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Colors and Wall Treatments for an Authentic Tuscan Style Kitchen
By Alisa Davis
Few decorative styles are as popular for the kitchen as Tuscan, and it’s easy to understand why. This style is based on natural colors choices that reflect the bounty of the Tuscan countryside. It’s all about creating a rustic ambiance that is warm and inviting. Key elements in creating this style for the kitchen include ceramic floors and tiled backsplashes, open brick ovens, tiled wall murals over the cook top and elaborately wrought but distressed cabinetry. Before you move on to these design elements however, it’s important to start with a Tuscan color palette and faux painting techniques that create the illusion of textured stucco walls. The Tuscan Color Wheel
Getting inspired Tuscan-style is as easy as a trip to your local farmer’s market. Linger among the deep greens of zucchini squash and the luscious creamy yellow of its blossom. Explore the deep toned sensuality of eggplant or grape, olive green and tomato red. Nuts, spices and herbs will give you a taste of the rustic tones in the palette – cinnamon, Brazil nut, sage green and peppercorn. Traditional Tuscan colors also center on the tones of the region’s architecture and weather: Think sunny yellow, sienna villas with red clay tile roofs framed with weathered green shutters and wrought iron gates and grilles. Choose your kitchen colors from this inspiration. A simple palette of pale yellow with cream and sage green will infuse the kitchen with the bright optimism of a sunny Tuscan afternoon. Or go dramatic and choose shades like red, eggplant and olive green. Whatever Tuscan palette you choose, you will find it looks authentically rustic with deep colored cabinets such as cherry or mahogany. Add texture with natural stone or wood countertops, terra cotta tiling on the floor and backsplashes, and natural rush seats for the chairs around the table. Don’t forget to use a little bit of black to ground the space: From cabinet pulls to wall wine racks, wrought iron adds a perfect finishing touch. Faux Painting Techniques for Authentic Tuscan Style
While most Tuscan homes have glazed plaster walls, this is impractical for most modern homeowners. However, it is possible to create a very similar look with glazing and faux painting techniques. Apply primer first if you are covering dark walls then apply two color coats of your chosen wall color, allowing each coat to dry completely. Apply a color glaze with a rag or sponge; work small areas at a time and gently ‘roll’ the rag or sponge as you apply the glaze. If you’re new to this technique, you may want to practice first on a scrap of wall board. Using a glaze that is very close to the color of the base coat will give your walls a subtle, textured finish very similar to glazed plaster. You can add more contrast by choosing a glaze that is a shade or two darker or lighter than the base coat. Now you have set the stage for all the other design elements that will bring the beauty and bounty of the Tuscan countryside directly to your very own kitchen.
Photo from Flickr - "Large Island" courtesy of NancyHugoCKD.coms . |
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This intel was contributed by Anna Young
Anna Young
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May, 2012
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