Furnishing Your Tuscan Living Room: Make the Ambience of Italy Come Alive with the Right Pieces!

Mary Freeland | 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.

Food Accessories Put the Finishing Touch on Your Tuscan Kitchen

Mary Freeland | June 19, 2010

From hanging some of your vibrant pottery serving platters and plates on the wall to grouping decorative bottles of olive oil on the counter, these Tuscan kitchen accessories create a sense of lived in, cozy style.

Add Color to Your Tuscan Kitchen with the Traditional Beauty of Earthenware Pottery

Mary Freeland | June 12, 2010

When it comes to dishes in your Tuscan kitchen or dining room, forget about fragile china in fussy, pretentious patterns. Across Tuscany, kitchen tables and dining rooms are set with pottery dishes decorated in gorgeous, colorful patterns.

Something Spanish

Mary Freeland | June 2, 2010

Nestled along the Mediterranean, Tuscany and the Spanish coastal region called Andalusia, share more than just coastline.
Influences from the ocean and the common climates infuse both their food and their culture. Much like Tuscany, Andalusia is known for amazing cuisine that takes center stage at seasonal festivals. Among the many celebrations in the Spanish culture [...]

Some Unusual Tips To Visit Versilia

Mary Freeland | May 4, 2010

My beloved Versilia, Tuscany…it is best known for its golden beach, small villages and natural parks in the hinterland, its mild climate and its amazing nightlife and entertainments, but what makes it unique is that you have all close at hand and in a short time you can walk on the sand on barefoot and then have lunch uphill viewing the Massaciuccoli Lake which inspired Giacomo Puccini.

Foundations of Tuscan Design: Starting with the Right Flooring Can Help Ensure Your Tuscan Home Feels Authentic

Mary Freeland | April 16, 2010

While carpeting is a favorite flooring option on this side of the Atlantic, traditional Italian homes tend to feature hard floors. With wood, tile, and stone all commonly found in Tuscan décor, you have tons of options for installing an old-world look over here in the New World!

Marble, Limestone, and Granite: No Tuscan Home Is Complete Without Stone Details

Mary Freeland | April 9, 2010

From the very earliest Tuscans, stone has played an important role in both architecture and interior décor. While the ancient Etruscans and Romans used stone for the actual construction of their buildings, today’s Tuscan homes feature stone as a practical, decorative element in just about every room.

Spiedini de Tacchino

Mary Freeland | April 8, 2010

Today our Tuscan culinary travels brings us outdoors as well. Fresh spring zucchini and eggplant languidly wrap themselves around turkey and marry the flavors of the season as they grill to perfection.

Vibrant Orange and Vivid Red: Terra-Cotta in Tuscan Décor

Mary Freeland | March 6, 2010

When you’re imagining the perfect Tuscan landscape, what color stands out the most? In many cases, it’s the rusty hues of the terra-cotta colored soil of the fields. The same goes for most Tuscan living rooms—the color that jumps out in small bursts is the rich red of painted pottery, wall art details, and more.

Monumental Montalcino: Wine and history to go with your Ciabatta

Mary Freeland | March 3, 2010

Let’s take a trip to Tuscany’s famous hill top city of Montalcino. This vibrant village is rich in history, color and traditions that evoke the very spirit of Tuscany.