#20 Ways to Create a French Country Kitchen

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20 Ways to Create a French Country Kitchen

If you love style that is warm, comfortable, and beautiful all at the same time, you’re likely a fan of French country designs. A French country kitchen is no different – in a place that has historically been the working-horse of the home, the kitchen designed in a French country style evokes a familiar, friendly feeling of a traditional and somewhat simple life.

Bonus: The design, ensconced in history and reminiscent of the past, doesn’t sacrifice the function of modern amenities. Here are 20 components of a French country kitchen:

Soft, pale colors are typically used in a French country kitchen, largely because these are colors taken from a provincial landscape. Think warm, soft, muted hues in earthy tones..

The color palette of a French country kitchen tends to be soft and subdued. Because cabinetry tends to take up the most visual space in a kitchen, using warm surfaces and muted tones on the cabinets is a must for an authentic French country feel.

Crown molding framing the top of the kitchen’s cabinetry is often a component of the French country kitchen, adding a beautiful traditional element..

Skirted cabinetry, particularly under the sink, is a traditional country- or farmhouse-style décor detail, and it can be found in French country kitchens as well..

It makes sense that a décor style that takes its cues from countrified natural scapes would incorporate natural materials into its design. Stone, brick, and wood surfaces are plentiful in the French country kitchen.

Evocative of the times when large families and guests would gather around, French country kitchens will (whenever space permits) incorporate a large kitchen island. This not only aids in food preparation activities, but it also provides space for bringing lots of people together, guests and hosts alike.

Furniture-type details on the kitchen cabinetry and/or island increase the warmth and comfort of the kitchen itself. Warmth and comfort. These are the essence of what a French country kitchen aspires to have..

An island is indeed an important component to the French country kitchen. One way to highlight the feature is to make it a different color than the rest of the kitchen. Keep the same warm, muted palette, just add a contrast for visual interest.

Although the French country kitchen has few contemporary tendencies, as far as décor goes, there are still some subtle ways to introduce a more modern feel. For example, using darker woods or painted surfaces on, say, the island combines with the lighter surfaces of the rest of the kitchen in a more modern aesthetic.

A French country kitchen will often, although not always, incorporate a farmhouse- (or apron-) style sink into its design. Even amidst other elegant touches, this simple sink form looks perfectly at ease.

A luxurious detail but one that makes sense with the large-gathering focus of a French country kitchen is the wall-mounted pot filler faucet, installed above the stove. This is a traditional feature that has disappeared in standard kitchens, but it’s quite useful for the family chef!

Traditionally, the hanging of cookware overhead was a purely functional decision. Today, the strategy of copper pots on display in the French country kitchen gets as much applause for its gorgeous form as for its function..

Outdoor- or lantern-style lighting is used seamlessly in a French country kitchen, due largely to its rustic, organic, yet hard-working aesthetic.

French country kitchens play upon the history of families gathering around the fireplace by designing stoves and/or other cooking spaces that are reminiscent of fireplaces. This is accomplished in a variety of ways, including the use of brick or stone around the stove, an archway, or decorative hood, for example.

Unique, decorative (and functional!) hoods abound in the décor and design of a French country kitchen. And even if they didn’t…you couldn’t ever go wrong with a gorgeous copper number like this one.

For an automatic warm, country feel, use beadboard (or tongue-and-groove) facings on vertical surfaces. Ideas for beadboard placement include cabinet doors, kitchen island walls, or even the backsplash..

They don’t have to steal the show, but iron details (think cast iron or wrought iron touches) in a French country kitchen are a must. Iron appears to be used on much of the lighting here (the pendant lanterns and lighting flanking the kitchen sink), and it finishes off the whole look.

Exposed ceiling beams are not always possible to incorporate into the kitchen decorated in French country style. They are not necessary for a successful warm, stylish look, either, but the exposed wooden ceiling beams are certainly icing on the French country cake!

A warm and welcoming feel is one of the main components of a French country kitchen, although it is a harder one to quantify. Incorporating a variety of textures and textiles while keeping the color palette warm and light is a good rule of thumb.