Elements of Italian Country Style - Bringing the Feeling of Italy in Your Home

Italian ideas on decorative matters have influenced other European countries and cultures for more than 500 years. From the early Renaissance, it was Italian designs and styles that spread throughout Europe, and Italian artists and craftsmen who put those new ideas into practice.

Not much has changed. In modern furniture design, for example, it is still Italian designers who introduce the new, the innovative, the exciting; suggest the new materials and new methods of production the keep modern interior design alive.

Yet, Italy is a country of history, a place where the past is always present and sometimes seems more important than the present. This feeling is especially demonstrated in the way that Italian country houses are decorated.

The layering of the past and present manifests itself as a style that borrows and adapts from other eras and places, editing and refining the elements. Unlike other European countries, such as France and England, there was never a traditional Italian country-house style, since the middle classes tended to settle in towns and cities. The countryside belonged to the farmers and their workers, who furnished their homes relatively simply, without the touches of middle class comfort and decorating that, were so often used elsewhere.

The postwar flight to the towns in Italy left many farmhouses to crumble. The extremely strict planning laws and restrictions on building of new structures meant that the restoration of an existing structure has been the only option. Most recent buyers transform stables and barns into habitable areas and change farm worker's quarters into comfortable individual living spaces.

Inside and out, Italian country living spaces are remarkable for their simple elegance. In the, salotto (the living room) furniture is generally placed around the edge of the room creating a feeling of space and order. The living room is never fussy or stiff. A few well chosen pieces of furniture are often rough-hewn and heavyset. A rosy terra-cotta floor and softly hued stucco walls lend great warmth and texture to the room. The mantel over the fireplace, while ornately carved, displays only a single vase of flowers or a few collected objects. In every detail, restraint is employed to create an elegant, yet comfortable ambience.

A balance is achieved between "authentic" country furnishings and more modern pieces. A comfortable couch or two is usually the centerpiece of the room. Upholstered in sturdy fabric with soft earth tones or muted floral prints, these are arranged to create a feeling of comfort and intimacy. Although the coffee table is a relatively modern invention, it is found in many country retreats. A small carved chest will often do the trick, or a column pedestal or cornice can be given a glass top and used as a coffee table.

A few pieces of rustic furniture go a long way toward creating a country look. Antique country furnishings were simply designed and often homemade, lending them an arte povera quality that has only recently become fashionable.

The traditional Florentine table, with its ornamental hexagonal or octagonal top and carved pedestal, can be used alongside a couch or group of chairs. A large chest with arms and a back is a traditional, if not very comfortable settee. Other Italian classics recognized more for old-world charm than comfort are folding X-shaped Savonarola and Dante armchairs or side chairs, all of which can be made more comfortable with a plush seat cushion.

During the summer months the party moves outdoors and an outdoor space becomes an extra room or wing of the house, No country home is complete without a portico or a pergola covered in wisteria vines leading out to the gardens. Here, the family and friends can convene in the cool shade even when the midday sun is at its peak. Often second floor bedrooms will have their own loggia, or covered balconies, as well.

Italian outdoor retreats mold seamlessly into nature. Stone walls reflect the mellow colors and reach texture of the surrounding landscape, as do the lichen-covered tiles on the roof. Patios are often lined with mossy, loosely fitted terra-cotta tiles. Terra-cotta pots and urns are everywhere, overflowing with geraniums and ivy. Stair railings and gates are wrought iron, which weathers well, and stone balustrades are common around more stately terraces.

Dining alfresco in the countryside is any Italophile's dream come true. Many porticos and pergolas are large enough for a long dining table, which can be anything from a simple picnic table to a more elaborate banquet. It is not uncommon for a wrought iron table to be placed right in the garden, shaded by trees or a beautiful canvas umbrella.