Tuscan Kitchen Décor Brings the Warmth, Charm, and Beauty of the Italian Countryside Right Into Your Home!
Posted By Mary Freeland on October 15, 2009
Kitchens can seem stark, sterile, and just plain boring without a decorating scheme or theme. But with its focus on family and food, cozy feel, and great design, Tuscan decorating is perfect for transforming your kitchen from blah to beautiful and inviting!
Start with color: warm, earthy tones straight out of the rolling fields of Tuscany are a great way to brighten your kitchen, making it feel cozy and inviting. One of my favorites is an aged terra cotta color, emphasizing the rusty oranges of the soil and pottery. Other favorites are golds reminiscent of grain, olive greens, and cerulean blues evoking the ever-present Mediterranean Sea.
Next, assess the built-in features of your kitchen: cabinets, countertops, and flooring. If you have ultramodern white cabinets, linoleum flooring, or Formica countertops, you might want to consider changing them out for a more rustic, time-worn look. Ideally natural materials like oak cabinets, granite countertops, and stone floors, would take center stage in your new Tuscan kitchen. One of my favorite looks—and one that’s more affordable than other cabinetry options—are farmhouse-style glass-front cabinets. Both sophisticated and country, glass-front cabinets are a great way to reinvent your cabinetry with a more antique look as well as show off some of your beautiful dishes…
Which brings us to dishware. The perfect finishing touch for just about any Tuscan kitchen is earthenware pottery. Both rustic and elegant, the bright colors and hand-painted charm of earthenware dinnerware makes every meal feel like a special occasion. There are literally hundreds of different styles and patterns available in Tuscan pottery, so you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for your kitchen and your taste! Keep in mind that some earthenware is still painted with lead-based paints, so, for safety, I actually prefer to steer away from “authentic” Mediterranean pottery and choose Italian-themed pieces from Tuscan décor stores here in the US instead.
Dress up your kitchen walls with a few Tuscan landscapes or hang a few Mediterranean-style platters and your Tuscan kitchen will look welcoming, warm, and cozy. All it takes is the right paint colors, some minor cabinet and countertop remodeling, and the right accents and your kitchen can go from basic to the Tuscan-themed heart of your home!
For more information on Tuscan decorating for your home or to shop for Mediterranean themed home furnishings and accents, visit us at Tuscan Home Decor and Design today!
Oooh, that vase is fabulous!