Tuscan kitchens—inspired by the traditional style and decor of Italy’s Tuscany region—emphasize natural materials, playful use of color, and creative pattern application. These kitchens convey a sense of rustic elegance and country ease (with a sun-soaked Italian-esque spin). Whether you want a Tuscan kitchen straight out of Italy or want to incorporate some Tuscan-inspired features into your cook space, these ideas will help you create the just-right kitchen.
Interior Blend
Bringing elements of the outdoors inside may be a bold design move, but it offers great rewards! Using certain materials like weathered wood posts, antique brick pavers, and rough-hewn stone adds unique charm to your kitchen. Plus, these durable outdoor materials stand up to daily wear while maintaining their beauty over time, so you won’t have to replace them any time soon.
Dip into Color
Tuscan kitchens embrace vibrant hues, whether it’s a subtle touch on the backsplash or a bold splash, like in this striking shade of blue on the counters. Beyond color, these stylish kitchens feature cabinets with elegant, furniture-like details such as raised-panel doors, intricate trim, and ornate corbels. In keeping with Tuscan charm, the kitchen island doesn’t exactly match all of the surrounding cupboards, creating a cohesive yet collected-over-time look.
Embrace the Odds
Choosing natural materials instead of sticking to synthetic ones allows you to celebrate nature’s unique quirks and imperfections. For instance, the terra-cotta tiles and butcher-block countertops in this gorgeous, Tuscan-style kitchen offer character and subtle patterns through their diverse shapes and hues.
Mix and Match
Tuscan kitchens give the impression of being assembled over the course of many years, reflecting a rich history. To achieve this warm, inviting aesthetic, make sure to select cabinets and furniture in a variety of finishes, experiment with multiple countertop materials, and add character with mismatched chairs around an island or breakfast nook. This smart approach not only adds visual interest to the space but also makes the kitchen feel welcoming and personal.
Soaring Heights
Interior designers often refer to the ceiling as the fifth wall, highlighting its potential for decoration. Focusing on this often-overlooked area of the house can yield stunning results in any room. The beautiful brick-and-beam ceiling in this Tuscan-style kitchen, for example, creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere despite the room’s large size.
Pattern Play
While Tuscan kitchens often use beautiful, natural materials like wood and stone, there’s a risk of creating a monochrome tan look. Avoid this issue by varying the texture and pattern of neutral-hue elements. For instance, this kitchen’s tile backsplash uses a running bond pattern interspersed with square tiles for added style. The terra-cotta floor tiles feature a fun and lively herringbone design, and bricks around the window frame add striking visual interest.
Special Touches
Tuscan kitchens emphasize craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail, showcasing unique elements like carved island corbels and wooden range hood accents. To add a Tuscan flair to your kitchen, make sure to integrate ornate, furniture-like touches into cabinetry, standalone pieces, and woodwork.
Stone Zone
Practicality defines a Tuscan kitchen, which often features locally sourced materials. You’ll often see beautiful natural stones spread across floors, walls, countertops, and even doorways in a Tuscan kitchen, such as in this elegant room with its blend of rugged and polished stone surfaces.
Aging Character
Imperfections like dings or signs of wear don’t have to be hidden. They reveal the vibrant life of a kitchen. Tuscan kitchens embrace these marks of character, showing pride in their ‘scars.’ Whether it’s worn cabinet finishes, scraped stone floors, or salvaged wood beams, these small features highlight how a well-used kitchen is the heart of a well-loved home.
Make It Modern
While some love the charm of old-world kitchens, they also crave small modern touches. This stunning Tuscan kitchen shows how design can adapt to various styles. Clean details like white subway tile, minimal cabinetry, an industrial island, and sleek benches blend seamlessly with the more traditional elements like salvaged wood, old brick, and exposed beams. A neutral palette of whites and woods harmonizes both the old and the new.
Hearth of the Home
In many old-world kitchens, the range is going to take center stage. In this room, it’s set apart within an elegant arched alcove. Counters flank it on both sides, while nearby shelves stocked with spices add convenience to the space. A beautiful, textured tile backsplash completes the look, underscoring the range as the kitchen’s true heart.
Slimmed Down
This modest-size kitchen offers ideas for those working with limited space or budgets. While it doesn’t boast the grandeur of larger Tuscan kitchens, its elegant arched cabinets, eye-catching iron knobs, and patterned backsplash make a bold statement. An oversized chandelier adds charm to the space, proving that simplicity in Tuscan style can be strikingly beautiful.
Blended Materials
A neutral color palette allows for a bold combination of materials. This stylish kitchen features four distinct wood tones supplemented by different elements like brick, flagstone, granite, and ceramic. These elements don’t clash because they share a consistent color palette and varied scales, creating a beautiful, harmonious look.
Keep It Simple
If you prefer a sleeker look than traditional Tuscan style, consider this modern kitchen, which refines Tuscany’s best elements. The stylish cabinets feature streamlined raised panels, and the island includes impressive yet understated corbels. The elegant wrought-iron chandelier offers a simpler take on ornate lighting. Using a high-contrast palette of creamy white and dark wood brings sophistication and charm to the space.
Elements of Tile
Tuscan kitchens excellently showcase plain, ordinary materials. By laying terra-cotta tiles on the bias and crossing them with salvaged wood, a simple floor may become a beautiful architectural highlight. Similarly, the kitchen’s backsplash with expertly painted tiles transforms into a work of art. These surfaces elevate beyond the ordinary.
Wonderful Woodwork
Cabinetry steals the spotlight in most Tuscan-style kitchens, often as custom creations that showcase a carpenter’s skill. You’ll frequently find ornate trim, elaborate door panels, and exquisite paint treatments in these kitchens. Standout features in this richly appointed room include the graceful iron corbels at the island’s corners and the grand wood panels covering the refrigerator. These stunning details elevate the kitchen beyond typical store-bought options.
Dining and Cooking