Tuscany, a region in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, is known for its full-bodied wines, farmlands, centuries-old villas, cool breezes and a rustic, comfortable style of home decorating. This style, which combines Old World charm with earthiness, is much copied in the United States. It incorporates warm, muted colors from Mother Nature and large-scale, aged furnishings.
Rustic Look Tuscan home decor incorporates dark, aged woods, oversized furniture such as armoires and hutches, wrought-iron accessories such as sconces, mirrors and chandeliers, and sturdy seating pieces. Most Tuscan villas have a large stone fireplace, tumbled stone floors softened by antique rugs, and textured walls. There is nothing dainty, shiny or new in the Tuscan style of decorating.
Architecture Tuscan villas often have terra cotta roof tiles, arched doorways, patios, loggias or porticos, and courtyards with soothing, bubbling water fountains. Outside, paths of stone or brick meander through the garden. These earth tones are echoed in furnishings and wall colors on the inside. Heavy dark beams often line the ceilings, and rustic wooden shutters are used inside and out.
Colors One of the easiest ways to bring Tuscan style to your home is through color. The terra cotta of roof tiles; greens the color of moss, sage or slender cypress trees; and brick red from the streets and paths are often incorporated into the Tuscan decor in furniture and on walls. Gold and ochre (brownish-gold) are commonly used, along with burgundy. Most of the colors are aged, warm and muted. Many paint companies, including Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams, market Tuscan paint colors.
Walls Not only are Tuscan-style walls painted, they are often textured as well. Venetian plaster can be applied to give walls the aged look and texture of a Tuscan farmhouse. The plaster, available in paint and home-improvement stores, is troweled onto the wall and sanded. Using glazes, color washes and even painting murals on the walls is also common in Tuscan decorating.
Kitchen Decor The kitchen is the heart of a Tuscan home and is usually anchored with a long, rustic farmhouse table. Hand-painted hutches and open shelving display colorful Tuscan pottery and ceramics, often picturing fruit such as lemons and grapes. Long braids of garlic hang from hooks, and glass jars hold pasta, rice, beans or olives. Wine motifs are also common.
