Give Your Home A Tuscan Touch

By Tania Penwell

Among the many styles of home décor the Tuscan décor that recreates an old world Italian charm occupies a special place. This is a home décor style that is inspired by nature. Stone, wrought iron, hardwood and marble are made good use of in Tuscan style home décor. If an inviting and tasteful old-world style is what you seek in your home decor then you can consider proceeding with giving a Tuscan touch to your home.

A characteristic of the Tuscan home décor is making sure that nothing looks too new, too modern or too sleek and shiny. In Tuscan home décor the feel of outdoors are incorporated in the styling done indoors. A reflection of your inherent passion for associating with nature and the earth is observable in the Tuscan style of home decorating. The forgotten days of the old come alive and becharm you via the décor style adopted.

Giving Tuscan touch to home setup

Here are some tips for you to help transform your home the Tuscan way-

Furniture and accessory items in Tuscan style home

Wood furniture- armoires or cupboards etc. finished with a varnish allowing the natural wood color to become prominent are the befitting furniture for homes done up in the Old Italian way. Furniture with wrought iron accents also fit in worthily. A long, wooden table that can permit dining of the entire family together is also an appropriate selection.

Presence of plenty of open shelves and cupboards that display ceramics, pottery etc. is typical of homes with Tuscan décor. Patterns reflecting nature and fabrics like tapestries etc. go well with homes touched up the special old-world Italian way. Articles like statues, old clock, stained glass, wall sconces for lighting and wrought iron hangings fit well with the Tuscan home style.

Tuscan home décor accessory items may be usually obtained as Italian style ceramic pieces. However, in case some hand made items can be chanced upon then it is all the more better to make good use of them to create a more genuine, natural feel.

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Tania Penwell provides information on Tuscan decorating and other decor for Savvy Decorating - your guide to home decor and interior design.

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Using a Tuscan Theme in Your Decor

By Adam Peters

Many people confuse the old world looks of Tuscan and Provençal. The Provençal look comes from France, while Tuscan style is designed after the look of the Tuscany region of Italy, and is VERY Italian.

Furniture and accessories in the Tuscan style emulate the architecture of this region of northern Italy which is marked by its earthy colors and rustic style. Because the area of Florence, so well known for its art, classical art work of the Renaissance is also considered a part of this style. This combination of "rustica" and "artistica" gives the Tuscan decorating style its uniqueness and beauty.

The most common material used in the Tuscan Style is wood. Beautiful pieces are crafted from poplar, chestnut, fir and cypress, all of which are the original woods of the area. In addition to wood, you will see leather and iron and other metals used to create Tuscan design. The wrought iron pieces, especially, are similar to Spanish design style. The colors that are commonly used in Tuscan style are ocres, clay, deep reds that are almost maroon, and in contrast, the light blues of the Mediterranean. The colors are a perfect reflection of the mix of county and traditional styles that so typifies Tuscan.

Classic Roman and Italian architecture has a strong influence in Tuscan design. Although the region is known for its Renaissance influence, Tuscan artistry and craftsmanship is known more for an earthy, artisan spirit.

Florence is at the center of Tuscany. Florence is best known for its rich history of art and architecture by some of the most renowned artists such as Michelangelo and Botticelli. Though Tuscan style is more rustic, when it veers off in the direction of elaborate creations with fancy lines, you know it is the Florence influence at work. The basic style is the same, with Tuscan being the poor cousin of the rich Florentine style. The distinctive look of this area is preserved in each branch of the style, but each with its own unique flavor.

The immigration of many Italians to the United States at the turn of the century introduced the United States to this rich decorative style. They may have brought some pieces themselves, but if they didn't, they shopped for pieces that represented home to them. Eventually this style was produced more and more to meet the need. After a hiatus, this style is now becoming very popular once again, as consumers and decorators recognize the old world beauty that is at once both simplistic and rich. Of course, most of what we see today are reproduction pieces, but some original Tuscan art can be found in beautiful pottery and accent pieces that are made in the area by local artisans, perhaps the descendants of Tuscan artists from long ago.

Adam Peters is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com Find more publications about Tuscan decorating accents at his website.

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