The faded lovely paint colors homeowner Charlotte Reiss (Vivi et Margot) chose for their former French farmhouse near Bordeaux captures the imagination. The Vivi et Margot owner’s vacation home eventually bloomed into a full-time family residence. The family moved to Provence from this Western France farmhouse they renovated, yet the timeless colors keep inspiring. Find exact paint colors, ideas for putting together a similar look, and glimpses of a curated mix of old and new.
Photography and styling: Charlotte Reiss for Vivi et Margot and Evgenia.Prinsloo (courtesy of Vivi et Margot)
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Faded Lovely Paint Colors for a French Farmhouse
It’s a blessing when designers and DIYers provide the exact colors for walls and trim.
I’m grateful to Vivi et Margot for sharing their renovation journey in this countryside home in France. Many of us dream of such a journey and borrowing the gentle faded palette is a consolation.
Traditional French Green Shutters
The timeless yet popular green (Vert Olivier) is traditional for exteriors in France.
Here are ideas (some with less yellow and more gray) easier to locate in America:
Benjamin Moore Sage Tint 458
While the brand calls it “A nuanced hue that floats between green, gray and blue,” I just call it lovely.
I can imagine Sage Tint with all sorts of siding colors, neutral or otherwise. Its LRV (light reflectance value) is 57.85 so it reflects nearly 60% of light.
It may be unpopular in the USA to paint a front door the same hue as shutters, but there are no rules. It can quiet everything in one understated swoop, and if it is constructed of a different material than the shutters it may not even look like the identical color.
Teresa’s Green (F&B 236)
Another green option in that same faded to lovely spirit?
Teresa’s Green brings to mind beautiful jadeite vintage dishes, yes? Something nostalgic and timeless is captured.
These soft French greens on an exterior grow even friendlier when washed with sunlight.
With sunlight and time, a gentle weathered look blooms…faded French charm!
I personally appreciate the elegance the right light green adds to a field of rugged texture.
The tension of hard and soft, rustic and elegant, creates magic, intrigue, and interest.
There’s a softening that elevates the existing rugged beauty of historic structures.
Inspiring Soft Green
Did the DIYing couple buy this old home sight unseen?
“Yes, we did! We are two hours from Bordeaux and 80 minutes from Ile de Re, which is my favorite place to visit.”
Hotel Toiras (below) is a favorite of Charlotte’s, and she says: “We fly into Paris and either drive five hours south or take a two and a half hour train ride to Poitiers.”
If you yourself won’t easily board a flight to Paris and drive south, is there a place inside your home where this pretty green could be introduced?
A Taste of Ile de Re
Farrow & Ball Paint
Most colors inside this farmhouse are Farrow & Ball, and while kitchen cabinets started out a limestone color from their maker (Neptune), they were eventually refreshed with Farrow & Ball too (see THIS with images of the kitchen painted green).
Farrow & Ball Strong White
This tranquil white is on walls throughout most of the farmhouse. Strong White is an atmospheric, cool greyed-white.
FARROW & BALL Strong White 2001
Strong White brings to mind the color on my own kitchen walls (SW Eider White).
Are the terracotta hex tiled floors original?
“No, they are 200 year old reclaimed tiles we found in Angers So much work to make them happen, but we adore them!”
The contrast of warm coppery floors with cool desaturated walls is a pleasing pairing.
Warmth from wood countertops and cabinetry in a warmer neutral keeps things cozy.
Perhaps the color of the cabinets…
was inspired by the stone on the exterior:
Faded, Neutral & Natural Kitchen Paint Colors
Neptune paint may not be as easy to procure as other similar colors. What undertones do you instantly detect? I can see yellow and green.
Here’s one I like with a similar mood…Limestone 513 from Benjamin Moore.
Old White is also lovely for a similar look from F&B:
Limestone is a mix of cool and warmer tones, and if you’re after a brighter neutral suggestive of stone:
A bonus of these limestone-hued neutrals is how they play well with light wood tones.
Notice the soft contrast with floating shelves, counters, and even wooden cutting boards.
Copper pans and accents in the kitchen also relate to coppery antique floor tiles and provide contrast with the neutral color story.
A neutral backdrop makes way for a variety of colorful accessories and linens through the seasons.
Fresh flowers can stand out and be the star of the show too!
Farrow & Ball French Gray
French Gray is on beams, trim, doors, and closet cupboards.
Notice how FARROW & BALL French Gray works with Strong White walls and All White ceilings.
French Gray on rustic wood beams imparts a cleaner look and delivers that tranquil, gentler mood with the balance of faded paint colors.
Choosing the right finish for such design elements is critical. Just imagine if the beams had a sheen. (Would you have the guts to paint the beams? I would.)
The atmospheric tone on tone look feels nurturant and restful.
It’s also worth noting how effective paint can be for softening a space with many hard, crusty surfaces.
Strong white, French Gray, and All White (ceiling) are the trio in the children’s bedroom:
Farrow & Ball All White 2005
We often neglect ceilings, and if you’re a DIYer, the reason is obvious…it’s a royal pain to paint overhead. Here’s what this family chose for ceilings: FARROW & BALL All White. No. 2005.
It’s a white which you might also like for walls and trim.
Bear in mind, it’s more than okay to paint trim a deeper tone than the walls. Not every room need be outlined in white.
More French Farmhouse Faded Color Inspo
This farmhouse renovation started with a dream for a young family with a limited budget…
“The home is such a passion project for me. We bought it years ago and have never looked back.”
Charlotte Reiss
“The South was out of the question for us financially. Rather than seek a particular region, we looked mainly at houses with ‘good bones.’ We explored possibilities all over France within our price range, which was under 100,000€. ” – Charlotte of Vivi et Margot
Inspiration From Kathryn M. Ireland’s ‘Summers in France’
Charlotte revealed how epic designer Kathryn Ireland’s gorgeous book SUMMERS IN FRANCE also made an impression. Like Ireland, Charlotte was a Brit residing in Los Angeles.
“Her beautiful book inspired me greatly! I admired her down to earth approach to the renovation of an old farmhouse in rural France while living in America and raising her children.“
I love such stories where a seed of a dream is planted then uniquely blooms.
In between planting and the blooming is a good watering of blood, sweat, and tears!
Curious about whether a paint color will work? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.
French Farmhouse Design Resources
Shutters: Custom-made and new, made locally. All Drapery: Pottery Barn (Beligan Flax Linen drapes). Clawfoot bathtubs and faucets: Hudson Reed – find more LOVELY TUB OPTIONS RIGHT HERE. Master Bedroom Rug: Rejuvenation.
Towels, Soaps, Accessories: Vivi et Margot. Cremone Bolt on Door: Signature Hardware…FIND HERE; Skylight: Velux…Find Here.
Artisan Pendant Lighting in Kitchen, table linens, baskets: Vivi et Margot.
Terracotta Hex Tile Flooring: reclaimed tile from France; Kitchen Table: find similar farmhouse dining tables here; Apron Front Farm Sink: find sink options here. Kitchen faucet: Cuissimo find similar…RIGHT HERE.
Discover more paint colors praised by designers HERE.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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