- The paint job you give your walls will set the tone for the rest of the kitchen's design. The walls should be painted a bright, sunny color, such as butterscotch, yellow or orange. You will want to achieve a slightly aged and textured look to the walls. This can be achieved by using a variety of different color shades. Paint your walls with your base shade, and then use a sponge to lightly apply various darker shades. Done correctly, this will make the wall look as if it has faded in spots and will give it an air of country authenticity. To really capture the Tuscan feel, mix some joint compound in with your paint and apply the texture in thin layers with a putty knife. This technique, known as "pouncing," will help create a rustic textured wall typical of the Tuscan style.
- The next step is to apply the Tuscan style to your cabinets, baseboards window sills and any other accent woodwork you have in your kitchen. Choose colors that sharply contrast the bright walls. Use black for baseboards and sills, and rich reds and dark greens work on cabinets. If you like, you can distress your cabinets to give them an aged appearance, but be careful--a little distressing goes a long way, and too much will detract from the style instead of accenting it. Replace all of your cabinet hardware with style-appropriate drawer pulls and handles. Use dark, burnished metals in Tuscan kitchens.
- Accents are what truly bring all of your design elements together and complete the room. Think about replacing your kitchen sink or faucet with a style-appropriate option. Colorful counter backsplashes featuring animals and vegetables are a staple of Italian kitchen décor. Purchase some Tuscan-style containers to hold items such as pasta, flour, sugar and coffee. Purchase some bright, decorative dinnerware you can display in your kitchen--the Tuscan style employs many bright, welcoming colors that will play off of the paint job in your kitchen. Finally, cooking ingredients such as pots of live herbs on the windowsill, jars of oil infused with herbs on the counter and a small bowl of fresh garlic bunches can add some beautiful and functional accents to your new Tuscan kitchen.
