Color
One of the basic things to be kept in mind while creating a Tuscan look for your kitchen is the color that you will use to paint it. Tuscan landscape conjures the images of rich gold, earth tones and sea tones in the mind of an individual. Using such colors, in combination with majolica pottery items, can do wonders for your kitchen.
Old Look
The walls in a Tuscan kitchen have a worn-down look. However, for creating that look, you don’t need to wait for years. You can make use of faux painting technique. First paint the walls with a base color, preferably a bright one like butterscotch or butter yellow. Thereafter, paint the walls with a deeper color, with the help of a sponge. The ultimate effect should be that of a wall with fading colors.
Use Natural Materials
Try to use as much natural materials, like stone, slate, granite and terra cotta, for the kitchen floor and countertops, as possible. Use of marble, tiles, etc is a strict no-no. The more natural a material, the more realistic Tuscan look you will be able to bring to your kitchen.
Cabinet Doors
While giving the Tuscan look to your kitchen, the doors of the cabinet/cupboard should always be painted with strong, contrasting colors. Deep reds and bright forest greens can be your best bet. To complete the look, replace the cabinet knobs
with heavy, burnished metal or ceramic ones. If possible, attach worn down pulls and handles to the cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
Keep it Simple
The best part of a Tuscan décor is that it is uncomplicated and totally practical. Infact, the whole idea is to celebrate the simple, but important things in life, like food, friends, and family. Things like artificial lighting & elaborate ornamentation do not form a part of such a decorating style.
Lighting
If the whole look of a Tuscan kitchen is old, even the lighting should be of the same nature. Stay away from modern chandeliers
and other contemporary lighting techniques. Rather, go for antique-looking wrought iron lights. It is better to stick with muted metals. Shiny materials should not even be thought about.
Accessories
Exercise due care while selecting accessories for a Tuscan kitchen! If you want, you can hunt the antique shops for those perfect old looking, worn down accessories. For the less adventurous ones, old pottery bowls and pitchers, painted wooden bowls, etc will work the best. Decorative jars of oils, with peppers and ropes of garlic or peppers and grape vines, are just excellent. Add lots of greenery, in the form of potted plants.
