I was thrilled to hear from a wonderful reader this week who was happy to find inspiration here to create a kitchen for his newly built home. It’s a beautiful timeless French kitchen design filled with traditional style, French inspired design elements, appetizing red accents, and tasteful sophistication. He was also kind enough to share helpful resources and details about how the kitchen design progressed from inspiration to a lovely new space. (There are some secret surprises in this calm kitchen.) In this spirit of generosity, the inspiration simply keeps flowing!
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/0013-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
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A Reader’s Timeless French Kitchen Design!
A New Country French Kitchen With Old World Style
It’s such a gorgeous, tasteful kitchen that it’s hard to pick a favorite detail. All those glass cabinet doors and the magnificent mullion glow happening from inside. Open shelving finished with beaded board and decorative corbels below the cabinets.
![French country kitchen with custom chicken toile London shades, white cabinets, and quartzite counters - Hello Lovely Studio. #frenchcountrykitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/chicken-toile-002.jpg)
The abundant natural light from multiple windows bringing nature inside. A huge island with black finish topped with Taj Mahal quartzite. The whole space feels like a dream for cooking! Let’s deconstruct and chat with the homeowner.
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/0011-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
Creamy Paint Color Ideas for a French Kitchen
I love that this creamy warm white was chosen for walls to turn up a warm glow and softly contrast with white cabinetry. The paint color is a former Duron/Sherwin Williams retired color called Millet:
![](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/duron-sherwin-williams-millet-paint-color-swatch.jpg)
Millet reminds me of sunny stone and a tone you see on structures in the South of France. In this kitchen, you can see how it provides depth and enhances the beautiful cabinetry. Beautiful details on white cabinetry often get lost when walls are the same white.
![French country kitchen with custom chicken toile London shades, white cabinets, and quartzite counters - Hello Lovely Studio. #frenchcountrykitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/chicken-toile-004.jpg)
BM Barbados Sand
Working with yellows is never the easiest! For a similar paint color (though with less yellow undertones), consider Benjamin Moore 1094 Barbados Sand…
Benjamin Moore calls the above color it “A light shade of beige with a hint of yellow, this quiet hue evokes a deserted beach on a sunny morning.” You can probably perceive the tan undertones in Barbados Sand. With a light reflectance value (LRV) of 70.18, it’s going to reflect plenty of light and gently contrast with white.
![French country kitchen with custom chicken toile London shades, white cabinets, and quartzite counters - Hello Lovely Studio. #frenchcountrykitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/chicken-toile-003.jpg)
Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream OC-96
Another BM color close to the retired Millet paint color is Gentle Cream OC-96:
This pretty neutral is described as “A pleasing bisque hue that adds just the right amount of warmth and depth to a space.” It’s so important to have multiple contenders to sample so I hope you will try all of these to arrive at the best tone for your project! A bit lighter than Barbados Cream, Gentle Cream’s LRV is 71.32. (It will reflect 71.32% of light and is on the lighter end of the spectrum.)
![French country kitchen with custom chicken toile London shades, white cabinets, and quartzite counters - Hello Lovely Studio. #frenchcountrykitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/chicken-toile-001.jpg)
Sherwin-Williams Navajo White 6126
One more contender, this one from Sherwin-Williams, is quite a popular warm white:
Sherwin-Williams says “This bright, warm white is as big as the American Southwest. Its clean yellow undertone brings subtle but powerful energy to any space.”
How to Use Hello Lovely Inspiration for a Timeless Kitchen Design?
Did this blog actually launch your kitchen’s design?
“Yes. I landed on a French country feel and came across this post from Hello Lovely and that was exactly the direction I wanted to head.”
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/0011-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
What a joy to hear that my pal Tina’s French country kitchen (The Enchanted Home) spotlighted on Hello Lovely helped to create this stunning project. You may recall Tina’s timeless kitchen design combined white cabinetry with a large black island, apron front farm sink, a professional range, and rustic wood ceiling details.
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/0010-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
How did you use Hello Lovely inspiration images to arrive at a pleasing design?
“Working with my kitchen designer, I brought her the photos and she nailed the design the first time out. We didn’t make any changes to the original design.”
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/009-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
Look at those beautiful open shelves with so much space for decor, books, and serveware! And the large island! I asked about the exact dimensions of it, knowing readers would be curious. It is 9.5′ by 6.5′.
![A beautiful timeless French kitchen with hidden pantry behind the tall cabinet doors - Hello Lovely Studio. #kitchenpantry #hiddenpantry](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/012a.jpg)
Kitchen Design Process
Were there surprises along the way in your kitchen’s creation?
“Once we designed the kitchen, we found a ton of space that we utilized to create a hidden pantry. You walk through cabinet doors to access it. That was the most wonderful surprise!”
![Hidden walk-in pantry in a beautiful timeless French kitchen design - Hello Lovely Studio. #kitchenpantry #hiddenpantry](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/012.jpg)
Truly Custom Design Elements
So special! What a dreamy secret space! Were there any other discoveries?
“Another surprise came when I was hunting for a specific toile type of fabric. We wanted something vintage in feel, Old World, as if it has been around for a while. My other half created an image with AI requesting it to create a seamless pattern of vintage red, green, and tan, with chickens.”
![Custom French country Toile fabric with chickens, red, green, and cream (created from an AI generated pattern). Hello Lovely Studio. #toilefabric #customfrenchtoile](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/chicken-toile-fabric.jpg)
“Low and behold, it did. Joanne Fabrics printed it out on cotton muslin, and the drapes will arrive next week for installation. We’re doing London shades just like in the French country [The Enchanted Home] inspiration kitchen.”
Here it was before the London shades:
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/008-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
And after:
![French country kitchen with custom chicken toile London shades, white cabinets, and quartzite counters - Hello Lovely Studio. #frenchcountrykitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/chicken-toile-002.jpg)
Oh my goodness! An artificial Intelligence generated French toile pattern that no one else on the planet will have in their home! Now that is truly bespoke kitchen design! These toile London shade window treatments elevate an already lovely kitchen. (London balloon shades boast the simplicity of a casual Roman shade as well as the fullness of a balloon shade.)
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/007-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
Challenges in Designing a Kitchen
Were there any obstacles to the kitchen design?
“The biggest hurdle was determining how I wanted the final kitchen to look and feel. I really did hunt down a host of photos and kitchen pictures to see what I was most attracted to.”
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/006-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
It’s so gratifying to know that by providing inspiration photos, homeowners are better equipped to start conversations with their designers, articulating their wishes and aesthetic. Hello Lovely’s archives are an excellent place to start! To think there was a time we were all tearing inspiration from shelter magazines. We now have a plethora of kitchen photos right on our smartphones!
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/005-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
Are Kitchens the New Living Room?
How much time do you spend in here and how do you feel about the finished product?
“I spend about half my day in the kitchen now. We have seating at the island and a cozy wing chair in a corner to read through recipes or mail.”
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/004-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
“With my cooking, baking, and plants, I am always (as my grandmother says) ‘just piddling around keeping busy.'”
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/003-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
Hello Lovely as a Helpful Research Tool
Would you recommend using this site to guide the design process?
“All of my inspiration came from the French country kitchen post on Hello Lovely. So the lesson learned is doing my research before talking with the designer or discussing layout or design. The rest fell into place with ease.”
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/002-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
Shopping Resources for This Timeless Kitchen
Cabinets: Hartford Collection; Koch & Company. Backsplash at Range: Calacatta Gold Lantern Mosaic. Other Backsplash: Roca, Similar wavy white subway tile HERE. Flooring: Engineered Birch wide plank, similar HERE. Counters: Taj Mahal Quartzite. Lighting: Brass Light Gallery, similar Pendant: HERE. Farm Sink: Kohler; Bar Sink: Kohler 19″ Undermount Sink.
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/001-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
Kitchen Bridge Faucet: Delta (Broderick) – options HERE; Beverage Faucet: Delta. Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs Reeded. Gas Range: 48″ Blue Star (all gas with French door ovens, in black brown, with aged brass accents). Counter Stools: Braxton Culler Chippendale. Dishwasher and Refrigerator columns: Fisher & Paykel.
![Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/0011-two-tone-traditional-kitchen.jpg)
What a beautiful project from a wonderfully kind reader with excellent taste, willing to graciously share details for those of us hungry for them!
![Andrea Gibson quote about vulnerability. #vulnerabilityquotes #andreagibsonquotes #andreagibsonpoetry](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/andrea-gibson-quote-goals-parachute-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
Here’s that POST THAT STARTED IT ALL. Have a room in your house inspired by beauty seen here? We would love to spotlight it!
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
Thanks for shopping RIGHT HERE to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!
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I would love to see a picture of the curtains when they’re hung. Just a beautiful kitchen!
Author
Yes! He’s going to share pics with us so that will be fun to see!
That is one beautiful kitchen. Goodness that walk in pantry is AMAZING. My kitchen probably isn’t even that size. Thanks for sharing.
Author
I was thinking the same thing – like why doesn’t everyone just have secret skinny doors to small kitchens to make the space feel like hidden secret little gems! Hahaha
I’d love the link back to The Enchanted Home . This kitchen is so lovely
Author
I added another link to it at the end of the post so thanks for helping everyone out! https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/2021/04/french-country-kitchen-decor-ideas-enchanted-home.html