Hello Lovely White Modern French Kitchen Tour [Part 2]

Hello Lovely White Modern French Kitchen Tour [Part 2] continues with decor ideas, shopping resources, and photos of my attempts to create a simple, serene, wabi sabi, timeless and tranquil white Modern French kitchen. While our kitchen isn’t on par with fantasy-designed spaces I feature on the blog to inspire, it humbly reflects just where we are. Start RIGHT HERE with part one if you missed it.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Hello Lovely White Modern French Kitchen Tour [Part 2]

Apron Front Fireclay Farm Sink

Oh the sink! This fireclay farm sink makes me so happy and was one of the first design elements I bought and stored long before it was installed. It’s called Reinhard (Signature Hardware) and is the very same one Brooke Giannetti used in her kitchen at Patina Farm. I was worried it could be discontinued so I made sure to not be disappointed!

Since I trusted what the designer Brooke would put in her own kitchen, I knew it was bound to be top notch. And it is. So now you have at least two stamps of approval for this yummy farm sink.

Stainless Appliances

There are so many choices and price ranges for kitchen appliances, even when you narrow it down to stainless! I’m happy with this Bosch suite (800 series), and while I didn’t know anyone personally who recommended it, I was wooed by their sleek appeal. Yep. I have to be honest. If the design looks chic, and those handles on the ovens and refrigerators are clean and simple, you’ve got this aesthete.

When we renovated the kitchen of our vacation getaway in Arizona, I wanted to spend a little less on stainless appliances, but I still needed them to be head turners. I chose these from Kitchenaid and loved them as much if not more than the Bosch! In fact, it’s possible those sexy stainless appliances in the kitchen are responsible for the multiple offers we got on that property when we sold it…all the men loved that serene kitchen!

White Painted Beadboard Installed Horizontally

Not sure you can see it clearly, but if you expand the photo below or watch the video, you’ll see we used solid wood beadboard on the wall perpendicular to the frig and on the breakfast bar. I ran it horizontally instead of the usual vertical for a slightly shiplappy fresh effect. It is so smart to put this stuff in areas where the wall will be bumped frequently or suffer abuse – simply wipe off with a damp cloth!

Video of the White Modern French Kitchen

Cool Grey & Modern French White Palette

I think one of the reasons I love the warmth of the white oak flooring throughout our first floor is because of the magic it works with pure, cool alabaster whites and light grey. I mean, if I could have achieved that scrubbed, limed, raw look for the wood floors I love in high end French homes, I would definitely have moved in that direction. But when we were renovating and working with an artisan on the floors, I just couldn’t sign off on any of the sample boards.

Doing nothing to the white oak planks (no distress, no stain, no bleaching) was the ultimate right choice here.

A pleasant surprise was how their golden warmth glows and offers a humble organic and natural layer to the spaces here. For me, there is something irresistible about the pairing of warm gold tones with cool greyed hues.

I think you can clearly see how I didn’t worry about matching wood tones or sticking to one particular species of wood. The greyed wood of the French counter stools contrasts with the white oak beneath.

An oak stool (which I have to use ALL of the time since I’m fairy-height) has a darker stained finish. It’s what I love about Country French, French Nordic, and country style in general – there isn’t a fussiness about uniformity. When things are collected over time, they aren’t going to have the same amount of distress, age, or color.

Window Seat & Breakfast Nook Keeps Evolving

I told you in Part 1 how I finally added a wonderful cushion on this window seat (RH), and this little nook still needs a little more warmth. Since we bought the place in 2015, I have dreamed of adding rustic beams to frame it out like Finding Lovely. I even bought a beam before we began demo of this kitchen! But we’re taking our own sweet time adding layers of new beauty.

Beverage Cooler in Peninsula

When we entertain, we have to keep things rather simple because we have limited space now compared to our prior home. In this little corner you see below, I set up a mini drink station.

The beverage cooler below is perfect for self-service!

Natural Light & Greenery Outside

I’m sort of a rebel when it comes to my decision to not erase all of the bushes and greenscape which grows so close to the kitchen windows. On the one hand, I love natural light and always want to optimize it. Getting rid of all of this growth would surely usher in more sunlight.

But that light would cost me a few things. First, these overgrown plantings and their berries are wildly popular with the most lovely birds, butterflies, and bees. Since Bella Luna left her furry body, they are my only pets, and I cherish them. I am privileged to watch baby birds hatch in their nests smack dab outside these window seat windows. I am treated to so much natural magic because I choose to leave those perennials as they are, pruning them only as necessary.

The greenery also buffers us from our circle driveway which is right outside the windows! Beyond the drive is the street, and while it is a quiet one, I never have to notice cars driving by when I am peacefully enjoying this kitchen.

Rugs Sometimes Scatter Near the Sink

I like the softness underfoot so I’ll sometimes decorate the floor with a rug. But the floors are more often bare. Here’s a favorite for its glorious muted French blue-grey hue. I found it at HomeGoods.

Here are some options I have my eye on and may throw in my cart.

A Neutral & Non-Trendy Rug for the Kitchen

Lovely Subdued Grey Rug

Modern Range Vent Hood

I love a gorgeous traditional kitchen with a range with oven and customized, grand, plastered range hood. But with a cooktop in this kitchen design, something minimal, sleek, and modern made the most sense.

Here’s the exact Italian influenced one I chose:

We didn’t have any issues installing it, and I’m happy with how it makes a modern statement without stealing all of the attention. And the price makes it easy to love as well.

White Roses, Please

White roses simply feel like home to me, and these glacier roses are a favorite.

Living With Luxurious Linens

There are still folks who email me and wonder if I am a real human living at home with all this white and an abundance of light hued Belgian linen. As if maybe there’s a chance I blog un-authentically about staged spaces which don’t truly get use from imperfect humans who bleed and are capable of making messes.

Um yes. Non-cyborgs do live here, and we have souls too (now there’s a criticism hurled at me more times than I can count!). How crazy that I have to put that on the record! Ha!

I’m a fan of all the shades of white and stain-resistant linens, washable fabrics, and durable textiles that aren’t disposable.

Vintage Country Style Signs

My hand-painted wood sign above the kitchen’s window seat adds age to mix, brings in rustic farmhouse charm, and keeps things casual and unfussy.

Here’s a great one that can personalized:

Here’s an enameled sign:

This painted sign on birch contrasts wonderfully on a white wall:

Displaying Art in the Kitchen

Clearly I have a preference for seascapes and contemporary abstract art. It is what I paint myself and what I have collected. I highly recommend bringing in pieces you might typically display in a living room or den because let’s face it, most American kitchens have become living rooms!

There’s something sweetly gallery-like when you place original art on bright white walls. Why relegate your pretty paintings or sculptures to rooms where you spend less time?

Yummy Inspiration Sources

Fantasy Frig Land

Ooh la la – for no good reason, let’s explore what’s new in customizable kitchen appliances and geek out on #refrigeratorgoals.

Do visit Part One of my kitchen’s tour!

Shop more of my home RIGHT HERE.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Shop for items you already intended to buy on Amazon RIGHT HERE, and also find home decor here to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

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