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French paint colors walls


2023 Beginner’s Guide — Brocante Ma Jolie

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I have provided a direct affiliate link wherever possible so that you can easily shop and decorate.

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:

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!). They are used to making large rooms seem cozier. They make the room feel more inviting and comforting.
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.


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

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.

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:

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.

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

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You can find other copper beauties here.

House Beautiful

You can add gilded touches in your home with brass, bronze and gold painted wood.

Possibilities are endless:

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.

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

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:

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. Wood and metal colors are also important on a French country home to add warmth and personality.
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. The French also like to add subtle and faded colors like light green, french blue, pale pink, or lavender. All these shades are timeless and remind of nature.

French country decorMathilde Boudardevergreen5 Comments

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Country French Paint Colors: Decor Ideas From a New Home With An Old World Heart

Country French Paint Colors & Decor Ideas From a New Home With An Old World Heart revisits a few lovely French country colors (both interior and exterior!) employed by designer Brit Jones for a memorable Country French inspired home.

Additionally, you’ll discover design resources to get the look in case some of the curated furniture and decor choices suit your own project needs.

I’m so grateful we can glean ideas from both the interior and exterior of this glorious French home! Hopefully the following decorating inspiration will assist your own scheming and dreaming.

Design/Photos: Brit Jones Design Architect: Tyler Gentry Builder: Scott Lane Homes

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Country French Home Paint Colors as well as Decor Ideas From a New Home. European Country Old World style French architectural and design inspiration…certainly lovely indeed.

Paint Colors in a French Country Home

This topic of paint colors–and particularly timeless and tranquil prospects–is one I am asked about every single day. We all want a place to start for the best tones for our interiors and exteriors; by now we all understand the transformative power of paint and color.

When we choose the best colors for the atmosphere we’re after (energetic? calm? moody? cheerful? sophisticated?) and the proper tones for the unique lighting context, furniture, and decor…cue the confetti!

Country French rustic elegant design inspiration with photos of lovely French farmhouse and European country interiors as well as paint color ideas. Furniture and decor resources from a traditional home with tranquil colors…in case you love French homes!

But arriving at the precisely right paint color for your project is often a journey.

That’s where I hope to offer help. Since you need a place to BEGIN the journey, it helps to have inspiration and designer-picked paint colors to consider for samples on your surfaces and walls.

Exterior Paint Colors

Rustic board and batten shutters are so beautiful and quite similar to the handmade custom ones we installed on our former French country manor house.

My husband built those shutters, and I first applied a blue wash like you see above before changing the color to light grey years later. Both options worked beautifully for me!

Shutter Paint Color: Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue

Bear in mind, the look of this saturated color swatch looks more intense than on the shutter for any number of reasons. The technique applying it may have involved rubbing it on with a rag, dry brushing a small amount or diluting the paint with water.

Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue

If products on Amazon are secured more easily for you than Annie Sloan, here’s a color that is comparable (maybe a touch less green-gray):

Vintage Duck Egg Blue – Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint
Ideas for Country French Blue, Green, Grey

If you are awake and watching interior design in the 2020s, you’ll know GREEN is everywhere.

BEHR Tower Bridge

Not just dark or earthy greens, but aquas too.

Blue Juniper KILZ Chalk Style Paint

Green seems to be having a moment because of how it feels nurturing,

Serenity RUSTOLEUM Chalked Paint

and gentle,

Duck Egg Blue Hemway Chalk Based Furniture Paint

and suggestive of nature and living things.

Valspar Watery HGSW316

Easiest way to see if a paint color will work? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.

Trim & Garage Door Color: Sherwin-Williams Sealskin 7675

This rich chocolate color is a natural brown with green and taupey undertones.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS Sealskin

Here’s an alternative if Sealskin is unavailable:

Sweet Molasses – BEHR

Here’s another rich brown with less green-gray:

Bitter Chocolate – BEHR
Garage Doors on a Country French New Build

Over the years, I have received multiple emails about these beautiful garage doors.

But I have little knowledge about them except that they look very custom and well-crafted for this exceptional home.

Design Resources for Exterior

So many rich architectural elements to admire including stone, brick, stucco, and rustic shutters, as well as eyebrow dormers and arches.

Eyebrow dormers as well as rugged shutters add traditional European style.

Additionally, the rugged steel doors, antiqued lanterns and board and batten style wood shutters washed with a light blue-green paint, impart Country French charm.

Windows: Pella Aluminum clad in Bronze. Lanterns: Troy – Larchmont in Aged Pewter -find them HERE as well. Brick: Mangum Brick in Country French color with white mortar. Doors: 10 feet tall black steel with glass. Roof: Tamco – Thunderstorm Grey. Stone: Castlerock Stone mix of cream and white, with white mortar.

Slurry Wash for Brick Exterior

An alternative stucco application was used on the exterior brick. Called a brick slurry or brick mortar slurry, the product was hand applied in a custom tan finish. This treatment of the brick is different from simply painting or whitewashing brick.

Steel doors, aged lanterns and rustic stone as well as brick on a new home with Old style.

Here’s how Brick Restoration describes the process:

“Slurry is another type of mortar wash that is done by completely coating the area with a thick layer. Slurry uses the same materials as a German Smear but differs in the application. With a slurry there is full coverage of the masonry producing a stucco-type look but still allows the brick texture to show through. Typically, slurries are done with slightly tanner mortar colors. This is an excellent way to achieve the stucco look without the maintenance and cost of traditional stucco.”

Get the Look With Painted Brick

Should you be seeking a warm white paint color for an exterior, I have suggestions in this story as well as these hues below reminiscent of today’s inspiration house.

Arcade White – BEHR

If you happen to be expanding the images of this home’s exterior and wonder why these suggestions don’t match exactly, there’s a good reason. These paint colors will be influenced by yellow sunlight and factors like your home’s exposure. As a result, it is of utmost importance to sample several quite similar paint colors and view them outside as the light changes.

Bleached Linen – Behr

Plenty of whites have pinky or peachy undertones which could be perfect or dreadfully wrong based on the light your home receives.

Smoky White – BEHR

Do TAP HERE TO PIN THIS POST to save for future reference since there are so many helpful sources and ideas supplied.

Interior Paint Colors

Sherwin-Williams Alabaster 7008

Simplify your life by painting the interiors one color as Brit Jones did in this home where walls were painted SW Alabaster 7008 – it has greeny undertones.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster

Here are a couple warm whites from BEHR I have used that are close to Alabaster. Swiss Coffee has subtle green undertones (don’t be afraid of green – it works wonders in the proper location!).

Swiss Coffee – BEHR

Cameo White has grey undertones, and if you compare these two whites, you’ll see what I mean. There’s no substitute for sampling them though!

Cameo White – BEHR

French Farmhouse Entry With Alabaster

Isn’t this a calm, gentle, welcoming entry?

Lovely French farmhouse country entry way with rustic sliding vintage door and SW Alabaster on walls…certainly lovely indeed.

Design Resources for Entry

Sconces: Aidan Gray – Joni; Chandelier: Aidan Gray Musa Carved Arm; French armchair options: find HERE. European commode options: find HERE; Flooring: Hill Country Innovations – Cape Cod Oak.

Similar planter: HERE

Romantic French Farmhouse Bedroom With Pale Blue Barn Door

Oh the quietude of pale, French country paint colors and design elements.

Romantic master bedroom with SW Alabaster and elegant decor as well as whispery blue accents.

When the wall color is this subdued, a wood chandelier becomes a dramatic counterpoint.

Are you loving how the rusticity of the chandelier’s wood and the ceiling details juxtapose with the soft aqua door?

Find the chandelier HERE

The arched window in the bedroom is very similar to my own bedroom, and I work from a desk placed in front of it.

Design Resources for Bedroom

Large Chandelier: Wood Carved Chandelier; Smaller Chandelier (in same French country spirit): find HERE; Bed Skirt: find HERE. Sliding barn door is painted is hand-painted a custom mix of Annie Sloan chalk paint colors (see explanation below). Linen upholstered ottoman: find HERE; Wall paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster. French bedside tables: find HERE; Similar table lamp: find HERE and HERE; Aidan Gray chandeliers HERE.

Sliding French Barn Door Details

For the soothing pale blue-green-grey paint color on this custom door, the designer custom mixed Annie Sloan chalk paints using Duck Egg Blue, Old White, French Linen, and Coco. (Bear in mind Annie Sloan changes color formulations from time to time!).

When I interviewed a local Annie Sloan stockist this week, I learned about Annie Sloan Svenska Blue…oooooh, it’s a pretty color that may come closer to your own idea of what duck egg blue should look like. You could subdue this tone with any number of warm whites.

Ideas to Get This Custom Paint Look

It’s always worth taking the time to create the perfect custom hue, and if you’re me…it’s also fun. The most important step is being sure to jot down the precise proportions. Then when you get it right, make sure to mix up enough for your project rather than mixing up multiple batches, each of which could be a little off.

Here is an example of a combination:

Another possibility for arriving at a muted blue-grey-green is to mix several beautiful chalk paints together for a custom color all your own.

For example, start with 1 part Vintage Duck Egg and 1 part Drop Cloth to arrive at a muted blue-green. Then, keeping track of how much you add, mix in a little Manatee Gray which will bring grey-blue to the tone. Find these chalk paints linked below.

Vintage Duck Egg – Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral PaintDrop Cloth – Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral PaintManatee Gray – Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint

Simple & Spare French Great Room

Lovely living room with pale blue as well as white…find a similar chandelier: HERE.

Traditional Country French Style Kitchen With Reclaimed Brick

The kitchen in this new build has so many Old World finishes to admire.

Beautiful kitchen with Country French design elements and Sherwin Williams alabaster paint as well as Chicago brick.

Even the brick feels subtle!

An elegant custom range hood feels sculptural and feminine.

What a view from the kitchen window! It’s not everyday you get to enjoy pretty rustic French exterior shutters from inside!

Old World style fixtures like the faucet are harmonious with the traditional French country kitchen’s timeless style.

Copper accents which are so very French, echo the tones of the Chicago brick.

Somehow these large lanterns feel weightless and light with the lofty ceiling.

Paint Color for Trim in Pantry

This grey paint color is an example of how when you are after a blue gray, it’s best to look in the grey range rather than blues which can go terribly wrong.

Here’s a very similar color to try if BEHR from Home Depot is more easily available to you:

River Rock – BEHR

Don’t you love seeing rooms with trim painted something other than white? So interesting.

A charming butler pantry/Coffee Room has trim and shelves painted SW Uncertain Gray as well as walls painted SW Alabaster.

Design Resources for Kitchen

Dining Table: Reclaimed Pine Table; Bench: Hand-finished and Distressed Pine Bench. Single handle kitchen faucet: Danze – Opulence; White Gardenia dish soap and collection: FIND HERE. Bar Faucet: Danze Opulence and find a similar option HERE as well. Cabinet hardware: Jeffrey Alexander; Copper cookware: Find HERE; Backsplash: reclaimed Chicago brick…options HERE; Countertop: honed Arabescato marble. Paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster; Cabinet hardware: Jeffrey Alexander. Custom range hood: created on site; Lantern: Feiss – Galloway; Similar Wingback Chair: HERE and HERE. Here’s a wingback chair I love: FIND HERE. Side Chairs: Round Back Linen Chairs. Floors: Hill Country Innovations Cape Cod Oak.

Reclaimed Chicago Brick Info

When I learned about reclaimed Chicago brick (sliced thin so it may be tiled like regular tile) a couple of years ago, there were only a couple of suppliers. Not you can find brick for tiling more easily in the marketplace such as HERE.

Reclaimed Brick Floor in French Laundry Room

What a dreamy space with soft neutrals and a place for everything.

This laundry room painted SW Alabaster has reclaimed brick flooring in a herringbone pattern as well as polished Quartzite (Shadow) counters.

Romantic Pink Girl’s Bedroom

Pale pink accents play a starring role in this lovely little girl’s room.

Lovely and lofty, this timeless as well as classic girl’s bedroom has hushed pink accents.

Gilded accents feel right at home even though they are fancy!

Girl’s Bedroom Resources

Distressed White Chandelier: Similar HERE. Wall paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster. Pink Bedding: Soft Rose – Pottery Barn.

Country French Den With Rustic Reclaimed Wood Ceiling

I love the undecorated look of this den.

It feels like a space where a family spends time as opposed to one where Instagram photoshoots happen.

And all of the handsome brown keeps it from being precious or too pretty.

This cozy den with reclaimed brick flooring and built-in nook is rich with custom design as well as European country details.

Den Resources

Sconce: HERE, similar wall sconce: find HERE; Flooring: reclaimed Chicago brick. Wall paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster. Ceiling: a mix of reclaimed wood and new cedar.

Classic Bathroom Designs

These bathrooms while traditional and Old World have a timeless appeal that won’t soon fall from favor.

Pink Grapefruit Handsoap

What a difference it makes to not have standard sheets of mirror wall to wall!

I’m also reminded of the luxury building a new house affords…you can place a window in the perfect spot for flattering light in the bath.

This chandelier is everything!

It’s easy to fall for the master bathroom’s chandelier…certainly charming indeed.

Bathroom Resources

Nickel Wall Sconce: find HERE; Bathroom paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster; Chandelier in Master: Terracotta Lighting “Ballerina”.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster – click image to buy a sample

Go Inside a Design by Brit Jones

Check out this amazing design reveal for a happy client!

I hope you enjoyed this house tour! Do direct your questions about the design to Brittany Jones Design if you would like help making your own French inspired interiors come to life!

More Euro Country Design Inspiration

TAP THE IMAGE BELOW TO LEARN MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS HOME’S KITCHEN.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Shop for items you already intended to buy on Amazon RIGHT HERE, and also find home decor here to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

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Why do designers choose French paint Argile? – read on the Manders blog

Argile is the project of entrepreneur and paint expert Jean-Frédéric Nothombe and color specialist Pierre Bonfiat. For 13 years, the French company has been producing premium-class paints, which are chosen by architects, decorators and artists - both Western and Russian. The concept of the palette is the use of natural shades of nature. And this is just one of the reasons why the pros work with Argile. There are others - let's talk about them.

1. Argile paint is safe for human health

The content of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) in it is minimal: you can paint the walls even in children's rooms. The composition of each paint is prepared, mixed and checked by hand. Production is located in France.

There are no petrochemicals in the Argile Nature range. The paint is based on sunflower vegetable oil with the addition of lavender oil, organic dyes and pigments based on a water polymer.

PROFI EXPERIENCE. While working on the project of an apartment for a girl, the designers of the Quadro Room bureau relied on natural materials: oak parquet, polished marble, slate. Eco-friendly Argile paint was chosen for the walls. “Ideal colors for minimalism are warm white and gray,” the designers say. The last one we found in the Argile palette is Terre de Boheme (T811) from the Couleurs de Terre collection.”




2. The Argile palette is based on authentic natural shades

Argile means clay in French. The name is a reference to the organic nature of the flowers in the collections. The Couleurs de Terre collection (128 colors) is dedicated to the shades of the earth: clay, sand, pebbles. Vegetal (56 shades) - inspired by the plant world. The expressiveness of each shade is indicated by the names: Craie bleutée (blue chalk), Sable dore (golden sand), Noir de vigne (black grapes).

PROFI EXPERIENCE. The owner of a three-room apartment in a panel house wanted to use materials that would last a long time and only look better over time. Designer Dasha Ukhlinova supported the customer in this: even the clinker tiles in the kitchen were made by hand. “In order to find the right shade of red for her, we bought 5 different, more or less matching paint samples and chipped the bricks on the spot. And it was the fifth color, Bruyere (V15) from the Vegetal, Argile collection, which I grabbed, literally running out of the salon, fit perfectly!” - recalls Dasha Ukhlinova.

The remaining walls in the apartment were covered with paint from the English brand Little Greene.




Photo: Mikhail Loskutov

3. All shades of Argile are great friends with each other

Just imagine how many successful color combinations you can create. After all, there are 184 shades in the Argile palette.

PROFI EXPERIENCE. Ariana Ahmad is a big fan of Argile paints and often uses them in her projects. For example, to decorate the interior of an apartment of 32 square meters, the designer chose the rich shades of Gres Des Vosges (T541) from the Couleurs de Terre collection and Tamarin (V08), the Vegetal collection.

“I'm not afraid to work with dark shades. This apartment has 3 large windows and high ceilings: dark walls added comfort and diverted attention from the small footage, says Ariana. - Dark colors always look bottomless. In the bedroom, we even painted a burgundy ceiling.”


Photo: Sergey Ananiev. Stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk

4. Argile paints have high hiding power and wear resistance

The first parameter, coupled with the high density of the paint layer, allows you to save on the amount of paint and get the perfect wall coverage within two approaches. The second allows you to enjoy the result for a long time: cleaning will not injure the paint layer.

PROFI EXPERIENCE. Designer Svetlana Arefieva was not afraid to paint the walls of a three-level apartment in an old house in the light shade of Ponce Clair. But for the living area, they chose a deep shade of Gris Ardoise (T841), Argile. “I love it when there is a dark corner in a bright space. And the light background did not suit the wooden fireplace, ”Svetlana shares.

Terre Grise (T321), Argile was also chosen for the children's bathroom on the second floor.



Photo: Sergey Ananiev

5. Argile paints are chosen by the best decorators from all over the world

Argile paints are used to paint the walls of historical buildings: the Louvre and the Grand Palais in Paris, as well as the Arc cultural center in Le Creusot. The same French paint was preferred by the designer Guy Oliver when he redecorated the interiors of the Connaught Hotel in London, and by the Nicemakers bureau professionals when they designed the Hoxton in Amsterdam.

As in the West, Argile is often used in the design of Russian public and residential spaces.

PROFI EXPERIENCE. Olga Surkova is the author of the interior of an apartment with a fantastic view of the Moscow canal in the City of Yachts. The designer managed to create a timeless space. The bet was made on the texture of wood and premium French paint Argile. For example, in the public area, Olga used the shade Bleu Persan (T822) - a cool blue tone harmonizes perfectly with warm wood and echoes the sky and the water surface outside the window.


Photo: Sergey Ananiev

Wallpaper or wall painting: which is better?

The choice of finishing materials is one of the most difficult issues in renovation planning. Paint and wallpaper are considered the undisputed leaders, but figuring out what will work best in your case is not so easy. An analysis of their advantages and disadvantages can help. In the article we will consider them in detail, make a comparison and help you make the right choice!

Paint - a complete solution

If you want to make repairs and forget about it for a long time, then paint is exactly what you need. Compared to other finishing methods, it has many advantages:

Of course, this method of finishing also has disadvantages that you need to be aware of:

Quality water-based paints are completely safe, odorless and dry quickly. Can be used to repair a nursery.

Rich walls in the living room

Wallpaper: quick repair

If we consider the most popular types: paper and vinyl, their advantages and disadvantages are almost the same. Compared to paint, wallpapers benefit from the fact that:

Disadvantages are mainly related to the operation process:

Black and white wallpaper - a stylish and practical solution

Wallpapering is much easier than painting. In rooms where the walls have a complex shape, you will have to tinker with measuring the pieces of the right size, but you can handle this yourself. Such a coating does not require any maintenance, but it must be treated with care, since it will not work to wash the stain or paint over the defect, as is the case with paint.

What is cheaper: painting or wallpaper

The answer is unequivocal: painting is almost always more expensive. It is possible only if the walls are perfectly smooth and even. Only a professional can achieve this. Primary painting also requires some experience, and this is another contractor who will need to be paid. On the other hand, in the future, updating the repair will be completely easy: you can repaint the walls, or paint over minor defects yourself.

Wallpaper can be easily glued to any surface, the main thing is to choose a quality adhesive. No special skills are needed for this job. Replacing them will be more difficult than just repainting, as you will have to completely remove the old layer.

The choice of material also depends on the room being renovated

What to choose: paint the wall or wallpaper?

Each material has its own characteristics, so you should choose one based on your expectations from the repair. The table shows the advantages and disadvantages of each coating in terms of difficulty of finishing, maintenance, service life and other important aspects.

Paint Wallpaper
Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages 70 Preparing for finishing Leveling the walls simplifies future repairs. The services of a master are required (expensive and time consuming). No preparation required.
Replacement or upgrade Easy to repaint or repair imperfections. Laborious due to the need to remove the previous coating.
Maintenance Walls should be cleaned regularly. Maintenance free.
Operation and service life All dirt and defects are easily removed, the service life is about 10 years. Dirt is difficult to clean, finish can be damaged by pets, children. Service life - about 5 years.
Interior To create coziness, it is desirable to choose textured painting or drawing. They are an ornament in themselves. They can be supplemented with anything.

7

Combining wallpaper and painted walls in the interior

If the table did not help you make a decision, answer a few questions for yourself:

  1. How much time are you willing to spend on repairs? What is the budget? Are you ready to hire contractors?
  2. For how long do you make repairs?
  3. Do you have any idea how to paint the wall in an original way?

If your repair budget is tight and you want to do it yourself, it's best to refrain from painting.

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