Less Fussy European Country Quiet Elegance highlights a collection of interiors with hushed color to inspire. You’ll discover a bit of rusticity in the design details along with more gently understated color palettes. While moodier and deep colors are definitely gaining favor in the design sphere, my own tolerance for anything too bold in color is not high. It’s all of the subtle neutral and natural territory where I find my calm, my space to dream. Call me sensitive suzy, but bold color can feel like an assault on my senses. (And did you see this English country cottage for a soothing mix of whites kind of color story?)
Quiet Elegance & Hushed European Country Interiors
These European countryside interiors with quiet elegance hail from a variety of different style homes from humble to historically significant.
In fact, one of the most democratic design elements we tend to cover on this site is paint. Isn’t it lovely that the same color in a castle shared by a designer can be used in a humble flat?
Have you ever thought about paint colors being a great equalizer? (Makes me very proud to be a purveyor of paint color ideas. )
Psst. Not sure if the above kitchen is even a real kitchen (could be an AI rendering), but the color reminds me of Decorator’s White.
And by the way, a lot of followers on my FB page are freaking out or mad at me for posting AI designs even when I identify them as such.
There are those who feel that inspiration shared should always be authentic photos of real homes.
This is so interesting philosophically. I understand not wanting to get fooled about world news, science, politics, etc.
But I wonder why a fantasy kitchen design gets some folks worried about work triangle rules being broken.
Sophisticated Simplicity & Subtle Stories
Who says low ceilings can’t play a starring role!?! Oh, the hushed loveliness of it all!
Are you loving the crusty textures juxtaposed with the pristine?
Checkered floors continue to have their moment and only seem to be increasing in number!
And who can blame us for loving them?
This foyer above and the kitchen floor below may not quality as “quiet,” but I find them utterly soothing and elegant:
We still haven’t touched our lower level which remains unfinished. I keep dreaming of turning it into a quietly elegant sanctuary.
I can imagine warm European country styled rooms, antiqued mirror, a cozy woodstove, and a hushed palette.
Understated & Unfussy Interiors With European Style
Have you watched deVOL’s FOR THE LOVE OF KITCHENS?
It’s sooooo good. You will likely get the itch to travel across the pond since they often feature excursions to places that deliver inspiration.
Isn’t a dusty rose velvety moment in a gentle room lovely?
This powder bath is such a perfect example of rustic elegance and quietude, yes?
Not that rustic always comes with a friendly price tag!
Sometimes, the rustic is the splurge. (Pamela Pierce’s eye for color has enchanted us for years. There’s always such rich depth and soulfulness in her work.)
Romantic Euro Color Stories
What magic soft lavender accents offer with gentle neutrals…
If you require an idea for a paint color like this, see this story which mentions an icy color called New Age.
Earthy neutrals are a bore? Mais non.
Don’t you love the hushed tones of limestone!?!
While it’s not an easy material to simply add to an interior or exterior, sometimes a paint color can be suggestive of the stone.
WHAT A KITCHEN! (Design: @alistairflemingdesign; Stonework: @middlesexmarble; Lighting: @maxwellgbarlow; Photo: @paullmcraig)
Is Intuition & Self-Awareness Under-rated in Design?
I have been thinking about how much social media has changed the landscape of interior design inspiration now that so many folks scroll for hours weekly or daily. Wonder if the exposure to fabulous design has helped folks feel more or less confident about their own attempts at feathering a nest?
The thing is, none of the visual inspiration is ultimately helpful if one lacks self-awareness. Color stories, organization plans, and furniture selection right for me are only right if they evoke the emotions I want to feel at home.
Is the exposure to so many beautiful designs overwhelming and a distraction from one’s design intuition? I know I have felt challenged lately. My own comfort level at home depends on a measure of uncluttered, minimalism. Yet I am immersed in design everyday and at times feel as though I should be styling vignettes everywhere!
It’s important to continually return to center and remember that your unique set of likes and dislikes is truly what matters most when it comes to decorating. (Truth be told, I don’t even like the idea of “decorating” for decorating sake. I want home to feel soothing, lifegiving, and contemplative in an authentic way for us; not to satisfy a set of rules or audience.)
Gwyneth Paltrow found reclaimed materials and antiques for her home from Chateau Domingue. Peek inside:
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Chalky, Warm, & Muddy Greens
Soothing Paint Colors to Consider
Sometimes just the name of a paint color will entice me enough to sample it…ever tried Pashmina?
Remembering the Breakfast Nook in Our French Country Home
When we first built our French home, I had all of the interiors painted Benjamin Moore White Sand. After a couple of years, I wanted a change after seeing this color used by Michael Del Piero at Dream Home Chicago. So we painted the kitchen Benjamin Moore Ashley Gray.
Our kitchen was HUGE so there was a sea of warm white cabinetry and quartz grounding the complex grey.
Living with that color story of warm golden wood tones with cooler greys sold me! In our present home, I love the rich mix of cool grey with warmer linen tones.
Hope this collection of quiet elegance inspired an idea or two. I love hearing from you…let me know from which state or country you are commenting!
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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I felt I needed to respond to your comments about AI. Many folks, designers and bloggers too are talking about feeling stressed by what they need to do to constantly provide content on their blogs, etc and feeling burnt out. The need to portray their homes a certain way,,,,, everything in place, no kids or mess anywhere, etc. It supports fantasy and the feeling that your home will never be enough, fancy enough, clean enough, decorated enough, etc. Always wanting more and the next decorating style. AI fantasy homes are just that … and sometimes would not be realistic but leaves the observer possibly wanting even more, even if it is not practical or even bad design. It also makes the designer not even have to use their own imagination! I applaud you noting what is AI and often think that needs to be done, but many folks suscribe that things outside themselves can make them happy and this is so untrue. I am a strong person but I also need to make sure my head is right about design, what is realistic and relevant to my own design sense as well as budget. Fantasy does not support that. Just my opinion about what can become a very large problem in our society.
Author
Thanks so much for adding to this important discussion. It’s true there are pressures to create content, but I try to get out of the way and provide my audiences (and there isn’t just one – there’s a FB audience, Pinterest audience, and blog audience) with what is helpful to them. Inspiration often involves fantasy, luxury, and creativity outside of the box. Since I have always been an inspiration blogger, AI images largely belong because folks use them in discussions with their architects, builders, and contractors. Were I just blogging about my personal home, I can’t see they would even be purposeful. I actually enjoy them as animation. If my business were a shop, I would offer items that helped solve problems for my customers even if I didn’t use them at home. Make sense? So if Hello Lovely’s blog audience is bothered by images of house facades that are essentially sketches or Hollywood sets, I will listen and pivot. Also, even though I totally hear you about a desire for realistic interiors and decorating ideas…simple un-styled real life images with cluttery stuff of life generally do not fetch engagement which means the algorithms of our platforms won’t even show them. It’s a very competitive climate and a slippery slope. If I say, look, guys it’s pillows…not all that serious…it may be reassuring yet offensive to professionals in the field working very hard for demanding clients. 🙂