Italian Design: A Tradition of Excellence

Italian design is a brand in itself. Through its long tradition of knowing, recognizing and creating beauty, Italy has become one of the countries best known for its designing capabilities. Designing in Italy has come to stand for quality, durability, simplicity, functionality and a whole host of other attributes.The rest of the world can only aspire towards them, and follow Italy's example.

Design by Fabio Novembre, Italy

Italy can boast of some of the best minds of all time when it comes to designing. Leonardo da Vinci was not only a genius at art, some of his designs for various devices are being studied by scientists even today.

Italian designers uphold the tradition of ingenuity and innovation passed on to them down the generations: be it a home, a piece of furniture, a textile, a garment, or a car, Italians continue to create and compete with some of the best in the field.

When entering the field of design, the biggest advantage an Italian design company has over others is the access it has to craftsmanship and skills. When combined with modern technology, these tricks of the trade, or trucchi del mestiere, can produce marvels.

Designs by Achille Castiglioni, Italy

Modern Italians are also attracted to simplicity and minimalism. Through their inherent eye for the purity of line, they can find beauty in balance, or lack thereof. This minimalism also befriends them to the world, because the uncluttered, fresh image created by Italian design is the very essence of modernity.

But this does not mean that Italian design eschews tradition. Rather, modern Italian designers embrace the old look. But they add to it a whimsical touch of the contemporary, creating absolute magic in the process. Italian design would forever be grateful for the legacy of those like Achille Castiglioni and Carlo Mollino.

And they do not stop there. Not only does Italian design look good, it feels great, works well, and lasts long. In this section, we will present articles on how Italy has contributed to the world of design in the past, and its potential for future development.

Introduction by: Damyanti Ghosh September 2009

Modern Contemporary Design and Architecture

Wonderful Vistas of Italian Light Fixtures

Before discussing lamps and other lighting devices that in Italy represent a vast area of artistic production, it may be of some interest to the reader to be informed that the attention to detail in home decorating in Italy extends to the plates of light switches. While most homes tend to use the modern white plastic plates, or else brass plates, there are also other materials, particularly wood, that are used for more selective decorating.

Lighting Fixtures The company Vimar (www.vimar.it/casa) produces plates in a wide range of natural woods, including oak, cherry, light mahogany that can provide a distinctive touch. Turning now to lamps and other lighting fixtures, Italian design makes use of a wide range of materials. Aside from metal and plastic, considerable use is made of glass and even of ceramic and terracotta that are often used for wall lighting fixtures. Glass is the hall mark of the production from the Island of Murano near Venice. Here, blown glass is used for a wide range of ceiling lamps and wall fixtures, nestled in wrought iron supports. The design is generally based on traditional patterns, but contemporary design is also available.

Modern Contemporary Design and Architecture

Murano glass ceiling lamps, chandeliers and other lighting solutions are offered by the well-known company La Murrina (www.lamurrina.com). The company continues to offer chandeliers made by hand, using the traditional glass blowing techniques, and employing glass and gold powder to produce valuable pieces that are unique works of art. Contemporary Italian design is available in the catalogues of many producers that seek to provide items that give an accent of color to a decoration scheme. For example, the glassworks company Vistosi (www.vistosi.it) has created a line of ceiling lamps in turquoise glass called the "acquamarines" that gives a bright and attractive touch to classical or modern furnishings.

Lighting Italian Lamps

Contemporary styles for wall Italian light fixtures and desk lamps are offered by Marchetti (www.marchettilluminazione.com) For example, the line called Mahonia that looks very much inspired by Paul Klee is promoted as being personalized to the needs of the individual.

Italian light fixtures enhance the decor of the Italian home, creating an atmosphere of relaxed elegance. They are testimony to Italian interior decorators' passion for detail, and a relentless search for perfection.

Modern Contemporary Design and Architecture

Welcome to the World of Modern Design and Architecture

Elements of a Roman-Style Pleasure Garden

Essentials to a Roman Style Garden

There is a considerable body of evidence surrounding the gardens of ancient Rome that details the various elements that comprised their pleasure and villa style gardens. Many classical features are found in today's gardens and landscapes paying homage to those ancient stylized Roman gardens. The following article discusses ways you can transform your garden or landscape into an ancient Roman pleasure garden filled with elements reminiscent of that glorious past.

roman garden fountain

While inhabitants of the city of Rome frequently employed courtyard ( as above) and kitchen gardens, it was the inhabitants of the Roman countryside who perfected the pleasure garden that ancient Roman villas are noted for. These gardens were so beautiful that even the ancient Barbarians who conquered Rome kept them up and learned from their design. Today, gardeners opt for many various themes when designing their own garden or landscape; a roman style garden, because it is classical, will never go out of style and many elements that are reminiscent (mainly reproductions) of the era can easily be found online or at local garden centers.

The overlying ideal of the pleasure garden was for relaxation and rejuvenation. Entertainment was also at the core of the design. The owners of these elaborate villas usually entertained guests and the garden was the ideal place to entertain them. Certainly, the orchards and vineyards were productive and useful to provide the banquets with an abundance of fruits, vegetables and wine. Nevertheless, the idea of the pleasure garden was to showcase the landscape with many beautiful features and breathtaking views.

Most Roman villas featured a transition element between the house and the garden. The Romans incorporated marble into their patio type structures. One can well imagine pergola style overhangs decorated with vines and hanging flowers. Marble was the construction material of choice. Of course, the price of marble is very rich today, so many landscape designers might even consider a painted patio with a marble effect; however, simple large clay tiles like terra cotta work perfectly. Roman style patios would have featured wall art—large frescos depicting scenes from Roman agricultural life. (Visit our section on frescos here: Italian Fresco)

There most likely would have been a dining area—low tables with low couches. Garden furniture is widely available today so purchasers have a good selection. However, to find something in a truly authentic Roman style might warrant a custom job when it comes to furniture. Nevertheless, always opt for lavishly comfortable styles when selecting furniture for your own pleasure garden. Other patio features would include stone planters, a water feature like a chalice well, basin or wall fountain.

While there is not a wealth of information surrounding the ancient Roman pleasure gardens, there is enough information to suggest that the patio opened up to a grand landscape that was designed in all directions. A walk would be the main element of the grounds for seeing each garden delight. Generally, the property would feature a terraced section, an orchard or vineyard (probably both), a kitchen garden for herbs and vegetables (this might not be a part of the grand garden tour however) and various sections that might contain prized plants like roses. The center of the garden would also feature a special element like a fountain. Other important features might include shrines and grottoes.

Water was prized in all styles of Roman gardens—the ancient Romans who were the aqueduct builders of the old world. A Roman pleasure garden would boast several water features on the property. In fact, each view might contain its own water feature. From the central fountain to a stream running down the terrace, to a garden pond to an elaborate pool that was an important social element of the Roman world. When considering water features for your landscape, work with the land, but also with a view for the types of entertaining you will do.

As for the types of plants, you will certainly want to adapt plant life to your climate but some typical Roman choices would include roses, cypress, rosemary, mulberry and fig trees, dwarf variety trees, tall trees, marigolds, hyacinths, narcissi, violets, saffron, cassia, thyme, and many more. Your pleasure garden should be well-kept and each section should feature its own scheme of plantings. Flowerbeds, groves and water-loving plants should all be included.

Finally, your ornamentation will go a long way to capturing that ancient Roman feel. Your garden walk might contain hidden arbors with stone benches, various classical figures carved in stone, and perhaps even ruins like a column base implanted somewhere in the landscape. Finally, birds were welcome attractions for the guests of these ancient villas, so consider features that might attract various kinds of wildlife such as birds and other desired animals. ( Above the remains of the 2000 year old Villa Adriana at Night - ANSA)

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An Italian Garden Design

The thought of designing Italian style patios maybe daunting for most people, however if a few guidelines are followed we can easily suggest a strong Italian theme in our gardens. We should aim to create a shaded patio area near the house, where we can sit and dine 'al fresco' on summers evenings, or enjoy a coffee and fresh brioche in the mornings, with easy access to the house and all its amenities.

Italian Garden

Shade is most easily achieved using a simple pergola, made from wood or wrought iron above, with a strong structure (either ornate wrought iron or even simple, taught wires) at the sides, which can then have vines, roses and classic, scented plants like Rhynchospermum jasminoides grown over it.

An Italian Garden Design

_{Above: Rhynchospermum jasminoides}

In just one year both the roof and sides of the structure will have a healthy covering- if the plants are maintained well. The best vine to use is a strawberry vine (Uva fragola 'Nera') as it is disease-resistant and releases an amazing, strawberry aroma in the summer.

Above: The strawberry vine sprawling across my pergola in my garden in Tuscany

The styling of the floor will say a lot so use a broken (crazy paving effect) in travertino, which is less expensive than marble, for an, inexpensive elegant Italian feel, or rustic, re-claimed bricks for that Tuscan, country-garden feel, or (as I prefer) river-washed gravel in beige tones.

Italian-style furnishing and relaxed, yet colorful Italian features, like rusted iron chandeliers and candle holders will instantly suggest an Italian ambience and colorful bowls of fruit add a homely, Mediterranean touch.

In the shaded areas plants like Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) will add a touch of elegance if placed symmetrically either side of doors or other entrances. White Hydrangeas such as H. macrophylla 'Annabelle', in large vases can make up the body of the planting and elegant evergreens like Osmanthus fragrans and Gardenia jasminoides will fill the area with scent on summers evenings and will address a very important and often overlooked feature of the garden...perfume!

_{Above: Gardenia jasminoides Above: Osmanthus fragrans}

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If you are lucky enough to have a sunny area then why not try a small lemon tree, as they do not require particular attention, however they will need full sun and a garage to spend the winter in.

The planting around the structure should aim to shield the area from winds and add a sense of visual security. Tough, evergreen Mediterranean plants like Oleander (Nerium oleander), Viburnum tinus and Pittosporum tobira can be used as simple yet sturdy structure plants. A trimmed cypress tree (Cupressus sempervirens) will instantly add an Italian feel and, although over-used, this plant is still a must for suggesting an Italian feel. Cypress trees can be maintained at the height you wish, with careful annual pruning and (if pruned) can even be grown right against the house, without causing serious root damage.

With the minimum of illumination on the structure plants (Buxus, Cupressus etc...) we can create a very chic environment for dining al fresco that will suggest and portray the very best of Italian style.

Italian Design

garden at night

HAPPY GARDENING...!

By Jonathan Radford

A Work of Art in the Italian Garden

As you are probably aware, the garden is becoming an ever-increasing interest among the young and old alike. Many of us are now investing nearly as much time and money in our gardens as we are in our houses, making it a booming industry.

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Landscaping, water features and lighting go a long way to add more interest and enhance the garden, but what about all those finishing touches that you would certainly add to your house. There are so many ideas to choose from such as, sculptures, statues, stonewalls, birdbaths, sundials, benches and even pots and hanging baskets. Any one of these ideas or a combination of them can add that extra personal touch.

Garden of roses - Giardino delle rose

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The best advise for deciding how to decorate your own space, is to look at your garden as you would your house; ensure that what you choose will fit in with the style and design of the rest of the garden. Think carefully about architectural style and time period, or theme. Use the whole experience as a way to express yourself. At one time garden gnomes, fairies and toadstools used to feature quite heavily in gardens. These are definitely not 'in' at the moment, in fact, you are more likely to see a statue of a Buddha nowadays!

Although many stone statues and sculptures can be very expensive, you needn't feel that everything has to cost a lot of money. You can buy inexpensive small garden ornaments or even make your own garden features and ornaments by using recycled products - which are quite a trend at the moment! Don't throw away those broken pieces of stone, pebbles and shells collected from the beach, old broken wheelbarrows and bicycles, cracked or drab-looking pots, or even an old garden brush. These can all be turned into attractive garden features.

Why not use the art of Topiary, which has been popular since the days of ancient Rome and is the art of clipping trees and bushes into geometric or whimsical shapes. These can look really effective and are an excellent way of adding evergreen structures to your garden. All plants and bushes can be cut and shaped, but, be warned, as many can also be killed in this way. It is probably best to seek some expert advise before getting those clippers out to any of your prized greenery.

Italian garden

Think about the use of color. The more color you use in your garden, the better. Don't just stick to browns and greens; think about bold and bright colours too. You could paint a wall or a fence - and if you are artistic, or a friend is - paint a picture on it or hang some garden pictures up. Paint up some old pots, or an old wheelbarrow and plant flowers in them. Hang up some baskets. There are so many ideas to choose from.

Flowerbeds can be enhanced by the addition of painted pebbles and shells. Small paths can be constructed from pieces of broken stone or ceramics, which can enhance borders and highlight certain areas - it is surprising how many old garden and household items can be turned into artistic designs for outdoor use.

Try to look at the colours and textures of leaves and flowers and at what time of year they are at their best. Try to integrate a combination of coloured leaves and flowers in each area of the garden, so that you always have a good splash of color to add interest and enhance your garden features.

Use fragrances. They too can liven up your garden, by livening up your senses and attracting butterflies, bees and birds. Once you have attracted wildlife, you can try the addition of nesting boxes, bird feeders and birdbaths to help them feel at home in your garden. Once birds begin to use a nest box they often return year after year.

The best thing about garden art is expression and by experimenting you can find out what looks best and what doesn't. Whatever you choose, you can be sure that your garden will be individual and reflect your own personality. One important thing to remember is that a garden, like a house, is never finished and it will require constant updating and maintenance of some kind if it is to remain the perfect work of art!

Jane Grimshaw

Italian Sofas

Italian Sofa Furniture

The imported furniture dealers today offer a wide range of contemporary as well as modern Italian furniture to offer a wide range of options to the demanding customers from the Home décor segment. Italian furniture has carved out a niche for itself in the interior design and home furnishings market and offers different furniture styles and options to choose from.

The modern Italian furniture has several offerings which include the Italian contemporary furniture, traditional Italian and modern Italian furniture. The appeal which the Italian leather furniture holds is unique and the wide assortment of Italian leather sofas is a connoisseur’s delight. Furniture lovers world over have a special liking for the Italian furniture styles.

leather italian furniture sofa

Living Rooms

Your living room is the place where most of your visitors would set eyes on and the furnishing there will stand a statement of your tastes and standards. Modern Italian sofas as well as the Classic Italian sofas with their opulent upholstery will essentially blend with your taste and standard. An exhaustive study of a variety of offerings can be done through the internet before you take your buying decision.

modern sofa italy furniture

To aid you in the process you could look at Modern Sectional sofa set Pierce Trilo, Cotemporary Italian sofa City Duo, or Modern Italian Leather Sofa – City Fendi.

Love Seats

Love seats in simple terms are sofas generally with 2 seats. Love Seats are also marketed in ready to assemble format and the package is small enough to make them handy. Chenille cord is used by certain manufacturers to blend color tones in a bid to attract customers. The fabric on the furniture is provided by the manufacturer and is removable. This affords an opportunity to customers to remove the covers for purposes of cleaning or changing over to new ones. The fabrics can be washed with soap and water too.

Sofa Interior Design Furniture

Some love seats are rendered with built-in storage compartments inside the moored loveseats. This helps customers to have secret compartments to expand storage space. For you to further appreciate the makeup of love seats, you could look at the Keelan sofa, Silhouette Pear Green Sofa or the Durham Chocolate Sofa.

Add Class with Leather Furniture

Leather furniture is the answer if you are attempting to bring class and style into your home. You can choose from a number of companies as well as different types of leather. The Italian leather furniture is a class apart and can bring those imposing styles right into your living rooms. Italian furniture manufacturers have carved out a niche for themselves and the most discerning customer will always be looking for the finest Italian produce. Sofas in delightful colors and magnificent leather can now be the highlight of your living room and you no longer need to settle for that mediocre sofa that can disappear into the room. There is a mind boggling array of designs to select from.

sofa leather furniture italian

With more and more customers opting for these wonderful leather masterpieces, the affordability is steadily improving and is now within the reach of many. The quality on the other hand has remained to be supreme and has not suffered from the drop in prices. Yet, given the fine workmanship and the expensive material that goes into the making of your leather sofas, it cannot be cheap by any yardstick. More importantly, you will have to ensure that you are getting authentic Italian furniture made in Italy, because that is what you are paying for. After all, the Italians have centuries old reputation when it comes to furniture design and manufacture.

Your leather sofas are your princely possession and deserve the care and upkeep it deserves. Given its due, it can last you for long years without any bothers. These sofas are for the comfort of your family and your guests – but do take care to keep your pets off from the sofas. Your pets have no intention to cause loss or damage to your expensive belongings, but that is the way they are.

Offices Too

These fine leather artifacts can certainly enliven your living rooms and act as a style statement. They can fetch you the same or even more satisfying results when they are placed in your office. Furniture like this can be an apt expression of class and wealth in an office. Those who enter your office will recognize the prosperity and lend your office a true working atmosphere.

Sofa Interior Design Furniture

italy furniture sofa design

Home or office, image can mean a lot and replacing ragged sofas with the fine Italian leather sofas can do wonders to your home as well as your office. It will present wealth in a new manner and enliven the surroundings, giving it character. Because of the opulent style that the Italian furniture always carries, you can put virtually anything around the sofa to create a beautifully crafted room. Artificial greens, flower vases with fresh flowers (replaced at frequent intervals) can add pomp and gaiety to the environs. The timeless appeal and sophistication that Italian leather furniture offers is perhaps unparalleled. They exude sophistication, clean elegant lines and deploy cutting edge manufacturing to impart perfect finish. Contemporary Italian furniture, design, and particularly, the modern Italian furniture have provided inspiration to the entire world with its impeccable style.

Some Leather Facts

The popularity of fine Italian leather sofas are always on the upswing and are sought after by several home owners around the globe. The sophistication that the Italian leather affords finds favor with customers of all ages. It is relatively easy to clean leather and unlike in the case of fabrics, stains can be cleaned up with relative ease by simply wiping off the stains. Protected leather repels stains of every description including the ones caused by spaghetti or red wine. Stains from ketchup, mustard, salsa, fruit juices, soft drinks, pizza, jelly or peanut butter, all stand on the same footing.

Sofa Interior Design Furniture

There is also a general conviction that leather sofa is cold. The truth however, is that it is not. Leather warms your body temperature in seconds and is like skin on skin and that is why it feels so good. Fine leather lasts a minimum of 15 years, which is much longer than fabric. This is why people, who want their furniture to last long, often choose leather furniture.

The Italian Garden Decor

Italian Garden Furnishings

Garden and terrace furnishings for relaxed living Style and design in Italy now looks beyond the walls of the home alone. Increasingly, terraces and gardens are being turned into attractive and comfortable living areas, substituting the living or dining room during the spring to autumn period, and representing a place for the family to meet or to entertain guests.

Numerous producers of garden and terrace furniture offer standard and custom made pieces to fit all needs. For example, the company Le Terrazze (www.pircher-spa.com) which has as its motto "Style in the decoration of the outdoors" has created unique and functional outdoors furniture suitable for creating unique garden, terrace and patio atmospheres. The company Tartaruga (www.tartarugha.it) also aims at decorating outdoor spaces. The articles range from furniture to flower boxes, and are made of treated pine wood so that they do not deteriorate over time.

Italian design has always been synonymous with superb quality and unprecedented style but that attention to fine detail, the finest materials and the very latest Mediterranean styles does not stop merely with the interior of the house. Italian garden and terrace furnishing designers are now accommodating for the Italians passion for eating "al fresco" like never before!

Italian design now accommodates for more than just the fresh and chic med. interior, as it has now turned its attentions to many interesting solutions for providing style and glamour in the garden- extending the constraints of interior style far into the garden setting.

Italian design now provides harmonious solutions for eating al fresco in the outdoor room from the bright days of spring through to the romance of late autumn. There are now high quality Italian manufacturers specializing in innovative and original design ideas for entertaining family or business guests that reflect the style of the Italian interior perfectly.

Companies such as "Le Terrazze" www.pircher-spa.com has released its latest "Style" range, providing an exciting and unique selection of outdoor decoration for garden, terrace and patio areas with a strong Italian flavor.

Or Tartaruga www.tartaruga.it who also aim at decorating outdoor spaces using the very finest of Italian style. Tartaruga’s products range from stylish outdoor furniture to original flowerboxes carved from the very finest treated pine wood, designed both to turn heads and last the test of time.

Modern Contemporary Design and Architecture

Welcome to the World of Modern Design and Architecture

Updating Monochromatic Decor but Keeping the Effect

Monochromatic Color Schemes

Color, and lots of it, is in, and the popularity of monochromatic color schemes is fading fast. However, if you love the understated elegance and soothing feel of your monochromatic decor there are some things you can do to update it without losing the overall effect.

First, keep in mind that monochromatic does not mean that every item has to be exactly the same color. You can add several different shades of a particular color and create a tasteful tone on tone look. Your room will retain the same calming essence, but it will gain some visual interest.

If you decided on a monochromatic color scheme in order to make a small room seem larger, don't worry. A tone on tone scheme will still help you achieve the same feel, and adding more lighting will also help your space appear larger.

Another way to add interest and give your room some depth is to add patterns and textures. Fabrics, in different tones as well as different prints are more eye-catching and help move the eye around the room. The key to mixing patterns is to use similar shades of color, and similar sized patterns. Texture breaks up the monotony and gives the space some character. A wicker chair, a mosaic accent table, a hand carved wooden box, a couple of leather pillows, or a thick, luxurious rug will quickly change the feel of the space.

To really move things forward, add an occasional punch of color. Some bright pillows and a new throw, or artwork with a splash of vivid color will add instant warmth.

The key to keeping the tasteful, understated feel of a monochromatic room while updating with color, is to make sure the new colors are also in the same family as each other. For example, if you have white walls and cream-colored furniture, and you choose to add rich red pillows, make sure any other new accents are in the same range of red.

Keep it simple. You don't have to go crazy with color, and you don't have to change everything all at once; you can add a bit of color here and there until you get used to the idea. Before long you may find out that you like the pop of a bright color against the more muted elements of the room. You wouldn't be the first one to surprise your family and friends by switching from your usual creamy whites and beiges to deep, wonderful colors.

Play around with different colors, patterns, and textures until you find what works for you. Remember, it isn't anything permanent, so you can change it if you aren't comfortable with it. The idea is to try something new. That doesn't mean you have to get rid of everything you love, because it isn't "hot" at the moment.

Remember, you are adding another dimension to your decor, rather than taking something away from it.

Use Color Theory To Enlarge Your Living Space

Color Theory and its Benefits in Interior Design

Sir Isaac Newton developed the first circular diagram of colors in 1666. Since then, scientists and artists have studied modern color theory, amassing a vast collection of rules and formulas. So, what do those rules and formulas have to do with making a small room seem larger? It's all about optical illusion; one of color theory's clever mysteries. With a few basic principals, you can improve that small space that always seems too packed, even when it's tidy and in order. Color enthusiasts have known for ages that colors create optical illusions, but it wasn't until modern times that these effects were mapped out and documented in a scientific manner. Here is an example: if you place two squares - identical, except for the fact that one square is black and the other is white - side by side, the black square will appear to be smaller than the white square.

Left: An example of color theory - White ceiling in a beige room

Now, take this concept of the squares into a living space. If a lighter color makes something seem larger than it is, a room can be "opened up" by painting the walls white, or beige. This works the same way with other colors of a light tint; a room with powder blue walls will seem larger than a room with navy blue walls.

A single color will create an optical illusion on it's own, but the human eye barely notices this until it can compare that color with another. Use two colors together to enhance the illusion that you want to create. A low ceiling - or any ceiling, for that matter - will seem to open up if you paint it a color lighter than the walls. The ceiling can be painted a lighter version of the same color that you used for the walls (this will create color harmony), or you can use any contrasting combination that you like, as long as the walls are darkest in comparison.

So what about furniture, and how will it's color effect the perceived size of your space? A color theory mantra is that warm colors advance, and cool colors recede. Warm colors, like red, brown, and orange will decrease the size of a room. So, if you have sofa set and an area rug that are dark red, they will make the room seem smaller. Compare that to the opposite of this decor; a light green sofa set and area rug. The green items will open that room up.

Another optical trick is to work with the effect that a color has on the moods of it's viewers. If that cramped room makes you feel a bit uneasy, add white, grey, blue, or green to it. These colors have a calming influence.

color spectrum

So you see, optical illusion in color theory is a about how colors effect other colors; how they effect our visual perceptions. Arm yourself with this clever knowledge to expand your small bathroom, kitchen, or living room. Take these ideas into any room that seems confined, and you will see improvement.

- Miette Solaar

Tuscan decorating on a Dime

Italian Country Decorating for Your Home

Are you looking to bring a bit of Italian Tuscan countryside into your home but don't think you have the budget for it? With the central themes of Tuscan decor being food and nature this is one of the most popular and easiest styles to replicate and with a little creativity it can be one of the cheapest too.

Tuscan Finish on Walls

Italian country decor takes food, wine and nature and turns it into art. One of the easiest rooms to incorporate this theme into is the kitchen. With the use of deep, earthy colors like terra cotta, browns, deep reds, oranges, yellows and greens you will soon feel the touch of the Tuscan countryside. Add natural textures like stone, tile, aged wood, exposed wood beams, iron and copper, throw in some grapes, olives, and wine bottles and you'll feel like you're in Tuscany.

Tuscan decor is full of texture, especially on the walls. If you want to give your walls a textured look, Venetian plaster is a good choice, though it can get expensive if you have a large room. It can also be very time consuming. The easiest way to add some texture is by using a texture additive with regular latex paint.

You can buy the additive in different degrees of texture from light to heavy and you can also control how much texture you have through the mixing. The more of the additive you use, the heavier the texture will be. It's easy to mix; it usually in a bag and it is almost like sand. You just pour it into your paint. I would suggest using a separate bucket to mix it and not just pouring it into the can of paint that way if you accidentally pour in too much your whole can of paint is not ruined.

Typical Tuscan Look For Your Home

Start out with just a little and test it on a scrap piece of wood or cardboard. Keep adding a little more until you get your desired effect. Then paint your walls. After painting you can add a few faux wooden beams by taking pieces of wood at the desired length and width and framing it in to make a hollow beam.

You can distress it by hitting it with a chain or hammer, burning it a little with a torch and scraping it up. Then add your stain and finish it. You'll have wooden beams at half the price, even cheaper if you find scrap wood that can be used for this project. I think the best place to add the wooden beams is the ceiling.

If you want to change your flooring stone tiles or hardwood floors are the natural choice for Tuscan decor, but quite pricey. You can fake it. You can get laminate flooring that looks like hardwood for probably half the price and it's a lot easier to install. Another choice is vinyl tile flooring that looks like stone. If you choose to redo your floors this will probably be the most expensive part of your budget.

You don't have to spend a fortune on stone flooring or add exposed wooden beams to your room. A few well chosen pieces of furniture and some accessories can give you the Tuscan feel and look you're going for. You can find old pieces of furniture with an aged and distressed look at flea markets, garage sales, even on the side of the road in someone's garbage. You can also take a piece of furniture and give it a distressed look yourself.

There are several ways you can do this. Using a crackle coat finish is one of the easiest. Some pieces of furniture to look for are old style kitchen cabinets, sideboards, and buffets. Also look for a big farmhouse type dining room table, large, simple and sturdy. You don't need to try and find 4 or 6 chairs that are the same. Mix them up, use chairs that are different sizes and heights to add more texture and old world feel. Look for old stools and any other pieces that you think would compliment the others and look great in the room.

Tuscan Style Home Accessories

Now you are ready to add some accessories and well chosen accents. Think nature and food. Tuscan decor thrives on food and nature. Terra cotta pots filled with fresh herbs, wicker baskets full of fruit and vegetables, displays of glass bottles filled with vegetables, fruits, and herbs steeped in vinegar or oil, copper pots on display filled with dried pasta or garlic cloves. Baskets, terra cotta pots, and bottles can all be found very cheaply.

Chances are you might already have some of these items sitting around and just didn't know what to do with them or how to display them. The copper pots might be harder to find, but keep your eyes open at flea markets. You can turn to nature to find many free items for your decor. Tree branches make wonderful and stylish curtain rods, little twigs can be arranged in a vase with flowers, and rocks can be used as paperweights or put in a bowl to make a nice display.

Other things you can add are grapes and grape leaves, grape vine wreaths, anything that incorporates grapes, wine, wine bottles, or wine glasses. You can find a small iron wine rack and fill it with wine bottles (they don't have to be full; it can be just for show). You can also add iron work accents to your walls. These can also be found at flea markets, thrift stores, and salvage yards. A decorative piece of old iron can be hung on the wall and laced with some grape leaves and grapes to give you a wonderful showpiece.

Use your creativity and soon with the right colors, accessories and accents you will feel like you're in a villa on the Italian countryside.

Modern Contemporary Design and Architecture

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