These are all the rage in the United States these days. You see them on all sorts of television commercials, on magazine covers, and in many dreams across the country. There are some simple ways you can create a Tuscan feel in your kitchen without spending tens of thousands of dollars on renovating and ripping out walls, cabinets, floors, and such. One way is by adding a fair amount of pottery to your kitchen walls, counters, and backslashes for a true Tuscan feel.

Tuscan kitchens are known for character. Distressed wood floors and tabletops that look old and distinguished are the perfect fit for the average Tuscan inspired kitchen as are pottery pieces that have an aged or weathered appearance and are rendered in tones befitting the sun-baked, earthy look and feel of the Tuscan region. Pottery bowls and pitchers in these kitchens should be used for more than mere decoration though they are appropriate for decorative purposes as well. You want most of the decorations to appear not only decorative but also useful, which is one reason pottery fits so well with the theme.

In addition to pottery, wooden bowls make an excellent addition to kitchens of this design as does wrought iron, grape vines, grape clusters, and wine bottles. But in the average Tuscan kitchen pottery has a tendency to upstage everything else. From pottery canisters to pottery crocks for holding utensils to pottery cake stands and dozens of potential pottery pieces in between there are plenty of opportunities to incorporate pottery into your Tuscan kitchen theme without breaking a sweat and it will seem perfectly appropriate too. Who could really ask for more than that? Well not many pottery lovers I know that's for sure.

While you are setting the stage in your Tuscan kitchen for plenty of pottery on your counter tops do not overlook the opportunities on your walls. Pottery wall sconces are great for holding candles or even skilled contractors to apply modern lighting. Tiles and plates make excellent wall decorations that are entirely suitable for a Tuscan themed kitchen and are a great deal of fun to select or have made. They add decorative touches for the most part but can also be practical when necessary (provided of course that they were created in a food safe manner) as platters or even chargers if they are slightly oversized.

Reprinted with permission.