A brief history of Tuscan decoration




Tuscan interior décor begins with an understanding of Tuscan architecture. Even a quick glance at the history books of Tuscany and its architecture reveals two impressions: strength and greatness.

In the minds of today’s homeowners, these concepts seem to have translated into “security and permanence” and “nobility of design.”

The book and the later movie, Under the Tuscan sun seems to have awakened a long-dormant desire for the rustic and simple beauty found in the hilltop villages of Tuscany. Often described as voluptuous, sensual and seductive, this region of Italy has experienced an unprecedented awakening in both European and North American consciousness.

The power of expansive façades, massive stones, and symmetrically aligned square windows are back in fashion. Perhaps we are drawn to such a design force if our own country of origin and its heritage are so young, so unrefined, and so seemingly impermanent compared to Italy and ancient Etruscan and Roman societies.

Fortunately, the ‘throw away’, ‘use it once and throw it away’, the light and impermanent mentality of the past decades has been abandoned in favor of lasting quality. The stark simplicity of contemporary design seems to have turned cold and lifeless. All now replaced by a search for homes designed with a sense of history, luxury, rustic strength, and an air of permanence.

Tuscan decoration says: “I am here, I am from the land and I will be here forever.”

The brilliance of wearing what we have

Out of necessity, Tuscan architects used readily available materials, such as stone from local quarries. They adapted the dwellings to the hot climate and incorporated the depth and strength of the walls during wartime. Hence, we see massive stone facades, the most easily recognizable feature of Tuscan architecture.

There also seems to have been an innate love for simplicity and symmetry. This appreciation for beauty, evidenced even in the humblest buildings, is undoubtedly born from daily exposure to the sheer elegance of the Tuscan countryside. Endless views of rolling green hills, elegantly slender cypress trees, lush olive groves, and intertwined vines have slowly evolved into the Tuscan decor so loved today.

Early Etruscan architecture was easily recognizable by its massive stones, the square shapes of its buildings, and its heavy overhanging beams, even as it was later embellished with Greek or Roman design elements. Called often Mediterranean (an expansion of the geographic area of ​​design elements), Tuscan décor recalls sun-washed colors, liberal use of stone, metal, square windows, and symmetry. Intricate details are often found that soften strong, masculine features. Meticulous attention to quality craftsmanship is always present, and the stones are precisely matched.

Even during the time of Michelangelo, who often combined the rustic with the polished, the old with the new, and the Etruscan with the Roman, the builders faithfully preserved the original elements of Tuscan decoration. Before the time of Michelangelo, early Etruscan architects, while originally designing almost exclusively for defensive strength and integrity, later gave way to the inclusion of details that added nobility.

It’s no wonder that North Americans, as well as many other Western cultures, yearn for a sense of antiquity, a longing for the rustic beauty, warmth, and functionality of Tuscan design. Demanding homeowners not only demand excellence in design, but also quality materials and furniture to carry out those designs. Smart and knowledgeable modern builders / architects have learned to weave the ancient concepts of Tuscan builders into modern design. Using up-to-date materials, they have been able to adapt the most basic elements of Tuscan design to meet the requirements of today’s expert designers.

And so, with a respectful nod to Michelangelo, we see that ambitious and attentive home decorators can take the best of the past, combine it with the latest technological innovations of today, and build the dreams of the future.

Copyright 2008. Excerpt from Tuscan style decoration, the 162-page e-book packed with tips and techniques (and lots of photos) to help you transform your home and garden into the heart and soul of Tuscany. For more information on Tuscan décor, visit http://www.intheTuscanstyle.com.

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