Painting a Tuscan Kitchen in Authentic Style

It is currently very popular to decorate a kitchen with a Tuscan aesthetic, bringing warm, rich colors, earthy textures and elegantly rustic looks to the forefront. Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, a Tuscan influenced design lends a certain rustic elegance to any room. With visions of vineyards and the rolling Italian countryside, getting your kitchen to look like it belongs in a Tuscan farmhouse can make it a truly warm and inviting space. To get the Tuscan look in your room, you will want to pull elements from country design as well as from rustic design including distressed cabinetry, large open counters and plaster walls. This design style not only makes a warm hearth to share with your family, but it is also practical and functional.

All text copyright Shanel. Photo from Flikr - "Tuscan Kitchen" courtesy of NancyHugoCKD.com.

Tuscan Colors

The color palette found in a Tuscan design are the colors found in the Italian countryside including cream, butter yellow, burnt orange, sage, clay and rust. Painting kitchen walls butter yellow with sage and russet accents offers a country vibe to the room. By using shades of brown and clay, you can create a much more rustic look. By combining different colors from this palette you will find one that suits your taste and blends with the rest of your home, and the resulting design will be warm and inviting. If you are not sure where to look for color inspiration, simply step into a vegetable garden or your local farmer’s market and choose from rich eggplants, tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkin and cream. The possibilities are endless.

All text copyright Shanel. Photo from Flikr - "Tuscan delight" courtesy of NancyHugoCKD.com.

 Texture Techniques

Most Tuscan homes have plaster walls, and while it would be cost prohibitive to pull down drywall and install real plaster walls, it is possible to use paint to get your walls to look like plaster.  To achieve this look, start with any natural color and cover the walls.  While it is much better to have multiple layers of thin paint than a single layer of thick paint, it is also very important to let your paint dry completely in between each coat.  After you base color is applied, get a can of glaze similar to your wall color.  Then roll on, sponge or rag the wall with the glaze.  The glaze will add sheen to the walls and make it look like plaster by adding visual depth.

If you do not like the look of glazing your walls, then there are many other paint techniques that you can use to add old world charm and interest to your walls.  You can use two similar colors and sponge paint your walls.  You may want to simply rag roll your walls to get the random patterns from the rag to add interest to your wall.  You may want to be a little more artistic and try stippling your walls to add visual interest and depth. 

By adding earthy colors to your kitchen walls, you go a long way towards creating a space that is warm and inviting and feels like home.  As you look through books with pictures of the rolling hills of Italy, consider what colors appeal to you, and you will be ready to turn your kitchen into a Tuscan inspired center of your home.   For a finishing touch, buy wall plaques and art wall decor in wrought iron, ceramic and rustic wood with Tuscan or vineyard motifs to bring your walls to life.