Everybody’s Doing It: De-Tuscanize Your Home Now
Can you draw a straight line from the 2003 movie Under the Tuscan Sun to the design craze that dominated the landscape for a decade? Take a look at this scene from the movie and you be the judge.
Americans have a manner all our own. When we see something we like, we’re off and running. We eagerly ushered in the era of elaborate cabinetry, embellished vent hoods and vineyard-inspired everything.
The Old World aesthetic presided over new home construction for years. But then… Millennials.
Millennials came into their own and brought an entirely new aesthetic with them. They were into airy palettes and clean lines, pops of color and minimalist features. Everything they wanted flew in the face of everything that had come before. What had previously seemed luxurious started to feel oppressive.
Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers are now moving on themselves, upsizing to accommodate growing families or downsizing as the last kid goes off to college. Their Tuscan homes have been hitting the market in droves, commanding less than they should because they’re not what buyers are looking for.
As a result, a mass “detuscanizing” is happening all across America and especially in Florida, where contemporary coastal reigns supreme. Homeowners everywhere are ready to remodel, but with so many design elements baked into the architecture, a reboot can seem impossible—or impossibly expensive.
Good news! You can make a major change without completely breaking the bank. All you need is a little guidance.
The Kitchen
First, repaint everything in a warm white shade. Leave nary a faux finish!
Ditch the golden/orangey/brown granite countertops. Replace them with quartz, which is better suited to today’s simpler aesthetic. Your countertops don’t have to be boring, though! To best complement those Old World elements that are harder to change, look for quartz in a warm, light color with subtle striations.
Replace the cabinets if you can. If that’s not possible, replace the doors. If that’s not possible, paint them.
The Bathroom
Like the walls and cabinets in your kitchen, a fresh coat of paint will go a very long way. Say buh-bye to faux finish. Paint the walls a warm neutral color.
Then paint the vanity, add new hardware and replace the sink and if needed. Replace the gilded mirror with an oval or circular mirror in a pencil-thin frame.
Finally, replace the sconces with something sleek and streamlined.
Other Spaces
Heavy window treatments are out. Choose a sheer covering that lets in lots of light. Staying in neutral territory will help you integrate them in a room where all the Old World elements are not so easily changed.
Replace the ornate mantle above the fireplace, or remove it entirely for an extra clean look. The fireplace screen can go out by the curb.
Replace elaborate staircase railings with simple, sleek railings and posts.
The Keepers
Travertine floors? Good news! Limestone is a durable and has enduring appeal. Its natural, organic look is perennially popular, and now more than ever.
Arched or beam ceilings? Lucky duck! Tuscan style made ceilings a focal point. Buyers today love nothing more than charm and character, and Tuscan style provided that in spades.
