The European style consists of three different areas:
Italian, English, and French. However, our focus will be on
Italian Tuscan because of its increasing popularity over the
last decade. The Tuscan style offers a variety of materials
to choose from, which are comprised of wood, marble, stone,
or fabric. Furthermore, the furniture pieces are large,
ornate, and contain details from Roman architecture.

During the 14th century, European architecture went through
a transformation. Italian architects/artists Giotto and
Brunelleschi mastered how to make buildings taller, with
wide domes, and supported by the most slender columns. They
had a passion for symmetry, heavy ornamentation, scrolling
ironwork, and floor mosaics. These elements, along with
foreign styles from Egypt and India, influenced the Tuscan
home style.

Furniture in Tuscan home dcor consists of architectural
elements, such as carved like columns on chair and table
legs. Also, tables with leg stretchers and chair backs have
carvings that resemble the arches on renaissance buildings.
Even though the style is geometric, it is exquisitely
ornamented. The furniture is made of wood, but also
incorporates wrought iron in some of it pieces giving it a
sophisticated old look to it. Wrought iron furniture is
available in bedroom furniture, settees, coffee tables, side
tables, dining room tables, and patio furniture, just to
name a few.

You may decorate using wrought iron accessories, such as
wrought iron chandeliers, candle wall sconces, candelabras,
wine racks, magazine racks, plant stands, towel holders,
fireplace accessories, and more. You may choose from
designs that are of an antique and classic appearance. The
most common details are delicate floral and leafy cuts. The
beauty of wrought iron is that it is durable and elegant.
Furthermore, Tuscan home dcor includes pieces that are
covered with mosaics, such as colored tiles that contain
pictures or pebbles cemented into flooring or a tabletop.
These mosaics are reminiscent of Tuscan cathedrals, which
drew inspiration from the mosaics in Roman cathedrals.

Since texture is an important quality, the appearance of
rustic elements, such as several layers of paint, cracked
stucco, or marble walls, with a resulting old look adds
warmth and character to a Tuscan home interior. Employing
faux finish techniques, along with a rich palette towards
the warm end of the spectrum is an excellent way to create
the Tuscan look. You can even do a marble faux finish for
added drama.

Tuscan home dcor embraces warm colors, such
as brown, gold, rich reds, orange, and yellow. For accent
colors that are centered on earth tones, olive green, dark
green, deep blue, and beige are good choices. To further
complement the gorgeous wall colors, you can include Tuscan
style paintings that depict lovely scenes of the village,
landscapes, fields, vineyards, farmhouses, wine, and fruit.

Another main feature of Tuscan interior design is stone.
Stone is a fabulous way to incorporate nature into the home.
The rooms that are best suited for stone are the bathroom
and kitchen. It also looks exquisite as part of a fireplace
or adorning the archway leading into a room. There are
different types of stone that can be used in the home and
its good to familiarize yourself with the qualities of each
one in order to make the best decision. Usually, the stone
choices consist of limestone, granite, and, marble.

Limestone is largely composed of mineral calcite and is
often used in bathrooms for the shower wall or as flooring.
Unfortunately, it has a tendency to easily stain and absorb
liquid since its highly reactive to acid solutions. For
instance, polished limestone can sustain damage from kitchen
acids including citrus juices and vinegars. Also, limestone
that has not been sealed can be subject to stains. If the
limestone is polished or semi-polished, there will be
visible areas where the substance once was. On honed
surfaces, the etch marks will be less noticeable. For a
kitchen countertop, a honed limestone would be a good
choice. Its a beautiful stone, and if you opt for this one
consider putting it in areas that are not high traffic.

On the other hand, granite is not only a stone of immense
beauty, but it is remarkably tough. It mainly consists of
quartz, orthoclase or microcline, and mica, which is used in
monuments and for construction. It is available in many
colors and finishing styles, from polished to matte and
textured. Among its characteristics is that it is heat,
water, and chemical resistant, and does not attract dirt.
Furthermore, it does not stain or scratch, which makes it
ideal for a kitchen countertop. Although it is expensive,
the benefits, along with its aesthetic appeal make it a
great choice for use in a Tuscan style home.

Like limestone, marble can easily stain and scratch.
Although marble is aesthetically appealing, it is not as
hard as granite. Despite that marble is a material that is
used on tabletops, floors, countertops, fireplace mantles,
bathrooms, and other decorative marble surfaces, it can
easily scratch, stain, discolor, and sustain permanent
scars. As an alternative, you may want to consider
synthetic marble tabletops, countertops, and flooring, but
nothing compares to the beauty of real marble. With the
proper care, marble surfaces can remain as lovely as the
first day they were installed. You can protect marble from
moisture damage by using coasters for cups and glasses,
along with using area rugs in places where there is heavy
foot traffic. With Tuscan style decorating, keep in mind
that unpolished marble is the preferred choice.

Giorgina Devereaux is the creator of AskGiorgina.com, which features questions, answers, and ideas on home decor and furniture. For more information, please visit http://www.AskGiorgina.com