When considering a kitchen remodel, why not capture the essence of Tuscany? This style, inspired by the verdant landscapes and rich history of central Italy, weaves a thread of timeless charm through your home in Bucks County, PA. While trends come and go, the Tuscan kitchen remains an all-time favorite, with its warm hues, natural materials, and inviting atmosphere. It's the perfect recipe for a kitchen that feels both luxurious and lived-in, a place where every meal feels like a feast in the Italian countryside.
What does Tuscan style look like?
The elements that make up a traditional Tuscan kitchen follow a common thread that is easily understood after a brief review of traditional Italian culture. The core values, strong family bonds, and homeland esteem of the Italian people consequently influenced a centuries-long standing design style that is appreciated the world over. Here are the ways you can implement Tuscan style in your own kitchen.
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The function: Where family comes first
The family unit, and especially including the extended family, is highly important in Italian culture. And, that is displayed in the impressive size of their kitchens. It’s a common Italian tradition that extended families typically get together as a large group every Sunday for a multi-course feast of authentic fare. And so, it’s not an uncommon feature that the stoves and ranges are also generally much larger than those in other cultures.
A hearth structure over the stove immediately evoke flavors of Tuscan charm, and add a tile mosaic behind the range tops it off with a maraschino cherry. This ideal Tuscan style-combo illustrates the Italian notions of the enjoyment of food, togetherness of family, and admiration of beauty.
As already mentioned, Tuscan kitchens tend to be on the larger side. This makes for plenty of room to entertain, and of course—chef-title-worthy Italian grandmas like to have plentiful cabinetry for all their food and cooking supplies. So, if you’re going to the Tuscan look, there’s no need to hold back on adding those additional cabinets you’ve been considering! Then again, if you have a smaller kitchen, you can still enjoy Tuscan flair by way of styling, decor, and colors.
The styling: Aesthetic-driven choices
Italian culture has a strong appreciation for aesthetics, as well as a zest for life. This is evident in the ornateness of Tuscan style. Decorative woodwork like corbels, columns, or molding embody this theme and are found throughout Tuscan architecture. Any detailed or raised paneling also fits this style, and especially when glaze is applied, so as to emphasize the subtleties of the workmanship.
Tile is another important element of Tuscan design. This is a great way to incorporate natural stone and bring in the appropriate Tuscan colors (we’ll discuss those colors later.) Choose marble, tumbled stone, and/or terracotta for the floor, backsplash, and anywhere a mosaic will work.
Go for rounded archways for entrances, and for the walls, wainscoting and millwork are obvious choices—based on the aforementioned Tuscan fondness for woodwork. But, to add even more textural interest, stucco or lime-wash walls instill a rustic Tuscan sentiment.
The decor: Appreciation for the past
In addition to admiring beauty, Italian culture favors history and remembrance of the past. It’s an understandable pride, considering the impressive historical canon known as the Roman Empire, which is of their direct heritage and lineage.
That isn’t to say that Tuscan decor is Roman, per se, but many of the repeated decorative themes are suggestive of the past. They include, but are not limited to, the following items and themes, which speak to the historical activities and artisans of the region that are carried through to current day:
- Woven baskets and containers
- Clay and ceramic pottery
- Roosters (artwork, pillows, towels, etc.)
- Grapes and fruit
- Wine and Chianti bottles
- Iron, bronze, or copper fixtures and sconces
The colors: Feeling the nature’s pulse
It’s interesting that the colors found in Tuscan design are the same colors found within the landscape of Tuscany, Italy. Warm, earthy reds, browns, yellows and oranges dominate, representing the clay-like soil and the rose-golden sunsets. Terracotta tiles and pottery are excellent ways to bring in those ruddy-tones, known to be found under the Tuscan sun. Additionally, grassy greens, sky-toned blues, natural lavenders, and varieties of white make up the rest of the Tuscan landscape, and the robust color palette.
Who offers the best kitchen remodel in Bucks County, PA?
Use these ideas to get the look that homeowners have sought out for centuries. You can warm up the heart of your home with elements of Tuscan culture, create a space that encourages family togetherness, and simultaneously design a kitchen that will never go out of style. For more info or help, feel free to get in touch with us or give us a call at (866) 525-0012.
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