Provence style in the kitchen: distinctive features and best interior design options

Interior in Provence styleKitchen and dining roomCurtains and Curtains

Natalia Surkova

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If you want to bring a piece of romance into your home, decorate your kitchen in Provence style. Simplicity and elegance in it coexist with functionality and extraordinary convenience. More details about the most beautiful style of your kitchen later in the article.

Style Features

In the 17th century, representatives of French bohemians, intellectuals and industrialists increasingly began to move away from the strict and prim classics and equip their country homes with maximum comfort. A new, more ergonomic and particularly cozy style, called Provence, gradually spread throughout Europe.

Provence style has become popular all over the world

Since it originated in the south of France, this style also began to be called French cantre . The peak of its popularity occurred in the middle of the 19th century - during these years representatives of the majority of the European nobility became its adherents.

The combination of aged elements of rustic life with French elegance gives an amazing effect. At first glance, this style seems unusually simple and unpretentious. Only by looking closely at the details can you see the painstaking work of the designer. There are no flashy elements here - all objects are in perfect harmony with each other, creating a special atmosphere of silence and tranquility.

Combining aged rustic elements with French elegance

Let us briefly list the main features of the style:

• pastel shades with small bright accents: due to the abundance of sun that reigns almost all year round in the south of France, most items look slightly faded;
• simple furniture with built-in niches and open shelves;
• wooden, forged or wicker chairs with woven upholstery, a square or round table;
• unpainted or bleached ceiling beams;
• natural fabrics: linen, cotton with a printed pattern in floral motifs, stripes or checks;
• accessories in the form of antiques or artificially aged objects;
• handmade elements: carving, weaving, painted, wicker, glazed or earthenware, embroidered napkins and tablecloths, bundles of fragrant herbs;
• floors are wooden or made of ceramic, fired clay tiles;
• Natural flowers;
• plenty of light: high windows and doors and a sufficient amount of artificial lighting.

Blue, calm tones

Which kitchen set to choose?

The appearance of a kitchen unit is determined by its facades.

In the Provencal style, wooden facades with panels, lattice or glass inserts are used, less often - with carvings or painting (decoupage).

A popular shade of kitchen sets in the Provence style is white. Light shades of natural wood or blue are also often used.

Color spectrum

This style is equally suitable for decorating both small kitchens in apartments and spacious rooms in country houses. Since it involves the use of light colors , it can be used to visually expand the room.

Light colors are suitable for a small kitchen

Light fabrics and paint on the walls and furniture look a little aged and sun-bleached.

The colors predominate:

• saffron (yellow-orange);
• bluish-lilac (lavender) or turquoise;
• mustard;
• olive;
• soft lemon;
• calm beige or ivory shade.

It is very important to use a color palette consisting of only 2-3 colors - their excess gives a feeling of chaos.

Red, green and brown are used to a minimum, only as bright color accents in textiles or accessories.

The pattern on the fabric is made in the form:

• bouquets of lavender or poppies;
• small roses;
• olive branches;
• ears of wheat;
• sunflowers;
• field plants.

Red, green and brown are used to a minimum and only for small accessories

The most popular print is floral with small and large graceful roses or wildflowers. The checkered pattern used is mainly red and white or white and blue. The country style stripe is subtle and not too bright.

Basics: why Provence is ideal for a small kitchen

The popularity of the Provence style is very justified, because it is one of the simplest trends in design, which, nevertheless, has a unique charm. Behind the apparent simplicity lies a perfectly adjusted balance, because it is very important not to overdo it in finishing - pompousness is of no use here.

The main elements of the style can be considered the following:

• All materials must be natural. Preference is given to wood and stone. There should be no plastic or metal (with the exception of furniture handles, lamps and forged elements).

Advice! As a replacement for expensive sets made of natural wood, options made of chipboard or MDF, which imitate wood in a high-quality manner, can be used.

• A large amount of textiles. Upholstered chairs, armchairs, curtains, decorative fabric elements - all this is great for small kitchens in the Provence style.
• The color scheme should be in pastel colors. Colors should be muted; there is no need for excessive brightness here.
• The presence of embroidery, paintings depicting flowers and vegetables, as well as family photos will be very useful here.

• Open shelves on which dishes are placed.
• An abundance of accessories with floral motifs.

Advice! The main component in such a kitchen is a large antique sideboard. However, for a Provence kitchen in a small apartment, it is not necessary to install it in order to save space. Instead, you should provide more open shelves.

Now let’s look at why Provence style kitchens in a small apartment will come in handy:

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1. This style is simple and does not require pomp. Unlike some modern styles, Provence does not require a large area, and therefore fits perfectly into the interior of even a small “Khrushchev” kitchen.
2. Light colors are known to contribute to the visual expansion of space. And since the main tones of French country are pastel, small kitchens in the Provence style will look visually larger.
3. Such interiors allow you to store dishes not only on shelves and cabinets, but also on special stands on the countertops, which allows you to increase the useful space of the kitchen.

Furniture for kitchen

This French style is not only extremely cozy, but also very functional. The furniture is selected as simple as possible, with a large number of open shelves or racks with glass doors, where the owners carefully place handmade products. Made in retro style, it is slightly rough, but has elegant shapes.

The right furniture is retro style

There are no strict rules here - high-quality and roomy furniture, painted with light paint or natural texture, is placed freely, at the discretion of the owners - no strict alignment “along the wall”. It is better to use not a serial one, but a custom-made one. It can be:

• open cabinets;
• antique sideboards and bedside tables;
• wooden or forged tables and chairs with comfortable armrests; Rocking chairs are also very popular;
• light 2-3-seater sofas that look like chairs combined with each other, with an abundance of pillows.

Option for a compact kitchen

You can use both a furniture ensemble and assorted furniture - skillfully selected, it may well form a harmonious union. A grandmother’s buffet or a cabinet purchased at a flea market, restored and painted with light colors, would come in handy here. You can also buy modern furniture for the kitchen with an artificially aged facade.

It is better to take a finished tabletop:

• artificial or natural granite;
• marble;
• tiles.

It is advisable to use a stone sink. There is no need for a glass apron here - it is better to decorate it with textured tiles. There should be no gloss or chrome parts, as well as plastic - only bronze or copper fittings and plumbing are allowed.

It is better to take a countertop with artificial or natural granite, marble or tiles

It is important to observe the fragile line between apparent simplicity and crude handicraft. Despite the simplicity of the style, a touch of French elegance should be felt on each of the interior items, be it openwork forged or wooden elements.

Perfect harmony of shades in Provence

A large kitchen can be decorated in several shades at the same time. At the same time, different facing materials are also used. For example, an apron made of brown tiles or special protective panels will match a light kitchen set. When arranging a wall in the dining area, it is allowed to glue vinyl or non-woven wallpaper. This solution will be promising and rich, provided that furniture made of natural wood is used.

Small kitchen design Source dzer.ru

Kitchen in Provence style Source ms.decorexpro.com

You can create a unique and quite functional design with antique furniture. Curtains with a floral motif fit well into the design theme. They are an integral part of the French style. Small-sized, comfortable furniture will come in handy. Many people create kitchens with a bar counter in the center. This is permissible if the space of the room allows.

Apartment design Provence style Source smogem-sami.ru

In this style you can combine a large palette of shades. To create a multi-colored kitchen, you should use floral curtains or night curtains and a massive countertop. The dining area in the center of the room will add special chic and accent to the room. More often, round tables with chairs with high backs are used for these cases. Rectangular and square furniture are also appropriate, but they are more often installed near the wall.

Cozy kitchen Source wow-deco.com

A large kitchen in Provence style with modern interior notes will be in trend. Massive furniture with shelves under wall cabinets puts the main emphasis on the French direction. When arranging the kitchen of our time, only soft pastel colors should be used. Only some contrast is allowed on the tabletop or large pieces of furniture.

Wall decoration

natural materials predominate in the design of the walls :

• wood with discreet carvings or slightly noticeable gilding;
• stone;
• ceramics with unobtrusive painting;
• brick;
• deliberately rough matte plaster.

Even small defects are welcome in the finishing. Slight negligence and a complete lack of gloss make the room especially cozy and homely.

Natural wall material is preferable in Provence style

When using wallpaper, materials are selected from:

• small floral patterns;
• monograms;
• small stripe;
• cell.

Wall decoration can be combined by laying part of the surface with tiles or materials imitating stone or brick, and part by plastering or finishing with light wallpaper.

Wallpaper with a floral print - a highlight of Provence

In a small room, it is better not to get carried away with brickwork - its dark colors will visually “compress” the area. If desired, you can veneer any fragment or trim only one wall with brick.

Walls

As for decorating walls in the Provence style, there are several rules that are highly recommended to adhere to:

• No wallpaper. Yes, there are country interiors with wallpaper in the kitchen, but, believe me, it’s extremely rare. If you carefully study all the photos presented in this article, you will be able to verify this once again. Appropriately painted walls will look much more harmonious and natural in such a kitchen;
• Textured or regular plaster followed by painting or whitewashing. There is an unspoken rule here: if this is a kitchen in a country house, you can choose a rough texture or even whitewash; and if this is a city apartment, then it is better to paint the walls as smoothly as possible;
• Pastel, faded colors. Much has already been said about the palette in the previous section. Studying various photographic examples will help you choose the most suitable project;
• Sometimes stone, brick or old boards are used for cladding.
  In urban environments, as a rule, they are limited to either partial (local) use of the above elements or do not use them at all. In a country house, the kitchen space and the lower level of “pretentiousness” allow you to painlessly use stone, boards, beams, tiles, bricks, etc. The main thing is not to overdo it and not turn the kitchen into something between a hallway and a garage.

Floors

The floor in the kitchen, designed in Provence style, is mainly wooden. If parquet is used, it should not be polished and have a glossy finish. Only a light wooden board, slightly aged, with a pronounced texture. Linoleum or an overly dark laminate would be out of place here.

The floor is usually wooden

You can also use mosaic or stone to finish the floor. Ceramic tiles are regular square, rectangular or hexagonal.

Advice The room will be more comfortable if small striped rugs in pastel shades, oval or round, are laid on the floor. They can be homespun and made of wool or matting.

Color schemes for kitchens in Provence style

The color palette of a Provence style kitchen is pastel. In the homeland of the style, instead of paint, lime white with the addition of natural pigments was traditionally used, so all colors turned out to be slightly lightened.

Despite the many color options, there are several that are obviously win-win:

White. In all its delicate shades, it is an ideal option for small rooms. Supplemented with slightly richer accents, it gives the kitchen a romantic elegance and freshness.

Olive. Reminiscent of the greenery of the coastal groves of Provence. Combined with mahogany and copper tones, it fills the kitchen with classic home comfort.

Dark olive is suitable for large rooms, and light colors complemented by cream, sand, blue or pale gray are for more modest sizes.

Pistachio. This translucent, soft green background goes well with both dark and light wood, giving the interior an airy summer effect.

Cream, sand, pale yellow. Echoing light brown shades of varying intensities, these colors in the kitchen are reminiscent of a serene holiday on the hot coast.

Blue. It is very common both in wall decoration and on furniture facades. This is the color of the sea and clear, cloudless sky. It, in a friendly neighborhood with the sand, fills the room with coolness and a light breeze.

Ceilings

Ideally, they should be finished with wooden beams or beams imitating natural wood (if, of course, the ceiling height allows this) or at least textured relief plaster. But this finish is more suitable for country houses or dachas. Stretch ceilings are acceptable in an apartment, but they must be without gloss.

It is advisable to use wooden beams in ceiling decoration

Using multi-level ceilings without too pretentious elements will also not be too much of a mistake - after all, a complete reconstruction of the style is not needed here, only its imitation. When painting them, the color scheme is selected in slightly “sun-faded” shades. A small stucco edging will give the room a little splendor.

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Provençal cuisine: traditional finishing

The creation of a Provencal interior must begin with the development of a design project and the selection of suitable finishes: textured plaster, wallpaper, ceramic tiles, engineered wood. And you can emphasize the solidity of the situation with the help of brickwork.

Textured plaster

In the photo: Textured wall decoration in Provencal kitchen design

Sand-colored textured plaster is the most suitable finish for a Provence-style kitchen. It harmonizes perfectly with furniture made of natural wood, ceramics and elegant textiles. And to reduce the cost of apartment renovation, plaster can be replaced with textured wallpaper; the main thing is to choose a washable finish that is resistant to abrasion.

Ceramic tiles with a pattern

In the photo: Ceramic tile floors in a modern Provence style kitchen design

Ceramic tiles with a geometric pattern in blue and cream tones are suitable for both a rustic kitchen and a modern Provence style interior with minimalist furniture. At the same time, there is no need to decorate the entire floor with such tiles - to add the charm of Provence to the design of the room, a small ceramic carpet is enough.

Aged board

In the photo: Solid wood floor in the interior of an apartment in Provence style

A solid board with a pronounced texture is an iconic detail in any rustic interior. And the most spectacular option for such flooring is a brushed board with noticeable abrasions.

Terracotta tiles

In the photo: Interior of a white kitchen in Provence style with fresco

Charismatic terracotta tiles with uneven coloring are one of the most popular floor coverings in Provence. It can be used in an interior with any color scheme, but in contrast with light furniture it looks most successful.

Floral wallpaper

In the photo: Wallpaper with a floral pattern in kitchen design in Provence style

A floral pattern in a Provencal interior can decorate not only curtains, upholstered furniture covers or tablecloths - it also looks great on wallpaper. This finish is most suitable for a spacious kitchen-living room with a cozy dining area.

Decorative brick

In the photo: A wall made of decorative bricks in the interior of a Provencal kitchen

Decorative brick fits perfectly into any rustic interiors. For kitchen design in the Provence style, both red or white-painted brick and finishing with the effect of a burnt surface, as in the photo, are suitable.

Appliances

Naturally, even a rustic-style kitchen cannot do without modern technology. But still, it should not deviate from the general concept. It is better to hide the refrigerator, washing machine and microwave behind decorative facades.

Appliances should be chosen in retro style, or hidden behind facades

There are also household appliances on sale, made in country style, with a matte surface and a minimum of metal elements. Such devices are painted in light matte colors: beige, ivory. Knobs and switches are available in antique bronze or hammered metal.

Which flooring to choose?

Stone, tile or wood.

All of them fit perfectly into the Provence style in the kitchen.

Sometimes designers combine two types of covering: most of the kitchen is lined with wood, and a small edge along the work area (about 50-60 cm to make it comfortable to stand) is tiled, since it is easier to maintain.

We recommend installing a floor heating system in this part (excluding the refrigerator area) so that it is comfortable to stand on the tiles even barefoot.

Textiles and accessories

Textiles are another important element of French country music. It is used in the design of windows, upholstery, and accessories. Although there should be a lot of fabric, when selecting them, measure is required.

It is extremely important not to overcrowd the interior so that the room continues to look spacious and open to the sun.

Properly selected textiles will brighten the kitchen

The rustic country effect can be achieved through light ruffled curtains, upholstery or linen covers for chairs and sofas, tablecloths, towels, potholders or a few decorative pillows casually laid out on the kitchen sofa. A cozy checkered blanket on a rocking chair would also be appropriate.

The fabrics selected are simple, natural, mainly cotton and bleached linen with a natural floral or French Vichy checkered print. For tablecloths or napkins, the "buti" technique , popular in 15th century France, is often used. It is easy to distinguish - in the process of fastening the elements of the ornament, the products look slightly convex.

This style will never go out of style

What to cover the walls with?

The following materials are used to decorate the walls in a Provencal kitchen:

• wallpaper with floral or striped print
• wooden panels
• tile
• a natural stone
• dye

The best solutions are those that combine two materials - tiles and wallpaper, stone and paint, etc. At the same time, a more durable and wear-resistant material is used above the kitchen work area, and decorative in the rest of the area.

The choice of material for wall cladding is often influenced by the appearance of the kitchen unit: bright and unusual facades look good against a neutral wall background, and printed wall cladding is favorably emphasized by smooth and plain doors.

Accessories

The closest attention is paid to details here. Dishes and utensils in such a kitchen are not hidden in cabinets, but are placed in plain sight. To give the room coziness and create a relaxed atmosphere, vases inherited from grandmothers or purchased at flea markets or antique dealers are placed on the shelves.

It’s great if the house has simple utensils typical of rural life:

• jugs;
• jars;
• pots;
• jars with fragrant spices;
• clay vases or decorated with fine glaze.

In one of the niches you can place a wicker basket with fruit or fragrant bread.

Flowers and fresh fruits will make the interior more natural

You can decorate the shelves with lace or bleached linen napkins, porcelain figurines and forged candlesticks. Aged photographs and paintings with rural landscapes are used as wall decor. They will stand out perfectly on light surfaces. The same wood is used as frames.

Plants look very harmonious in such a kitchen:

• roses;
• tulips in vases;
• dry lavender bouquets;
• bunches of herbs.

Indoor pelargonium with bright rich flowers, which can be placed on the windowsill, is ideal for country style.

Would fit in well:

• elegant begonias;
• cyclamens;
• fuchsia;
• ficus.

Climbing bells, reminiscent of wildflowers, can be placed in hanging planters on the walls.

Decor using chamomile

Advantages and disadvantages of style

Restrictions on the use of exclusively natural materials can cause certain problems with the choice of decors. But in the end, such finishes and facades on kitchen units only give interiors in the Provence style a special charm and originality. Plus, the presence of a lot of different decorative elements in their design opens up enormous scope for creativity.

Project "Elegant Provence"

Architectural bureau "White City"

Decor in Provence style

An open or glassed buffet will fit well into the overall design of Provence

Good lighting and space are the main conditions for creating an interior in the Provence style

Kitchen decoration should be in pastel colors

The aroma of lavender will add the necessary notes

Choose wooden facades

Finishing materials must be natural

Lighting

Lighting devices should perform not only a functional, but also a decorative function.

Finishing materials

• stone;
• artificially aged wood;
• ceramics;
• porcelain;
• forged metal;
• brass;
• silver;
• nickel;
• bronze or their imitation.

All products must have smooth curved shapes, without rough transitions or corners.

Lighting is an important part of a Provence style kitchen

A nice addition will be a forged chandelier, which will ideally match with similar furniture fittings or accessories.

Lampshades made of light textiles with lace trim can be used not only to decorate wall lamps, but also chandeliers. Naturally, the chosen fabric colors should be consistent with the rest of the interior items.

In the kitchen you can also use small spotlights that are not too conspicuous. After all, the abundance of light is another characteristic feature of Provence. To create an atmosphere of softness and homeliness, beige or yellow light is used. Lamps should not be too powerful - harsh light is of no use here. It's better to use several small ones.

Bright and at the same time cozy atmosphere

Materials used

The Provencal style interior is far from advanced technology. Everything here should be natural, at least visually. Glossy and plastic fragments are simply useless in such a kitchen. Preference should be given to wood and stone with a natural texture.

A worthy company for them are surfaces painted in muted colors or covered with snow-white plaster. A must-have material for use in a Provence-style kitchen is also cozy textiles in soft colors. And the inclusion of metal forging and vintage fittings will make the look completely complete.

Walls

The design of the walls in the kitchen in the Provence style primarily depends on the size of the room.

In a city apartment, matte paint or smooth plaster in soft shades would be appropriate. For accentuation, you can use decorative inserts made of tiles or decorative stone.

Wallpaper is not the best option for recreating a French country interior, but if you really can’t do without it, then it’s worth choosing samples that are as close in texture as possible to natural surfaces.

In a private house, the choice of finishing materials is somewhat wider. Here you can safely demonstrate the subtle beauty of simple stonework, wood paneling, whitewash or textured plaster.

Ceiling

The open attic space adds a special touch to the interior of a Provencal kitchen located in a country house. A mandatory attribute of a Provençal ceiling is massive beams. They can match the color scheme of the entire surface or, conversely, stand out sharply with a contrasting wood shade.

Naturally, with a small room height, there is no need to make the ceiling additionally heavier. In this case, a plain light color or plaster will look much more natural. A small forged chandelier will give the effect of antiquity.

Floor

The most suitable flooring for a Provence-style kitchen is considered to be traditional wooden planks, as well as modest, discreet matte tiles in earthy or terracotta shades.

In modern interiors, laminate, parquet or tiles that imitate classic materials come to the rescue. An additional decoration for the floor can be a mat or carpet with a floral pattern.

Windows and doors

A Provencal style kitchen is a room filled with sunlight. To allow rays to freely penetrate the room, the windows in it are made as large as possible.

Conventional plastic frames do not fit very harmoniously into the atmosphere of provincial comfort. Wooden structures or their high-quality imitation would be much more appropriate here. In any case, they are white, sometimes slightly aged.

In country houses, hinged structures are widely used, allowing the doors to be opened wide.

Window decoration has no strict restrictions. It can be decorated with:

• Roman blind or English style curtain;
• weightless French marquise;
• curtains with tiebacks;
• cafe curtains

Cornices are preferably wooden or forged.
Doors in the Provence style are always made of wood and painted in light, muted colors, certainly with a slight touch of antiquity.