Tuscan Kitchen - Bel Sole

Welcome to my latest project, a Tuscan kitchen I've lovingly named Bel Sole {beautiful sun}. Set in the beautiful and dreamy hills of Tuscany Italy. Grab a glass of wine or whatever your fancy and come along on a photo tour of this Italian little gem I've dreamt about for awhile now....{warning: a lot of photos, take your time}. Maybe find some soft Italian opera and let that be your background music ...

There are still some tiny details left to do, like receive my rush-seat dining chairs and a few other things, and a little work on the roof, but hopefully you won't mind me showing you what's done so far :)

Come on in... The sauce is simmering and I'm busy cooking, but I love having company!



I can see when someone pulls up the hill from my sink, a perfect view of the olive groves and hills from here :)



At Bel Sole , it's all about friends and family and gathering together to eat and enjoy each others company while relaxing and just enjoying the day...






A nice deep porcelain sink for our big pots and pans, and lots of pretty accessories wrap the kitchen with love...

Cooking is my passion here....Especially home-made sauce and fresh pasta :)


The sun is hot in Tuscany , but I've found a nice little spot to build under the trees for a little relief...With just enough sun coming in for a little bit of charm...




Every kitchen should have a large range, that way I can cook several things at once. This one even has a little pizza oven too :)






Good cookware is so important , that way my home-made pasta comes out right every time!

A little glass of wine while I cook is just as important :)








Getting a platter of appetizers together is one of my favorite parts of entertaining and cheese is something I really believe I could literally live on alone :) and some blackberries too :)


Another window, with a view out to the pergola ...

I love collecting ginger jars, large and small ...




Warm "fresh from the oven" bread loaves , brought back from the bakery just this morning.... a perfect reason for walking down to the village every day...



And what Tuscan kitchen could survive without a large island in the center? It's a must!








A nice large space for making pasta, chopping vegetables, and mixing up delicious goodies for you :)!






My grandmothers cookbook is always open....



I love to take a step back when I'm in the middle of getting everything ready for company and look at it all, make sure I crossed every T and then the music and a glass of wine for myself and I'm all ready...






I hope you'll come and stay awhile.... I've even got an apron you can don and help me cook a little :)


Then we'll grab all the food and come outside to watch the sunset as we eat and relax!

For now lol, we'll have to borrow the kitchen table because my delivery man hasn't dropped off my handmade Tuscan table for 12 yet, but it's on it's way!


We need chairs too, and they are coming soon!


Isn't it the perfect spot for dining alfresco? My favorite way to eat and entertain!




Well I hope you enjoyed the tour of my Tuscan kitchen , it has just a few things left to do, but you are welcome anytime my friends!!

I'll always leave the outside light on for you , right over my sign....


Don't forget to take a piece of cake before you go! :)


Thanks for coming by! I love you all! xoxo!

Hugs, Cynthia

ps: There will be a permanent link to this kitchen on my side bar.

~ Tuscan Dreams ~

As Julia says, find something you're passionate about and keep interested! Well that isn't hard for me to do :) I'm passionate about miniatures, cooking, entertaining, and I've always been passionate about Italy. I'm part Italian and cooking is just in my veins. So I suppose it was natural that other than Summer Rose's "Eastern Long Island/Nantucket/Summer home feel" and inspiration; My next miniature home would be from Tuscany. My daughter just returned from Italy and after going through her pictures I knew I wanted to do a miniature Tuscan kitchen. Sooo, the process has begun :)

The kitchen will be fairly large, with a patio attached , perfect for dining alfresco and another chance to design a second eating area in one space. When I was a designer, the rule I had was that before designing and building a space, we have to see how we want to "live" in it. So first you gather all that you "want and wished for" in the space. ...It's only after we are surrounded by the necessities and our loved items, that the walls get built. So that's how I'm designing this space too. I haven't come up with a name yet, but I'm busy cooking, baking and collecting to pull together the look I want. So come for a quick peek at some of my inspirations and pieces so far. As a side note, I only work on one project in my mini world at a time, that way it has all my passion and focus. So I'll be busy this week making skirted counters, painting walls, faux finishing furniture, baking Tuscan minis, building stone floors, buying special pieces etc. And I'll love every minute of it :) I'll be showing the progress here over the next few weeks! I hope you enjoy! Happy Summer!


Gathering items I love....


Dreaming of beautiful back drops and practically smelling the warm Tuscan breeze on the patio...



Such a beautiful place......



I've collected some items I love and made an abundance of fruits and vegetables this week and some delicious fresh homemade pastas too :)


I'm gathering ideas for the patio side view of the house and this is exactly how I'd like it to look..



I've played with a few vignettes to see what colors I'd like for the kitchen , using natural items like the food and accessories to be my guide ...



Warm tones and bold colors will help make this Italian countryside kitchen feel relaxing and well loved...


So that's a little sneak peek at what I have been up to and what I'm working on now :) Once the building starts, I'll take you through the process with me! I'm hoping to start that portion of it this weekend and I'm super excited! It'll be fun to take you on the journey with me too :)


Before I sign off today , here's a few little shabby chic sweet minis I made too....


A little vintage Cake Box and distressed pink items were my design passions for the Etsy shop this week and I'll be making some new items on my days off from kitchen building too :)


I hope you all have a fabulous weekend ahead! And happy almost Summer!

Big hugs and love!

Cynthia xo

Some items I didn't make, they were collected from the following favorite miniaturists:
A Musing Miniatures, Bagusitaly, Carol Cook, Lugartpetit, and bread boxes and pots were from TYA kitchens at Swan House Miniatures.