Tuscan Kitchen Decorating Ideas

More and more people today find the thought of a sunny cottage kitchen
in the Tuscan countryside as their ideal.  If you long to have that
cozy-cottage feel in your own kitchen, the good news is that it's easy
to do-it-yourself!

One of the reasons Tuscan kitchen is such a hot decorating trend is
that it celebrates the simple things in life: Food, friends, and
family. A Tuscan kitchen is functional, not fussy, and decorating in
this theme is as simple as paint and a few touches.

The walls in a Tuscan kitchen have a unique, old-world look.  You can
achieve this using a faux painting technique.  First, you paint the
walls a bright base color such as butterscotch or butter yellow.
Then, sponge on a deeper shade so that the walls look as though they
have faded in some spots.  There are many books and Internet sites
that can give you step-by-step directions on this method of applying
paint, as well as product suggestions.  If you want to go the extra
mile, you can texturize your walls using joint compound mixed with
paint. "Pouncing" the mixture onto the walls creates a colored, rustic
roughness characteristic of an authentic country kitchen in Tuscany.

The next places to paint are cabinet doors.  Use a strong, contrasting
color to really give your Tuscan county kitchen character.  Deep reds
and bright forest greens are especially popular on cupboard doors.
While you're out looking for just the right shade of paint, spend some
time in the hardware section of your home improvement store.  This is
where you'll find the pulls and handles to add the finishing touch to
your Tuscan cabinet doors and drawer fronts.  Heavy, burnished metal
or ceramic knobs will both look great in your kitchen.

Now that you have the background set, it's time for the focus pieces.
A Tuscan country kitchen harkens thoughts of family and friends.  A
large table with simple chairs is a sure invitation to your own family
to spend quality time in the kitchen.  Brightly colored seat cushions
make the chairs even more inviting, and a wooden bowl of fruit and
nuts encourages a long visit.

Browse through kitchen supply stores and you'll find a dazzling array
of decanters for oils and spices.  In a Tuscan county kitchen, cooking
ingredients are often stored in plain sight.  Glass jars filled with
dried beans and pasta should line your counters, along with terra
cotta planters and cooking utensil holders. Pewter and copper vessels
are also a good choice you're your Tuscan kitchen.  If you have the
floor space, freestanding metal or wooden racks can be used to hold
commonly used pots and pans, as well as sunflower-print table linens.
Pots of herbs on a windowsill and trailing houseplants on top of the
refrigerator add even more of an Old World feel to your new kitchen look.


Additional information, resources, and updates for this article can be
found at:
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