From blooming bulbs to sunlight streaming through open windows, spring brings beauty and inspiration. Here at Tuscan Home we’ve decided to pay homage to spring by bringing in some of our own muses from the Casa Cristina line.

Over the next few weeks it will be our pleasure to introduce you to the style, beauty and functionality of these inspiring creations. We start with a lovely embossed planter set.

Works of art in their own right, these planters gleam with a warm patina that hearkens to the welcoming terracotta doorways that line the cobblestone roads of many a Tuscany hillside village.

Bring them into your decor and fill them with an evergreen plant. Better yet bring even more of the Tuscan sensibility into your home with a Dwarf Meyer Lemon tree. The fragrant blooms will fill your home with the sweet smell of spring and summer. The tree can become both a focal point and a conversation starter.

Enjoy spending time in the kitchen? How about potting an indoor lavender bush or rosemary. The Casa Cristina planter brings the “taste” while the herbs bring the flavor into your kitchen.

Spring is such a great inspiration for us. What inspires you?

The three most common choices for outdoor rooms are areas for:

Dining: Enjoying a meal al fresco just makes everything taste better! Tuscan décor is perfect for outdoor dining rooms because it not only integrates a natural setting with your furnishings, but it also puts an emphasis on food and family. Uniting these core elements of Mediterranean-inspired design, outdoor dining rooms are a perfect canvas for both Tuscan style and delicious Italian food.

Sitting: Whether you’re relaxing after a meal or just enjoying the last few rays of sunshine, creating a sitting room outside is the ideal expression of Tuscan design. Instead of bringing the outdoors indoors, an outside Tuscan living room offers the opportunity to bring the comforts of the indoors outside. With the exceptional color palette, rich textures, and inherent beauty of nature, it’s easy to design a Tuscan-style sitting room that’s seamlessly integrated with the surrounding landscape.

Courtesy of http://www.fornobravo.com

Whether you choose to design an outdoor sitting room, dining room, or kitchen—or all three—Tuscan design can help you get both form and function in your space. Enjoy your landscaping to its fullest with a gorgeous new Tuscan outdoor room!

With its focus on natural design and materials, Tuscan décor just makes sense for outdoor rooms. Instead of bringing the outdoors indoors, you get the unique opportunity to add a few of the comforts of the inside to the natural landscape around your home. But even beyond the logical connection of Tuscan design to natural settings and motifs, the Tuscan style and lifestyle have a few key aspects that make them perfect for outdoor living of all kinds.

Materials
When you’re designing an outdoor room, you need materials that are built to last. Most outdoor rooms, with the exception of covered porches and patios, are going to be exposed to wind, rain, and critters as a matter of course. But the materials favored by Tuscan design—resilient stone, durable wrought-iron, sturdy wood—are all also substances that can handle rough weather without substantial damage or deterioration.

Versatility
Why take the time—and expense—to build an outdoor room if you’re only going to be able to enjoy it a few months out of the year? When you opt to decorate in the Tuscan style, you can integrate a variety of design features that will help you get the most use out of your outdoor living space. In fact, in many climates, Tuscan design lends itself to year-round use! Add a pergola for shade (even better, train grapes or other traditional Mediterranean plants onto the structure for additional coverage) in the hot months. Build an outdoor fireplace or get a portable fire pit (often available in beautiful wrought-iron designs) to create ambience and warmth in the cold months. All these features and more integrate seamlessly with Tuscan décor of all kinds and can help you enjoy your outdoor space comfortably across a wider variety of seasons!

So if you’re ready to get the most out of your yard with an outdoor living space, Tuscan style is the way to go for attractive, practical design.

For all of your Tuscan accessories and furniture, be sure to check out Tuscan Home Décor & Design. Our online shop is your resource for all things Tuscan!

Outdoor Tuscan dining rooms are perfect for all climates. Obviously, you’ll get the most use out of an al fresco eating area in a temperate climate, but you can also create a Tuscan dining space on a covered patio or screened in porch for comfortable dining in hotter or cooler parts of the country. One way to make sure you get maximum usage out of your outdoor Tuscan dining room is to install a fire pit or fireplace. These features offer rustic style, old-fashioned appeal, and a traditionally Tuscan architectural look in addition to putting out heat. However, even a portable fire pit can help add charm and heat to your Tuscan dining area, so don’t despair if the budget doesn’t include building a new fireplace in your backyard!

Other must-haves for your Mediterranean-inspired outdoor dining experience include:

Table and chairs: Wrought iron is perfect for Tuscan outdoor spaces, and there are hundreds of styles of durable wrought iron tables and chairs available. For a more rustic look, you can also choose wooden tables and benches or cast stone. Tuscan tables also look great in tile or even marble and granite, all of which are suited to the rigors of the outdoor environment.

Plants: To emphasize the natural aspect of your exterior dining space, make sure that plants abound. One of my favorite tricks is to plant vegetables and kitchen herbs in pots around the patio or porch to bring in that particularly Tuscan feeling. Italian favorites like basil, peppers, and tomatoes are especially good choices, and these plants grow well in just about any climate. For hotter areas, you might want to consider a lemon or olive tree.

Lighting: If you’re planning on dining outside in the evening, make sure you add plenty of Tuscan lighting to your outdoor dining room. Candles are always a beautiful choice for great ambience, and with citronella candles, you can also help keep the pesky mosquitoes away. There are also an increasing variety of outdoor lights available in attractive styles, so if your dining area is alongside the house or on a screened in porch, an outdoor Tuscan chandelier, a pair of sconces, or another light fixture is just the thing.

Tuscan design is all about harmony with nature, so don’t feel like you have to keep your Tuscan design on the inside of your home—enjoy great food and fellowship right in nature itself with a brand-new Tuscan-inspired outdoor dining room!

Tuscan Home Décor & Design is your online source for the best in Tuscan accents, accessories, and furnishings. Check us out for the finishing touches for your Tuscan dining room, indoors or out.

Toscana Limonata
Tuscan Lemonade

12 ounces of Limoncello
6 ounces of Lemon flavored vodka
1 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice
4 cups of Pellegrino or seltzer (or even Pellegrino Limonada)
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tbsp sugar
5-7 fresh mint leaves
Lemon slices to garnish

Ice is key to this drink, be sure to use lots of it! Pour Limoncello and vodka over ice, stir and allow to set while you finish the rest of the preparation. Crush mint leaves and sugar with lemon zest in a large pitcher. Add in vodka, limoncello and Pellegrino. Stir gently. Add more ice and garnish with lemon slices.

Both refreshing and summery, this drink can also be made without alcohol. Simply increase the sugar to 1/2 cup and warm it with 1/2 cup of water over low heat until the sugar devolves. Allow this syrup to cool and repeat the directions above.

Provar piacere di

2 cups water
1/2 cup granulated sugar (table sugar)
1 cup espresso (cooled to room temperature)
chocolate covered espresso beans for garnish (optional)

Heat water and sugar over low heat until the sugar dissolves completely. Bring to a rolling boil for 30 seconds and remove from the heat to cool. Combine the syrup with the coffee in a shallow bowl or baking dish. Place in the freezer and allow to freeze solid. When ready to serve remove the dish from the freezer and plunge it into VERY hot water for a few seconds. This will allow the mixture to separate from the container. Turn the frozen mixture out onto a cutting surface and chop into chunks. Place the chunks into a food processor or blender and pulse until you have obtained a small crystal consistency. Serve in chilled glass dishes or in fun paper cones for a more relaxed presentation. If you choose you may also add a liquor to the syrup, simply decrease the water by an equal amount to the amount you will be adding. Add the liquor to the syrup at the same time as the coffee.

Imagine the shade of a tree on a warm day with this dish in hand the soft sounds of one of the beautiful wind chimes you can find in our store. Ah, this is the life!

Other movable feast posts: Polpettine di Ricotta, Olive Alle Erbe, Prosciutto Crudo Con Fichi, Funghi Marinati, Nocciolini

Comment to win one of these platters!

Olive Alle Erbe (Herbed Olives)

Ingredients:
• 1 pound Kalamata or other brine-cured black olives, drained and patted dry
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crumbled
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• five 2-inch strips of lemon zest, removed with a vegetable peeler
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation:
In a bowl stir together the olives, the herbs, the lemon juice, the zest, and the oil and let the olives marinate, covered and chilled, for 3 days. The marinated olives may be made 2 weeks in advance and kept covered and chilled. Serve the olives at room temperature.

Fill several smaller decorative bowls with olives and place them at intervals on your feast table so that guests are never further than arms reach from these simple yet tasty treats.

Other movable feast posts: Polpettine di Ricotta, Olive Alle Erbe, Prosciutto Crudo Con Fichi, Funghi Marinati, Nocciolini

Comment to win one of these platters!

Spiedini de Tacchino
Mediterranean Turkey Skewers
Ingredients

2 cloves of garlic (minced)
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
7 tbsp olive oil (light works best)
1 tsp grated lemon zest
2 tbsp fresh basil (chopped)
1 eggplant (the slender variety)
2 medium zuchini
1 sweet pepper (yellow or red) cut into squares
11 ounces cubed boneless turkey
sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Combine oil, lemon zest and juice, garlic, basil, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Mix until well blended. Use a vegetable peeler to slice zucchini and eggplant into 1/4 inch thick strips. Cut strips crosswise in half. Wrap turkey cubes with the strips. Build skewers by alternating wrapped turkey with red pepper squares. Baste skewers with olive oil and herb mixture, refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes. Grill or broil for 10 minutes (5 per side) until vegetables are tender and turkey is cooked through.

Fresh and vibrant flavors like this are best enjoyed outdoors. Chill a nice bottle of Montepulciano d’abruzzo. Bring the calming sounds of water and rich Tuscan architecture to your outdoor space with our classically Tuscan, Diamond Shaped Wall Fountain.

The first step is adding a fountain. A key part of the landscape and home architecture in Tuscany, fountains integrate water into outdoor décor, becoming a featured focal point in practically every courtyard or garden. You can do the same in your outdoor space, creating an eye-catching accent and adding the soothing sound of water to the sensory experience of your garden. Opt for a simple tiered fountain in warm terra cotta colors or choose a more detailed pedestal fountain. Remember, simple and natural should be your two key criteria when selecting a Tuscan-style fountain—materials should look like stone or terra cotta, not modern metals, and detailing should be uncomplicated and reflect the beauty of nature in botanical motifs and patterns. Position your fountain as the center of attention in your garden, making it the heart of your outdoor space and the focus of your Tuscan design.

Next, you’ll want to consider statuary. With its storied history and ancient past, Tuscany is filled with exquisite statues from monumental architecture to simple country gardens. For the perfect Italian-inspired outdoor décor in your yard, a statue or two is a must. Keep in mind that any kind of statuary (in earth tones or natural stone colors) can work in your Tuscan decorating scheme. Traditionally, Tuscan design would include classical forms—think the Venus de Milo—but that doesn’t mean you have to stick with traditional nudes. As long as your statue choice stays grounded in the fundamentals of Tuscan home décor (natural materials, aged appearance, organic details), just about any statue can complement your Tuscan theme. I once saw an Italian-style garden with a frog statue that worked perfectly, so anything really does go!

Find outdoor Tuscan furnishings, accents and more at my Web site, tuscanhomedecoranddesign.com. For products and Tuscan decorating ideas, we have what you need for beautiful Mediterranean style indoors and out.

When you put all that time and effort into grooming your flowerbeds and mowing your lawn, why not really enjoy it! Stop looking out from the kitchen window and get outside to experience the beautiful landscaping you put so much effort into. All you need is some attractive, functional outdoor furnishings. One great option is solid cedar chairs and tables;constructed from Western Red Cedar, this type of outdoor furniture is resistant to rot and insect damage. You’ll also love the warm reddish tones of the wood! From cozy seating for two—and a place to set a drink to space for a crowd around our Oval Picnic Table, cedar tables and chairs offer long-lasting performance and a gorgeous appearance. When you’re looking for a garden bench or chair so you can enjoy your garden this year, you’ll definitely want to consider cedar outdoor furniture.

If you’re looking for outdoor comfort AND portability, flimsy aluminum lawn chairs aren’t the only option. Why not try our portable tables and chairs from Blue Ridge Chair Works! This attractive, durable outdoor furniture features innovative collapsible design for great portability. At the same time, the sturdy wood and polyester fabric construction means that these chairs are comfortable and built to last, as well as easy to carry. With styles ranging from the Backpack Chair—with pockets big enough to carry everything you need for a day at the beach!—to our minimalist Blue Ridge Chair, you’re sure to find a comfy chair perfect for picnics, outdoor concerts, or ballgames. We even offer collapsible tables like the Roll-Top Table and the Parkway Picnic table for an easy outdoor dining experience anywhere you want!

With spring beginning to reach full bloom, it’s time to get outside and start enjoying the beauty of nature—in your yard or at the park. From gorgeous cedar outdoor chairs and tables for your garden to portable outdoor furniture for sturdy seating just about anywhere, there’s a comfortable, affordable solution to all of your outdoor furnishing needs!