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How to Create an Italian Style Kitchen
By Alisa Davis
Think Italian kitchen and you almost automatically think of a rustic warm Tuscan style kitchen with a terra cotta floors, sturdy wooden and wrought iron furniture, wine racks and hanging strings of garlic and peppers. And while the Tuscan style is popular and indeed beautiful, Italian style can also be brought to your kitchen in a sleek modern motif. Whether you prefer a rustic or a modern Italian style, there are some functional aspects you should consider as you plan how to decorate your kitchen. In most homes, the kitchen is a hub of family activity, so it’s important to consider how you use the space in order to create a practical, comfortable and stylish space. Do you eat in the kitchen? Do the kids visit and do homework there and is your kitchen an organizational center for the family? Answering these questions will help you decide whether to plan for a kitchen table, snack bar, a mini office or organizational space with a desk and memo board to track everyone’s schedule. Now focus on the elements of your decorative scheme. A Rustic Italian Kitchen A rustic Tuscan style kitchen traditionally pulls its color palette from nature and centers on warm colors like crimson, gold, yellow, chocolate brown and sage green. Use a faux painting technique to recreate the look of Venetian plaster: Begin with a base coat in one of these colors then use a rag or sponge to apply a glaze to the walls that will impart the look of aged plaster. Rustic cabinetry is typically made from medium to deep toned distressed woods with visible wood grain. Countertops are often made of granite, stone or marble. A tile backsplash is a beautiful touch, whether you choose a neutral textured tile or bright hand-painted tiles with Tuscan vineyard or agricultural motifs. When choosing accessories, think in terms of classic Tuscan materials like wrought iron, wood and ceramic. Pot and wine racks, pitchers, dishware, wall art and countertop accessories offer many opportunities to add splashes of color and authentic design. A Contemporary Italian Kitchen Although antiquities and Italy go hand in hand, style-conscious Italians are also mad about contemporary style that features bold hues, sleek finishes and streamlined looks in a well-designed kitchen. Materials like stainless steel, laminated finishes or blonde wood cabinetry, and sleek tile as well as concrete, slate and enamel are popular choices. Stainless steel will certainly be featured in commercial grade appliances and perhaps even in a backsplash. Where tile is used, it is often glossy white or neutral tile or glass tile. A restrained color palette like eggshell, pale honey and gray keep the backdrop from becoming cluttered. Then Italian motifs can be used to accessorize and add color: For example, a collection of Italian plates on the wall, antique silver urns and spiral rosemary topiary can soften the hard lines of the linear architecture and add elements of Italian style without going over the top. Photo from Flickr - "An Italian kitchen" courtesy of greatg . |
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This intel was contributed by Anna Young
Anna Young
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May, 2012
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