Many of us who love the ease and warmth of French Country style would like
to enhance that feeling in our kitchens -- the heart of our home.
to enhance that feeling in our kitchens -- the heart of our home.
So, here are six simple ways I add some warm and welcoming
French soul to my kitchen.
French soul to my kitchen.
TEXTURE
1. Mixing textured and smooth surfaces, vintage and modern, old brick and stone, wood and tile all contribute to a rich depth in the kitchen.
Marble countertops look beautiful but stain easily and require maintenance so you could consider white quartz or butcher block. I have a slab of marble on top of a wooden cabinet that satisfies my "marble envy" without having to re-do my countertops.
2. Most authentic French Country kitchens do not have built-in cabinets. Rather they incorporate stand-alone furniture such as hutches, armoires, cupboards and open shelving.
This small cabinet gives my kitchen a curated-over-time feel and adds the warmth of natural wood as well as extra counter space.
Marble countertops look beautiful but stain easily and require maintenance so you could consider white quartz or butcher block. I have a slab of marble on top of a wooden cabinet that satisfies my "marble envy" without having to re-do my countertops.
FURNITURE
This small cabinet gives my kitchen a curated-over-time feel and adds the warmth of natural wood as well as extra counter space.
COLOR
3. Color plays an important role in the soul of a French kitchen. Soft, muted tones bring the feeling of country to the kitchen. If you have an island, you could consider painting it a different color than your cabinets for contrast and to enhance that feeling that it was collected over time.
My walls are painted a pale buttery yellow and my cabinets are a creamy white. It's interesting to note that yellow is considered by the color experts an uplifting color, offering hope and happiness and giving warmth even on a cold, cloudy day. White opens our minds to create and appears fresh and clean, both appropriate colors for a kitchen.
My walls are painted a pale buttery yellow and my cabinets are a creamy white. It's interesting to note that yellow is considered by the color experts an uplifting color, offering hope and happiness and giving warmth even on a cold, cloudy day. White opens our minds to create and appears fresh and clean, both appropriate colors for a kitchen.
FARMHOUSE SINK
4. Although the most critical things in your kitchen are probably your appliances, I think a farmhouse sink with a French-inspired faucet adds tons of French soul. A farmhouse sink is definitely on my wish list.
Note the beadboard backsplash that gives the kitchen a French farmhouse flavor. Old black and white Parisian postcards and a market basket rev up that French soul mood.
Note the beadboard backsplash that gives the kitchen a French farmhouse flavor. Old black and white Parisian postcards and a market basket rev up that French soul mood.
ACCESSORIES
5. What French Country kitchen would be complete without accessories? Accessories are a fun and inexpensive way to add warmth and charm to a room that can feel too sterile. Whether it's copper pots and pans, fresh flowers, an ironstone collection on display, or a strutting rooster, accessories complete the story.
Baskets for storage, rush seats on chairs, or fabrics (toile, lace, ticking) on window treatments
or skirted under your sink all add more texture and age.
Use old pitchers or crocks to hold a bouquet of cooking utensils and old wooden spoons.
or skirted under your sink all add more texture and age.
Use old pitchers or crocks to hold a bouquet of cooking utensils and old wooden spoons.
FARM TABLE
6. And finally, my number one way to add French soul to your kitchen is, ta dah, . . . a chippy old farm table! If you have room in your kitchen for an eat-in space, a worn table and chairs will make your friends and family feel like they've stepped into an old-world French farmhouse oozing with soul and character.
Because my kitchen is so small, I placed my farm table and chairs in my adjacent sunroom but it works just as well. Note the contrast of the distressed table with the elegant candelabra (purchased at the Vintage Whites Market in Denver!)
Because my kitchen is so small, I placed my farm table and chairs in my adjacent sunroom but it works just as well. Note the contrast of the distressed table with the elegant candelabra (purchased at the Vintage Whites Market in Denver!)
There are many more ways to add a little French soul and style to your kitchen
such as artwork, white dishes, farm animals (my personal favorite), or lighting.
I hope this post may have given you a few ideas to try
that could add some French soul to your kitchen.
that could add some French soul to your kitchen.
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Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,
21 Rosemary Lane, Petite Haus, French Country Cottage
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,
21 Rosemary Lane, Petite Haus, French Country Cottage
Great job and I love seeing your kitchen!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy!
DeleteIt's quite beautiful. Love your collection of white pitchers. If anything says French, yours sure do.
ReplyDeleteThanks Monika. I guess I do have a little problem with white pitchers. Can't get enough! Happy Weekend. Hugs, Pat
DeleteGreat list, Pat. I love the buttery yellow color, your accessories and your token marble slab. I love how you state it satisfies your marble envy. That's such a healthy way of being! Happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Rita! I appreciate your sweet words. Hugs, Pat
DeleteI love your kitchen and your ideas,thanks and have a great evening.
ReplyDeleteThank you Marlene. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs, Pat
DeleteBeautiful post! I enjoyed seeing your kitchen and gleaning the fresh ideas.
ReplyDeleteLovely post . . . so much charm. I love peeking into other blogging sister's homes. Your kitchen is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteHave a sweet weekend.
Connie :)
Connie, you're such a sweetie. You can peek anytime! Hugs, Pat
DeleteLove the fresh clean look of the kitchen. Good color combinations. Let's have a cup of tea and some scones.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan, there's nothing I'd like more. Hugs, Pat
DeleteI have never been to France but I imagine copper pots hanging on the wall, hemp kitchen towels stacked on the counter, tiled floors, definitely ironstone pitchers, and original art on the walls. That's my imagination of Country French. One day I will visit France.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ann! Your imaginary kitchen sounds perfect. I love the look of copper pans on a wall too but am not sure how easy they are to take care of. One day ... Hugs, Pat
ReplyDeleteLove all of your ideas for adding French soul to your kitchen. Your kitchen is so charming and I particularity love the red chippy table.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sharon.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your ideas at Snickerdoodle.
DeleteYour farm table is wonderful. I've been searching for a long narrow one for years.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love my farm table too. I found it at a Vintage Whites market a few years ago. Hugs, Pat
DeleteI have a French inspired kitchen and delighted to see I did a few things right - farmhouse sink with a tall faucet like yours but mine is burnished copper, butter yellow walls, French scenes and French language pieces on the walls, and a bunch of chickens on the counter in the book stand, trivets, spoon rest and figurines.
ReplyDeleteCarole, your kitchen sounds lovely. I will check out your blog and see if I can find some pixs of it. Hugs, Pat
DeleteYou have a great kitchen. Loved all the "French Country" ideas. I have the roosters! Ha! Lavender -- I need more lavender! Happy Monday!
ReplyDeleteThanks Snap! I always say you can't have too much lavender! Hugs, Pat
DeleteI love it all - so warm and cozy! This will sound funny but the thing that jumped out to ME first is that adorable salt and pepper set! Going to have to get me one of those!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lauren! I love those S&P shakers too. Found at an antique mall last year. So cute. Hugs, Pat
DeleteSo pretty. A very nice romantic type feel
ReplyDelete#amazememonday
Katelynn, hampersandhiccups.com
Thank so much Katelynn. I appreciate your sweet comments. Hugs, Pat
DeleteI am enchanted by the warmth and beauty of your lovely kitchen. It's so cozy -- I could drink tea or cocoa there for hours!
ReplyDeleteYour kitchen is so pretty.
ReplyDeletePat, I love how your bring French Country into your home! I have tried doing a few of these things. I painted my island a color to soften all of the wood. I find it's a lot easier to bring this style into my basement kitchen than the one upstairs. :) Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Beautiful post Pat! I love that big basket on top of your fridge and the lavender and candlight on your table! Thank you for sharing at TFT!
ReplyDeleteThat was a brilliant decoration nice to see it thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeletemodular kitchen company in bangalore