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"If Walls Could Talk" Featured in October Newsletter 2006

A wall change is probably one of the easiest and least expensive ways to bring a new look into your home.  That being said, it is probably one of the areas of greatest concern for clients who write in search of decorating advice on the Tuscan design style. 

Well, let me speak a word of encouragement.  It is not brain surgery, honey.  So, let's put on our listening ears, and see what our walls have to say.  Start by objectively evaluating the room of concern.  See if you can join in on the conversation.  Perhaps your walls are trying to tell you something.  Here are some comments I've heard from a few rooms over the years.

Ok, so maybe I am being a little silly here.  I am sure you get the point...which means you are ready to get started.

First, repair any holes and evaluate whether or not you need to change the finish or texture of the walls.  As you know, Venetian stucco, or a rough textured finish is just the ticket to lend that "air of authenticity" to your Tuscan themed rooms.  However, if you are not prepared to change the texture of your walls, just "fake" it!  There are many fabulous and easy to use faux finish products on the market that will allow you to get that freshly plastered look without having to re-plaster.  If you are looking for a great place to get started, visit our friends over at Faux Like A Pro:    

They have a fantastic system complete with full instructions, and high quality professional products to obtain the perfect Tuscan look on your walls. 

Now that you have addressed the repair and finish issues, you get to move on to what I consider the fun part.  Paint! 

The second step in our spring wall "spruce up", is identifying a new and appropriate color for your walls.  Now, this seems to be an area where a lot of people get tripped up, so hang with me here! 

To select the perfect "Tuscan" paint color, simply look to nature for colorful inspiration. Or in other words, "Go natural, baby!"  It is well known that the people of Tuscany have long been in love with their natural surrounding rural environment. This love of nature is demonstrated in the way they infuse the agrarian color palette into the interior of their Tuscan homes.  Dusty reds and luxurious caramels are a reflection of the mineral-rich clays found in the surrounding hillsides of Tuscany.

Further inspiration is found in the mellow tones of sun-ripened fruit; the mild yellow pear, the burnt-orange persimmon, the muted greens of the olive, and the deep burgundy hues of the luscious Chianti grape.  Add a splash of brilliant blue from the Tuscan sky, combined with the deep wood tones from an ancient hardwood forest, and your Tuscan color palette is complete.  Voila! 

One thing is certain.  Tuscan colors are "hot"!  Check out the Behr Premium Color Trend Report for a summary of all the best colors for this year.  Guess what?  They're Tuscan.  That means we are all on the right track.  (But then, we knew that, didn't we?)

If you are still having trouble identifying the right color palette, then check out some interior design books that feature the Mediterranean style, and see if you can find something that "strikes your fancy". 

Speaking of books, my new all time favorite is Villa Decor by author Betty Lou Philips.  I never tire of seeing the fabulous pictures in this book.  I'll tell you more about it in my book review next month.  In the meantime, you may want to check it out!  Then we can look at it together.

Now that we've tackled the issues of texture and color, let's consider one last thing...it's wall decor, what else?  Consider yourself "art challenged"?  Well, you're in luck! 

In medieval times, the tapestry wall hanging was used to keep the drafts from coming through cold stone walls.  Now, we just think they look great.  And, they are actually hilariously simple to hang! 

Find a design that you enjoy seeing that works within your color scheme.  You'll be amazed at how it brightens your day when you round the corner into your newly decorated room, and find a lovely Italian scene, or fruit themed still life.   

We have some fantastic new wall tapestry designs at Tuscan Decor.  And, just in case you need a little added motivation to take care of your wall issues, the tapestries are on sale until
Oct 31st.  Just enter this exclusive coupon code at checkout: TLP1015 for a 10% discount!

At TuscanDecor.com, we also have some beautiful Tuscan art.  Every one of the prints are fantastic as a wall canvas, and we do all the work.  They arrive beautifully stretched, and ready to hang on the wall.  How easy is that?

Well, that's enough information to get you started.  Just remember the three easy steps:  texturize, colorize, and accessorize.  Now, you have no excuse, and just enough time to get things done.  Fall is here, and we should be out enjoying our beautiful Italian gardens while we still can. 

HGTV 2006 Dream Home Review
By Diane Hendrickson

 Recently we had the distinct privilege of visiting the 2006 HGTV Dream Home.  Since we had such a great time touring this beautiful property, we wanted to share it with our friends as well.

Located amidst the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, the 2006 HGTV Dream Home offers breathtaking views of Lake Lure and the surrounding ranges of the Blue Ridge.

I must begin by saying that just getting to this mountain top retreat is no easy feat, and not for the faint of heart (or carsick prone).  There is a note on the tour fact sheet that reads:  “The roads leading to the Dream Home are curvy and visitors should take every precaution to prevent motion/car sickness on the trip”.  Consider yourself forewarned.  Yes, the ride is a bit grueling, but the views make it all worthwhile. 

Read the whole article at http://www.tuscandecor.com/HGTV2006DreamHomeReview.htm