If there’s one room of a home most suited to French country décor, it’s the kitchen. That’s because the design approach, which originated in the 18th century, emphasizes a warm, homey feel. And there’s no better room than the kitchen in which to feature a welcoming, rustic décor.
The overall appearance of a French country kitchen is elegant but comfortable, without the type of gaudy decoration seen in earlier French styles. Earth tones predominate in the furnishings, cabinetry, wall hangings and accessories, and intricate moldings and scrollwork are commonly seen.
The wood or wood finishes used in the décor are generally light in color, with natural grains (or simulated grains, in the case of finishes) prominent. An aged or weathered look is a plus, and reclaimed wood is always an excellent choice. Accompanying hardware is usually made from (or finished with) bronze, iron or brass, ideally with a dark patina. If accent colors are used, they are likely to be muted, warm colors such as scarlet, mustard or moss green.
French toile fabrics, defined less by their material and more by their distinct patterns or their depictions of bucolic scenes, farm animals or birds, are the best choice for upholstery, curtains and the like. Rich fabrics such as linen are often found in French country kitchen décors, and although they are not considered de rigueur, long drapes or tapestries are not uncommon.
Materials like brick, copper, stone and slate will bolster the kitchen’s authentic rustic look by creating the appearance that elements have been added over time. These can be utilized in various ways, from floors and walls to smaller accessories and knick-knacks. Possibilities include hanging copper pots and displaying antique stone vessels on countertops – and don’t forget the flowers, a stable of any country kitchen.
French country kitchens in the 1700s may not have had center islands like the modern ones we have come to expect, but installing an island gives the space a homey, airy feel and provides the opportunity to feature antiqued woods and hardware in the center of the kitchen. Wooden or slate floors are a wonderful design touch, and they can be simulated with engineered wood flooring or ceramic tile if desired.
Some homeowners favor ceiling-mounted chandeliers for their country kitchen lighting, although many of the glitzy pieces sold as “French country” are really too ornate for the label. Simpler wood-and-iron chandeliers or iron pendant lanterns, with candle-style incandescent bulbs, are more suitable. They can be supplemented with candle wall sconces, and mirrored sconces which reflect additional light are a popular choice.
This distressed white 5-light drum chandelier brightens up your kitchen or dining room, adding a French country-inspired design to your space. The open-worked drum shade features an oval trellis design all around the edge, encasing candelabra. Bare 60W candle bulbs (not included) wash your dinner or prep space in a warm glow, making it perfect for use in any part of your home. Plus, it hangs from an adjustable downrod and has a sloped ceiling-compatible canopy.
This French country scroll wall decor, handmade from metal and MDF, will look extremely cool on your walls. Featuring a fleur-de-lis design and white washed medallion center that is complemented by natural white wash quatrefoil-like frame, this piece will readily blend with any home decor.
This manufacturer has a wide range of ready-to-hang wall art, which will complement any decor. Their abundance of art themes ranges from fascinating abstracts to breathtaking landscapes, in an assortment of sizes and frames. Their professionally handcrafted wall decor will be admired for years to come.
The Metal Silhouette Sign of a French Chef is an excellent addition for your kitchen. This charming, decorative piece features a Silhouette of a French Chef and measures 12" x 20".
This Bread Art Print is perfect for anyone who has a love of art, cooking, and the rustic French Countryside. It can be paired with the Brie Art Print, the Gruyere Art Print, or any of the other Bread Art Prints for an ensemble worthy of the pickiest eater.
This gallery-style canvas art reproduction features a printed design that mimics classic French restaurant boards. It's printed on canvas using the giclée printing process with archival inks and wrapped around a wood frame for a finished look. Hand-curated by Kelly Clarkson.
This dish cloth set is perfect for your kitchen. It adds a subtle elegance to your home and is great for housewarming gifts, college dorms, new apartments or Mother’s day. The fast-drying towels produce minimal lint and are excellent for drying dishes, glasses and more.
Add a touch of personality to your dorm room with this artistic wall decal! Designed for quick and easy application, these removable stickers will last for up to one year without leaving any residue on your walls.
French Market, I by NBL Studio is a high-quality piece of canvas artwork. At 1.5" deep, this square piece of canvas art has black sides that are painted to match the artwork.
A French-styled kitchen with a vintage set of furniture, furnished with a large kitchen island in the middle of the room, made out of solid wood with a pastel blue coat of paint and a marble top surface, decorated with some artificial flowers.
Modern arrangement for a modern country kitchen in a French style, furnished with a long kitchen island with rounded edges and a frame made out of white-painted wood and a top surface carved out of black granite.
Embodying perfectly well the French country style, this charming kitchen island bases on the classic combination of dark wood base with granite top. Elegant and cosy at the same time!
Sophisticated setup for an antique kitchen, furnished with a rectangular-shaped kitchen island in the middle, made out of solid wood with a slightly distressed coat of white paint and a top surface crafted out of stone.
This kitchen decor enchants with its charming French cottage appeal. The combination of white panelled cabinets and kitchen islands with granite countertop and wooden floors creates a very cosy ambiance.
Chic white French country style kitchen units. Stands feature carved curved posts and beige countertops. Wall units have crown tops and glass front cabinets flanking a full door one. A blue island with angled carved posts has a top in mid browns.
French country style kitchen with walls and furniture in white and blue and a brown floor. White ceramic tiles create charming rural landscapes and motifs in blue hues. The entirety is completed a.o. with vintage furniture and kitchen utensils.
Traditional setup for a French-styled country kitchen with a set of old-fashioned countertops and an old-fashioned stove, contrasted by a more contemporary kitchen island made out of dark oak wood with a marble top.
Pretty French country kitchen units of wood in cream. Floor units have cutout bases, milling cut panels, drawers, shelves, full doors, beige countertops. Wall units are shelved, lighted, have glazed doors. Knobs and handles are of black metal.
Pretty French country style kitchen cabinets of wood in creams. They feature corner half-columns, crown tops, dark countertops. A centre-piece is a carved crown above windows. A greyish island has a top in browns. Ornate black pulls are of metal.
Embodying ideally the climate of a French country decor, this kitchen oozes with a warm, cozy ambiance. Rustic-looking cabinets correspond perfectly well with wooden counters or warm-coloured tiles.
Chic French country style kitchen decor. Walls and a ceiling are white, a floor of white and blue tiles has a diamond design. Stands (with white countertops, arched milling cuts) and hutches (with arched glazed doors) have a shabby off-white finish.
A beautiful traditional French country style kitchen table crafted of wood with a bit worn finish in mid browns. It accommodates 4 persons. It has a rectangular top with rounded corners and brilliant upright turned spirally twisted legs.
Pale and neutral colors such as white and cream will help you create a soft, warm appeal in your decor, ideal for a cosy kitchen. The one here represents well the alluring ambiance of French provincial style.
Impressive French country style kitchen decor. A large island features a finish in a blue shade, turned corner columns, glazed cabinets, a rectangular top in mid browns. A giant white hood has a crown top and milling cut and ledged corner posts.
Shabby chic look for a country-style kitchen with a set of counters and cabinets made out of solid wood with a white coat of paint and marble tops, fitted with net-covered cupboards and a set of shelves for storage.
Vintage setting for a colorful, French-styled kitchen with a triangular kitchen island with a frame made out of gray-painted solid wood and a marble top surface, paired with two barstools made in a similar fashion.
Elegant French country style woody cabinets finished in white. All pieces feature half-columns and milling cut panels. Stands have countertops in mid browns. Glazed wall units have crown tops with golden trimming. Pulls are of silvery metal.
This kitchen decor can be a great inspiration for all, who want to create an elegant French cottage decor. Combining olive coloured cabinets with beige tiles and dark brown counters will bring charm and warmth.
An antique-looking kitchen, furnished with a long kitchen island in the center made out of solid wood with a dark coat of brown paint and a granite top, paired with an old-fashioned display of pots and pans above.
Dominated by bright wood and warm pastel colours, this beautiful kitchen decor represents the so-called French cottage style. It evokes associations with the gorgeous houses one can find in the south of France.
Traditional setting for a light and bright kitchen with a kitchen island made out of oak wood with a white coat of paint and an unpainted, polished top, nicely matching with granite counters with a set of metal barstools.
Interesting French country style kitchen decor. White floor cabinets (with black metal shell pulls and light brown countertops) and wall shelves are set against white walls and a beige floor. A table and timbering are of solid wood in natural hues.
Vintage setup for a sophisticated kitchen with a dining room annex, furnished with a rectangular dining table made out of oak wood planks with a set of matching dining chairs covered with white cotton cloth.
Contemporary setup for a spacious kitchen in an English country style. The kitchen is fitted with a set of cabinets made out of white painted wood with a matching kitchen island with a solid wood top to finish the room.
A charming French country style decorative set for wooden kitchen tables. It consists of a roundish white crocheted napkin, 2 low brass candlesticks, a squat vase of white glazed ceramic with flowers and a rectangular box of wood in beige shades.
French style for a country-like kitchen furnished with a set of counters and cabinets made out of yellow-painted wood which fits in nicely with the floral wallpaper, all finished off with a kitchen island with a stone, slate top.
Traditional setup for a country-themed kitchen with a triangular shaped kitchen island made out of white oak wood with a stone top, nicely matching with the counters and cabinets and finished off by an elegant chandelier.
Old-fashioned composition of furniture in a grand, sophisticated kitchen with furniture made out of walnut wood and an elegant, tiered kitchen island made out of dark oak wood with a marble top surface.
Rustic setup for a spacious kitchen with a long kitchen island made out of white-painted oak wood with an unpainted top and a built-in sink, all fitted with a set of four cross-back primitive barstools with seat cushions.
A showy traditional French country style ceiling-mounted pot rack hanging on black metal chains. Its rectangular wooden frame (with a crown top adorned with black metal scrolls) is white. Black metal hooks hang on across arranged white wooden rods.
An attractive French country style kitchen interior. It features beige walls, a light beige floor, a white split ceiling with timbering in cream and beige. Doors and kitchen units are of wooden materials finished in cream but have beige countertops.
Embodying the characteristic French cottage style, this set of wooden bar stools standing next to a shabby chic, wooden and marble kitchen island, create together a warm, alluring kitchen decor, encouraging the family to spend time together.
Embodying well the French country style, this kitchen decor delights with its warm, cosy appeal. Thanks to the use of creamy yellow cabinets and stylish green and blue checkered dining chairs, the room welcomes with its alluring ambience.
The kitchen island situated in the middle of this kitchen nicely matches the set of yellow counters and cabinets around the room. The kitchen island has a top surface made out of polished oak wood and has a single chair in front of it.
French style for a country kitchen with a small, square kitchen island in the center of the room. The kitchen island is made out of solid wood with a beige coat of paint and has a dark, contrasting stool next to it.
Dominated by white, light grey and beige, this soft kitchen decor embodies perfectly well the alluring character of French country style furniture. Wood and marble also help one achieve a refined character.
An adorable French country style kitchen island of wood. Its body (featuring low angle legs, milling cuts, carved corner scrolls) is finished in creams but a rectangular top in mid browns. Drawers and doors have small mushroom pulls of black metal.
Chic French country style kitchen decor. Finished in aged creams cabinets and a large white hood have dashy crown tops and ornate corner posts. They have countertops in beige shades. An island is blue, has turned ornate columns and a brown top.
Shabby composition of furniture in an antique-looking kitchen with a French vibe to it, furnished with a large, U-shaped home bar with a frame made out of solid wood with a gray coat of paint and a marble top surface.
Provincial setup for a light kitchen with a long kitchen island made out of oak wood with a pastel coat of blue paint with a traditional pattern and a marble top surface, paired with a set of five primitive barstools around it.
Finished in celadon blue, this cool rustic kitchen provides the charm and warmth known from the best French cottage decors. Curved, wavy silhouettes and charming pastel colours create an inimitable ambiance.
The French style of this kitchen is nicely complemented with the large, square kitchen island with a walnut top, which also doubles as a dining table, all finished off with a set of two antique ceiling lanterns above it.
Designed to warm up any decor, this beautiful set of kitchen furniture represents the best features of the French country style. Characteristic, ornately designed chairs and cabinets provide a warm, rustic appeal.
A pretty traditional French country style kitchen island of wood with a finish in light browns but a rectangular grey top. It has low upright angular legs, a shelved 2-door cabinet with vertical black metal C-pulls and an open front shelf.
Vintage setup for a spacious kitchen with a rectangular-shaped kitchen island in the middle with a frame made out of solid wood with a white coat of paint, paired with a marble top surface and three antique barstools.
Cozy composition of furniture for a relaxation spot in a living room, furnished with a rock brick fireplace with a frame made out of light pine wood, paired with a simple chair made out of similar wood with a low profile.
Ideal for those, who want to create a charming French cottage or shabby chic decor in their kitchen, this set of cabinets simply oozes with warmth and cosiness. Wooden cabinets and marble tops create together a gorgeous combination.
This beautiful kitchen embodies the best features of the so-called French cottage style. It is hard to find a more warm and cosy decor. Creamy cabinets correspond perfectly to the wooden tops, floors and ceiling joists.
This charming kitchen interior represents all that's best in the French country style. Starting from the white cabinets, which correspond perfectly to the off-white tiles, ending on the large round clock with the yellow clockface.
