A Little Bit of Tuscany in Your Home

So, you want a little Tuscany in your home d�©cor. Here are a few ideas.

Tuscany evokes a place of peaceâÂ?¦earthiness…golden fields and hillsidesâÂ?¦green vineyards…olive trees… farmhouse and a simple way of lifeâÂ?¦a time with friends and family.

Tuscan decorating has also been referred to as the European version of Shabby Chic – some say this is somewhat controversial. A real Tuscan room will have specific features – a crumbling wall of stone, a patio covered with cascading vines, all with a worn, but, comfortable feel.

For me, a little Tuscany yes, but with a sense of style – old world, timeless but not worn out, no crumbling bits of stone, please.

A Tuscan kitchen is very popular right now on the west coast and vineyards and grapes also play a large part of our interior decorating. The colors of Tuscany are rich and warm – golds, amber, and shades of burgundy and purple. This is also some green – of grapes, olives, and stems and leaves of the flowers from the Tuscan fields.

Terra cotta is most important in Tuscan design. In Tuscany itself, you’ll find the homes, called villas, have tile roofs, sometimes worn looking shutters, and walls with climbing vines. You’ll often see the “Italian” cypress tree – the kind like I planted in the front yard of my old house. Fortunately, it soon died; I had decided I didn’t really like them, after all.

And wood, beautiful wood is crucial for a true Tuscan feeling. Furniture is sturdy but with simple lines, often made from rustic wood. There are frequently exposed, wooden ceiling beams, and, perhaps, a simple molding. Windows are usually deep set and the housing material is usually that of stone, brick or clay (hmm, will my stucco work?)

The “back yard” might have a “grotto” – a garden featuring green vegetation and some statuary, perhaps a fountain, and the walkways leading to the house and into the garden is usually paved with stone or brick.

To create a Tuscan feel in your kitchen, consider these ideas – exposed wooden beams on the ceiling, which should be low, terra cotta or tile floors, and dark wood cabinets. You might want the wood on the cabinets to be distressed. (I don’t.) Arched niches and simple molding, available at most home improvement stores can help create this atmosphere. Chicken wire is sometimes used to cover the kitchen storage area doors. Or, glass doors are occasionally used also. A hammered copper range hood would be a great touch.

Your colors would be reds, rusts and browns with greens, golds and terra cotta also. Your theme will probably be grapes and/or olives with some flowers. Using an antique finish on one of the walls would be very interesting. To add contrast, consider hanging copper pots, and accents of marble, stone and tin. Hanging bundles of dried herbs are also great accent pieces. Tile in appropriate colors and patterns can be built into the back splash to create a very effective look.

Your lighting should be muted; nothing shiny. Antique looking wrought iron lights, or even, wall sconces, would be a nice touch. You should also have recessed lighting for performing kitchen tasks.

There is a large variety of Tuscan inspired and style plates and mugs. Buy enough of a set to put two or four place settings at your kitchen table. Combined with linen napkins in “Tuscan” colors, and silverware, this will add to the overall feel of the kitchen. A centerpiece – perhaps, a loaf of bread – in an interesting rustic basket, can finish off the table with style.

Enjoy meals in your Tuscan kitchen.