Tuscan kitchens—inspired by the traditional style and decor of Italy's Tuscany region—emphasize natural materials, playful use of color, and creative pattern application. These kitchens convey a sense of rustic elegance and country ease (with a sun-soaked Italian-esque spin). Whether you want a Tuscan kitchen straight out of Italy or want to incorporate some Tuscan-inspired features into your cook space, these ideas will help you create the just-right kitchen.
Inviting exterior elements into a home is a daring design choice, but oh, the rewards it can reap! Outdoor materials, such as weathered wood posts, antique brick pavers, and rough-hewn stone, add unparalleled charm to any kitchen. A bonus? Materials meant for the outdoors withstand day-to-day use with grace and remain handsome for years to come.
Tuscan kitchens don't shy away from color, whether just a dab on the backsplash or a full-on drenching, as in this blue-coated room. In addition to bold color, the cabinets boast furniture-like touches, including raised-panel doors, intricate trim, carved columns, and regal corbels. And in true Tuscan style, the island doesn't perfectly match the perimeter cupboards, giving the space a harmonized, built-over-time appearance.
Some interior designers call the ceiling the fifth wall because of its decorating potential. Paying particular attention to the span of sheetrock overhead can pay off; it's unexpected, and the ceiling can also handle risks that walls and floors cannot. Despite its spacious size, the brick-and-beam ceiling treatment in this Tuscan-style kitchen gives the room a cozy, intimate feel.
Tuscan kitchens are known for attention to detail and handcraftsmanship, with notable features like this kitchen's carved island corbels and wood range hood embellishments. Incorporate ornate and furniture-like elements on cabinetry, freestanding pieces, and woodwork in your kitchen for the perfect Tuscan touch.
A Tuscan kitchen is nothing if not practical, and they utilize locally available and abundant materials. That's why you'll often spot gorgeous natural stone stretching across floors, walls, countertops, and even doorways, as in this regal kitchen covered in rugged and polished stone.
Old-world kitchens often situate the range in a place of honor. In this sizable space, the range is placed in an arched alcove to set it apart from the rest of the room. With countertops on either side, nearby shelves brimming with spices and seasonings, and a delightfully textured tile backsplash, it's clear that in this kitchen, the range is its beating heart.
If your taste runs a bit sleeker than conventional Tuscan style, take inspiration from this modern kitchen that pares down the best of Tuscany. The cabinets have raised panels, and the island boasts beefy corbels, but they're far more streamlined than most. With its elegant wrought-iron curves, the chandelier is a simpler take on an ornate overhead fixture. And limiting the color palette to high-contrast creamy white and deep-hued wood is playful but still sophisticated.
A few dings here and there? Some signs of wear and tear? These imperfections are signs of a busy, bustling kitchen. They're not to be hidden or fixed but celebrated; Tuscan kitchens proudly wear their scars! Worn finishes on cabinets, scraped stone floors, and salvaged wood beams might not look pristine, but they speak volumes about how a well-used kitchen is also the most well-loved.
Do you have wood cabinets that work great but feel dated? Not to worry! Wood may be back in style and we're here for it.
As a teenager or young adult, I never felt that I “loved to cook”. For me, it was a chore or something that I “had” to do because my mom told me to help in the all-dreaded kitchen. However, now, married to someone who enjoys cooking, I have a new outlook and perspective. We are “Cooking Experiences” together and creating memories with our meals! Many factors contribute to this love or hate relationship that so many have with cooking; personality traits, prior cooking experiences, knowledge passed down from one generation to the next. If you can shift your mindset to “I want to cook experiences,” you can actually enjoy the time spent in your kitchen.
