 | Charlie Traffas has been involved in marketing, media, publishing and insurance for more than 40 years. In addition to being a fully-licensed life, health, property and casualty agent, he is also President and Owner of Chart Marketing, Inc. (CMI). CMI operates and markets several different products and services that help B2B and B2C businesses throughout the country create customers...profitably. You may contact Charlie by phone at (316) 721-9200, by e-mail at ctraffas@chartmarketing.com, or you may visit at www.chartmarketing.com. |
Home Improvement
2009-08-01 12:16:00
Is Tuscany for modern homes?
Question: What is meant by Tuscany Décor? Is it for modern homes?
Answer: I have my own way of explaining Tuscany Décor, but I thought I would use a portion of a recent article from Home Magazine to supplement my answer. It does it so much better than I could.
In Italian, “Benvenuto ala Villa” translates to “Welcome to my home”. It expresses what makes a Tuscan home authentically Tuscan…a celebration of the joy and warmth found in welcoming guests to your home. Tuscan-style homes and furnishings are one of the most sought after interior design elements today. Infused with hearty materials such as hardwoods, terra cotta, stone and brick, Tuscany décor is a throwback in style that matches the look that people seek in their home decorating today…rustic, simple and solid comfort.
Tuscany brings to mind rolling green hillsides, vineyards and farmhouses. That image alone may be responsible for the current decorating craze. It’s a style that might also be called the original European “Shabby Chic”; crumbling stone walls, moss-covered rock patios, and any element that is stained, old and well-used. Tuscan decorating is rustic, warm and inviting, with a few simple, sturdy details. A Tuscan room often looks as though it has been there forever, well-loved and used over many generations. We have Tuscany to thank for some of the most appealing words in our decorating vocabulary: loggia, portico, patios, villas and outdoor kitchens. These terms evoke thoughts of relaxing summer days spent outdoors amid warm splashes of sun and lush greenery. No wonder so many of us are in love with this style.
True Tuscan rooms are low-ceilinged, dark and small. Modern homes can easily be modified to achieve a Tuscany feel. Instead of dark rooms with low ceilings, the effect can be produced with the use of a variety of color washing and faux wall techniques appropriate to Tuscan interiors. Look for mottled, uneven colors and old-world, time-worn finishes in warm golden tones springing from a range of earthy ochres, deep golds, sunny yellows, rich browns, and warm terra cottas, accented with deep blues, black, rusty reds, and olive greens. Tuscan themes include agricultural products such as olives, grapes and flowers. Flooring in a Tuscan room might be brick, clay tile or uneven stone. Architectural features include arched niches, rustic ceiling beams, and simple moldings to underscore a Tuscany theme. Chicken wire cupboard door fronts are another Tuscan element than can easily be incorporated into kitchen cupboards or an armoire. Use copper pots, tin accents, marble and stone in a Tuscan kitchen. Decorate with sturdy pine storage pieces, a big farmhouse table or island, and bunches of hanging herbs. The earth tones you can bring into your home, inspired by a Tuscan landscape, provides a tranquil yet grounding atmosphere.
