Tuscan Kitchen Design

Colors

The colors of Tuscan design reflect the sunny countryside of Old Italy. Shades of white, yellow, and orange mirror the abundant sunshine. Lavender and soft greens remind the viewer of meadows, filled with wildflowers. Dark woods are reminiscent of the stand of old growth olive trees, oaks, and grape vines. Deep purples and reds evoke the wine that is so much a part of this region.

Textures

Tuscan kitchen design is all about texture and contrast. Rough stucco walls or limed-washed complement sleek patterned ceramic tile borders, back-splashes, and polished stone countertops. Large dark wood beams, either true support beams or decorative beams are popular in Tuscan style kitchens. So, too, are decorative, stenciled borders, commonly using a fruit, grape vine, or wheat motif.

Design Materials

Tuscan style makes use of the natural elements historically found in the Italian countryside. Oak, pine, natural stone all play an important role in creating a Tuscan design kitchen. Among the most commonly-used elements are:

• Wooden Beams – Large oak ceiling beams are a popular design element in Tuscan style. These can be real structural beams or the more manageable decorative beams made of fiber glass, but which appear the same as authentic oak beams.
• Tile – Ceramic and clay tile is another important element in a Tuscan kitchen. Rough, irregular tile; highly-polished glazed tiles, often with painted Italian designs; and terra cotta clay tiles are all commonly used for countertops, back-splashes, and floor coverings.
• Old-World Plaster Treatment – A distinctive design element in Tuscan style is the rough old-world plaster treatment. Modern builders can get this look by using a technique called "French plastering." This is affected by applying a heavy coat of plaster on the wall and moving your trowel in a semi-circular motion across the wall, leaving irregular half-moon shapes.
• Natural Stone – Natural stone – granite and marble – makes a stylish and durable countertop in a Tuscan kitchen. Slate may also be used for decorative accents and even for floor coverings.

Furniture and Appliances

Furniture in a typical Tuscan-style kitchen favors large pine or oak pieces, sometimes with a carved motif of olives, wheat, or animals. Central to any Tuscan kitchen is the table. This is usually a large plank-top affair, similar to those used in Italian farmhouses, where the owner invited the field workers to dine at the main house. Seating can be long benches or single chair wooden chairs, often with caned seats.

Appliances in new Tuscan-style kitchen tend to favor the sleek new stainless steel finished units.

Accessories

Accessories in Tuscan kitchen design help to give the room a cozy, family appeal. Woven baskets, brightly-painted Italian pottery, woven strands of garlic, bowls of lemons and other produce are all commonly-found items.

Lighting is bright and multi-faceted. To achieve the sun-filled ambience, a Tuscan-style kitchen needs many lighting sources, such as under-counter lighting, a central chandelier or other hanging light fixture, spot lights to highlight the different work areas, and even a small lamp on a kitchen desk or counter.