About Us

Ciao!—Our names are Donna and Elaine. We’re friends who traveled to Tuscany a few years ago and fell in love with the Tuscan style. We enjoyed the Tuscan countryside, stayed in an agriturismo (a farmhouse high on a hillside overlooking a medieval Tuscan town), ate memorable food, drank the fabulous (and expensive) Brunello di Montelcino (a divine red wine), explored pottery shops, wandered back lanes, drove the rolling, cypress-studded countryside….

We ate indoors or out—depending on our mood or the weather—which was warm and warmer…

Sometimes, really early in the mornings, we heard the wake-up call of a rooster. We also sat in the fragrant dusk, a gentle breeze wafting our hair, watching the lights twinkle on in the town below, the evening sky becoming a deep, purple-blue…. Such contentment, peace, a spiritual communion….

Somehow we did manage to get back on the plane to come home, but we were forever altered.

After we arrived home from Italy, we were each excited to incorporate elements of Tuscan décor into our own homes. Some tumbled Italian marble in the bathroom, perhaps? What about ceramic tiles in the kitchen? Terracotta urns full of plants on the patio? And where to put that majolica (that fabulous ceramic dinnerware in dramatic colors) that was carefully carted home?

Friends were asking how to incorporate elements of Tuscan decorating into their own homes. Where do I find the right paint colors? Where can I get furniture like that? How do I get started?

We enjoy a friendship with a former Zen monk who supports our quest and who one day drew a comparison between Zen principles of serenity and simplicity, the "middle way," and our description of our experience of "anything Tuscan."

This set us to thinking. Could creating a particularly pleasing "look," mood or tone in our living environments produce a positive "cascading" effect in other areas of our lives? Is it possible to create a better life by creating and maintaining an optimally supportive living space?

By incorporating elements of strength and structure, permanence and beauty into our surroundings, we believe that we benefit from the healing power of these qualities. Being connected with the earth helps grounds us to ourselves. We are, in a real sense, "coming home."

The fine Tuscan sensibility of juxtaposing rich colors and textures, harmonizing shapes and forms, and creating with an eye and heart to functionality are qualities we readily appreciate. We find such environments not only aesthetically pleasing, but comforting.

We teamed with a designer, Linda, and created what we feel is a fabulous eBook, Decorating in the Tuscan Style, to help folks, just like you, find good information on Tuscan decorating and successfully create your own Tuscan decor and ambience.

Linda—Our Designer

 
Linda has been a designer for over 25 years. With her passion and appreciation for impressionist art and painting, it’s no surprise that she is inspired by the vibrancy and spirited style of Tuscan decorating. Her experience in all aspects of renovation and interior design made her an obvious choice as collaborator in this project.

 

We believe that Decorating in the Tuscan Style, with its decorating tips, "how to’s," product ideas will help you create a warm and inviting home environment that, in the crafting and enjoyment of it, will affect your life in a satisfying and pleasing way.

We each believe in contributing to our local communities. The three of us are active in volunteer work and, as our resources, knowledge and skills continue to develop, we can expand what we are able to offer others. We are committed to donating 10% of the proceeds of our eBook to support our favorite organizations & charities.

Donna wishes to support Habitat for Humanity. Donna has been actively involved with this organization for a number of years at the board level as director of fundraising and previously with volunteer coordination. She believes in the work they are doing in trying to break the cycle of poverty with the focus on families.

Elaine spends time volunteering with seniors. She companions individuals and accompanies them to appointments, shopping, and outings. She plans to make donations to Senior’s Services organizations in her local community.

Linda and her church support the Azua School and Church Mission Project in the Dominican Republic. This church is raising money to buy materials to add a kindergarten and additional classrooms to the school in the village of Elprado, as well as to aid in the support of the teachers and the pastor and his family.

We expect, as you read through the eBook, Decorating in the Tuscan Style, that you will find something that resonates with you. We hope you take as much pleasure in the colors and features of Tuscany as we do and be so inspired by the beauty, simplicity and functionality of Tuscan design that you create a little bit of Tuscany in your home and garden—fashion your own refuge—a calm oasis in a busy world.

We welcome your suggestions and ideas. Please share with us what you’ve learned, discovered, tried…. If we use your ideas, we’ll be sure to acknowledge you.

We want to help you create that very special and unique look that is Tuscan so you can feel just as we did when we were in the Tuscan countryside—serene, grounded, enriched.

Start living your Tuscan dreams. Explore the possibilities. Create the state of mind and spirit that is Tuscany….