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The Romance of Italy
Adding a Touch of Italy to Your Home
By Jacqueline Rupp
You might feel inspired after all the delicious dinners to add some Italian style to your home decor. Here are a few ways to capture the classical romance of the region.
Three simple touches: "Lemon trees in terracotta pots, candlestick lamps and silk damask cushions," says Jane Gordon Clark, artist, interior designer and author of the definitive guide to Mediterranean design, Italian Style. "Each of these pieces can add that distinctive feel of sophistication."
One of the perfect places to add some Italian style is, of course, in the kitchen. Clark says that items like hanging copper pans and pots and herbs, like basil, thyme and rosemary grown in terracotta pots can be beautiful as well as functional. "A simple wood table, cane chairs and big oval serving dishes can complete the look," Clark says. Clark also suggests including Italian pottery, like plates, jugs and bowls.
At Bella Vita Ceramica in Pipersville, Pa., you can purchase online a whole collection of imported Italian pottery, from biscotti jars, oil and vinegar servers and soup tureens all in warm tones usually with fruit, floral or classical motifs.