Taste of Tuscany

All over the world, people aspire to include a touch of Italy in their lives, be it Italian cuisine or the fashions featured in European magazines. When it comes to home design, the relaxed, spacious style of Tuscan villas, which are often situated in areas with spectacular views, is something that many homeowners wish to replicate.

Located on the banks of Puget Sound, this house is a fitting example of how Tuscan villa style can work outside Europe. The home is created with arched openings both inside and out, columns, tumbled marble floors and granite countertops, a stucco and stone exterior facade, and many different styles of plaster and paint finishes on the interior walls.

The main living space on the first floor looks out through large windows toward the water, and is open plan to ensure a relaxed and light-filled living environment with a focus on the views.

A high level of detail is evident in the interiors, from the handcrafted stair balustrade to the carefully constructed cabinetry, which was custom made by Pacific Crest Industries. Dark wood tones and glazed finishes help to create a Northwest interpretation of a Tuscan look, says director of marketing John Brush, who provided cabinet design and layout.

"A wide variety of wood species is used in different areas of the house, from the African hardwood sapele, which is used for the office desk and cabinets, to the cherry wood in a Java finish in the master bathroom to name just a few. The success of the home's design is in the details as well as in the layout," he says.

Also part of the open-plan living room, the kitchen features cherry wood cabinetry that was custom made using Pacific Crest Industries' Bellmont brand in three colors and finishes. The island has a Saffron Villa III glaze with Licorice accents, and the cabinets are Sable with a black glaze.

The cherry wood entertainment center exemplifies how the Bellmont line can be used to create furniture-style pieces that aesthetically blend with the surroundings. The Providence door is used for this cabinetry, as well as for the kitchen.

A major feature of this house is the wood-paneled library. Used to display items significant to the homeowners as well as their book collection, the room called for some specialist workmanship.

Pacific Crest builds two lines of cabinetry: Bellmont, used here, and Amero. Pacific Crest is a family-owned Washington state cabinet manufacturer that has been serving the Western United States, Hawaii, and Alaska for 20 years. Its emphasis is on eco-sensitive manufacturing and social responsibility; this is reflected in its ethos: building cabinets with a conscience'.

As part of its company values, Pacific Crest works with Agros International and sponsors a village in El Salvador. An Environmental Stewardship Program seal of certification from the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association means the company meets stringent manufacturing criteria for sustainable design.

To see a video on the company, and learn more about who they are and what they build, visit the company website: www.pacificcrestindustries.com.

Story by: Trendsideas