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If Under the Tuscan Sun left
you breathlessly and hopelessly in love with tuscan style
decorating you’re certainly not alone. The rolling hills
and the call of the earth itself seem to have imparted
their presence into the psyche of those who either read
the book or saw the movie.
This growing trend in
tuscan style decorating is similar to the which-came-first
theory of the chicken or the egg.
Whichever the answer, the
results are genuinely inspirational. Images of our direct
connection to the earth itself are born and spark a
craving for the proximity of familiar faces.
In tuscan style decorating
we are able to reflect our passion for that connection to
the earth and to what is real.
All that which is old and
forgotten becomes new and significant again.
Elements of tuscan style
decorating incorporate the outdoors within the inside
confines of where we live. You don’t have to be outside
to commune with nature. It instead communes in harmony
with the life inside our homes.
Colors in tuscan style
decorating
Warmth and intensity ...
just as in fine Italian coffee fills the vivid color
palette of this style. The earth’s hues in ranges from
blistering yellow like the sun itself to the concentrated
gold’s like those she hides in her furthermost crevices
are used throughout this theme. Intense shades of russet
and chocolate are likewise incorporated abundantly with
prominent amounts of terra cotta.
Other earth tones are
likewise blended in tuscan style decorating harmony.
Include expressions of coal black, deep pool or lake blue,
and olive with hints of sea green in combination with
generous amounts of rusty reds for added spice.
Stone in tuscan style
decorating
When it comes to home décor,
this style is literally the salt of the earth. Natural
stones and rocks from the earth itself bear this evidence.
Even bricks, which are made by man, begin with clay and
other elements of the earth.
Stone is used in tuscan
style decorating very effectively in kitchens and in
bathrooms. Other places where it makes a powerful
statement are in fireplace surrounds and hearts as well as
in foyers and other entrances. Creating a faux stone wall
adds an immediate tuscan air to any room.
Before choosing stone for
your tuscan style decorating project, know the physical
qualities of any stone you’re considering. Before you
decide which stone to use where to use it, you need to
know its limitations. The three most commonly used stones
are granite, limestone and marble.
Granite - strong,
long-lasting and heat-resistant. This stone creates a
stunning tuscan style decorating focal point, but is
expensive.
Limestone - natural in
appearance, but very absorbent and stains easily. It is
typically used in flooring and for shower interiors but is
not recommended for areas that receive frequent traffic.
Marble - soft and porous,
unsuitable for kitchen countertops, recommended for
bathrooms and floors. Use unpolished to best compliment
this theme.
Metal in tuscan style
decorating
True to the concept
existing in harmony with the earth, the idea in tuscan
style decorating is to appreciate the natural. Instead of
using highly polished metals that have a shiny appearance,
you’ll be incorporating metals from the past.
Select basic tin pieces to
create a feeling of genuineness. If you’re creative, you
may even want to try your hand at making your own tin
tuscan style decorating accessories. You can go as basic
or bold as you like from doing a simple picture frame to a
tin insert for an antique cabinet.
Mix in other unpolished
metals like copper, iron and pewter as well for dramatic
effects.
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