Posted By Mary Freeland on July 30, 2010

When the walls are painted, the fireplace installed, and the furniture in place, it’s time to add the accessories and accents that will round out your Tuscan décor. But what items will create that sense of authentic Italian style? Here are a few ideas!
Perhaps the most obvious place to start when it comes to accessorizing your Tuscan living room is with art. Bare walls are about as inviting as your average institution, so you’ll want to add life and visual interest to your walls with the right art. With its emphasis on natural imagery and inspiration, Tuscan décor is the perfect place for landscape paintings and prints, especially art that incorporates the fields and architecture so iconic to Tuscany. Other great ideas for Tuscan wall art can include wrought iron screens and sconces, cast stone sculptures, and even simple mirrors that reflect the view from the outside. No matter which Tuscan art pieces you select, make sure they are hung so as to achieve balance rather than competition with each other and the rest of the space.

Tuscan earthenware can also be a fabulous accent for your living room. Too often, people think that pottery and stoneware dinnerware can only be used in the kitchen or dining room. But the truth of the matter is that it can also become a gorgeous Tuscan accessory in your living room. From decorative ewers and vases to beautiful hand-painted plates, earthenware can be used to adorn walls, fill bookshelves, and even dress up fireplace mantels.

One of my favorite ways to put the finishing touches on any Tuscan room is to add a few houseplants. A fabulous way to bring the outdoors inside, placing plants on shelves, mantels, and tabletops can infuse just the right burst of nature and green into your living room. Philodendrons, peace lilies, and spider plants are all common choices, but any plant that will flourish inside is a great option for filling in the blank spots in your Tuscan living room.

And don’t forget, rooms without personal touches and photos can often feel sterile and un-homey no matter how beautiful the décor. That’s why I always recommend finding a couple of beautiful picture frames in Tuscan colors and styles and using them to display your favorite family photos. By incorporating images of your family as accents in your living room, you’ll not only emphasize the importance of your family in your life and your home, you’ll also add just the right welcoming touch into the space.

Check out Tuscan Home Décor & Design when you’re in the market for the finishing touches for your space. We’re sure to have the accents and accessories you need to round out your Tuscan living room and home!

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Tags: casa cristina, Earthenware, tuscan, Tuscan decor, tuscan decorating, Tuscan home decor

Posted By Mary Freeland on July 28, 2010

My Sicilian father-in-law embodies so much of what you may think of when you hear, “The old country”. Though he has lived in Brooklyn, New York since the early nineteen-sixties, he has remained steadfastly the young man he was when he left the small seaside Sicilian town of, Sciacca.

Manlio DiPaola handed down to his son, my husband, the art of wine making and an appreciation for all things simple. He is the master of the grill, making humble chicken taste as though it were made for the denizens of the New York culinary scene. At his side I’ve learned what little Italian I speak and even more about life, family and tradition.

Though he is never one to turn away a nice cheesecake from Junior’s, the best of deserts in his learned opinion is a nice piece of seasonal fruit soaked in wine. This time of year really lends itself to the enjoyment of this sweetest of treats.

Pesche inzuppato nel Vino
Peaches soaked in Wine

3-4 just ripe peaches or nectarines
Red wine (enough to cover the peaches)
1 cup mascarpone cheese
2-3 tablespoons clover honey

Pit and peal the peaches. Cut them into thin slices. In a large shallow dish combine peaches and wine. Allow to soak in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. Just prior to serving mix honey into cheese. Remove the peaches from the wine and place in a presentation dish with cheese mixture along side. Feel free to drink the fruited wine as an aperitif.

Per la Salute (to your health)

This post was written by our friend and noted wine fan, Lara DiPaola, who was the first customer of our newly released custom wine bottle light collection Vino Luci.

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Tags: Italian, Italian Recipes

Posted By Mary Freeland on July 24, 2010

When many people hear the words “natural” and “décor” in the same sentence, they have a tendency to focus on obviously natural materials like wood and stone. And while it’s important to integrate these two crucial Tuscan materials into your living room design, it’s also important to remember that the softer parts of your interior design can look and feel natural, too. Whether you choose a cotton fabric for your draperies or a vineyard-inspired print for your upholstery, your Tuscan home has to include soft furnishings as well as the beautiful-but-hard appearance of wood and stone.

Draperies
Although often used sparingly to avoid obscuring the view of the outdoors, draperies can none-the-less play an important role in your Tuscan living room. From framing the scenery outside to softening the hard lines of the window frame to even helping absorb sound, window treatments can ensure the harder aspects of the space are thoroughly mitigated. While the sky’s the limit when it comes to patterns, designs, and fabrics for window coverings, simple flowing styles typically work the best in Mediterranean-inspired homes. Easy enough to dress up or down with your fabric selection, simple curtains and window draperies convey a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that’s just right for inviting friends and family in to sit awhile.

Furniture
Ever sit in a hard wooden chair for more than a few minutes? Wondering why no one ever curls up on a rigid stone bench with a good book? Discomfort is all you’ll achieve if you furnish your Tuscan living room only with hard chairs and benches made of wood and stone. For a room that’s cozy, you’ll want to incorporate plenty of upholstered chairs and sofas for hours of relaxation and comfortable gatherings. Leave the wood and stone for tables, floors, hearths, and other parts of your Tuscan décor and fill your space with seats that invite everyone in to put their feet up and relax.

Rugs
With the focus on hardwood and natural stone floors, many home decorators make the mistake of thinking that rugs are taboo in Tuscan décor. But the truth is just the opposite! Rugs can help warm up a cold stone floor, visually as well as tactilely, and can even trap the echoes so common in spaces with hard floors. A gorgeous addition to both casual and formal Tuscan living rooms, appropriate rugs can span the gamut from country rag rugs to formal oriental carpets. Choose the one that’s right for your personality, but don’t forget to add a rug to your newly redecorated space for great comfort and great looks!

If you’re in the market for Tuscan accessories and furnishings, don’t forget to visit Tuscan Home Décor & Design, a leading online retailer for great Tuscan accents at prices that won’t break the bank.

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Tags: tuscan, Tuscan decor, tuscan design, Tuscan home decor

Posted By Mary Freeland on July 21, 2010

Wine is a wonderful cooking tool. It can be used to poach, blanch, saute and it enhances the flavor of nearly any dish. It is especially good in simple seafood dishes that the coastal regions in Tuscany are renowned for. It’s rather a great stroke of luck that Tuscany also produces some of the world’s best wines. Today we explore a simple, classic and flavorful dish where the wine makes it so.

Linguine alle Vongole
Linguini with clams

3-4 cloves of minced garlic
1 medium sized yellow onion
1 pound clams (in shell, thoroughly scrubbed0
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
8 ounces clam juice
1/2 cup white wine
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon each of chopped fresh Basil and Italian Parsley (reserve some for garnish)
crushed red pepper flakes to taste
1 package linguini (prepared according to directions)

In a large high-sided pan heat oil. Add in onion and garlic cooking until translucent. To this add in juice, lemon, and wine. Allow to come to a simmer. Place in clams and cover, cooking approximately 3-4 minutes until all have opened. Remove and discard any that do not open. Add in remaining ingredients, tossing thoroughly over the heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Place pasta in a large serving dish, top with clam mixture. Garnish with fresh herbs and grated Parmesan cheese.

Add ambiance to your table setting with this Vino Luci L’inizio as a centerpiece.

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Tags: Italian Recipes, tuscan, Tuscany

Posted By Mary Freeland on July 16, 2010

In our last post about Tuscan living rooms, we talked about focal points and flow, but not about the specifics of furnishings for your space. So now that you know what NOT to do with your furniture in your Tuscan living room, let’s look a little more specifically at what types of furnishings you should use as you create that desired flow and focal point.

Antiques can play an important part in generating that old-world feel here in the New World. From large wardrobes and cupboards to end tables and sofa tables, woods that have been distressed by years of use are ideal for creating that sense of timeless age. Often, you can pick up gorgeous tables, chests, and cabinets for a steal at flea markets and junk shops, but you may also want to check out modern furniture outlets specializing in that antique look. With the prominence of Tuscan décor in interior design today, new pieces that combine an aged finish with an Italian design flair are easier to find than ever!

In addition to wooden tables, chests, and cabinets, don’t forget to use a lot of soft, upholstered furniture in your living room. That’s because you need the space to look warm, cozy, and inviting. After all, who wants to lounge on a rigid wooden bench! A wood bench can look great, but also add in some comfortably upholstered pieces that you and your family can sink into for a more relaxing experience. The best chairs, couches, and sofas for Tuscan décor are moderate-sized pieces that provide fluffy comfort without taking over the space with their supersized design. One great option is to mix and match antique chairs, which tend to have a sparer look, with cozier, plumper modern upholstered chairs and sofas to achieve a balance that doesn’t look overstuffed.

Fireplaces are also an integral part of every Tuscan home, so if you don’t already have one, consider putting one in. It may seem like a huge project, but with the high-tech ventless and direct vent fireplaces on the market today, installing a fireplace in your Tuscan living room may be easier and more affordable than you think. And in addition to looking fabulous, a fireplace can also help reduce your heating bills, so you’ll probably make back your investment in the long run. However, as an investment in the authentic look and feel of your Tuscan home, putting in a fireplace will pay off right away. Accented with a traditional mantel, some gorgeous Mediterranean landscape paintings or other art, and featured as the focal point of your living space, a fireplace can take a so-so Tuscan remodel and give it the atmosphere of a genuine Tuscan villa!

A great source for affordable Tuscan tables, art, earthenware, and more, Tuscan Home Décor & Design is your online retailer for exquisite Mediterranean décor at a fantastic price!

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Tags: casa cristina, mediterranean, tuscan, Tuscan decor, tuscan villa

Posted By Mary Freeland on July 14, 2010

One summer in Rome our adventurous spirit decided to make a showing at one of the small family owned pizzeria shops that line the streets through out the city. In rows of lit glass cases were displayed handmade pizzas in a dizzying variety. Everything from traditional Pizza Margarita with simple but bold tomato and basil to amazing variations with everything from seafood to sweet seasonal fruits. Surprisingly one of the favorites was topped with, of all things, potatoes! Here is a quick recipe for our version. An even better one can be found at Patent and The Pantry

We made it simple by picking up pre-made pizza dough at the local bakery. Many Italian eateries will sell you raw dough balls and you can also use frozen dough, but we’d advise you to stay away from canned doughs.

Pizza di Patate
Roman Style Potato Pizza

Using a pizza stone helps as well. Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees. If using a stone allow it to heat in the oven for 10-15 minutes before cooking.

Ingredients

2 to 3 large or 10 fingerling potatoes of your choosing (sliced very thin, that is the key here)
1 large shallot thinly sliced
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly chopped rosemary (reduce by half if using dried)
4-8 slices of smoked or regular Provolone cheese
sea salt for sprinkling

Roll dough out and brush with oil. Lay out a layer of cheese, top that with the potatoes. Brush with remaining oil. Sprinkle on rosemary and salt. Bake until the entire pizza turns golden brown and ENJOY!

Category: Italian Recipes, Kitchen | No Comments »
Tags: Italian Recipes, Tuscany

Posted By Mary Freeland on July 9, 2010

Perhaps one of the most common errors when it comes to Tuscan living room design is the layout of the space. Not only is the style of your furniture important, but how you place that furniture makes a huge difference in the overall success of your design. Today we’re going to look at a few common stumbling blocks when it comes to the flow and arrangement of Tuscan living rooms.

Focal Points

Tradition. History. Antiquity. These are all common themes throughout Tuscan style. Which is why hanging a TV on the wall as the focal point of your Tuscan living room can feel awkward, discordant, and just out of place! Living rooms in the U.S. are commonly laid out with the seating all facing the TV, focusing the room’s energy and attention on the screen. But that just doesn’t work with the traditional influences and atmosphere of the Mediterranean style. Instead, a large piece of artwork, fireplace, or window would form a more cohesive focal point with the overall design of the space.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to banish your television to the basement if you’re going to redecorate your living room in the Tuscan style! Simply make it a more discreet part of your décor. One fantastic option is placing your TV inside a large wardrobe or antique cupboard—open the doors when you want to watch your shows and hide the screen from view the rest of the time. Another high-tech option is a cutting-edge TV mirror: when your television is off, it looks like a beautiful decorative mirror; when the TV is on, you can see all of your favorite programs with perfect clarity!

Flow

In any décor, but especially in a design style as grounded in the natural world as Tuscan style is, the flow of a room is incredibly important. Different areas need to be well defined and people need to be able to move easily through the space without running to tables, chairs, and each other. When laying out your new Tuscan living room, you’ll want to keep use in mind: if you plan to entertain frequently, you’ll need plenty of end tables for guests to set their drinks. If you want to comfortably accommodate a crowd, you’ll need a number of seating options. Grouping chairs together in several different conversation areas can help break up a large space as well as create gathering places for friends and family. Rather than placing all of your furniture along the walls, all facing into the room, setting up your living room with several different areas can also help facilitate an easy flow throughout the space.

Using the right finishes and paint colors and finding the right furniture pieces can go a long way toward creating a fabulous Tuscan-villa feel for your living room, but attention to focal points and flow can help ensure the whole design comes together for décor that looks and feels authentically Italian!

Tuscan Home Décor & Design is your one-stop online shop for top-quality Tuscan design merchandise at a great price. Be sure to check out our selection today.

Category: Floors, Living or Family Room | 1 Comment »
Tags: tuscan, Tuscan decor, tuscan decorating, Tuscan home decor

Posted By Mary Freeland on July 7, 2010

It’s doubtful that anyone thinks of Tuscany without thinking of wine. But did you know that more than juice comes from the stomping or pressing of the grape? A luscious and amazingly healthy byproduct of wine production is Grape Seed oil. This oil contains all the antioxidants of wine thus provides many of the same health benefits. It is light and a wonderful addition to dressings, salads, baking and as in today’s recipe, soups.

Zucchine e basilico Zuppa
Zuchini & Basil Soup

1/4 cup Basil infused Grape Seed Oil
1 small white onion
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 quart of chicken or vegetable stock
2 lbs. zucchini cut into small cubes
1/4 cup chopped basil leaves
1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)

In a deep, heavy bottomed pot, saute onions and garlic in oil until translucent. To the pot add stock and bring to a simmer. Add in zucchini and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat by half and allow to simmer for 20 minutes (if using cream add it in half way through this simmering period). Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Transfer the soup to blender, food mill or processor and puree until smooth.

Soup may be served chilled or warmed. Garnish with fresh basil and croutons. Serve with crusty bread.

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Tags: Italian Recipes, tuscan, Tuscany

Posted By Mary Freeland on July 2, 2010

If you’re considering redecorating your home in the Tuscan style, starting with the living room just makes sense. Not only does the main living space of your house center around time spent with family and friends—just like Tuscan décor—it also will enable you to get the most impact. So if you’re looking to reinvent your home with relaxed, inviting Mediterranean design AND get the most bang for your buck, redecorating your living room is the best place to start.

Impact
Whether you’re planning to redecorate your whole home or just one room, the most logical starting point is the space that gets the maximum traffic. That enables you to show off your new décor to the maximum audience. Just think: as beautiful as a newly redecorated master bedroom would be, how often do guests get to see that space? By starting with the most visited part of your home—the living room—you’ll be able to display your beautiful new Tuscan décor to everyone who comes through your door. Then, if you want to redo your master bedroom, it can be next on the list!

And remember, if you have an open-concept floor plan, redoing your living room or great room can also create the most visual impact. Houses that were built in recent decades tend to have an open floor plan that lets you see from one room into another. This design is great for, say, keeping an eye on the kids in the family room while you’re preparing meals in the kitchen. But it’s also great for design. Because they’re connected, by redecorating one room in the Tuscan style, you can add visual impact and drama to other rooms as well.

Tuscan Décor Themes
When it comes to Tuscan design, family and friends take center stage. So if you love entertaining, frequently have friends over for visits, or just want to make sure your family is the central focus of your home, redesigning your living room is a smart choice. From warm, inviting colors that make everyone want to linger in your home to a sense of casual elegance that makes guests feel at home, Tuscan style is perfect for gathering together for conversation, meals, and games.

In the next few weeks, we’ll be looking at how to transform your living room into a Tuscan paradise, so be sure to check back next week for layout tips for your Tuscan living room!

Tuscan Home Décor & Design is your online retailer for all of the Tuscan furnishings and décor accents you need to make your Mediterranean-style home look great.

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Tags: tuscan, Tuscan decor, Tuscan home decor

Posted By Mary Freeland on June 30, 2010

Melon or Melone is certainly one of the sweetest treats of the summer season. This week’s dish serves to showcase that bounty by taking the refreshing taste and literally, putting it on (or into) ice.

Granita di Anguria
Watermelon Ice

1/2 cup water
5 to 7 tablespoons sugar
1/2 large watermelon (about 5 pounds of flesh)
Juice and zest of 2 limes

Make a simple syrup by combining sugar and water in a small sauce pan and slowly bringing it to a boil. Once all of the sugar is dissolved allow the syrup to cool to room temperature. Remove all of the watermelon flesh, discarding any white and as well as the rind. Chop melon into 2 inch chunks removing all seeds and any fibers. Puree the melon in a blender or food processor until smooth. Run the puree through a sieve to remove any additional pulp. Stir in syrup, lime juice, and zest.

Use a small, flat pan with a large surface area. The more shallow the pan is
filled, the shorter the freezing time. Starting out with a dish that has already rested in the freezer for at least an hour helps as well. Pour your mixture into the pan and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the freezer for a minimum of one hour or until fully frozen.

Using a fork or grapefruit spoon, scrape the ice away from the edges towards the center of the pan. Repeat this process every half hour for a couple of hours. Soon the pan will be filled with the ice flakes that are characteristic of a good Granita.

Garnish with fresh mint or basil leaves.

Category: Italian Recipes | 1 Comment »
Tags: Italian Recipes, tuscan