A Little Bit of Tuscany in Your Home

A little bit of Tuscany in your home…

So, you want a little Tuscany in your home décor. Here are a few ideas.

Tuscany evokes a place of peace…earthiness...golden fields and hillsides…green vineyards...olive trees... farmhouse and a simple way of life…a time with friends and family.

Tuscan decorating has also been referred to as the European version of Shabby Chic – some say this is somewhat controversial. A real Tuscan room will have specific features – a crumbling wall of stone, a patio covered with cascading vines, all with a worn, but, comfortable feel.

For me, a little Tuscany yes, but with a sense of style – old world, timeless but not worn out, no crumbling bits of stone, please.

A Tuscan kitchen is very popular right now on the west coast and vineyards and grapes also play a large part of our interior decorating. The colors of Tuscany are rich and warm – golds, amber, and shades of burgundy and purple. This is also some green – of grapes, olives, and stems and leaves of the flowers from the Tuscan fields.

Terra cotta is most important in Tuscan design. In Tuscany itself, you’ll find the homes, called villas, have tile roofs, sometimes worn looking shutters, and walls with climbing vines. You’ll often see the “Italian” cypress tree – the kind like  I planted in the front yard of my old house. Fortunately, it soon died; I had decided I didn’t really like them, after all.

And wood, beautiful wood is crucial for a true Tuscan feeling. Furniture is sturdy but with simple lines, often made from rustic wood. There are frequently exposed, wooden ceiling beams, and, perhaps, a simple molding. Windows are usually deep set and the housing material is usually that of stone, brick or clay (hmm, will my stucco work?)

The “back yard” might have a “grotto” – a garden featuring green vegetation and some statuary, perhaps a fountain, and the walkways leading to the house and into the garden is usually paved with stone or brick.