Tuscan Design- A Little Bit of Italy in Your Own Home

The region of Tuscany, located in the central western portion of Italy, is known for its easy, laid back lifestyle, rolling green hillsides and relaxed and functional Tuscan decorating.  By incorporating the colors of sun-kissed plaster, red tile rooftops, dark wood beams and black wrought iron you, too, can have a Tuscan design home.

When choosing colors for the interior of your home you will want to look to nature.  Heavily plastered walls in soft, sunny yellows or creamy tones are common for Tuscan design.  Accent colors of muddy reds such as brick and terracotta, soft greens and turquoise blue can be used in artwork and accessories.

Wrought iron is a very common feature in Tuscan design.  This can be found in stair railings but also in light fixtures, legs on accent tables and accessories such as candlesticks and wall art. 

While true Tuscan design employs rustic distressed woods, the Masterpiece Tuscan Style End Table by Powell would be a nice addition to a living room.  The dark inlaid wood top and iron legs celebrate the craftsmanship that Tuscan people are so proud of. 

Even a plant stand such as the Martini set from Alfresco will work.  The blue tile top and wrought iron base are perfect for those small corners. Infinity Instruments offers several designs in iron wall art for your home.

Wine is celebrated in Tuscany.  Therefore, any artwork or accessory that refers to wine or the making of it works perfectly in a dining room or kitchen.  This can come in the form of wine jugs holding kitchen utensils, or even grape motifs in artwork or serving pieces.  A rustic wooden wine rack to hold your prized bottles is a perfect addition to your dining room. 

Upholstered pieces are necessary for comfort & Tuscan Style in any home.  In Tuscan design these pieces would be comfortable and over-stuffed, often slip covered. 

The Tuscan design Earle Sofa by Klaussner with its nailhead trim would work perfectly.  Adding throw pillows with a floral, grape or any nature motif will add to the relaxed feel. 

Leather is also found in Tuscan interiors.  The Tuscan Style Princeton Leather Sofa by Coaster is a nice choice.  The loose pillows and overstuffed arms invite you to sit down and enjoy a glass of wine and good conversation.

Open storage is very popular in Tuscan kitchens.  Adding a bakers rack to your kitchen can create this look and provide that all important storage.  The hand painted metal scrollwork and wicker drawers found in the storage rack by Southern Enterprises is perfect.  The texture of the baskets warms up any space while hiding the sometimes not so pretty utensils necessary in a kitchen.

The people of Tuscany know how to celebrate life and their homes show it.  The key for you to create that Tuscan feel in your home is to use the colors and textures of nature to create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for your friends and family to enjoy.

Ahhhh can you feel the Tuscan sun…. Nicolette Interior Design Diva

This entry was posted on Friday, June 12th, 2009 at 1:11 pm and is filed under Interior Design Styles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.