”this time across the Atlantic.

The โ€œMillion Dollar Listing New Yorkโ€ and โ€œMillion Dollar Listing Los Angelesโ€ alum announced he has purchased a centuries-old chapel in Tuscany, Italy.


Inside the Plans to Restore the 13th-Century Chapel

Eklund shared the news in a July 26 Instagram post, revealing he and husband Derek Kaplan are preparing to restore the 13th-century property into a dream retreat surrounded by 40 acres of olive trees.

โ€œAfter years of dreaming and searchingโ€ฆ we found it!โ€ he wrote. โ€œA 13th-century chapel ruin perched on a cliff with 40 acres of olive trees, overlooking the golden hills of Montepulciano in Italy. This is the first time Iโ€™m sharing this, as we closed on it last year and [are] now deep in planning and permits โ€” a sacred place thatโ€™s ours to protectโ€ฆ to love back to life.โ€

The property features sweeping views, ancient stone structures, and a rustic charm the couple is eager to preserve. Eklund explained that he and Kaplan plan to maintain many of the original materials, including the chapelโ€™s marble and travertine details, while restoring the building to its former โ€œglory.โ€


The Couple’s ‘Dream House’

In his Instagram update, Eklund gave fans a glimpse of the restoration vision, including plans to repaint the walls in their โ€œsame beautiful pink colorโ€ and furnish the chapel with historical pieces. He added theyโ€™re searching for authentic statues and paintings to enhance the property’s old-world aesthetic.

The couple already owns stunning homes in New York City, California, and Miami. Their New York residence was recently spotlighted in Architectural Digest, offering a glimpse into their signature style and flair for design.

โ€œItโ€™s a big renovation project, but so beautiful,โ€ he said of his latest project. โ€œIt will take many years as you can imagine, and weโ€™ll do it slowly, with care and humility. I really want to enjoy the processโ€ฆ building a 13,000 sqft house. Every stone, every beam, every arch deserves respect. And surrounding it weโ€™ll create our dream house.โ€

The home will include a two-floor layout with a country kitchen, a spacious living room, and a primary bedroom suite upstairs. The outdoor space features a stone fountain, rows of cypress trees, and panoramic Tuscan views.

The Bravo star also expressed gratitude for the warm welcome heโ€™s received from the local community. โ€œThank you to the incredible local community for welcoming us with such open arms,โ€ he wrote. โ€œTo the mayor, the architects, the lawyers, the farmers, the neighborsโ€ฆ I feel deeply grateful to one day call this place home.”

In a 2020 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Eklund opened up about his love for Italy and his desire to one day live in Tuscany. โ€œTo me, it is the most beautiful place in the world,โ€ he said. โ€œI feel like I need that beauty right now.โ€

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Fredrik Eklund Shares First Look at 13th-Century Tuscan Home with Husband [VIDEO]

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