About "Mediterranean" design: what comes to mind immediately are the houses in Greece designed by John Stefanidis. His own house, on the island of Patmos, is the focus of his latest book, An Island Sanctuary: A House in Greece. Just lovely! As for "Tuscan" style in the way that you all are describing it, while I've never eaten in an Olive Garden, that pseudo-Italian restaurant style certainly sounds horrid. I want my wine bottles in a wine cellar or in the fridge, and then emptied and in the recycling bin -- not ranged along the tops of my kitchen cabinets! As for fake vines, I actually had fake ivy running along the tops of the cabinets in our old house. A lame attempt to add some softness and color, and to liven up a not-very-good kitchen and all I accomplished was weaving a dust and grease catcher up high where it was hard to reach. When I finally took it down and placed the fake ivy where it belonged -- in the donation room at a local thrift store -- the kitched looked much, much better. There is something to be said for "honesty" and authenticity in houses, and I think a good part of that means decorating and designing for the geographic and cultural place in which you live. Anyway, I see I wandered OT. To go back to the original issue, in my mind there is a distinct difference between Tuscan and Mediterranean styles, especially as interpreted by Americans.

Oh. I didn't mean to sound all gloomy etc. Not at all. It didn't feel like that then. First, I was little..it doesn't bother you to share the amenities with eight or nine other people, when you're a kid. The lightness of the being is pretty bearable when you're young. At least it should be. Also, it was seventies, eighties..relatively calm time. Actually, I was convinced we were all lucky, fortunate, and whatnot. I thought I had a very sweet life. Which was true to big extent-no war, no hunger, no major misery.. Would be daydreaming how I help other kids from around the world..that weren't as lucky as us to be born in our amazing country. I wanted to share with them clothes and food and blah blah So when years passed and things started to change and I set my feet in some of these other countries-then I understood my crappy clothes wouldn't do most of these kids any favors..)) Now I need to remind myself the same things-nothing is given. We just get lucky sometimes. May these times be kind to us in the future..

Hello, I’m posting in hopes to help someone else like me who researches a ton. I agonized over choosing flooring for a year. I didnt want it overly knotty, too yellow too orage, too gray too dark. Was this so hard to ask? I swear I probaby had 30 samples come into my house, . I researched many and found it was hard to find reviews and photos. We finally decided on Tri West California Classics Mediterranean Colection in the color vittoria. I liked tripoli but my husband thought it was too light. I had found some photos of vottoria on instagram and it seemed to be well made. We jusy had it installed todsy and im thrilled with how it looks. Will be posting photos soon.

Hi, I search photos on Houzz for both products and here's what I found for the Calabria. At least it's not a marketing photo. The only thing that came up for the Ligurian is from the manufacturer I'm not a color expert, but IMO, the Ligurian floor is a very warm color and the Calabria is very cool. Which do you prefer? Both are very pretty,. The tripoli looks like a warm color. Maybe you are drawn to warm colors more than cool. Good luck!