French country kitchen color palette
2023 Beginner’s Guide — Brocante Ma Jolie
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Let’s get started!
I. French country color palette
1. Neutral French country color scheme
As you may already know, the French country style is characterized by its neutral color scheme (you can get 6 French country color scheme ideas for free here).
But which neutral colors to choose and why?
Let’s dive in.
There are multiple reasons to choose neutral colors:
They are timeless, elegant and relaxing
They match all colors, so it left more possibilities when choosing paint colors for the furniture
They allow your vintage and antique items to stand out
2. What neutral colors to choose?
The first neutral to choose is white. You’ll never go wrong with an ecru or ivory white!
Then, choose 2 or 3 neutral colors among these:
Favor light versions of these neutral colors. They’ll make your room seem brighter and larger. Plus, they’ll guide your attention more on the furniture and accent pieces than on the walls.
Also, pay attention to your floor and your unchangeable furniture.
If you loooove color, you may be on the verge of leaving this too neutral post…
But wait, stay with me! Your favorite part is coming...
3. Faded colors
You should now have chosen one white, and 2 or 3 other basic neutral colors.
Here’s the best part: you can finally choose colors!
But not just any one.
Below are some of my favorite French country colors:
In a French country home decor, colors are mostly faded and kind of chalk.
They are unsaturated with colors. Very subtle and soft shades.
They remind us of nature: the sky, the wood, the minerals, the earth or the sand.
Should you choose cool or warm colors?
Warm colors – such as reds and yellows remind us of sunlight and heat (in bref: South of France!).![](/800/600/http/i.pinimg.com/736x/25/37/5f/25375f02048507d553b831676cbccdeb.jpg)
Cool colors – such as blues and greens remind us of the water, the sky and the grass. They are great for small rooms to make them seem larger. They make the room calm and relaxing.
How to choose colors that work well together?
To choose color combinations that look beautiful together, I advise using a color wheel.
Interior design color wheel by Amazon
What’s a color wheel? It’s a handy tool to help visualize which colors will work nicely together.
Simply turn the wheel so that your favorite color is located at the top, and you’ll see the colors that work well with it. Magic, isn’t it?
You can find this color wheel on Amazon. I think it’s the best one.
4. French blue color
I wanted to write a part specifically on French country blue, because my readers often ask me questions about this color.
So what exactly is French blue? French blue color is a very light and soft blue, that looks fresh and timeless. It’s a color that works very well on a section of wall or on furniture.
Actually, there isn’t ONE French blue but several.
The common point between these blues is their soft and pale tone.
As a picture is worth 1000 words, here are some examples of french blue paint colors from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore to make it even clearer for you:
Notablue Hue - Sherwin Williams
Windy Blue - Sherwin Williams
Denim Wash - Benjamin Moore
Blue Heather - Benjamin Moore
II. Which country French paint colors to choose? (+ how to use it)
1. French country paint colors
Now that you know which French country colors to choose for your home, it’s time to buy the paint.
Easier said than done, isn’t it?
It’s often a real headache.
there are too many paint colors out there
they are not always easy to apply
Once on the wall, you’re not sure if it really suits the room
So yes, finding the right paint can be overwhelming.
But don’t worry anymore…
I’m here to help!
And my one secret is a few scrolls away.
A. French country wall colors
Paint samples
Have you ever bought paint in the store thinking it would fit perfectly on your wall, but once applied, it didn’t look right at all?
I did.
And I know it’s frustrating.
That’s mainly because of the undertones and because the light in the store may be different from the light in your home.
So now, I recommend my readers to buy some samples before.
But not just any…
Peel and stick paint samples.
Because you won’t need to paint anything.
Samplize makes some very good ones (made with 2 coats of real paint), easy to use and affordable (only $5.95). And the samples come right to your door in 1-3 business days.
They have Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore and Farrow & Ball paint samples.
But the best part?
You can move them from wall to wall and room to room.
A real time and money saver!
And to help you save even more time, here’s my selection of paint colors for a French country home (+ what it looks like in real spaces).
Sherwin Williams has a wide selection of paint colors but these ones are really good.
I gathered all the best French country paint colors to use here.
For the walls, I like to use very neutral colors with light shades, like “Extra White”, “Repose gray”, “Rock Candy”:
You can also use some subtle colors but as I explained earlier, sparingly.
Stardew or Queen Anne Lilac could be great on a wall section or a door for example.
Evergreen fog may be the perfect paint color for your french country kitchen.
Here are a few French country paint colors you could choose from Benjamin Moore.
You can check for Chantilly Lace, Collingwood, and Fieldstone paint samples on the Samplize website.
B. Chalk paint
One of the best colors for french country is found in the chalk finish paint collection.
I love this paint, especially for furniture.
We repainted several of our furniture pieces with it, and we couldn’t be more pleased.
My mum used to hate painting. She didn't like the fact that it had to be perfect. With no paint marks or streaks. Every painter’s nightmare.
But in a French country home?
We just don’t want it to be perfect. We want chips, scratches and damage.
And chalk finish paint is perfect for this purpose.
I really love “Jolie” paint colors that are perfect for a French Country style.
Here are my favorite paint colors from this brand:
French blue
Swedish grey
Bliss
Lilac Grey
I always advise buying the Jolie brushes and wax that are specially made to be used with this chalk paint as I don’t guarantee you’ll get great results with classical brushes you may find elsewhere.
They offer a complete kit including all you need to paint your first furniture piece (a large paint can, the wax, the two essential brushes and more). The only thing you need to decide is the color you want!
But if you’re a beginner and want to give it a try on a small item first, the best is to choose the starter kit.
Here is our dining room furniture before and after chalk paint.
Our chairs have been painted with “Antique White”.
Our farm table and dresser with a mix of white and the equal of “Eucalyptus” color.
2. Distressed look
Here in France, we like to have old pieces of furniture.
Sometimes inherited from our parents or grandparents.
Sometimes found in brocantes (flea markets).
These pieces of furniture have been aged over time. They’re real family heirlooms. And they bring a rustic and traditional touch to our home.
So, to get a French country look, your furniture needs to be distressed.
A little for some, a lot for others.
They should look like they have withstood the test of time.
They should appear weathered.
So when you repaint a piece of furniture, don’t make it perfect.
Rather distress where wear and tear are found: around the handles and corners, surrounding the feet of the furniture…
There are now several paint techniques that allow furniture to be repainted while retaining its authenticity and patina.
Chalk paint is the perfect choice for someone who doesn’t know anything about painting (like me!), or who wants to renovate their furniture quickly and well.
III. How and where to add color in your French country home?
You chose your accent colors.
Now let’s see where to use them.
A. Painted door or wall section
I saw plenty of French country homes pictures with a door of another color than the rest of the room.
Here are a few examples to give you some inspiration.
Hemtrevligt
Sweet Pickins
Coco lapine design
The paint and wax you need to get a similar look
You can also paint one wall with a different color if you want to make your room seem bigger.
Always paint an unchanging wall (not cut by a door, a window, or cupboards).
Favor the wall that’s perpendicular to the daylight.
Emily Salomon
Tip: In the living room, you can paint the wall against which the sofa leans. In the bedroom, the one against which the headboard leans. And it may be a good idea to paint one of the corridor’s walls to make it brighter and less narrow.
You can also paint a section of the wall to define a zone with a specific function. Such as the wall of the dining area in the kitchen, the office area in the bedroom, the children’s area in the living room, etc.
Tip: Be careful! If the wall is backlit, it will appear darker than it actually is (thank you optical effect).
B. French country wallpaper
No, don’t spread wallpaper in every room of your home.
French country style is inspired by old countryside houses. But the wallpaper everywhere? Old-fashioned!
Here are 4 tips to do it the right way:
Cover only a section of the wall with wallpaper.
It will enlarge or define the space.
Choose a wall section that won’t be overloaded. Few furniture. Few wall art.
Choose a wallpaper with the main color close to one of your color palette.
Choose a wallpaper that will match the furniture and decor you plan to put against this wall
These wallpapers would be great for a French country look (click to shop):
C. Furniture
You can paint your furniture in one of the colors you chose, especially if your furniture is very ornate and made of dark wood.
Remember: the keywords are elegant simplicity and brightness.
So you can have dark brown furniture. But just a few small pieces.
But light wood furniture or valuable furniture don’t always deserve to be repainted. I let you judge!
D. Accent pieces
Your decor can also bring some color into your home, especially copper and gold accent pieces. They add brightness to a room.
Copper
I particularly love copper that brings so much warmth. We can find it in almost every room but especially in the kitchen.
Formerly in France, copper was used to designing useful objects: pots and pans, utensils, teapots, fish poachers, molds ... And they were transmitted from generation to generation.
We now find a lot of copper in the decoration. Pans and cauldrons hanging in the kitchen, planters, and vases in the living room, umbrella stand in the entrance, etc.
Quick View
Quick View
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Quick View
You can find other copper beauties here.
Gold
House Beautiful
You can add gilded touches in your home with brass, bronze and gold painted wood.
Possibilities are endless:
Golden mirrors & frames
Brass planters
Lighting, in particular chandeliers and sconces
Bronze or brass candle holders
Hardware: handles, doorknobs, architectural decor
Bronze or brass accessories like trinket dishes, alarm clocks, or figurines
Quick View
Quick View
Quick View
You’ll find some great gold French pieces to shop here.
E. Prints
Prints can be a game-changer for your French country decor.
You have to be careful when you choose them, or you might end up with a messy look. That’s why I wrote a post dedicated to the French country prints to show you how to mix them.
Here are 3 of my favorite prints, but I show you more choices in my dedicated post.
And if you want to learn more about Toile de Jouy, here’s everything you need to know.
F. Flowers
Who says French country decor also says nature.
So it can’t be done without flowers.
They’ll give color to your interior but also a delicious smell.
But what if you don’t have flowers in your garden? And what about the winter season?
The answer is… Use dried flowers!
If they aren’t martyred, they can last for a long time. No need to care.
Our dried hydrangeas
Related post: The 10 French country design MISTAKES most people make
IV. ADDING WARMTH TO YOUR DECOR
To come to life, your home decor need some color but also a touch of warmth.
Here are 2 ways to visually warm your home:
1. Wood
The wood color is essential to give a little warmth to your very neutral interior.
Floor: parquet is a must
Furniture: don’t repaint every piece of furniture. If you have light furniture, leave some at is. Or keep a wooden part raw.
Accessories: add wooden accents to your decor such as rattan baskets, frames…
2. Plants
Make your French country decor more lively with some plants.
Being surrounded by green and nature is also a way to feel like you’re in the French countryside.
Read more: Don't know how to bring a French flair? Check 5 ways to do it!
The mistakes you need to avoid when adding color
Don’t use bright colors. Only faded and chalked ones.
Don’t use pure black. Favor anthracite and use it in moderation.
Don’t use your accent color for every piece.
In your bedroom, for example, don’t use yellow on bedlinen AND curtains AND walls.
Avoid using a dark color in a room that’s not bright enough (north-facing room for example).
To help you choose the right colors and paint, I created these 6 color schemes ideas (with the paint color names). Get them here for free.
Struggling to create the French Country home of your dreams? Let me help!
I created a detailed step-by-step guide to walk you through the home you always wanted.
This French Country Design e-book will help you have a clear vision of what you want and get you prepared to pick out paint colors, furniture, decor, and patterns… so you get them right the first time.
Once you’ve read it, you’ll walk away knowing:
exactly where to start creating the home you’ve always dreamed of
the right order to decorate in so you can work at your own pace
how to re-create your time in France each time you walk through your front door.
the exact furniture and decor to buy so you never make costly mistakes
the three main steps to put all your stuff together cohesively
how to add character and keep your space from looking flat
the right colors to use so you never go wrong with paint
my top tips to keep only what you need and love so you never feel embarrassed again when friends come to visit
the 8 French secrets to getting an authentic countryside home
Learn more >>
Here are 3 other posts that could help:
• Living room: 37 ideas for a French country style
• The beginner's guide to French country patterns
• 23 tips for a French country kitchen decor
What colors are used in French country decor?
Traditional French colors are a mix of neutral (like white, beige, gray or taupe) and subtle colors (like French blue, pale pink, light green or lavender). They are timeless and allow your decor to stand out.![](/800/600/http/i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/3e/66/f83e66406109d9eab5052105fe9fc364.png)
What color is French Country blue?
French country blue is a subtle and soft blue with faded shades. It is a beautiful color the French like to use on furniture, but also shutters especially on stone houses.Is red a French country color?
Red can be part of the French country color palette, but only if used in subtle and faded shades. The French like to add red color mostly in their kitchen with red striped linen or red vintage decor.How do I make the outside of my house look French?
Many French country houses are made of stones, brick or stucco. They often have beautiful colored wooden shutters. But materials are different according to regions. In the South of France for example, most of the house walls are limed painted in ocher shades, what cannot be found in other regions.What are the colors for French country?
French country design has a neutral color palette including white, beige, gray and taupe.![](/800/600/http/i.pinimg.com/originals/c9/0d/12/c90d120e838097f69f7569ac35e50041.png)
French country decorMathilde Boudardevergreen5 Comments
0 Likesreport this adWhat colors for a French country home? – French Address
By Mathilde Vuillemenot | Last update on November 01, 2022
So, you chose the style for your home: the French country home decorating style. Excellent choice! Like you, we love French country homes!
For a French country home decorating, everything starts with the color palette. Actually, for every decorating project, it is essential to first define the color-scheme: it's the foundation of the styling. That said, you may wonder how to exactly choose the right colors. We are here to help you find the right tones for your home.
In this guide, we share the pillars of French country home color palette, so you can start decorating the right way. We also reviewed French country kitchens to pinpoint you the do's and dont's. Nothing better than real examples to understand how to choose the colors, right? With our tips, you will be able to define your French country colors, that will be aligned with the best practices.
The 3 pillars of the French country home color paletteNeutral colors
It's a mix of white, beige, taupe, and gray. These timeless and peaceful colors create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere in your home. Generally, the walls are in white, light gray or beige, as well as the main furnishings (sofa, bed…). For a perfect harmony, 3 options:
1) Walls and furnishings in pure white: this monochromatic color scheme is so elegant!
2) Walls in white and your main furnishings in other neutral colors like beige for example: this combination of colors creates a calming and peaceful atmosphere.
3) Walls in taupe or beige and your main furnishings in white: this corresponds to the Provence home style, renowned for its inviting and soothing atmosphere.
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Natural materials like wood and stone
Wooden furnishings (tabletop, chairs…) are made with light wood. Indeed, dark wooden furniture is mostly more associated to a rustic home style. In French country houses, wooden furniture is also often painted in white or gray: bright furniture make the rooms seem larger.
Regarding stones, some French country houses have their walls made with stones. But if you do not have this type of house, no problem! Now there are options to create an exposed stones wall with decorative stones or even with wallpaper. Only one wall with stones would be enough to reproduce a harmonious French country interior style.
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A second color palette
Neutral colors are the fundamentals of a French country interior, but they should be completed with stronger, contrasting yet frequently faded colors. This second color palette will give character to your interior. For these secondary colors, there are 2 trends:
1) Warm colors like gold, copper, red, or pink: copper pans in a kitchen, a golden mirror or red pillows in the living room.
2) Cool colors like purple, blue, and green: a buffet painted in mint green in a dining room or lavender dried flowers in a kitchen.
Very important: remind to choose between warm and cool colors in a room: it is not recommended mixing these 2 types of color in the same room. However, you can choose to have warm colors in your living room but cool colors in the bathroom for example, as long as the main colors are neutral.
This complementary color-scheme will be perfect for home accents like rugs, curtains, pillows, chairs, linens, pottery…
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Une publication partagée par Chic & Country Magazine (@chicandcountrymagazine)
French country home color palette: do's and don'ts in the kitchen
Now let's review 2 examples of kitchens to visualize how to mix the colors and to identify the best accessories depending on the secondary color palette.
A perfect example of French country kitchen
This kitchen has the white as main color: the wooden walls were repainted in white; the full dinnerware is white; the countertop, windows, chairs, and door are also white. Very elegant!
The rustic table brings a second color to the main palette: the brown. Usually for French country homes, rustic tables are repainted. In this kitchen, it was a perfect choice to keep the original material: the color is not too dark and is among the neutral color scope. With all the other elements in white, the table shines better like this.
Now let’s see the secondary color palette: no doubt, it’s warm. The copper pans are the perfect accessories when you want to have a warm secondary color palette in a French country kitchen.
Golden accessories are also an excellent choice: in this kitchen, the faucet is gold. I recommend adding more accessories in gold like a vase, a chandelier, or a tray for example.
And to add a final warm touch, kitchen linens (tea towels, napkins, or place mats) in white and red or white and pink would perfectly fit this type of kitchen. French kitchen linens usually have a colored pattern like stripes, little squares or food (ear of corn, wheat…).
How to optimize the colors to have a true French country kitchen?
Let’s look at this other kitchen now: I have to say I’m not that convinced about the color palette, I will explain in detail.
Clearly on this kitchen the intention is to have a secondary palette with cool colors. What we can see is that the color green was chosen and became actually the main color. This is something that you should care about for your French country kitchen: the main colors must be neutral, and the stronger colors must be added as secondary colors, with little accessories or details. This kitchen is lovely, but I don’t consider it as a French country kitchen, the basic neutral colors are not visible enough.
Moreover, you can see that there is a mix of warm (copper, gold, orange) and cool colors (green). There are too many colors in this kitchen and given the orange color of the floor tiles, the secondary color palette should have been a warm one.
Well, now coming back to a cool secondary color palette for a French country kitchen. Still, 2 things are interesting in this kitchen:
1) Painting cabinets in the secondary color is an excellent choice. We recommend doing it only on upper or lower cabinets, keeping half cabinets in white.
2) You can see that part of the rustic table has been repainted in a pastel green. This is a great idea to have two shades of a same color. Furthermore, as the table was just partly repainted, it gives it some chic character.
Regarding the accessories, for a cool secondary palette in a kitchen we would recommend some wall decor (paintings of flowers or lavender for example) and colored serving plates in the chosen color to finalize the atmosphere.
Et voilà, now you know the best practices for a perfect French country home color palette. You can start defining the colors for your home!
For more tips on French country home, read our full guide on French country home decor.
French country style kitchen design
French country style kitchen design
Categories: All about furniture 2 , Kitchens 88 , Living rooms 2 , Bedrooms 3 , Hallways 2
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The French country style kitchen creates a sense of nostalgia and romance with its wonderful aesthetic appeal. Warmth and bright colors make the kitchen the true heart of the home.
When designing a kitchen like this, include some elements of style and function that add authenticity to your design.
Color matters
Vibrant yellows and greens accurately reflect the French countryside.
Reds, shimmery blues, as well as golds and oranges are great choices to create warmth and cosiness. Cream-colored walls make the perfect canvas for other colors.
In addition to using the warm yellows, terracotta and reds of French country style, look for other rich hues such as navy blue or dark green to balance out the dark wood. Wrought iron is also found in this style, so decorative iron pieces or light fixtures will complement black appliances. Try wrought iron cabinet hardware. Highlight dark tones by using natural materials such as slate, brick, stone, and granite for floors or splashbacks.
Walls
Kitchen wall design must be second to none. The true atmosphere of the kitchen will be given by rough plaster on the walls, for example, Venetian. It perfectly reproduces the French look in any kitchen where color is added to the plaster itself.
Other faux painting techniques that can add visual texture include faux marble, ragroll, and glaze.
Floor
You might want to use wood flooring, but a stone slab, terracotta or brick floor will give your kitchen a more authentic look.
Fabrics
Linen and cotton are genuine fabric choices. If you want to achieve a more formal style, then choose the veil pattern. In addition to blue, pay attention to red, pink, green, yellow and black shades.
Curtains with striped or checkered cushions make stunning kitchen design accents. There are stylish fabrics on the market that use reds, yellows and blacks together in classic French motifs such as sunflowers, roosters, black olives and floral patterns.
Wardrobes
Choose dark and shabby looking wardrobes. The most popular wood options are pine and walnut. Wood countertops have been a popular choice for an authentic country home, but modern materials offer quite a few options that blend contemporary design with past motifs.
Patterns and Ornaments
You have a wide variety of patterns and designs to choose from:
- flower arrangements, from small tiny prints to large and bright ones;
- farm animals;
- herbs such as lavender and rosemary.
Other motifs include fruits, vegetables and the fleur-de-lis, a sign of royalty and nobility. Try mixing several different images or prints in the same space. Don't forget to frame the walls with some floral prints.
Features
The design of such a kitchen would not be complete without two main architectural features, including exposed beams and a fireplace. The beams should look like they were hewn by hand. The worn effect will give a finished look. The beams should be dark in color to contrast sharply with the white or ocher color of the ceiling and walls.
Instead of a fireplace, place a collection of cast iron cookware against the wall to simulate the effect.
Accessories & Special Effects
Add baskets, dried flowers and herbs (especially lavender) and wicker garlic to your kitchen as accessories. Copper is a popular metal for French cuisine. Use the rack to display your copper pots and pans. If you decide to use more wrought iron in your kitchen, complement it with a farmhouse style sink.
Lighting
Do not underestimate the importance of good lighting in interior design. If you want more light in your kitchen, try adding recessed lights. To increase natural light sources, it is recommended to install a ceiling light.
Aged look
Aged look goes hand in hand with this design. Classics are white furniture and aged chairs in blue or yellow shades. The kitchen table is usually chosen in rustic style. A shabby table can look very cozy.
Curtains
French country style kitchen design is not complete without curtains. Cafe-style curtains are quite informal, with many tones and prints. Blinds will be a nice touch if you have chosen plaster for finishing the walls. Look for blinds that fold in and out against the wall to let in light. Choose a blind color that reflects one of the main accent colors already in use in the kitchen.
Furniture for the kitchen
If you want to create a country-style kitchen and manage on a small budget, choose kitchen sets with MDF fronts imitating expensive wooden fronts.
Call a measurer
Choose a kitchen from the catalog
Calculate the price of a kitchen according to your size
Tie it all together
There are many options for fabrics, textures, colors and furniture for the design of such a kitchen. Connect everything to create a cohesive and original design, starting with the color palette. Then choose the elements and textures that will go with it. In no time, your kitchen will look like it stepped out of a picture of a French village.
Country and Provence style kitchens: interior design in the photo
Contents
- 1. Similarities and differences
- 2. Country interior features
- 3. Provence design features
- 4. Color palette
- 4.1. Country colors
- 4.2. Provence colors
- 5. Kitchen design
- 5.1. Country kitchen finishing
- 5.2. Provence style kitchen decoration
- 6.
Furnishings
- 6.1. Country style furniture
- 6.2. Provence style furniture
- 7. Decorative details
- 7.1. Country style
- 7.2. Provence style
- 8. Video:
What the modern metropolis lacks is rural silence, naturalness, naturalness. Therefore, designs that embody closeness, unity with nature - ethnic styles - Russian, Scandinavian, English, and other folk styles, become popular in creating kitchen interiors.
Rustic styles make the home cozy and romantic
Similarities and differences
Country - a common, collective name for all the folk, rustic styles that embody the rural life of different countries. With this understanding, subspecies are distinguished:
- Shabby chic;
- Russian Country;
- American version - ranch;
- Alpine chalet;
- Tuscan;
- French Provence.
French Provence makes the kitchen very light and cozy
In this perspective, Provencal design is part of all rustic styles, but more often it is distinguished from similar ones.
Important! The task of the designer when designing a kitchen in a folk style is to combine the charm of rural life, common people's life with the conveniences of modern life.
Rustic styles fit perfectly into the modern interior of a city apartment
Country interior features
Common features of the design of all areas of stylization of folk life are:
- Characteristic color palette - colors close to natural. They are selected dim, discreet.
- Absence of bright, contrasting patterns.
- Natural materials in the decoration of the room, furniture, synthetic materials, plastic are unacceptable, metal is allowed only in the form of wrought-iron furniture, copper and brass parts.
- Abundance of textiles, handicrafts - curtains and tablecloths, rugs, embroidery.
American or English country style with plaid and traditional patterns
In general, country design is the interior of a village dwelling, in each of its manifestations it reflects the national features of the country it represents. The Russian village is characterized by homespun rugs, embroidered tablecloths, curtains, for shabby chic - a small floral pattern, the effect of aging, exquisite decor elements.
Rich colors combined with natural materials create a fresh mood
Lightness, naturalness are important for country music - there is no hint that something was created on purpose in the interior. I thought about a rough brick wall - which means that it needs to be made of brick, however, processed and painted.
Stylish country style kitchen
Not allowed in a vernacular style kitchen:
- Glossy, shiny surfaces, details;
- Chrome finish;
- Plastic and other finishing materials, items;
- Modern decor.
Rustic style is best suited to natural materials
Provence design features
Appeared in the south of France, the provincial style welcomes light colors, an abundance of light - if there is not enough natural light, artificial light sources are added. For the Provence interior are characteristic:
- Many forgings;
- Aged or old cabinets, tables, chairs, keeping traces of time, as evidenced by traces of wear;
- Abundance of plants in ceramic pots, wooden boxes;
- Wicker baskets, dishes;
- Natural textiles - tablecloths, curtains.
White is the most versatile color and fits perfectly into the rustic style concept
Provence is a complete absence of plastic, traditional images of birds, berries, a cage, a strip, decorative ornaments.
Subdued blues and sandy colors are inherent in the interior in the Provence style
Color palette
For folk interiors, the main thing is to emphasize the unity with nature, with the archaic nature of being - hence the definition of the color palette. Bright colors, deep, sharp contrasts, exquisite drawings are absolutely unacceptable.
Country colors
Rural interiors of Russian, American, Italian, most other areas prefer warm colors:
- Beige;
- Dairy;
- Sand;
- Honey;
- Woody light shades;
- Olive;
- Light green shades.
English shabby chic often uses shades of ivory, cream, light pink, light blue tones. Russian rustic design is characterized by shades of unbleached linen, gray, sandy tones.
The Mediterranean interior, also related to country, prefers the colors of the sky and the sea - blue, white, blue, beige, milky.
The brightest country is the American version - ranch - from soft white-gray, beige, light green to bottle, terracotta, brown.
Important! Country rejects red, cherry, burgundy shades; shades of mahogany, wenge are not used in the palette.
Colors of Provence
The design of the French countryside is characterized by cool tones. Basic colors:
- Cool white;
- Dairy;
- Lavender;
- Cornflower blue.
Blue, beige, milky, gray, pistachio, olive shades are allowed when implementing the Provence design. Pastels are desirable, but in modern interiors this is not a must. Most often, white is used in Provence, it expands the space, but you should not get carried away with white and make the kitchen look like a sterile laboratory.
Olive shades will look good in a spacious kitchen: light colors harmonize well with cream, gray, sand, blue tones, dark olive will coexist in a large kitchen with dark natural wood furniture.
Light pistachio tone has the ability to refresh the space. A light greenish background can be combined with white, pink, blue, light shades of wood. When choosing a pistachio tone for wall decoration, floor, furniture can be not only light, but also dark.
Kitchen decoration
Rural interiors, implying a return to nature, unity with it, prefer only natural materials when decorating walls, ceilings, floors. No plastic panels, stretch and suspended ceilings - only wood, stone, paint.
Country kitchen finishing
The best options for wall decoration in the kitchen space will be:
- Painting;
- Wallpaper - with small flowers (ideal for shabby), checkered, striped, traditional ornaments are allowed;
- Decorative plaster - its roughness will emphasize roughness, homegrown;
- Ceramic tiles - it would be nice to use it to decorate an apron in the working area, to finish part of the wall;
- Brick - best used in combination with wood, it is it that is the basis of rural design;
- Wood - lining, wood-like wall panels - the ideal choice, the best suited for recreating rural life.
Tiles, chipped tiles, unpainted wood, unevenly painted walls will emphasize originality, become a means of country styling.
For the floor, the choice of wood is implied - better board than parquet, natural stone, ceramic tiles. If a natural board is not affordable, you can use a laminate, and porcelain stoneware instead of stone. It is better to choose a tile with a monophonic natural shades. The ceiling can be whitewashed, this will perfectly match the style of rural life, but if we talk about practicality, then the option of a stretch ceiling is allowed, but only plain - matte white.
Wooden lining - natural or white (in the Scandinavian country) - a good choice. You can choose a combination of whitewash and wooden beams, but both of these options are only acceptable in the case of high ceilings, because the tree will visually (and actually) reduce the height of the kitchen.
Kitchen decoration in Provence style
Wall decoration when creating an interior design Provence dictates the following rules:
- No wallpaper.
It is better to paint the walls;
- It is possible to use textured plaster with subsequent painting;
- Stone, wood, brick - for finishing the whole wall, its part. In the conditions of an apartment, it is better to limit yourself to a partial design if you want to fully reproduce the Provencal design.
The ceiling, if the height allows, is better to decorate with beams - light or dark. If the ceilings are low, you can stop at whitewash or stretch matte ceiling.
The floor must be stone - choose tiles in terracotta color, possibly a combination of black and white. You can throw a woolen striped rug on the floor.
Furnishings
All rustic stylizations are characterized by natural wood furniture with a highly visible structure. Carving, forged parts, pieces of furniture are possible. Shiny, glossy surfaces, metal parts in rural variations are unacceptable.
Country furniture
For a kitchen set, it is better to choose natural solid wood or veneer. Doors can be decorated with carvings, colored patterns, glass inserts. Cabinets are massive to store all kitchen utensils.
Cabinet fronts are often artificially aged to preserve the grain of the wood. Country-style kitchen furniture means a lot of shelves with dishes, jars, jugs.
A wooden dining table is usually placed in the center of the kitchen if space permits, with wooden chairs around. You can choose forged, wicker, for example, rattan. If you want to achieve a complete stylization of the patriarchal village life, put a simple wooden bench instead of chairs, and make the table massive, with a wooden cruciform base.
Important! If you want to emphasize the ease of style - choose "variegated" chairs - different colors and types.
All kitchen appliances (refrigerator, microwave oven) should be hidden behind cabinet fronts or retro style.
Provence style furniture
Provence is characterized by light furniture, you can choose white - with a characteristic wear. Wooden massive cabinets can have doors with glass inserts, panels, carvings. Latticed cabinet fronts are often found in the Provence style. In such a kitchen, slides, sideboards for dishes will look perfect. Necessarily - a lot of open shelves - for jars, dishes, various kitchen utensils. You can put a couple of flower pots. Shelves can be located not only in the cooking area, but also on other walls - above the dining table, for example.
A lot of forged elements - not only massive forging near chairs, tables, but also light ones - on shelves, flower stands, various fixtures, hooks. Metal, copper parts - on the handles of cabinets, dishes. In a country house, wicker furniture will be appropriate - chairs, armchairs, tables.
Appliances are also hidden behind the doors of a furniture set, and if you look through the catalogs of household appliances, you can choose a technique that suits the style, which you can’t hide under the facade - a stove, a hood.
Decorative parts
The abundance of textiles emphasizes the simplicity of rural life. Homespun rugs, mats on the floor, curtains on the windows, tablecloths, napkins on the table, pillows on the chairs make the kitchen sweet in a rustic way. Hand embroidery with folk ornaments, motifs can complement the interior.
Country style
Obligatory nuance - curtains. Cotton curtains with floral, floral patterns, in a cage - orange, green, tied with bows, are attached to wooden baguettes. On the table must be a tablecloth, napkins. Chair covers can be sewn on. All fabrics are used only natural - linen, cotton. No rustic synthetics are allowed.
The perfect complement to rustic interiors:
- Wooden chest;
- Cuckoo clock;
- Antique lamp;
- Earthenware.
Arrange earthenware cups and plates on numerous shelves, shelves, hang hand-embroidered cross-stitch paintings on the walls, put a wicker fruit basket, modest field, garden flowers in a vase. If we are talking about recreating the life of the Russian people, a samovar on the table will be an ideal feature, you can put a kettle with a “woman” on top.
Provence style
Provence also loves textiles, small items of comfort. Light curtains on the windows, reaching the window sill, napkins with a lace border, embroidered or patchwork-made pads.
On the dining table there must be a tablecloth, napkins on it, matched to the tone of the kitchen design. On the shelves and walls there are forged candlesticks, flowers in pots, an elegant metal cage with a flower arrangement or a bird. Various trinkets, figurines on shelves, vases with fresh, dried flowers will complement the stylization of the French province. There should be a lot of flowers in the French interior. Definitely lavender.
Dried or in the images - but only her presence will create a complete image of cute home comfort.
Country and Provence are similar, they are the embodiment of the quiet comfort of rural life.