Whether you spend your time preparing delicious home-cooked meals or use your kitchen as your home’s social hub, it's crucial that you create a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
One way you can achieve this goal is by designing a Tuscan-inspired kitchen. After all, while you may be unable to bring the rolling hills and Italian sunshine to your doorstep, adopting this trend is a close second and can help bring a little magic into your home. This way, you’re sure to smile each time you step into the kitchen.
For hundreds of years, Tuscan-inspired interiors have dominated the design work, favored by leading interior designers and homeowners. This is because they are simplistic, bright, and enduring in style, which means that they won’t fall out of fashion any time soon.
In this article, we’ll learn more about Tuscan Kitchens, their history, and aesthetics, alongside providing you with some guidance on how you can implement this trend in your own kitchen design.
The History of Tuscan Kitchen.
Each and every form of kitchen design has its own fascinating history. Tuscan kitchens are inspired by centuries of rich history within the region, often taking on a distinctive, ‘rustic’ edge as a result. For example, many feature terracotta tiles, which have been produced within the region since the early 14th century.
Modern Tuscan kitchens benefit from incorporating the latest technology and tools while still emulating the atmosphere created within more traditional, rustic kitchens - allowing for a mix that is truly the best of both worlds.
What are the characteristics of a Tuscan kitchen?
A Warm Color Palette.
Tuscany is a region that is often blessed with warm weather and sun-filled skies. In fact, those who live in Tuscany enjoy approximately 2300 hours of sunshine per year. As a result, it's no surprise that this warmth is reflected within Tuscan interior design, namely through the color palette.
While many kitchens tend to take on a more muted color palette, featuring traditional shades of white and black, Tuscan kitchens experiment a little more with color. For example, they feature shades such as:
- Cream
- Green
- Red
- Blue
- Bronze
- Copper (and copper patina)
However, this does not mean you cannot experiment with other colors. The point of a Tuscan kitchen is that it's bright and eye-catching, and if you find a color that speaks to you in this way, don’t be afraid to feature it as much (or as little) as you’d like - whether that be through, paint, tiles or something a little more subtle such as dishtowels.
Tiled Walls and flooring.
Many Tuscan-inspired kitchens also feature tiled floors and walls, many of which are patterned or textured. This can elevate any kitchen by making certain features stand out to create an interesting focal point within the space.
Of course, tiles are also an ideal choice when it comes to maintenance, as they can easily be wiped clean with just soap and water, which means you can feel free to be as messy as necessary when cooking.
Traditional patterns inspired by Tuscany tend to feature flowers and leaves, likely because it is a region famed for its agriculture. For example, you may want to feature tiles that showcase the plants that flourish in this area, such as rosemary, lavender, and Italian Cypress.
Large cooking/prep stations.
Preparing delicious home-cooked meals (often from scratch) is a common practice throughout Italy, which means that many Italian-inspired kitchens feature numerous cooking or workstations so that there’s plenty of space available for the appointed chef within your family.
Not only can this make it easier to whip up a delicious meal, but it's also useful when it comes to staying organized and ensuring that your kitchen remains clean and tidy.
Luckily, there are many ways in which you can use this as inspiration to make more use of the space within your kitchen, such as by installing a workstation sink, which makes it easier to stay on top of your washing up and can also be used for chopping and preparing ingredients.
Metal or Wooden Accents.
Many Tuscan-inspired kitchens also feature mixed metals, such as copper and bronze or wooden accents, which again give a certain rustic character to the space and can also make it much more visually appealing.
There are many ways in which you can introduce your materials to the space, such as through copper range hoods or brass sinks. While wooden accents, such as beams and countertops, look great, it's important to note that they may be harder to maintain in the long term, while metal accents are much more durable. This is because they are less likely to fall victim to damp and moisture damage, which can sometimes happen with wooden features (however, proper care and maintenance can work to prevent this).
Exposed Brickwork.
Exposed brickwork is also a common feature within Tuscany kitchen design - and it has also become increasingly popular within more modern styles in recent years. This is because it's a simple yet effective way to greatly change how your kitchen looks and can give your home a unique sense of character.
Dining spaces.
Historically, kitchens within Tuscany also served as social spaces - meaning that people would often gather in these spaces to enjoy their family meals instead of having a separate dining room. This was likely due to the fact that homes in this area during that period were on the smaller side. However, it also makes for a visually interesting space and can encourage you to spend more time together as a family.
As a result, when designing a Tuscan-inspired Kitchen, you may also want to be on the lookout for a new dining table and matching chairs. Again, this is a rather simplistic way to make the most of all of the space you have available to you - as you can then turn your dining room into an office or another social space.
Tuscan-inspired kitchens are often described as homely - and for a good reason. They are warm, welcoming spaces that are highly functional and pleasing to the eye - as a result, they quickly become the kind of space the entire family likes to spend time in. As such, you may want to think about other ways in which you can make your kitchen feel more homely at this time.
For example, you could feature your family’s favorite colors throughout the space, as this can add a uniquely personal touch to your kitchen. Alternatively, you could paint or design your own tiles or decorate some of the space with family photographs or your children’s artwork.
Things to think about when designing a Tuscan Kitchen.
- Renovations. If you are installing new sinks or other plumbing and electrical features, you’ll need to think about the logistics of this - as it may require some extensive remodeling or renovations. While some of these tasks you may be able to carry out yourself if your DIY skills are up to it, others will require you to hire a professional to do them for you. Remember, you should not put your health and safety at risk at any point.
- Maintenance. Your kitchen is undoubtedly one of the areas in your home that requires the most consistent care and maintenance - due to the fact that it’s used at least three times a day when you’re preparing meals. It's easy for mess to accumulate here too. However, if you’re looking to keep home maintenance to a minimum, you should think about the different materials you can incorporate into your kitchen that require little upkeep, such as durable metals.
- Your budget. The cost of renovating your kitchen and adopting a Tuscan style can vary widely, depending on the size of the project or the materials you are buying. However, it's crucial that you know how much money you have to play around with ahead of time so that you do not go over budget. Furthermore, this gives you the chance to seek out better deals from contractors and sellers so that you get your dream kitchen for a price that won’t break the bank.
Design a Tuscan-themed kitchen with World Copper Smith.
Whether you are won over by the warm color palettes or the prospect of bringing the Italian sunshine into your home, there are many reasons why you may want to remodel your kitchen so that it follows a Tuscan-inspired design.
However, that’s not to say that redesigning your kitchen is an easy task. After all, there are many different factors you have to figure out ahead of time, such as installation logistics and your budget.
Nevertheless, there are many ways in which you can lower your stress at this time - such as by finding the perfect place to buy Tuscan-inspired fixtures or appliances for your kitchen. At World CopperSmith, we have a wide range of products available that match the Tuscan aesthetic perfectly and are always on hand to offer any advice to those looking to redesign their homes.
Furthermore, you can also customize many of the products available with different finishes or trimmings depending on your personal style and preferences. To find out more, request a custom quote today, and you’ll also receive a 3D rendering, which can help you to better visualize how a certain item will look within your home or how it will blend with other fixtures or features in your kitchen. If you have any questions or would like some general advice on all things home decor, please do not hesitate to get in touch today. We look forward to hearing from you. CopperSmith has offers range hoods, sinks, bathtubs and fire pits.