The color palette used inside this fabulous old farmhouse in Tuscany is borrowed from the trees, flowers and fields of the surrounding countryside. Luscious greens… Edible apricot… Sunshine yellow. This livingroom is almost monochromatic with all colors taken from the same side of the color wheel to make a dramatic statement which spills out into the hall.

The walls appear to be finished in Venetian plaster, but if they were painted a color from Benjamin Moore, it would be Soft Pumpkin 2166-40. Have you ever played around with Benjamin Moore’s Personal Color Viewer? It’s a nifty way to visualize color for your walls, ceiling and trim.

The bedroom carries the same color scheme through. Same walls. Same warm colored sisal rug. Rich brick red accents on the bedding with it’s slightly Moroccan canopy.

A view from the apricot hall into a green library refreshes the eye with what I would call a spring green on the walls, and rich olive velvet pillows. In interior design, it’s always wise to view one room from the point of view of an adjacent room such as this photo suggests. That way we can check to see if the transitions are smoothe. Square market umbrella and lounge chairs covered in orangey-red sailcloth fabric repeats the interior color scheme around the pool. The stunning ancient tower from the 11th century topped with a richly colored antiqued tile roof.

I had to include this charming image of the dining table’s vases overflowing with yellow roses. I’m guessing they climb in abundance along some crusty stone wall near the house. Notice how loose flowers and petals have been allowed to stay on the table as if they just fell out of the arrangement. Gloriously lush and casual….and they will last through the meal before they wilt. So, the effect is there.

It was architect/designer?Piero Castellini Baldissera (of C&C Milano Fabrics) who held the “big picture” with grace and ease throughout the warm interiors and out into the verdent gardens and patios. This is one of the advantages of using a good professional interior designer. It is too easy for home owners to get side tracked with exciting but random shopping finds along the way. When this happens, we often veer away from the core vision of our home because our great ideas (as wonderful as they are!) do not complement the “big picture.” A smart designer will keep you consistently on track so that the end result has the visual impact that you desire.

Photographs from Veranda November-December 2007