Amongst the paint finishes used to create an antique or weathered look, the Tuscan finish is extremely popular. It is typically achieved using faux painting techniques, especially color washing, to create the illusion of texture and age. The look can also be recreated by introducing actual texture, with Venetian plastering, for example. Faux finishes that create the appearance of texture on a flat surface are a practical and economical choice for decorators seeking the atmosphere of Italy. As well as texture, the right color palette is also of paramount importance in the Tuscan look.
The Tuscan Look
Tuscan finishes evoke the sunny charm of Italian country villages, simple peasant lifestyles and cozy homes that have been lived in for generations. Central to the look are subtle colors softened with age. The Tuscan homes on which the finish is modeled have an organic feel. Without industrially produced paints and plasters, builders used local materials, mixing their materials in the same way as their fathers and forefathers.
Tuscan interiors evoke informal living and relaxed lifestyles. That makes them ideal for rooms associated with social gatherings, such as dining rooms and patios, as well as kitchens. Additional design features associated with Tuscan homes include stenciled borders depicting foliage, as well as tiles and mosaics in muted natural colors.
Tuscan Colors
Traditional Tuscan dcor relied on local materials and homemakers did not have the chemical-based and highly engineered paints and plasters available today. The look is therefore organic and earthy, with muted tones. The pigments that have been used throughout history for paints are colloquially known as ochre. They are typically metal oxides (principally iron, but also other metals such as manganese).
Ochreous earth pigments are typically various shades of red, but they range from rust brown to burnt orange, and weathered yellow to purplish-maroon. Pinkish and peach-colored pigments occur naturally and other metal oxides provide black pigments. They can either be mixed to make paints or added to plaster to add subtle color.
Though these colors are the core of the Tuscan palette, other colors are also incorporated into the range. Muted blues and greens (shades of olive and sage) are also effective in recreating Tuscan finishes. The Tuscan look goes well with terracotta tiled floors.
Choosing Your Tuscan Palette
Natural colors share comparable color values and are easy to mix and match. Color washing is the faux painting method usually used to create Tuscan texture. It can be done with two colors, but more can be used to vary the effect. You may want to also want to match your colors according to the room you intend to decorate. A sunny room may demand less intense colors, and cold room warmer, deeper hues.
Color washing allows you to vary the amount of texture and create diverse finishes, depending on the number and intensity of the colors you select. You could opt for a lighter, brighter and more neutral finish or you might prefer the coziness and warmth that a darker palette can create. Patios and kitchens can be finished off with blue or green tiles or you could paint faux mosaics. A stenciled border featuring Mediterranean plants, such as acanthus, olives or grapevines, provides the final flourish. - 15252
The Tuscan Look
Tuscan finishes evoke the sunny charm of Italian country villages, simple peasant lifestyles and cozy homes that have been lived in for generations. Central to the look are subtle colors softened with age. The Tuscan homes on which the finish is modeled have an organic feel. Without industrially produced paints and plasters, builders used local materials, mixing their materials in the same way as their fathers and forefathers.
Tuscan interiors evoke informal living and relaxed lifestyles. That makes them ideal for rooms associated with social gatherings, such as dining rooms and patios, as well as kitchens. Additional design features associated with Tuscan homes include stenciled borders depicting foliage, as well as tiles and mosaics in muted natural colors.
Tuscan Colors
Traditional Tuscan dcor relied on local materials and homemakers did not have the chemical-based and highly engineered paints and plasters available today. The look is therefore organic and earthy, with muted tones. The pigments that have been used throughout history for paints are colloquially known as ochre. They are typically metal oxides (principally iron, but also other metals such as manganese).
Ochreous earth pigments are typically various shades of red, but they range from rust brown to burnt orange, and weathered yellow to purplish-maroon. Pinkish and peach-colored pigments occur naturally and other metal oxides provide black pigments. They can either be mixed to make paints or added to plaster to add subtle color.
Though these colors are the core of the Tuscan palette, other colors are also incorporated into the range. Muted blues and greens (shades of olive and sage) are also effective in recreating Tuscan finishes. The Tuscan look goes well with terracotta tiled floors.
Choosing Your Tuscan Palette
Natural colors share comparable color values and are easy to mix and match. Color washing is the faux painting method usually used to create Tuscan texture. It can be done with two colors, but more can be used to vary the effect. You may want to also want to match your colors according to the room you intend to decorate. A sunny room may demand less intense colors, and cold room warmer, deeper hues.
Color washing allows you to vary the amount of texture and create diverse finishes, depending on the number and intensity of the colors you select. You could opt for a lighter, brighter and more neutral finish or you might prefer the coziness and warmth that a darker palette can create. Patios and kitchens can be finished off with blue or green tiles or you could paint faux mosaics. A stenciled border featuring Mediterranean plants, such as acanthus, olives or grapevines, provides the final flourish. - 15252
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Ready for more Tuscany in your home? Visit ThatPainterLady.com for more ideas and extra tips for faux painting finishes in golden yellow tuscan too.