French country style interior

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French country style is defined as a mix of rustic and refined decor inspired by the homes in the French countryside. It's a popular style worldwide because of its comfortable and casual elegance that's never ostentatious. Three distinct characteristics make up the style:

• Softly patterned fabrics in muted colors
• Distressed, painted, and vintage furnishings and accessories
• Lots of wood and other natural materials

You may also hear this type of decor called provincial style. Provincial style is recognized as a slightly more formal, refined look. Some of its elements, such as its rich colors, bold patterns, and gold accents, can be incorporated into the French country style.

Colors, Prints, and Materials

Colors of this style can be found on the warm side of the color wheel with hues that have medium to low intensity. Think of soft yellows, warm pinks, baby blues, and creams for your rooms. Provincial-style fabrics are known for having more saturated colors, such as sunbaked ochre and deep brick red that bring to mind the pigments found in the region's natural clay earth.

Toile de Jouy, best known as toile, is a traditional pattern printed on cotton or linen fabrics used for upholstery, drapery, tablecloths, and wallpaper in French country rooms. Toile de Jouy is also known as the "fabric of Jouy" because the 18th-century factory of Jouy-en-Josas located near Versailles became famous for printing the fabric.

The toile pattern is characterized by its designs of landscapes and figures of one color printed on a white or cream background. The beauty of toile is that it can be paired with many other patterned fabrics, such as stripes, plaids, checks, ginghams, sunflowers, and small florals. Other patterns used on French country fabrics include roosters, damasks, and the borders that characterize bolder-colored provincial-style fabrics.

Furniture

The key to French country-style furniture is comfort and style. Upholstered seating and chairs always incorporate soft and cozy cushions. Other furnishings, such as tables and chests, are typically graceful, simple wood pieces that often incorporate some type of carvings that emphasize the furniture's curves. The furniture is also characterized by distressed, painted, and often whitewashed finishes. You can use milk or chalk paint to distress furniture to get this style.

French provincial furniture is a touch more formal with added embellishments than French country style, and its history explains why. French provincial furniture was created in the 18th century for wealthy families living in the French provinces as more affordable adaptations of the luxurious Rococo-style pieces made for the monarchy.

Tip

Wrought iron or rusted metal accents and accessories are often paired with distressed French country furnishings.

Architecture

The style's architecture is taken straight from the French provincial countryside. Here are the style's most popular interior architectural elements:

• Exposed wooden ceiling beams
• Natural stone, wood, or brick floors
• Weathered appearance

French country homes incorporate stone, wood, and muted colors into their exterior architecture, as well.

Kitchens

A kitchen in this style is both comfortable and sophisticated. Cabinetry may look like regular furniture with molding and carvings. Casual kitchens of this style feature shabby chic and vintage touches, including pretty old jars and bottles that hold pantry items, quaint signage for wall decor, wrought iron pot racks, and plenty of copper pots. Modern French country kitchens are known for their signature, decorative range hoods.

Dining Rooms

A rustic chandelier of distressed wood or metal with candelabra bulbs is a must in a traditional French country dining room. A lighter-toned wooden dining table surrounded by whitewashed, vintage, or mismatched chairs brings in a casual and welcoming look. For a casual feel, hang gingham curtains to the floor with a little puddling. Lightweight silk draperies puddled on the floor add a bit more formality.

Living Rooms

Airy, whitewashed, and sun-kissed describe the style of French country living rooms. There should not be any heavy, dark fabrics or furniture in the room. This style living room beckons guests with an uplifting and pretty mix of patterned fabrics and painted furniture. Use sheer lace curtains to allow light to stream in while still providing privacy. For a quaint and whimsical touch, place a wrought iron garden bench with pillows under the front window for the look of a casual window seat.

Bedrooms

A French country bedroom is feminine and soft with a mix of cottage shabby chic and comforting vintage elements. Add in a small crystal chandelier somewhere in the room, layers of soft and lacy white bedding with a toile comforter and curtains, and a headboard made of distressed wood or an old iron gate, and you have the makings of a beautiful bedroom. Use an old metal garden bench at the end of the bed as a sitting area. A bedroom is the perfect place for painted and distressed dressers and armoires.

Bathrooms

Just as a bedroom in this style will have a feminine flair, so does a bathroom with the same decor. Toile wallpaper, a small crystal chandelier, candlestick-style wall sconces, a mirror framed in gold with a bit of carving, and a vintage clawfoot tub combine to create the perfect French country bathroom. For a casual feel, use a wrought iron towel rack or stand for linens.

Tip

A distressed or painted bureau transformed into a bathroom vanity and topped with a vessel sink is a beautiful French country touch.

French Country Interior Design |

French country style is usually associated with roosters, proudly standing, colorful, with big tails, roosters on tablecloths, curtains, roosters on dishes and of course, a clock in the form of a rooster.
The rooster has become an essential symbol of French country style in tribute to these poultry that roam freely on the farms of France. In fact, French country style is not only about roosters.
The French country style was inspired by the rural houses of the south of France, where rustic farmhouses were built from readily available materials: straw, limestone, clay and wood. French country style reflects this simplicity. nine0003 Rural colors are considered the central elements of the French country style. A delicate lavender color associated with the lavender fields grown in France for the perfume industry. Yellow, dark red and bright orange colors are associated with sunny days.

Azure blue is associated with the Mediterranean Sea. Shades of white, ranging from pure white to slightly yellow and beige, are associated with the blinding sunlight that enters the windows of rural houses. Gently green color is associated with meadow grasses. nine0003 French country style walls can be whitewashed, log or roughly plastered. The purpose of the walls is again to convey the interior of a French farmhouse. The color of the walls should be natural. It can be shades of colors of stones and clay. On the walls there may be a stencil pattern in the form of sheaves of wheat.
Like the walls, a French country floor should be associated with rural life. For flooring, clay tiles are usually used in pink, honey or dark brown. Wooden parquet is rubbed with white paint to give a rural touch. As an option, mats made from natural materials can be used over a wooden floor. nine0006

Proper lighting is an important element of French country style. The French country style is characterized by large multi-glazed windows that let in natural light. To convey this feeling, you can use soft light emanating from lamps with lampshades. Table lamps don't have to be fancy. For the French country style, iron or brass chandeliers and door handles are in character.
Cotton fabric and lace are indispensable attributes of the interior of French country houses. Lace curtains, lace tablecloths and lace pillowcases predominate. Starched damask and chintz are used to upholster furniture, while curtains are characterized by a floral pattern. The color should again be lilac, mustard, cherry and brown. nine0003 Furniture should also reflect farmhouse life. The French country style is defined by carved, wooden details. In the 18th and 19th centuries, artisans from all over the world flocked to the Mediterranean ports. Skilled craftsmen made carved sideboards, chairs, tables, chests of drawers and chests with local motifs: wheat and lavender. For the manufacture of furniture, artisans used wood that was cheap and most common: walnut and pine.

Large wooden dining table is another centerpiece of French country style. Since the kitchen was the main gathering place, the table was very important. The ideal French country style table should be sturdy, rectangular and large with a simple tablecloth. Wooden chairs with high backs and wicker seats are the perfect complement to the table. nine0003 French country style accessories should be simple and useful. The countryside of France rarely had money for luxury goods. It is quite possible to use earthenware jugs, shiny copper pots, wicker baskets and, of course, anything related to roosters.
French country style design is perfect for kitchen, bedroom and dining room. Combining natural materials, rustic colors and simple fabrics, French country style will make your home comfortable and cozy. nine0006

Photo source: pinterest.com

Provence style in the interior: exquisite simplicity of the French country - Pouffe

Provence style is a provincial French style related to light, southern styles. It reflects the age-old traditions of French country houses and the imperishable beauty of the Cote d'Azur. Provence, or “French Country”, is very popular with people who seek to bring a touch of rustic charm to their interiors, while maintaining the elegance of a French home. nine0006

Content:

1. Distinctive features of the Provence style in the interior of the apartment and house
2. Color Gamma of French Country
3. Wall Design and Ceiling
4. Curtains, Textiles and Flowers
5. Kitchen design
6. Provenes in interior of a bedroom
7. Provence in the interior of a living room
8. Bathroom
9. Provence in the interior of a nursery
10. Corridor
11. Interior of a country house in Provence style

The style got its name in honor of the region of the same name in the south of France, famous for its picturesque seascapes, heady aroma of flowers, streets bleached by the bright sun and spicy cuisine. In the 17th century, representatives of the bourgeoisie, in an attempt to get away from strict classical lines and the bustle of the city, began to settle in a remote province. Inspired by local beauties and measured village life, they equipped their new homes simply, but at the same time elegantly.

The Provencal style in the interior gained extraordinary popularity in Europe in the 19th century. First of all, he attracted by the atmosphere of simplicity, peace and naturalness inherent in the village. And today, the atmosphere of French country music still fascinates many with its unique energy, conducive to relaxation and rest from the daily hustle and bustle. If you want to fill your home with light Mediterranean charm, comfort and harmony, Provence style is the best choice for both a country house and a modern city ​​apartment. nine0006

Distinctive features of the Provence style in the interior of an apartment and house

Interior design in the Provence style is permeated with the freshness of a salty breeze, the piquancy of Provence herbs and the heady aroma of lavender. It combines the charm of provincial coziness and comfort with antiquity and luxury. In many ways, it is in tune with the country style, with a barely perceptible sophistication of the French estate. So, what characterizes the Provence style?

Provence interior design features:

• Warm pastels;
• Finishing walls with plaster;
• Natural materials with a natural texture;
• Antique furniture with scuffs, patina, wood carvings;
• Abundance of natural flowers and herbariums;
• Porcelain and ceramic figurines;
• Ceiling wooden beams;
• Forged decorative elements;
• Sewing, ruffles, cutwork;
• Floral patterns.

The French Provence style in a modern interior is characterized by an abundance of light and warm, natural tones. This seemingly rustic style has long ceased to be the prerogative of only country houses and has become an integral part of urban dwellings. nine0006

Everyone can bring the atmosphere of Provence into their home. To do this, it is not at all necessary to arrange a major overhaul or redevelopment. It is enough to add some distinctive interior details and create the necessary associations with the help of natural fabrics, natural materials and light colors with small splashes of bright colors.

French country colors

Provence has the feeling of a hot sea coast. In this provincial style, predominantly soothing, pastel, as if sun-bleached, tones are used. The main colors of the Provence style are soft and tender. Among them, the most popular are:

• white,
• sand,
• cream,
• muted yellow,
• light blue,
• pale green,
• lavender.

The kiln-dried clay shade and rich aqua color also deserve special attention. It is important to observe this color palette both in wall decoration and in decorative elements and textiles. At the same time, the furniture should remain a little brighter, harmoniously standing out against the pastel-colored walls. To create the necessary effect of aging and the impression of surfaces scorched by the southern sun, scuffs, irregularities and decorative cracks will help. nine0006

Wall, floor and ceiling design

Plastering is the main method of decorating walls in the Provence style. To get as close as possible to the style, the plaster is applied unevenly, with bulges and roughness. Burnt places and bald spots are an absolute highlight in the interior. Textured plaster will help to achieve the desired effect in a modern apartment or house.

The wallpaper is completely uncharacteristic of a Provencal home. Nevertheless, they can be used for convenience, if desired by the owners of the space. In this case, traditional paper wallpapers embossed under the plastered surface will help to achieve the illusion of a raw surface. The Provence style in the apartment also allows the use of wallpaper with a floral pattern. nine0006

Quite often, a facing board is used for wall decoration. The French interior of a country-style house involves painting such cladding predominantly with white paint. This clearly distinguishes the Provence style from other country styles, where the natural shade of wood is predominantly preserved. The decoration of the kitchen is fundamentally different from the rest of the rooms. Here, natural stone, brick or multi-colored mosaics are most often used for wall decor. In addition, this style is characterized by decorating the walls with stucco molding in the form of branches and vines. nine0006

Doors and window frames - wooden, covered with white paint. They can be artificially aged or decorated with flower painting. In order to maximize the penetration of natural light, interior doors with glass inserts are used. Floor-to-ceiling French doors are perfect for this style. In the design of the apartment, they can be replaced with windows with multi-section frames.

Tiles and wooden boards - classic Provence style flooring. As a rule, light brown or terracotta tiles with beveled corners are used. As for plank floors, they are painted or left unfinished. As well as for walls and furniture, the effect of “aging” is used in the decoration of the floor. French country does not accept carpet, parquet, linoleum or laminate. Provencal ceilings are usually white or painted in light colors. In the design of a country house or apartment with high ceilings, decorative ceiling beams are often used. As a rule, they are covered with contrasting paint. Of course, in a small bedroom with a low ceiling, such a decorative technique will look extremely inappropriate. nine0006

Curtains, textiles and flowers are invariable components of French comfort

The lightness and simplicity of the Provence style can be clearly seen in the decoration of windows. Traditionally, the houses of this region had small windows overlooking the garden. Curtains were not used, because there was simply no need for them. Occasionally, windows were decorated with air curtains, which easily let in air and light. Paying tribute to traditions, it is better to choose weightless tulle, satin, chintz with a small floral print or beads for decorating windows. nine0006

Since the French country style is rustic, natural fabrics prevail in the interior. Cotton, linen, muslin and wool are most often used in decor. Occasionally, elements from bulky fabrics, such as matlassé, can be traced. Textile colors are mostly muted. Creating Provencal comfort, do not neglect floral, striped and plaid fabrics. To emphasize the Mediterranean line of the Provence style, it is appropriate to add shells and even fishing nets to the design. nine0006

In an effort to get as close to nature as possible, French country abounds with live or dried plants. A vase with flowers will undoubtedly add freshness to the interior, saturate it with colorful colors and enhance the feeling of a country house. Use flowers common in the region: irises, poppies, sunflowers, lavender. Along with wrought iron partitions and wooden shelving, a flowerpot with plants can also be used to zone the space. Floral motifs and green leaves will look advantageous on curtains, bedspreads and paintings. nine0006

Provencal style furniture

Provencal style furniture combines two facets: elegance and functionality. The main attention is paid to the material from which the furniture is made. Preference is given to light-colored wood: walnut, chestnut, ash, oak. The use of wicker and forged elements is allowed. But it is better to refuse modern materials.

Chests of drawers, sideboards with legs, chairs with carved elements and various cabinets with many drawers are classic Provence style interior items. The most common colors are gray and white with elements of artificial aging (scuffs, cracks, chips). Upholstery of upholstered furniture (sofas, armchairs and pouffes) in muted shades with a color pattern. You can add a touch of antiquity to the interior with your own hands by choosing modern, but suitable furniture in design. nine0006

Provence kitchen design

The kitchen is the heart and soul of the home. Today, the Provence style in the interior of the kitchen is one of the most popular for decorating country houses and urban dwellings. Increasingly, elements of Provence are added to the classic interior style, which allows you to dilute strict lines, as well as achieve the desired comfort and atmosphere of hospitality.

Provencal style is characterized by special attention to detail. Therefore, it is very important to fill the bright kitchen with bright accents:

• Chicken dishes in the Provence style,
• decorative painted plates,
• pots with flowers,
• clay pots,
• Banks with spices and herbs,
933
• priority ousteles. cookbooks, etc.

The figurine of a rooster as a symbol of France will add a special charm to the decor of the kitchen.

Provence style kitchen design is not only beautiful and comfortable, but also multifunctional. For example, open shelves, depending on the location, can serve as a decor or be a place to store kitchen utensils. Modern technology is hidden behind facades. A microwave and an electric kettle in such a rustic atmosphere will look a little ridiculous. nine0006

Provence style in bedroom interior

Provence style bedroom decoration is ideal for romantics. Features of the sunny Mediterranean color can be traced in every detail.

Paintings, textiles, flowers and plants are used in abundance to decorate the large bedroom. Pendant lights add elegance. A chandelier with a dimmer is the most convenient and practical lighting option for such a room.

Provence style in the living room interior

The Provence style in the living room is characterized by sunshine, openness and richness. Here, rough walls and shabby furniture are harmoniously intertwined with porcelain figurines, weightless wicker baskets, caskets, "bird cages" and frames with family photographs. Add a rustic feel to using an old teapot, buckets and jugs as a vase or pot for houseplants.

When it comes to living room lighting, the appearance of the luminaires is very important. As a rule, forged structures (chandeliers, sconces and floor lamps) will look most harmonious. LED backlights and a dot system are taboo for the Provence style. nine0006

Provencal style bathroom

Provence style in the bathroom, as well as in the interior of the whole house, implies an abundance of bright sunlight. Therefore, a window in the bathroom is a must. It can be of any shape and size.

All furnishings and bathroom furniture should be rustic in style. These can be wooden stools and benches with the effect of peeling paint. The color palette of the bathroom furniture consists of white, blue, blue and olive hues with metallic details. Avoid plastic and stainless steel items. nine0006

Appropriate plumbing will help complete the picture: a curved bathtub with forged legs and oval sinks with bronze-effect faucets. The ideal addition would be wooden shelves with wicker baskets for storing hygiene items.

Provence style in the interior of a nursery

Decorating a nursery in the Provence style opens up boundless scope for creativity. Here you can place a small library or a tea area with the appropriate accessories. nine0006

Pastels are welcome in shades. If the windows of the room face east, it is recommended to design the space in cool blue and lavender tones. For a west-facing room, use a warmer finish. You can also experiment and highlight one of the walls with wallpaper with a floral print or decorative painting.

Wicker baskets for toys will be appropriate in the interior of the nursery. Curtains, bedspreads and pillows should be selected exclusively from natural fabrics. A semicircular canopy at the head of the crib will look quite elegant. nine0006

French country style corridor

Provence is ideal for a small apartment hallway, because its light colors will visually expand the area. A long corridor will also look no less advantageous.

A coat hanger, a bench and a small closet are enough for a minimalist rustic space. An overall floor mirror in a wooden frame will bring even more charm.

Provence style country house interior

Provence style dacha is a win-win combination. Wooden elements, tiles, stone, and brick are at the forefront in the implementation of French country. Metal parts are allowed in the form of stands, candlesticks and furniture handles. A chandelier forged from metal looks rough, but at the same time noble.

Creating an interior in Provence style is not an easy and time-consuming task. But, adhering to the basic rules, you will certainly create an outstanding, cozy and comfortable home that will delight you and your guests. nine0006

We offer to make a virtual journey through the rooms of the magnificent villa La Cavalerie, located in the French region Provence:

Let's see how interiors in the style of Provence on specific examples:

1. A delightful stone villa in Provence
9003 2 Ultimately reinstalled.

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