What is French countryside style?
French-country style combines European elegance with rustic comforts. Using soothing hues, soft patterns, and antique accents, the popular decorating aesthetic creates an inviting look that's both polished and lived-in. Use these charming ideas to incorporate French-country decor into your home.
What is a French country house?
A French-style home, also called a French provincial home, is a stone, brick, or stucco house with a steep rooftop and large windows. Often featuring courtyard gardens, iron gates, and gravel pathways, French-style homes are known for their rustic appeal.
What's the difference between French country and farmhouse style?
"French country embodies a soft, airy, feminine, and refined elegance," Richardson says. "Farmhouse embodies a cleaner look, more defined lines, and has a more casual style." Hello, subway tile and shiplap all day, every day.
What is French farmhouse style?
This style often features soft and muted colors, natural materials like raw wood and stone, plaster walls, wooden beams and floral and botanical motifs. A French farmhouse plays upon the contrast of dramatic details like carefully crafted dining room tables or exquisite chandeliers against a rustic farmhouse setting.
What colors are French country?
What are the colors for French country? French country design has a neutral color palette including white, beige, gray and taupe. The French also like to add subtle and faded colors like light green, french blue, pale pink, or lavender.
Is French Country Still in style 2022?
I predict we'll see these fashion eras making their way into our home decor in 2022. Making a comeback will be traditional, french country, and shabby chic decor styles that were all popular in the early 2000's.
What is Joanna Gaines style called?
If you're a fan of the HGTV show Fixer Upper, you definitely know about Joanna Gaines aka the queen of the modern-farmhouse style.
Is French country out of style?
French country decor ideas are steeped in tradition. 'French country style never really goes out of style; it is timeless.
Can you mix farmhouse and French country?
Mix It Up Lauren Vandiver combined two of our favorite styles, French country and modern farmhouse, into her living space, proving that mixing and matching different looks can most certainly be done in a stylish manner. Once again, we love the presence of the gold ornate mirror on the wall.
What is French country kitchen?
A French country kitchen is just that. Textures mixed with shiny elements, muted creams and cornflower blue mixed with rich reds or yellows, natural or white-washed wood tones with marble countertops, elegant but not fussy. '
What's the difference between Shabby Chic and French country?
Shabby chic furniture is more geometrical in shape. Square and rectangle shaped tables, beds and cupboards. Shabby chic furniture is more fashion oriented; meanwhile the French furniture has a conventional and classic appeal.
What makes decor French country?
Three distinct characteristics make up the style: Softly patterned fabrics in muted colors. Distressed, painted, and vintage furnishings and accessories. Lots of wood and other natural materials.
What are the characteristics of a French country design?
French country style is defined as a mix of rustic and refined decor inspired by the homes in the French countryside....The Basics of French Country DecorSoftly patterned fabrics in muted colors.Distressed, painted, and vintage furnishings and accessories.Lots of wood and other natural materials.
What makes a house exterior French country?
French Country Home Design Many French country-style homes are defined by stone, brick, or stucco exteriors. These sturdy, long-lasting siding materials offer a refined appearance and a sense of timelessness. The windows of French country houses often feature multiple panes and are sometimes accented by iron balconies.
How do I make my house a French country?
French country decor ideas: how to get the look Begin with a color palette of soft pastels, creams and white, across paint and stylised wallpaper; layer on fabrics, either plain linen or traditional toiles, ticking and classic florals; and curate a collection of antique and rustic furniture in pale wood and rattan.
What makes a house French colonial?
French houses have a tradition of being externally focused, frequently expressed by featuring many narrow door and window openings; a steep, hipped roof that extends over a wide porch that wraps three sides of the house; and slender columns supporting the porch roof.
Kitchens
A kitchen in this style is both comfortable and sophisticated. Cabinetry may look like regular furniture with molding and carvings. Casual kitchens of this style feature shabby chic and vintage touches, including pretty old jars and bottles that hold pantry items, quaint signage for wall decor, wrought iron pot racks, and plenty of copper pots.
Dining Rooms
A rustic chandelier of distressed wood or metal with candelabra bulbs is a must in a traditional French country dining room. A lighter-toned wooden dining table surrounded by whitewashed, vintage, or mismatched chairs brings in a casual and welcoming look. For a casual feel, hang gingham curtains to the floor with a little puddling.
Living Rooms
Airy, whitewashed, and sun-kissed describe the style of French country living rooms. There should not be any heavy, dark fabrics or furniture in the room. This style living room beckons guests with an uplifting and pretty mix of patterned fabrics and painted furniture.
Bedrooms
A French country bedroom is feminine and soft with a mix of cottage shabby chic and comforting vintage elements.
Bathrooms
Just as a bedroom in this style will have a feminine flair, so does a bathroom with the same decor. Toile wallpaper, a small crystal chandelier, candlestick-style wall sconces, a mirror framed in gold with a bit of carving, and a vintage clawfoot tub combine to create the perfect French country bathroom.
What Makes a House French Style?
Given the variety of homes found in France, there’s no single definitive French-style house.
History of French-Style Houses
French provincial homes originated in France in the 1600s, during the reign of King Louis XIV, when French aristocrats began to build manor and chateaux homes in the countryside for their summer getaways. While the term "provincial" may imply "unsophisticated," these homes typically embody an understated, rustic feel.
What is French Country Style?
French country style is, of course, inspired by the French countryside, specifically Provence. Provence is a region in southern France that is dominated by gorgeous landscapes and a distinct culture that includes picturesque mountains, lavender fields, and rustic villages. This sort of style is a unique combination of traditional and elegant.
What are Exterior Style Features?
Classic French country style of house exterior. Designed by Donald A. Gardner.
Furniture style
French Country style has a distinct type of furniture which sets it apart from other types of furniture. One of the ways this furniture stands out from others is because it is furniture that was originally built for the rich and powerful. Over the years, the furniture was altered so that it is affordable and even those in the country can afford it.
What Type of Decor is Associated with this Style?
The different combination of pieces that can be used for this style is almost endless. When it comes to furnishings and decorations, it’s important to remember that keeping everything in proportion is necessary. Overdoing any one element or type of furniture will create an unbalanced look. The following are staples of French country decor.
More Decor Tips
No matter what style home you choose, it is the decoration within the house that set one style apart from all the others. This is no different for the French Country Style house. The intent of this style is to create a comfortable and homey feel. It is rustic, but with a touch of elegance.
What Styles Mix Well with French Country Style?
There are several other styles that will look good with French Country. Shabby chic, Mediterranean, and contemporary decorating are a few that work well with French country.
What is the History Behind this Style?
French country dates back to the 1600s. Louis the XIV started a movement to make France a country known for elegance and great style. The epicenter of this particular style officially started in the Palace of Versailles when the king brought in artists and craft experts for an extensive renovation.
It's Inspired By, Well, The French Countryside
It comes as literally no surprise that French country design is inspired by the actual French countryside, specifically Provence. French decor in and of itself can be extremely ornate, elegant, and often over-the-top, but Provencal homes incorporate traditional elements in a way that's far more relaxed, distressed, and subdued.
French Country Strikes a Balance Between Rustic and Elegant
While if you head to Paris or the castle region, you'll be inclined to find interiors with far more flourishes in the form of ornate gilding, paneling, and molding, country decor is by far more rustic—but not wholly so. The classic French elegance is merged with a rustic, country aesthetic, creating a balance between beauty and comfort.
Keep Things au Naturel
As in traditional rustic design, natural materials are it for French country. You'll find exposed wood-beamed ceilings for days, natural stone or wood planked floors, and likely a stone fireplace. Materials, whether wood or stone, will often have a weathered appearance.
Warm It Up
If you use one word to describe a French country color palette, it's warm. Though the palettes foundation is usually neutral, color is used to accent and add character. Any color is fair game—yellow, red, green, blue—but the underlying thread is that primarily warm shades are used. This helps to create a welcoming, inviting aesthetic.
French Country Furniture Brings The Curves
Forget clean lines and stark modern furnishings—French country uses furniture to add a flowing feel to a room. Lines are curved, though nothing ever feels ostentatious, as it's made out of natural materials, such as carved wood with a low sheen finish.
Pattern Is a Must
You'll be hard-pressed to find a French country house without some gingham hiding in it somewhere. Pattern is used to add color and character, including plaids, checks, stripes, and one of the most common, toile.
Accessories Blend Old With New
This isn't a less-is-more approach—French country definitely digs accessories, and decor is often used to help blend old with new.
History of French Country Architecture
As previously mentioned, French country homes draw their inspiration from the French countryside. Although you'll find many manors and massive chateaux houses in the French countryside, French country homes are slightly more relaxed with an Old-Word feel.
Must-Have Design Elements
French country architecture and design draws tons of inspiration from nature. Accordingly, French country homes tend to blend in with their surroundings. Some distinguishing characteristics of French country architecture and style include:
Decorating Your Home With French Country Style
Ready to say oui to French country style in your own home? Some simple ways to add a rustic and lived-in, yet elegant vibe to your home include:
French Country Home Design
Many French country -style homes are defined by stone, brick, or stucco exteriors. These sturdy, long-lasting siding materials offer a refined appearance and a sense of timelessness. The windows of French country houses often feature multiple panes and are sometimes accented by iron balconies.
French Country Home Roof Styles
French country houses are often clearly identifiable by the style of the roof. One of the most common is the hip roof design. Typically a prominent part of the exterior's design, this style features four sloping sides that meet in a ridge along the top.
Modern French Country Homes
Modern French country homes apply the traditional elements of European architecture in fresh ways. This elegant multi-level house, for example, features the stone and stucco facade, sloped roof, and ornate details that are classic of the style. But black trim, windows, and doors give the home a crisp, modern edge.
New French Country Home
Aged materials and antique-inspired details combine to give this new French country home old-world style. The stucco siding features a weathered finish, and white shutters quaintly accent multi-paned windows. Copper lanterns and fittings finish off the look of an old French manor.
French Country Exterior Details
Subtle details hint at the French country influences in this home's design. Stately white columns add prominence below a hip roof that's broken up by three dormers. Sets of French doors across the front are painted in a soft blue-gray, which is set off beautifully by the antique brick porch floor.
French Mediterranean-Style Homes
French-inspired homes share many notable characteristics with Mediterranean-style houses. Elaborate stonework, stucco siding, and intricately carved doors are common across the two aesthetics. An ornate iron balcony draws extra attention to the front entrance of this French country home.
French-American Country Home
Encased with a mix of stone and stucco, this rambling chateau speaks loudly of the country French homes that inspired it. The steep mansard roofline and charming shutters are rooted in European style. But an inviting porch nods to classic American ranch homes, creating a unique marriage architectural influences.
