A Hint of Provence

French country, or Provencal, is a very popular style and is one of my personal favorites. The sunny, countrified Provencal lifestyle is one of indoor-outdoor living where the line between the two is distinctly blurred.  As a result, French country interiors exhibit bleached-out colors and cracked, faded finishes, an abundance of stone and wood and cotton – materials that weather well and become more beautiful as they age.

The creation of this kitchen was broadly influenced by French-country design. We used alder for the cabinets because its distinct grain would yield an uneven coloration when stained, giving the cabinets a sense of age.  The chicken wire used to front certain of the cabinet doors is a distinctly French country trait as is the suspended pot rack.  We used copper pots to coordinate with the earth-toned stone tile on the floor.  The island is stained a dusty blue that is frequently called “French-blue” or “provencal blue” and the counter stools are painted and glazed to coordinate (but not match.  Never match!).  The curved back of the stools is also a distinctly French design element, reminiscent of the French cabriole leg that’s so prevalent on period French furniture.  Lastly, the tile work behind the range is designed to look like a patchwork quilt.  The same tile collection in three different sizes was installed “randomly” (not really) to look like an old country quilt.  Kitchen accessories in pewter reinforce the European flavor.  The end result is charming and slightly worn-looking with a distinctly French appeal.