Tuscan Style Decorating - Three Essentials
by Michael J. Holland
Description: Tips for decorating your home in a Tuscan style.
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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.
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.
Michael Holland is the creator of http://www.kids-rooms-and-
crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His web
sites offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating
your home.
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