I hope French Country Kitchen Decor offers help with ideas and photos to browse whether you’re designing a kitchen from scratch, renovating, or simply zhushing the space with fresh accessories. Our kitchen here at the Georgian isn’t quite blog-ready. There are finishing details I’m still sorting out, and it’s tough to find a moment to style photos since my husband is always traipsing through it from the garage as we tackle more home renovation. So we’ll glance back at the kitchen we created in 2015 for reference.
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French Country Kitchen Decor: 23 Ideas & Tips to Cozy Your Space
Have a favorite room in your home? You probably know mine…it’s the kitchen. I love to bake and cook so naturally I linger here and always want it to feel like a cozy living space rather than a placeholder for the stove.
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How to Create a Cozy Modern French Kitchen?
While the function and aesthetics of this kitchen improved dramatically after we gutted and renovated it ourselves, I was always tweaking it.
Is any lovely kitchen ever truly done!?! ‘Make it Timeless and Tranquil’ has always been my design mantra, and today’s topic echoes it.
With so much bright white in our former kitchen, I sought ways to introduce natural elements and warmth while still practicing restraint so it wouldn’t feel busy.
Mixing in antiques and collected old treasures (such as ironstone) always helps to keep the mood warm and cozy.
A few branches or stems plucked from the yard creates natural warmth too.
French Country Kitchen Ideas: Add Whimsy!
Typically, I have flowers in an urn like this one, but greenery works too.
Collected Vintage Crocks
I’m still crazy about vintage jam jars and crocks like the Dundee marmalade ones here on my counter (the white quartz is Viatera Minuet). A very simple French country kitchen idea is to collect something from the region and display it where you can enjoy it everyday.
Bonus points if the collected pieces are useful and versatile.
My marmalade jars can be used in all sorts of decorative ways.
I gathered the jars when I snapped these photos years ago in my decorating plan for the holidays.
Each December I tuck little candles, greenery or white roses inside.
In the new kitchen, I gave them their own shelf and enjoy them all year round.
Living with your collections all the time is one way to truly create a backdrop for memories.
Choosing Countertop Material
After living with this white quartz from Viatera (Minuet) and noticing how much abuse it could handle, I was sold.
So I didn’t hesitate to choose a Viatera quartz for the new kitchen (Muse). White marble and quartz has a French feel since it is one of those timeless choices reminiscent of a French bakery.
Appliances in a French Kitchen
Our Bosch cooktop worked so well for me that I bought it again for our current kitchen. It is more of a modern look than say a traditional Lacornue or Lacanche range, but a French pot or copper pans still complete the look.
The stainless vent hood also added modernity, is suggestive of European chic style, and was chosen for this kitchen to stay within budget.
In our current kitchen, I commissioned my husband to make a custom plaster range hood for a more Old World and traditional look.
I don’t often discuss budget because it is tricky as a DIYer. We contribute a TON of labor to our designs, and labor can get truly pricey.
If you can learn to do it yourself, there is extra money in the budget to splurge or upgrade other design elements.
French Ranges: Worth the Splurge?
Another important consideration with budget is whether you’re creating a kitchen for a forever home or a place you’ll resell in a few years. For example, I still haven’t designed a kitchen with a fancy or pretty European style range even though I love them and cook constantly. Since I can’t take it with me, it hasn’t made sense to plan around one yet!
I think you know what I mean by ‘pretty range,’ oui?
Right? There are professional style ovens, commercial ranges, and then those beauties that function as art as much as cookers.
Maximize Light in the Kitchen
The mirror I hung as a placeholder for open shelves stayed on the wall! We liked how it brought some balance as a sort of a window and also bounced around the light.
Since our kitchen wasn’t the brightest with natural light, this color paint and the mirror gave it a boost…so that’s my first idea for you today:
1. Mirrors Work in the Kitchen
2. Colorful Cabinetry & White Cabinets
So many kitchens to inspire us these days in social media land, and just when you think you have glimpsed your favorite French farmhouse style kitchen (mine is maybe near Bordeaux by Charlotte Reiss of Vivi et Margot), it gets a makeover you admire even more!!!
Charlotte’s kitchen cabinets are painted this rich green, and with the pretty white Ilve range…what a timelessly elegant space!
Psst. Charlotte and her family are moving to a new home in Provence so this pretty kitchen will be enjoyed by a new family soon.
If you love Charlotte’s style, you will fall hard for Vivi et Margot’s selection of traditional French homewares including vintage and the loveliest French baskets!
3. Add Softness & Textiles
Pillows in the kitchen? Maybe not in a galley style without seating. 🙂 I piled our kitchen’s window seat with pillows, and to keep it feeling hushed and tranquil, the hues are pale shades of cream, light grey, and putty.
4. Grey and Cream Neutral Accents
5. Simple Stoneware
What I love about European country and French farmhouse kitchen style is how every object chosen for decoration must also function for the space. Here’s a simple piece that isn’t just for show.
See this for more farmhouse decor ideas scored from Target.
6. Antique Style Dinner Bell
How darling is this bell to alert the roost it’s time to dine? It’s certainly in my own cart!
7. Muted Rugs and Runners
8. Minimalistic Accessories
9. Timeless Silhouettes
10. Warmth from Gold Hardware
11. Unfussy & Understated Art
12. Classic Light Fixtures
13. Essentials That Work Hard
Visit this for: ideas for French baskets.
14. Luxurious Focal Points
15. Breezy Traditional Lanterns
16. Shaker Simplicity
17. Organic Warmth
18. White Decor
19. Rustic Vintage Accents
20. Modern Dining Table
Mixed with Old World design elements such as antique dining chairs, a modern table may seem perfect!
21. Bridge Faucet
They don’t have to be costly!
22. Glazed Texture
23. Warm Coppery Texture
Pretty please mosey over to my KITCHEN INSPIRATION BOARD and pin like there’s no tomorrow to help increase exposure for Hello Lovely so I may keep dishing up the inspiration and resources!
Here’s designer Gillian Gillies’ own kitchen featuring a slew of lovely design details, and if you’re like me, you’ll also love her gorgeous accent!
Visit kitchen design inspiration here and also see these lovely kitchens for more ideas for storage, style, function, and beauty.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Michele,
You are so welcome for the feature. I am so sorry that you are not feeling well. I hope you feel better soon.I love looking at your kitchen, it’s so lovely. I am drooling over those vintage jam jars. Gorgeous!
Hugs,
Bev
Author
Hahaha Thanks so much, Bev. These flareups are not week-long things in my world – it is a slower healing process that I am well-familiar with. I’ll get there – I always do! Those jars…I don’t usually have them together on the counter like this, and I hated to cause a mad rush to eBay or the antique malls, but maybe it will help to stimulate the economy. 🙂
Michele,
Glad that they don’t keep you down and that they don’t last long. We deal with what we have to.
Hugs,
Bev
Author
Thanks so much for your kindness and support – it’s great having you here, Bev. 🙂
Michele,
I agree that the Greek tablescape is awesome. I love your kitchen. It is so clean and bright. I love all of your touches. Those jam jars are amazing.
Have a lovely weekend.
Hugs,
Bev
Author
Thanks, Bev. I need to do more styling with my jam jars as they are some of my favorite things, and I never tire of them since they are neutral and work everywhere! Happy Sunday to you, friend.
We just torn down wall between kitchen and dining room and starting from scratch. I’ve picked out the Minuet quartz for countertops but please, please tell me what the tile is on the walls. It’s time to pick those out ASAP and I love the combo you have there. Everything looks beautiful 🌸🌝 I would so appreciate it!
Author
Hi there. The exact tile is here: https://rstyle.me/+e2DFlfwayql_CkMcsgcKKQ We actually looked at each mosaic and only bought our favorites (the ones with white and grey, and not the warmer whites or yellow-y). So keep in mind it’s a natural stone so there will be lots of variation – you can still get the look you want, but you’ll likely have to inspect everything closely. I also laid all of the tiles out and arranged them on the floor before tiling. I even sealed them before installation. Hope this helps.
You have no idea how much your response helps me. I feel like I’m stumbling around in the dark sometimes with this remodel and you just gave me a light at the end of the tunnel. 🥰 Thank you so much!!!!
Author
I’m here for you. And I love shining a light where I can. Remodels are the devil, but it will all come together! 🙂