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28 Chic and Timeless French Country Style Kitchens

By

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

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Updated on 08/12/22

Becca Interiors

The decorating aesthetic known in the English-speaking world as French country style is an homage to the charms of the French countryside. While it may be hard to replicate the beauty of the surrounding landscape or the aged patina of a Provençal farmhouse, a rustic thatched cottage in Normandy, or a provincial chateau, architects, interior designers, and home decorators around the world have long sought to transport a bit of the charm and elegance of the French countryside to their own backyards.  

The resulting mashup known as French country decor emphasizes an easy take on rustic but refined aesthetics and natural materials, and an embrace of timeless everyday objects. Much of what we think of as traditional or farmhouse style interiors that are so ubiquitous today have roots in French country aesthetics, which can add character to a modern interior, easily translating to any room in the house from the living room to the bedroom or bathroom.

Adding some French country-inspired decor to your own kitchen can help you to add a sense of history, timelessness, and simple beauty to your home, no matter where you live. Check out these interiors that demonstrate how to borrow a bit of French style to make your own kitchen design into the warm, charming, effortlessly chic gathering space it was meant to be.

15 French Country Living Rooms

19 Most Gorgeous French Country Kitchens

If there’s one type of kitchen that I continue to fall in love with, it’s French country kitchens. I find them super charming and elegant in so many ways. French country decor is known for its vintage elements and old European style. Good news! There are so many creative decorative elements that you can easily copy even if you don’t live in a real “French” country home!

The kitchen is a place where we prepare meals for our family and friends. It’s such an important part of the home, and most of all, it’s one of the most functional spaces we need! Check out some of our favorite kitchens in the French farmhouse style below!

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Let’s talk about design trends in French farmhouse kitchen decor. Here are our favorite French farmhouse kitchen decor ideas and designs.

1. Crystal Chandelier

This is the ultimate kitchen lighting fixture if you’re going for the French farmhouse look. The light will gently reflect off the crystals hanging near the lightbulbs, giving the room an elegant glow.

@simplyfrenchmarket

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2. Checkered Floor Tile

This flooring design is quintessentially French! It works in many rooms, especially the kitchen.

@cat_in_france

3. Fleur de Lis Backsplash Tile

Go for a classic French motif like the famous fleur de lis for your backsplash kitchen tile.

@simplyfrenchmarket

4. French Louis Counter Chairs

The Louis chair is a beloved French furniture design that has stood the test of time. Luckily, a counter chair version is easy enough to find!

@decoratinglife.ca

5. Apron Front Sink

You’ve got to have a farmhouse style, apron-front sink in your kitchen. It’s even better if it has a beautiful engraving on the front!

@somuchbetterwithage

6. Blue Pitcher and Flowers

Ceramic pitchers are handmade in the south of France and sold at markets by artisans. Get yourself a replica if you can’t get an original! Flowers are very welcome as well!

@frenchlarkspur

7.

Gray Floor Tile@white_and_faded

8. Light Blue Cabinets and Chairs

@provencepoiriers

9. Wood and Marble French Island Table

@frenchcountrycottage

10. Wood Ceiling Beams

Leave the wood ceiling beams in your home exposed for a rustic chic look.

@sanctuaryhomedecor

11. Copper Pots

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12. Blue Lacanche Range

Lacanche is a celebrated French range maker to know.

@frenchcountrycottage

13. Marble Top Wood Table Island

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14. Checkered Backsplash Tile

Maison Creative

15. LaCornue Range

Another popular French range manufacturer, LaCornue ranges have stood the test of time. They are shipped around the world, but you’ll need to plan about 6 months in advance for this chef quality range.

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16. Wooden Island

@simplyfrenchmarket

17. Open Glass Shelves

Show off your French china on beautiful glass shelves.

@the_fox_group_

18. Sink Skirt

Brocantelle

19. Open Shelving

Keep the room airy and fresh with open kitchen shelving.

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I hope you found these French country kitchens as inspiring as we did! We’re always on the hunt for the best interior design we know will inspire our readers. You can subscribe to our email list below to be notified of new posts. We love sharing with you popular design style guides, furniture buying guides, and other decorating tips!

More French Country Decorating Ideas

Don’t miss our other room decorating guides to get French country style in your home. We have lots of budget-friendly recommendations that you can easily incorporate into your own home!

Happy curating!

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We share the best home decor ideas, furniture recommendations, coolest products, and interior design tips for America's most stylish women.

characteristic features, how to do it yourself, design ideas, photos.

A wide selection of materials for decoration, furniture, textiles provides an opportunity to implement any ideas in the interiors of residential, non-residential premises: whether it is a small cafe or a bedroom in a private house, apartment.

One of the most important rooms in the house is the kitchen. It performs many functions, is a very visited brand. For this reason, the interior style chosen for the kitchen should be versatile, simple, effective and accessible at the same time.

Sophisticated French style fully meets these high requirements. You can learn about how a French-style kitchen looks like and how to arrange such a design yourself from this publication.

French-style kitchen interior

French-style kitchens have a special charm. They are sophisticated and elegant. They differ in gentle, graceful forms, unobtrusive decor. At the same time, such external fragility is perfectly combined with high functionality - the main requirement for rooms of this purpose.

French style highlights

A French style kitchen will look good in a large house as well as in an apartment with modest dimensions.

There are a few things to keep in mind when designing a Parisian design.

If your kitchen is small, don't despair. You can get out of the situation with the help of a balcony. By combining it with the main room, it will be possible to significantly expand the space in order to bring to life an exquisite French interior.

The main advantages and disadvantages of a French style kitchen

French-style interiors are characterized by elegance, grace of form and lightness of decor.

Benefits:

Drawbacks:

Which rooms are suitable for Parisian style?

A French-style kitchen can be reminiscent of an aristocratic mansion, refined and sophisticated.

Before choosing a French style for decor, you need to check: does the kitchen meet all the requirements of this trend? Parisian style needs free space. For this reason, small, tiny rooms are categorically not suitable. This is not surprising, because earlier this direction was used to decorate huge halls, dining rooms, where guests of honor were received - marquises, dukes, counts.

Another requirement for the space is plenty of natural light. This is possible only in one case - if the kitchen has several large windows, a balcony, a loggia. Natural light makes the room cozy and warm. An important point is the height of the ceiling. Low ceilings can be a significant barrier to incorporating Parisian design into your kitchen.

Characteristic features of the French style in the interior

An abundance of fresh air and sunlight is important for a French-style kitchen.

Each interior style has elements, nuances, and details that are unique to it. French decor is no exception. The Parisian style is characterized by the following features.

  1. Natural finishing and building materials. Preference should be given to tiles, natural stone, wood. Plastic, other artificially created materials will spoil the overall impression.
  2. Gentle, slightly muted colors. Favorites are white, cream, coffee colors.
  3. Uniform design of the ceiling, walls. Surfaces should not differ too clearly from each other in color, texture.

Pastel colors may seem rather boring for many. To liven up the Parisian style a little, you can use light shades of brighter colors. However, it is important to observe the main rule - bright colors can only be present as small spots, accessories, textiles.

What colors can be used?

The kitchen is the place where the whole family gathers at the table.

Functional furniture in the kitchen, a large amount of decor in the French style is nice to compensate for a rather restrained finish. The overall color scheme of the room should be kept in gentle, calm shades. It is permissible to use the following colors: white, milky, ivory, caramel, beige, coffee, pink, ocher. You can also use light shades of yellow, olive, lilac, mint.

Textiles, some design elements may be chosen in colorful shades. However, the shade should be as muted as possible, as light as possible. For example, red pillows on chairs, curtains with gold ties, fringe will be appropriate.

Finishing the kitchen in the French style

Having chosen the basic shades of the colors of the future kitchen, you can start selecting finishing materials. The choice of finish will depend on several important criteria.

All finishing, building materials used in the design of the Parisian kitchen must be safe, natural, environmentally friendly.

Walls

For French-style kitchen walls, it is better to use plaster, matte or pearlescent paint in light shades.

Wall decoration in this stylistic direction should not be too pretentious, complex. Ideal for high-quality plaster, paint. Paint is better to choose matte, pearlescent. The walls near the dining area are best highlighted with another finishing material. For example, with the help of natural wood panels, luxurious wallpaper.

French-style kitchen apron

Apron is an integral part of French-style kitchen design.

The apron has a special function in the kitchen. It is mounted in the area of ​​the working surface, allows you to save the finish in the most easily soiled place. Also, the apron will be a kind of highlight of the design, its decoration. For an apron, you can choose a large ceramic tile of a very light color, an interesting mosaic, glass.

Floor

Kitchen flooring should be made of durable materials.

The floor plays an important decorative role in the Parisian style. It should be decorated with expensive, exquisite material. The ideal choice would be porcelain stoneware, marble. Also a good solution would be to use a parquet board made of natural wood. The color of the parquet should be light.

The dining area can be further enhanced by laying a beautiful carpet on the floor. Wool carpet on the floor will emphasize the charm of French design.

Ceiling

The ceiling of the kitchen in France style is characterized by a combination of colors and textures with the flooring, here you rarely see the usual whitewashed ceiling.

Ceiling decoration in this style should be simple enough to blend well with wall decoration. You can choose from the following options: paint, whitewash, molding, wooden beams.

French-style kitchen lighting

The French style in the interior of the kitchen is emphasized with the right lighting.

Light plays an important role in the design of authentic French kitchens. There should be a lot of it in any manifestation: natural, artificial. If natural lighting can be created using several windows with light, translucent curtains, then artificial lighting will have to include imagination. The main source of light in the kitchen should be a large ceiling chandelier located in the center.

Additionally, wall sconces are installed in the dining area, and spotlights are mounted in the working area.

Household appliances for the kitchen

Household appliances are indispensable in a modern kitchen, but they should not stand out from the general style.

The general atmosphere in the Parisian kitchen is reminiscent of a palace, a solemn hall of the Middle Ages. However, this does not prevent it from being modern, technological, multifunctional. And all this thanks to the right choice of technology. For the kitchen you will need:

Household appliances should have a simple, classic design. It is advisable to purchase it from one manufacturer.

Kitchen furniture

French style furniture made of natural wood.

In a French kitchen, there should not be too much furniture - there must be enough free space. All you need is a spacious kitchen set, a cozy sofa or exquisite wooden chairs for the dining area, a large wooden table.

All items must be made in the same style, in harmony in color and shape. Furniture should have graceful curves, may be decorated with a small amount of gilding. The work surface must be made of stone. It is better to give preference to granite. Chairs for the dining area may have forging elements.

French-style kitchen accessories and decorations

French-style tableware, full of tenderness and sophistication, shows the subtle romantic taste and sophistication of the home.

Beautiful curtains, expensive tableware, unusual figurines, stylish textiles - all this can transform any interior beyond recognition. To decorate French cuisine, you should choose light, airy curtains. They should transmit light well. Gilded potholders can decorate the curtains.

The dining area can be decorated with thematic paintings, photographs in thin, beautiful frames. On the dining table, there must be a vase with fresh flowers or a flowerpot with fruit. The set can be decorated with expensive earthenware and porcelain dishes.

Kitchen Design Ideas

The following interesting ideas will help to make the Parisian kitchen original.

Video: French Provence in a small kitchen

Photo: 50 French-style kitchen photo ideas

French-style kitchen. Ideas for design (70 photos)

A French-style kitchen will look decent in a large house and in an apartment with modest dimensions. It is enough to look at a few photos to fall in love with this amazing lightness, smoothness of lines and an abundance of textiles forever. What do you think of this interior design? Designers of the Decorin project offer you ideas for a cozy kitchen arrangement. Choose!

French-style kitchen: distinctive features

In the article “French-style house”, we have already touched on the topic of kitchen design. Today we will try to dwell on this issue in more detail.

French style in the interior of the kitchen is difficult to confuse with any other. As a rule, these are spacious bright rooms with large windows.

Pastel shades are used for walls, ceilings and floors:

An abundance of appliances in such a kitchen is not welcome. Give preference to built-in varieties of hoods, ovens, dishwashers.

There are several main branches of the French style:

French style in the interior - wall decoration (with examples in the photo)

As mentioned in the article “French-style house”, wall decoration should be done in discreet colors. The main task is to create a calm "background" for furniture and other decor items.

It can be wallpaper in small patterns. Prints are often chosen, the motifs of which are repeated in furniture upholstery, curtains, chair covers, curtains.

Walls can also be leveled with plaster and painted pastel. Choose a slightly pale tone. It should look like the paint has faded a bit over time.

Sometimes textured plaster is used. Here are design examples where one of the walls is not processed. The “live” energy of bare brick brings fresh, dynamic notes to the interior of the kitchen.

A stone wall looks even more impressive.

Really?

The French style in the interior of the kitchen involves the use of natural materials. What the Parisian spirit does not tolerate is plastic. If you still plan to use artificial materials for decorating walls or ceilings, choose options that mimic natural ones.

Secrets of interior design in French style.

How to decorate the ceiling and floor in the kitchen?

In order to maintain the French style in the design of the kitchen, they try to decorate the floor and ceiling in the same way. Sharp transitions and contrasts are not characteristic of this interior direction. The whole design should be formed into a single ensemble.

Ceilings are rarely made plain and white. The palace style is characterized by stucco molding, wide moldings, a coffered ceiling is allowed. Provence often uses rough wooden beams or their imitation.

In a more modern French style, the use of built-in lamps, various lights, two-tier ceiling structures is allowed. Here is a photo of the interiors. Look how interesting this direction is played.

French style kitchen floor can be made of:

At the same time, the color of the flooring seems to merge with the general interior background.

Furniture - what role does it play in French style kitchen design?

So, the design of the walls and floor is clear. We turn to the choice of furniture. In the French-style kitchen, she plays the main role. Headsets, island tables, open shelves, chairs - sometimes it seems that there is too much of everything. But it is enough to delve a little into the essence of the Parisian style to catch the main point. There is nothing superfluous here. Each element of the decor carries a certain functional and emotional load.

Here are examples of palatial style furniture. There seems to be an aristocratic spirit in the air. Take a look at these noble shades, shapes, exquisite openwork carvings.

Furniture takes up a lot of space and plays a major role. Mirrors are often used. They contribute to filling the space with light (due to reflection). And the mirror inserts are in perfect harmony with the gilding finish.

French country is characterized by tables and cabinets with worn-out (or artificially) paint. In the decoration of facades, you will almost never see flat forms. Only textured surfaces. As a rule, the upper elements of kitchen sets with stained glass. This allows you to flaunt expensive antique dishes.

French country: how to highlight the interior of the kitchen?

What will be the finishing touch in the interior of French cuisine? Sometimes the design is connected, like puzzles, into a single whole completely unexpectedly. It can be:

Here is a tip from the designers of the Decorin project: do not use for design what is alien to you in terms of energy. Focus on decor items that evoke pleasant associations and emotions in you.

What is your vision of a French style kitchen? You went through the basic principles of "building" the design, looked at the photo.

Learn more