Know Everything About French Country Kitchen Design and Decor Tips
The most
captivating room in a French country home is often the kitchen
because it serves as the social gathering point for good food and
conversation with friends and family. You can add this rustic charm
to your kitchen by focusing on the colors, fabrics, heirloom
furniture and decor. Bringing these characteristics into the
design of your French country kitchen is easier than you may think.
Many hillside houses in the southern region of France are fairly
small and so are their kitchens. Their French owners focus on warm
colors and maximizing available space with functional earthy
furniture and old-age accessories.
Warm Colors -
Almost all rural French kitchens have warm appealing colors. Sunny
yellows, gold, rustic red, azure blue and dark hunter green create
that warm and elegant French country hillside feeling. Walls are
often painted a buttery yellow or light cream color to accentuate the
natural light. Creamy stucco walls with dark olive green and rich burgundy
accents will immerse your senses in the ambiance of a quaint
vineyard home in the south of France. Tuscan sun-drenched color can
be emphasized with terra cotta tiles or a worn wooden floor.
Cabinets and
Furniture - Cabinets and furniture in a French country kitchen design
should utilize indigenous woods like cherry, walnut and pine. Kitchen
cabinets should be light or moderately colored and can be
painted or stained. The kitchen table can be square or round but much
of its appeal should come from the rough and natural tone of the
wood. Imprefections in the cabinets or furniture wood are desirable
and add character. If you plan to replace kitchen furniture, focus on
large pieces with clean curves with natural or lightly painted
surfaces. Simplistic and elegant furniture made of rustic hardwoods
should be complimented with accent pieces of wrought iron, marble and
terra cotta to create that old world south of France charm.
Decor and
Accessories - Search for items made of natural materials when
choosing of accents and accessories for your French
country kitchen. Hanging pots, often made of copper, add
functionality and give that vintage feeling. Wrought iron and ceramic
are typical old world Tuscany kitchen classics. Provencal fabrics are
normally straight or plaid patterns with matching or contrasting
colors. You can choose bold yellow or reds to brighten the room or
light blue or cream to soften the look. Toile is common in the region
with blue, red or black patterns offset on a white or cream
background. Just be sure the fabrics blend with the walls, artwork
and decor. Focus your accents, pictures, fabric and accessories on
traditional French motifs including roosters, olives, vineyards,
grapes and lavender flowers.
Finishing
Touches - Since gardens are a natural extension of almost all houses
in the south of France, liberal placement of flowers will add the
finishing touch to your French country kitchen design. Hang dried,
silk or fresh flowers from wrought
iron fixtures and add them to pots, window boxes and vases.
Hydrangea and geraniums are plentiful in the south of France and
commonly visible within French country houses.
Whether you
decide to go all out or prefer a lower budget approach focusing on heirloom
furniture, heirloom
decor and heirloom
accessories that are aged, comfortable and earthy will bring the
quaint elegance of the French country hillside into your home. |