Elegant Italianate Touches for the Master Bedroom
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Italian culture is sensual. Whether it is the food, the dress or its boosts of love, the sense are meant to be indulged. What better room to highlight and indulge the visual sensual appeal, than the master bedroom.
The Italianate master bedroom should be relaxing with gratuitous touches of comfort and subtle luxury. The bed is the focal point and is prominently displayed as the crown jewel. The movement of the room gravitates to the bed.
Italian decors take many of their design cues from nature from the color choices to the materials that are chosen. To go along with this natural fabrics such as wool, cotton, silk, cashmere are used to ornament the sleeping area. The bed coverings are thick and inviting. Solid colored bedding choices are popular. Simple and sparsely printed designs are used with discretion.
Elegant, old-world furniture
Italian decor highlight traditional handcrafted works and so antiques pieces are used to complement the master bedroom and add an old-world elegance. The bed matches the theme of room and so the wood choice for the bed is solid with rich dark finishes. The beds are not richly ornamented with differing elements but stick to the wood itself because it is the art that is on show. The only ornamentation will be hand carved reliefs in the headboard and foot board.
A fainting chaise adds elegance and the allure of love. The inclusion of a fainting chaise is almost a caricature of itself. It is commonly stereotyped in art and entertainment when an allusion to romance is needed.
From side to side
The woods and dampened earth tones look best in natural light. For this reason the windows are left simple and airy to allow for the maximum amount of light. Sheer plain printed fabric is used beneath unassuming heavier fabric to catch subtle air currents. The beauty of the windows is not what they are adorned with; the focus is letting in the light to achieve warmth.
The bedroom should hearken back to Old Italy and the art should reflect this. Stoneware with vineyard tinged accents, paintings of grape clusters, and coiling vines are employed to achieve the desired antiquated feel. The theme of Italian decor is always warmth and this is mastered in the rough textures and earth tones that reflect a life that relies and pays homage to the vineyard. Tuscan wall hangings, vineyard and violin metal wall art are excellent choices that will add detail and authenticity.
Often sayings of love or wisdom will be written in context, directly on the walls in old world calligraphy. For example, over the bed, Amore infinito, or infinite love. The walls are traditionally plain and light. The elegance of the Italianate master bedroom is its reserved choices of decoration.
From top to bottom
The plaster ceiling is often vaulted in deep burgundy or chocolate finishes, which brings warmth and visual appeal. Beamed columns complement the vaulted ceilings. The floors offset the dark texture of the beams in light natural wood finishes. Sometimes light shades of flat stone are used but in both cases the color is kept light.
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