How to Create a Rustic Tuscan Kitchen

The rich, warm colors and textures of Tuscany, Italy's farming region, are one of the most popular versions of the Cottage Country home design. Kitchens that are chock full of cabinets and wall colors that are dark and heavy can transform your space into a Tuscan kitchen with a few budget-minded additions and some nifty painting techniques.

For starters, here's one designer's trick for creating walls that look like the plaster walls of Tuscan villas. Put about two cups of joint compound into a paint tray, then add large spoonfuls of light tan, cream, sage green and rust-red paint. Combine this mixture by rolling a paint roller into the pan, and then "pounce" the mixture into the corners of the room and along the edges of the walls. It isn't necessary to mix the colors completely into the joint compound; it's the variation in the colors that will give the walls a rustic feel. Also, use an inexpensive paintbrush for this method so you can cut the bristles down to about one inch long. This makes it easier to apply the mixture.

If this color scheme doesn't appeal to you, then consider taking color cues from ceramic tiles. The tiles could be installed behind the sink as a backsplash or used as wall art or trivets. Or take the color scheme from area rugs for the kitchen. The hues and harvest designs of orange rugs, red rugs, green rugs and yellow rugs can serve to unify the kitchen's color scheme.

Next, paint the cabinets in one of the deeper colors of the Tuscan palette, typically a deep red or cypress green. This will relieve the look of dark-wood cabinets.

Update a wooden kitchen table with new paint, stencils or other designs topped with clear varnish to protect them from wear. At the same time, refresh dining chairs with new upholstery in Tuscan colors, such as deep gold. A new light fixture wouldn't go amiss, either. Look for something that has an aged finish to fit the rustic theme.

And what to do about all those cookbooks? One way to corral these references and keep to the theme is to install some shelves to hold the books, contained in either a workplace island or a dining bench. Always consider painting kitchen furniture additions such as these to continue with the Tuscan country theme. Sage green or terracotta can be excellent colors to use for furniture, but be sure to use semi-gloss paint for durability and easy clean-up.

If the kitchen needs a message center, consider covering a large corkboard with fabric leftover from the chair upholstery. This will be an ideal spot for those essential notes every busy family needs these days to keep in touch. Speaking of fabric, don't forget to choose something compatible for curtains. If it's necessary to leave a window open to the light, consider hanging sheers with a valance in a complementary fabric. Another option is to install a Roman shade with a valance, if more privacy is desired.

Finish off this Tuscan makeover with a table runner and some decorative plates, platters or pitchers in rich colors and the kitchen is ready for making delicious meals!

Sarah is an expert contributing author writing about rustic kitchens. She just adores using yellow rugs and red rugs on floors to bring a dash of panache to the kitchen.