Updating Tuscan Decor

It’s time to “kill ” the roosters . . .

This ship has not only sailed, it has sunk

Are you tired of the Tuscan vibe in your home? You know, the one. It dominated design trends in the early 2000’s and left you surrounded by heavy drapes, faux painted walls, and pictures of roosters. You’re now looking to update, right? Easier said than done.

You know who you are!

The venetian plaster is peeling off the ceiling (you wonder what you were thinking!) and there are enough grapes on your kitchen wallpaper border to start a winery. Hmmm . . . that part doesn’t sound so bad! What about that mural you paid a fortune to have painted on your bathroom wall? Seriously? Everywhere you look you see gold, cranberry red and chocolate brown!

I was right there with you!!

Here’s the truth, I wasn’t only riding the Tuscan bandwagon, I was driving it! At one point, I had red floral couches and green walls. That’s like living in a perpetual state of Christmas. What in the world was I thinking and why didn’t somebody slap me?

It’s time to “kill ” the roosters

The old-world Tuscan style trend was crazy popular from 2000 until about 2010. Now you’re desperately wanting to update and long for a clean fresh look. You desire a home that’s beautifully decorated, comfortable, stylish and represents who you are, but a complete overhaul just isn’t in the cards or budget. The good news is that the internet has brought everything you can imagine right into your living room. Now for the bad news. The internet has brought everything you can imagine right into your living room.

Option overload anyone?

If you’re anything like many of my clients, you’ve been living in your home about 15-20+ years. The time has come. You jump on a popular home décor website (you know the one) looking for drapes. What?! 2,604 cream colored drapes. They’ve got to be kidding! The endless options at your fingertips can often leave you feeling paralyzed to make a decision (option overload anyone?). I lovingly refer to this as the, “deer in the headlights” phase. This is an easy phase to get stuck in.

You’re not looking to replace EVERYTHING, but which items can you keep and which new purchases should you make? That’s a matter of knowing where to spend your money to get the most bang for your buck.

Yes! You can repurpose!!

Look at the unbelievable before & after pictures of  a recent transformation I completed for my clients dining room. She loves hosting holidays and entertaining, but literally wanted to jab a fork in her eye at the thought of another Thanksgiving in this time warp! She didn’t care for the table and chairs, but it was out of the budget to replace them. They had to stay. Not to worry.

Older pieces of furniture can feel as though they’ve been given a brand-new life when everything around them changes. Let’s break down this dining room update.

• First up, the chandelier. Seriously, this change alone transformed the entire room. Lighting is everything! I must admit, that I have a bit of a love affair with light fixtures. They will completely change the feel of a room and in my design book, are non-negotiable if you want to update.
• The paint color is a pale, warm gray. Sherwin Williams Repose, to be exact.
• The elegant linen curtains and geometric patterned rug add much needed softness to the room.
• A modern gray/blue credenza replaced the tall hutch. This broke up that boring old “set.” Your home should feel like it evolved over time. Gone are the days of “sets.”
• The mirror and lanterns that adorn the wall are stunning and reflect the light from the stylish new fixture. So chic!
• A few simple, dark wood floating shelves (not pictured) display wine glasses, pictures and one of my favorite accessories, old hardcovered books to finish off the décor. The lesson learned here is that small changes can have a huge impact.

So, what can you do to update your Tuscan home?

Start by removing anything red or gold and lighten up your paint colors. It truly is amazing what a fresh, new color can do. Opt for an updated neutral. Perhaps greige? Greige will look great with rich wood tones that you may already have in your home but also provide a clean updated look. (check out my blog post on these paint colors here) Replace items such as area rugs, throw pillows and art with lighter, simpler versions.

Kill the roosters!

Get rid of any décor with a rooster (or chicken for that matter) on it. This may sound extreme, but you must rid your home of farm animals before you can create the soft, fresh, updated palette you desire.

While you’re at it, remove anything with grapes or a reference to wine. (Please, don’t get rid of the ACTUAL wine.) Now is also the time to ditch the bottles of oil with layers of herbs. Along with the Tuscan design trend, came a lot of accessories.

Minimize

Replace heavy drapes with cream or white panels. These can be purchased off the rack. No need to pay for custom curtains. If there is any fake ivy over your kitchen cabinets, that needs to go too. The idea is to create a clean, more minimal feel.

Paint some wood

Generally, I like dark wood furniture, but too much of it can make a room feel heavy. Consider painting a piece or two. Here is a piece of furniture I’ve transformed with one of my best friends, chalk-paint.

I’ve provided a visual to give you an idea of how a few small changes can make all the difference.

In the room below the only things that have changed are the paint color, curtains, area rug and a few throw pillows.

 

 

 

 

Amazing huh?

You can do this! Sometimes a little guidance, a few new purchases and some vision can help you love your home again.