Country French Paint Colors: Decor Ideas From a New Home With An Old World Heart

Country French Paint Colors & Decor Ideas From a New Home With An Old World Heart revisits a few lovely French country colors (both interior and exterior!) employed by designer Brit Jones for a memorable Country French inspired home.

Country French Paint Colors: Decor Ideas From a New Home With An Old World Heart

Additionally, you’ll discover design resources to get the look in case some of the curated furniture and decor choices suit your own project needs.

I’m so grateful we can glean ideas from both the interior and exterior of this glorious French home! Hopefully the following decorating inspiration will assist your own scheming and dreaming.

Design/Photos: Brit Jones Design Architect: Tyler Gentry Builder: Scott Lane Homes

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

Paint Colors in a French Country Home

This topic of paint colors–and particularly timeless and tranquil prospects–is one I am asked about every single day. We all want a place to start for the best tones for our interiors and exteriors; by now we all understand the transformative power of paint and color.

When we choose the best colors for the atmosphere we’re after (energetic? calm? moody? cheerful? sophisticated?) and the proper tones for the unique lighting context, furniture, and decor…cue the confetti!

But arriving at the precisely right paint color for your project is often a journey.

That’s where I hope to offer help. Since you need a place to BEGIN the journey, it helps to have inspiration and designer-picked paint colors to consider for samples on your surfaces and walls.

Exterior Paint Colors

Rustic board and batten shutters are so beautiful and quite similar to the handmade custom ones we installed on our former French country manor house.

My husband built those shutters, and I first applied a blue wash like you see above before changing the color to light grey years later. Both options worked beautifully for me!

Shutter Paint Color: Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue

Bear in mind, the look of this saturated color swatch looks more intense than on the shutter for any number of reasons. The technique applying it may have involved rubbing it on with a rag, dry brushing a small amount or diluting the paint with water.

If products on Amazon are secured more easily for you than Annie Sloan, here’s a color that is comparable (maybe a touch less green-gray):

Ideas for Country French Blue, Green, Grey

If you are awake and watching interior design in the 2020s, you’ll know GREEN is everywhere.

Not just dark or earthy greens, but aquas too.

Green seems to be having a moment because of how it feels nurturing,

and gentle,

and suggestive of nature and living things.

Easiest way to see if a paint color will work? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.

Trim & Garage Door Color: Sherwin-Williams Sealskin 7675

This rich chocolate color is a natural brown with green and taupey undertones.

Here’s an alternative if Sealskin is unavailable:

Here’s another rich brown with less green-gray:

Garage Doors on a Country French New Build

Over the years, I have received multiple emails about these beautiful garage doors.

But I have little knowledge about them except that they look very custom and well-crafted for this exceptional home.

Design Resources for Exterior

So many rich architectural elements to admire including stone, brick, stucco, and rustic shutters, as well as eyebrow dormers and arches.

Additionally, the rugged steel doors, antiqued lanterns and board and batten style wood shutters washed with a light blue-green paint, impart Country French charm.

Windows: Pella Aluminum clad in Bronze. Lanterns: Troy – Larchmont in Aged Pewter -find them HERE as well. Brick: Mangum Brick in Country French color with white mortar. Doors: 10 feet tall black steel with glass. Roof: Tamco – Thunderstorm Grey. Stone: Castlerock Stone mix of cream and white, with white mortar.

Slurry Wash for Brick Exterior

An alternative stucco application was used on the exterior brick. Called a brick slurry or brick mortar slurry, the product was hand applied in a custom tan finish. This treatment of the brick is different from simply painting or whitewashing brick.

Here’s how Brick Restoration describes the process:

“Slurry is another type of mortar wash that is done by completely coating the area with a thick layer. Slurry uses the same materials as a German Smear but differs in the application. With a slurry there is full coverage of the masonry producing a stucco-type look but still allows the brick texture to show through. Typically, slurries are done with slightly tanner mortar colors. This is an excellent way to achieve the stucco look without the maintenance and cost of traditional stucco.”

Get the Look With Painted Brick

Should you be seeking a warm white paint color for an exterior, I have suggestions in this story as well as these hues below reminiscent of today’s inspiration house.

If you happen to be expanding the images of this home’s exterior and wonder why these suggestions don’t match exactly, there’s a good reason. These paint colors will be influenced by yellow sunlight and factors like your home’s exposure. As a result, it is of utmost importance to sample several quite similar paint colors and view them outside as the light changes.

Plenty of whites have pinky or peachy undertones which could be perfect or dreadfully wrong based on the light your home receives.

Do TAP HERE TO PIN THIS POST to save for future reference since there are so many helpful sources and ideas supplied.

Interior Paint Colors

Sherwin-Williams Alabaster 7008

Simplify your life by painting the interiors one color as Brit Jones did in this home where walls were painted SW Alabaster 7008 – it has greeny undertones.

Here are a couple warm whites from BEHR I have used that are close to Alabaster. Swiss Coffee has subtle green undertones (don’t be afraid of green – it works wonders in the proper location!).

Cameo White has grey undertones, and if you compare these two whites, you’ll see what I mean. There’s no substitute for sampling them though!

French Farmhouse Entry With Alabaster

Isn’t this a calm, gentle, welcoming entry?

Design Resources for Entry

Sconces: Aidan Gray – Joni; Chandelier: Aidan Gray Musa Carved Arm; French armchair options: find HERE. European commode options: find HERE; Flooring: Hill Country Innovations – Cape Cod Oak.

Romantic French Farmhouse Bedroom With Pale Blue Barn Door

Oh the quietude of pale, French country paint colors and design elements.

When the wall color is this subdued, a wood chandelier becomes a dramatic counterpoint.

Are you loving how the rusticity of the chandelier’s wood and the ceiling details juxtapose with the soft aqua door?

The arched window in the bedroom is very similar to my own bedroom, and I work from a desk placed in front of it.

Design Resources for Bedroom

Large Chandelier: Wood Carved Chandelier; Smaller Chandelier (in same French country spirit): find HERE; Bed Skirt: find HERE. Sliding barn door is painted is hand-painted a custom mix of Annie Sloan chalk paint colors (see explanation below). Linen upholstered ottoman: find HERE; Wall paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster. French bedside tables: find HERE; Similar table lamp: find HERE and HERE; Aidan Gray chandeliers HERE.

Sliding French Barn Door Details

For the soothing pale blue-green-grey paint color on this custom door, the designer custom mixed Annie Sloan chalk paints using Duck Egg Blue, Old White, French Linen, and Coco. (Bear in mind Annie Sloan changes color formulations from time to time!).

When I interviewed a local Annie Sloan stockist this week, I learned about Annie Sloan Svenska Blue…oooooh, it’s a pretty color that may come closer to your own idea of what duck egg blue should look like. You could subdue this tone with any number of warm whites.

Ideas to Get This Custom Paint Look

It’s always worth taking the time to create the perfect custom hue, and if you’re me…it’s also fun. The most important step is being sure to jot down the precise proportions. Then when you get it right, make sure to mix up enough for your project rather than mixing up multiple batches, each of which could be a little off.

Here is an example of a combination:

Another possibility for arriving at a muted blue-grey-green is to mix several beautiful chalk paints together for a custom color all your own.

For example, start with 1 part Vintage Duck Egg and 1 part Drop Cloth to arrive at a muted blue-green. Then, keeping track of how much you add, mix in a little Manatee Gray which will bring grey-blue to the tone. Find these chalk paints linked below.

Simple & Spare French Great Room

Traditional Country French Style Kitchen With Reclaimed Brick

The kitchen in this new build has so many Old World finishes to admire.

Even the brick feels subtle!

An elegant custom range hood feels sculptural and feminine.

What a view from the kitchen window! It’s not everyday you get to enjoy pretty rustic French exterior shutters from inside!

Old World style fixtures like the faucet are harmonious with the traditional French country kitchen’s timeless style.

Copper accents which are so very French, echo the tones of the Chicago brick.

Somehow these large lanterns feel weightless and light with the lofty ceiling.

Paint Color for Trim in Pantry

This grey paint color is an example of how when you are after a blue gray, it’s best to look in the grey range rather than blues which can go terribly wrong.

Here’s a very similar color to try if BEHR from Home Depot is more easily available to you:

Don’t you love seeing rooms with trim painted something other than white? So interesting.

Design Resources for Kitchen

Dining Table: Reclaimed Pine Table; Bench: Hand-finished and Distressed Pine Bench. Single handle kitchen faucet: Danze – Opulence; White Gardenia dish soap and collection: FIND HERE. Bar Faucet: Danze Opulence and find a similar option HERE as well. Cabinet hardware: Jeffrey Alexander; Copper cookware: Find HERE; Backsplash: reclaimed Chicago brick…options HERE; Countertop: honed Arabescato marble. Paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster; Cabinet hardware: Jeffrey Alexander. Custom range hood: created on site; Lantern: Feiss – Galloway; Similar Wingback Chair: HERE and HERE. Here’s a wingback chair I love: FIND HERE. Side Chairs: Round Back Linen Chairs. Floors: Hill Country Innovations Cape Cod Oak.

Reclaimed Chicago Brick Info

When I learned about reclaimed Chicago brick (sliced thin so it may be tiled like regular tile) a couple of years ago, there were only a couple of suppliers. Not you can find brick for tiling more easily in the marketplace such as HERE.

Reclaimed Brick Floor in French Laundry Room

What a dreamy space with soft neutrals and a place for everything.

Romantic Pink Girl’s Bedroom

Pale pink accents play a starring role in this lovely little girl’s room.

Gilded accents feel right at home even though they are fancy!

Girl’s Bedroom Resources

Distressed White Chandelier: Similar HERE. Wall paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster. Pink Bedding: Soft Rose – Pottery Barn.

Country French Den With Rustic Reclaimed Wood Ceiling

I love the undecorated look of this den.

It feels like a space where a family spends time as opposed to one where Instagram photoshoots happen.

And all of the handsome brown keeps it from being precious or too pretty.

Den Resources

Sconce: HERE, similar wall sconce: find HERE; Flooring: reclaimed Chicago brick. Wall paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster. Ceiling: a mix of reclaimed wood and new cedar.

Classic Bathroom Designs

These bathrooms while traditional and Old World have a timeless appeal that won’t soon fall from favor.

What a difference it makes to not have standard sheets of mirror wall to wall!

I’m also reminded of the luxury building a new house affords…you can place a window in the perfect spot for flattering light in the bath.

This chandelier is everything!

Bathroom Resources

Nickel Wall Sconce: find HERE; Bathroom paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster; Chandelier in Master: Terracotta Lighting “Ballerina”.

Go Inside a Design by Brit Jones

Check out this amazing design reveal for a happy client!

I hope you enjoyed this house tour! Do direct your questions about the design to Brittany Jones Design if you would like help making your own French inspired interiors come to life!

More Euro Country Design Inspiration

TAP THE IMAGE BELOW TO LEARN MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS HOME’S KITCHEN.

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

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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