Decorate Your Kitchen, Tuscan Style

I LOVE rustic kitchens. They remind me of summer, school holidays, my grandma and the smell of fresh, warm just baked bread for breakfast. Rustic kitchens are decorated with heart, not with mind, so forget design principles and rules – you’re here to break them and design the kitchen of your dream.

This summer we traveled to Loire Valley in France and in our chateau was this amazing outdoor rustic kitchen, connected to the cellar, so it was possible to do the wine tasting enjoying surrounding landscape. I just fell in love with it:

Of course Tuscan style kitchens look great in the country style houses like we stayed in. However, you can successfully incorporate some rustic elements in the modern kitchen as well which will make it look more inviting and cozy:

If you like this style, below are some techniques and materials which will help you to “get the look”:

1) Use a lot of natural textures: distressed wood, stone, slate and granite. Paint is aimed not to cover, but enhance the texture of natural materials. Exposed stone walls and wooden ceiling with large beams are two elements often associated with rustic kitchens:

2) Another finishing which looks great in country kitchen is coloured tiles and mosaics used as a backsplash:

3) Display utensils. Cooking instruments are usually not hidden in the cupboards but proudly displayed either on the wall or above the island. Remember gorgeous kitchen from “Julie and Julia” where Meril Streep was cooking?

Especially typical for rustic kitchens are pans and pots made of copper:

4) Rustic kitchens always look a little bit “cluttered”, so if you have chosen this style forget about perfectionism and minimalism.

5) Add some artisanal pieces such as wooden chopping and serving boards, spatulas and spoons:

6) Final touch – adding some vintage pieces, which will create unique and unforgettable look:

I hope these tips were helpful and your kitchen will become your favourite place in the house.