What colors are used in Provencal style kitchen design?
Color is an important distinguishing feature of the Provençal style of interior design.
The characteristic palette of colors for a kitchen in the Provence style is delicate, pastel, faded under the scorching rays of Southern France. It helps to visually expand the space and is pleasing to the eye. Thanks to this, Provencal kitchens always seem light and spacious.
Three main colors of Provence:
- lavender
- blue
- white
But you don’t have to limit yourself to them: peach, soft green, yellow, and brown pastel shades are also used to decorate kitchens in Provencal style.
Kitchen design in a private house
The kitchen interior with a window features a lot of natural light. Wooden French windows or frame structures with a thin profile are appropriate for the design. The frames are made in white, artificially aged or decorated with floral patterns.
The photo shows a kitchen-dining room in Provence style in a log wooden house.
Provence in a country cottage or country house is unique and does not require much effort when creating a design. Furniture and other elements in natural colors are harmoniously combined with natural materials and wood cladding.
Thanks to its rustic flavor, this style is perfect for decorating a country veranda, gazebo or summer kitchen. The building can be finished with clapboard and wicker rattan furniture can be installed in it.
Which layout to choose for a kitchen in Provence style?
The layout for the kitchen should not be fashionable, but comfortable!
Any, even the most novice, designer will confirm this to you.
According to the rule of the working triangle, the most convenient layout for a medium-sized kitchen is a corner one. The cutting surface can be placed as an island in the center of the kitchen, and the table can also be used as a dining table.
By the way, a single-level island is one of the fashionable trends in kitchen design in 2021.
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.
Peculiarities
- Predominance of light, calm tones (milk, cream, mint, lavender, beige, sand, light pink, sandal, etc.). These shades are ideal for a small kitchen, as they will help make the room more spacious and bright.
- Naturalness. The materials used to create the interior cannot be synthetic. Best used wood, stone, ceramics, porcelain, copper. Suitable for textiles cotton, silk or linen.
- Using a lot of vintage accessories. These can be bouquets (preferably real or high-quality artificial ones), antique watches, decorative dishes, paintings or photos in retro style, as well as various vases or figurines.
- Lots of light. Moreover, it is important to create as much natural light as possible. A kitchen in this style can under no circumstances be dark and gloomy; this can visually reduce the area.
- Antique furniture . This can be either expensive antique or ordinary, specially aged furniture. The main thing when creating it is not to get too carried away with the process and not make it unusable.
How to decorate the ceiling?
The Provence style originated in the village houses of Southern France, in which the roofs were secured with wooden beams. No one was puzzled by their appearance and over time they simply became a characteristic decorative element of this style.
In modern apartments, it is not always possible to use decorative beams on the ceiling: in Khrushchev-era apartments, where the ceiling height is about 250 cm, such “decoration” will make the kitchen interior heavy and oppressive. If this is your case, limit yourself to a painted or suspended ceiling. In rooms where the ceilings are 270 cm or higher, you can use beams or boards to decorate the ceiling.
Similarities and differences
Country is a general, collective name for all common, rustic styles that personify the rural life of different countries. With this understanding, subspecies are distinguished:
- Shabby chic;
- Russian village;
- The American version is ranch;
- Alpine chalet;
- Tuscan;
- French Provence.
French Provence makes the kitchen very bright and cozy
From this perspective, Provencal design is part of all rustic styles, but more often it is distinguished among similar ones.
Important! The designer’s task when decorating a kitchen in a folk style is to combine the charm of rural life and common life with the conveniences of modern life.
Rustic styles fit perfectly into the modern interior of a city apartment
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 curtains for a small Provence kitchen
The interior is impossible without cute textile design. Curtains, tablecloths and cotton napkins add coziness to the rustic setting.
Curtains can be selected according to personal taste preferences. In the Provence style there are no strict rules for their selection. The following will look equally beautiful:
- fabric blinds;
- country curtains;
- Roman curtains;
- heavy curtains.
The main thing is to choose the right color that will harmoniously fit into the interior. Muted shades will add maximum comfort to a small room:
- mint
- turquoise;
- lilac combined with a floral image or lavender motif.
In the Provence kitchen there is an abundance of various textiles. Not just tablecloths and curtains. Pillows, chair covers, towels will add special uniqueness to the chosen style.
Advice! Floral motifs quickly become boring, so it’s worth purchasing several sets of textiles at once and changing them periodically.
It should be remembered that the tablecloth is chosen in the same color scheme as the curtains. The same goes for pillows and chair covers.
Curtains are placed not only on windows: free-hanging, delicate curtains are hung on the lower parts of the set or on an island table.
What kind of windows should there be in a Provence style kitchen?
Large and wide, preferably in wooden frames.
A common solution is white frames consisting of several sections. But you can experiment with color if the kitchen has little space for imagination and accents.
We wrote about the combination of colors in the interior here.
Design ideas for small kitchens in Provence style
You can decorate a small Provence kitchen with your own hands by choosing the right furniture, decor and finishing. The romantic style harmoniously combines color and design details.
What kind of doors should there be in a Provence style kitchen?
Like the windows - wooden, classic, hinged.
The door leaf can be decorated with carvings, panels or glass inserts.
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.
We decorate furniture in Provencal style: aging effect and decoupage
Let's move on to furniture. It is she who will play the role of the “carrier” of the Provence style, and, therefore, her choice should be scrupulous. In the photo, you probably saw chests of drawers with scuffs, elegant floral patterns, painted bronze or gold. But they couldn’t find headsets in this style in stores.
Let's find out what techniques you can use to decorate pieces of furniture with your own hands.
- Aging effect using paint and paraffin. This effect can be used for any item - be it a chair or a sideboard. All you need to do is remove the old layer of varnish with sandpaper, rub the surface with paraffin and cover everything with paint. You will give the furniture an aging effect when you go over the painted surface with a sponge, wiping off the paint on the sides, bends, and legs. Just yesterday you saw such a chair in the photo, and now you can make it yourself.
- Aging furniture using metal wool. You can purchase it at any hardware store. First, you will need to remove the varnish and old coating of the furniture, and then paint the item with plain paint (it is better to choose a color close to natural). Now you need to take cotton wool and rub the furniture along the fibers. Remains of black color are removed with a damp cloth. Here's a simple way to make your furniture last several decades with your own hands.
- Decoupage. The most popular and easiest way to emphasize the design of a kitchen in the Provence style. You don’t need an art education, because you can buy special stickers in the store and apply them to the surface of any piece of furniture with your own hands. It is best to choose plant motifs, floral arrangements and images of pastoral scenes. For a more impressive decor in the Provence style, you can combine the aging technique with decoupage. First you need to treat the furniture and remove old paint and varnish, and then apply a new color and start applying decoupage.
If you decorated the walls with wallpaper with floral motifs, you can choose a similar pattern for furniture. It is best to use the decoupage technique for one item, for example, a kitchen set, and choose a classic white or cream color for the dining table.
What to make an apron for Provencal cuisine from?
From square tiles or “hog” tiles.
Laying methods: offset (brickwork) or diagonally.
If the tiles are plain, some areas of the apron can be highlighted using a different type of installation.
If the main thing in a tile is its pattern, use only one installation method.
Kitchen decoration
Rural interiors, implying a return to nature, unity with it, prefer only natural materials when decorating walls, ceilings, and floors. No plastic panels, suspended or suspended ceilings - only wood, stone, paint.
Country kitchen decoration
The best options for wall decoration in the kitchen space would be:
- Painting;
- Wallpaper - with small flowers (ideal for shabby), checkered, striped, traditional patterns are allowed;
- Decorative plaster - its roughness will emphasize roughness and home-grown quality;
- Ceramic tiles - it would be nice to use them to decorate an apron in the work area, or to finish part of the wall;
- Brick is best used in combination with wood, which is the basis of rural design;
- Wood - lining, wood-look wall panels - are an ideal choice, perfectly suited for recreating rural life.
Tiles, chipped tiles, unpainted wood, and unevenly painted walls will emphasize originality and become a means of country stylization.
For the floor, the choice of wood is implied - boards are better, not parquet, natural stone, ceramic tiles. If natural boards are unaffordable, you can use laminate, and porcelain stoneware instead of stone. It is better to choose monochromatic tiles in natural shades. The ceiling can be whitewashed; this will perfectly match the stylization of rural life, but if we talk about practicality, then the option of a stretch ceiling is allowed, but only in a single color - matte white.
Wooden lining - natural or white (in Scandinavian country) - is a good choice. You can choose a combination of whitewash and wooden beams, but both of these options are only acceptable if you have high ceilings, because wood will visually (and actually) reduce the height of the kitchen.
Kitchen decoration in Provence style
Wall decoration when creating a Provence interior design dictates the following rules:
- No wallpaper. It's better to paint the walls;
- It is possible to use textured plaster followed by painting;
- Stone, wood, brick - for finishing the whole wall or part of it. In an apartment, it is better to limit yourself to partial decoration if you want to completely reproduce the Provençal design.
If the height allows, it is better to decorate the ceiling with beams - light or dark. If the ceilings are low, you can opt for whitewash or a matte stretch ceiling.
The floor should be stone - choose terracotta-colored tiles, perhaps a combination of black and white. You can throw a wool striped rug on the floor.
What material is suitable for the countertop?
The traditional material for making countertops in Provencal style is wood. But in the working area it wears out quickly, so it is increasingly being replaced with stone (natural or artificial).
Some designers use tiles to decorate kitchen countertops.
For a detailed infographic on kitchen countertop materials, click here.
Provence design features
The provincial style that appeared in the south of France welcomes light colors and an abundance of light - if there is not enough natural light, artificial light sources are added. The Provence interior is characterized by:
- Many forged elements;
- Aged or old cabinets, tables, chairs, keeping traces of time, as evidenced by traces of wear;
- An abundance of plants in ceramic pots and wooden boxes;
- Wicker baskets, dishes;
- Natural textiles – tablecloths, curtains.
White color is the most versatile and fits perfectly into the rustic style concept.
Provence is a complete absence of plastic, traditional images of birds, berries, checks, stripes, decorative patterns.
Muted blue and sand colors are inherent in the interior in the Provence style.
What should the dining table be like?
Yes, there should be a dining table in the kitchen in the Provence style! At least small.
It can be wooden or elegant metal.
Round or square shape.
General features of the style
- Materials must be natural (wood, linen, cotton and others),
- Aged elements,
- Rough and simple details,
- Colors of natural shades, can be slightly faded,
- Lack of contrasts
- Self-made furniture and accessories,
- Floral motifs and folk ornaments,
- Lots of textile details - pillows, napkins, tablecloths.
In a Russian-style kitchen, Gzhel, old dinnerware and nesting dolls look beautiful.
You cannot combine the above details with chrome and metal, modern decor, or defiantly artificial materials.
It is better to choose only high-quality furniture and accessories. It is better to do without noticeable imitation, for example, you should not buy wallpaper with a brick wall, it is better to make it yourself from applied stone.
The main thing is harmony and naturalness. If you want flowers, it is better to buy fresh, but dried, rather than artificial ones. You should find a feeling of calm and peace.
Which chairs to choose for a Provence style kitchen?
Elegant forged stools, chairs or small armchairs will fit into the Provence style in the kitchen. But they can be replaced with wooden carved ones.
The dining table and chairs do not have to be like twin brothers: the ensemble can also consist of items made from different materials.
Photos in the kitchen interior
A kitchen-living room in Provence style, even with the simplest layout, has a cozy atmosphere and individual design.
The photo shows the design of a spacious kitchen-living room with a fireplace, decorated in Provence style.
In a large room you can install a neat rocking chair, a fireplace or a real stove. These items will add coziness to the atmosphere. Also in the spacious studio kitchen, a kitchen set with an island is installed, and the dining group is located in the center.
What should household appliances look like in a Provencal kitchen?
Household appliances in a Provencal kitchen should look very retro or not at all (that is, be as built-in as possible and hidden behind the facades of the kitchen unit).
Household appliances with a modern appearance will look out of place in a Provençal kitchen.
Which hood to choose?
Hoods are not only functional, but also an important decorative element of Provencal cuisine. They are often decorated with a beautiful dome-shaped box and become an accent detail in the interior.
What accessories should I add for a Provence style kitchen?
The main decoration of Provencal cuisine is its palette of shades, floral prints and patterns on tiles. But the charm of the Provencal style lies in the charming trifles that complete the interior ensemble.
The following will look good in a Provence style kitchen:
- handmade potholders
- decorative cells
- wooden clock with roman numerals
- indoor flowers in painted pots
- flowers in vases
- candlesticks
- miniature figurines in the form of animals and birds
- forged or wooden open hanging shelves
- flowerpot
It is important not to overdo it with the number of accessories!
Kitchen decoration in Provence style: what to do with the walls, floor and ceiling?
You can decorate the walls, ceiling and finish the floor in Provence style with your own hands. You won’t need any special knowledge, since you won’t be doing artistic painting, but you will certainly be able to figure out how to apply plaster and glue wallpaper.
First of all, we will decide how to decorate the walls. There are several simple options.
- Decorative plaster. By choosing this material for walls, you definitely can’t go wrong with “getting into style.” When applying the coating, do not try to do it perfectly evenly and smoothly. A Provence style kitchen will “like” negligence and roughness. If you are planning to implement a kitchen design in a private home, let the brick show through the plaster.
- Wood paneling. A more complex option that is suitable for those who know how to work with wood. Choose light shades of wood; you can also choose a type of wood that will contrast with the color of the furniture. Remember that the wood must be treated with an antiseptic and coated with a layer of varnish.
- Wallpaper. A simple and practical material that is easy to work with. If you are covering the entire kitchen space with wallpaper, when choosing, stop at plain models in beige, olive, pale pink or soft lilac. To decorate one wall, you can choose wallpaper with a large floral pattern or elegant patterns.
Wallpaper with a brick pattern and wooden panels are perfect. In the photo you might have seen wallpaper with vertical or horizontal stripes.
Remember that wide horizontal stripes are suitable for a narrow kitchen, and for a room with low ceilings you should choose models with a vertical pattern.
Next you will have to finish the ceiling and floor with your own hands. The simplest solution for the ceiling is white plaster. Leave all the bumps and roughness to emphasize the presence of style.
When it comes to flooring, choosing untreated wood planks is the ideal solution. The classic design option is to use snow-white wood that has preserved its natural texture.
How to properly arrange lighting?
For a Provencal-style kitchen, choose lamps with a warm (yellow) glow.
The interior must have a chandelier. Most often - forged, with elements in the form of flowers and leaves or several small fabric lampshades. Simple metal lamps are used less frequently.
You can also use sconces and decorative candlesticks.
Functional spotlights can be installed above the work area.
Finishes and materials
In the design of a small-sized kitchen, the distinctive features of the style should be visible. To do this, use finishing and select appropriate materials and decorative items.
Floor covering
The floor in a small Provence style kitchen is deliberately rough. To do this, they take natural wood, of which there should be a lot. If you use parquet or laminate, then choose imitation wood.
For a small room, linoleum with any pattern is suitable: from geometric to abstract shapes. The tile flooring looks luxurious. It creates the impression of roughness and visually makes the room larger and more attractive.
Important! Glossy surfaces cannot be used. Preference is given to matte tiles or laminate with a dilapidated effect.
The photo shows options for flooring in a small Provencal style kitchen.
Wall covering
The style implies cool, light colors.
Finishing is done using:
- emphasis on the walls: wallpaper for this is vinyl or textile with a floral image;
- emphasis on furniture: in this case, the walls are turned into a neutral background by painting them in pastel colors.
When choosing wallpaper, take into account that a colorful canvas will visually make the room smaller. Therefore, furniture is chosen in calm and gentle colors.
An interesting idea is to focus on one wall, on photo wallpaper with a bright floral pattern. This approach will visually deepen the small space and emphasize the individuality of the intended interior. The photo shows an example of a small-sized kitchen in the Provence style in Khrushchev using photo wallpaper.
Ceiling finishing
The ceiling is decorated without any frills, using ordinary paint or simple whitewash. Fashionable suspended ceilings are prohibited. They destroy the atmosphere of village comfort.
If over time the finish cracks, the defect will turn into an advantage, because the Provence style implies scuffs, cracks and focuses on antiquity.
If a small room has a high ceiling, then you can decorate it with ceiling beams made of natural wood. The photo shows a small kitchen in Provence style with wooden decor on the ceiling.
Apron
The work surface lining must be made of tiles. A modern glass skinal looks out of place in such an interior.
Textured tiles that imitate brick or rough stones look good in a Provence kitchen in a small apartment. It is appropriate to use porcelain stoneware, the main thing is to select an interesting color and the right shade.
Do you need curtains for Provencal cuisine and what kind?
Necessarily!
They can be medium weight with floral prints or very light, almost transparent tulle curtains.
The use of ruffles, folds, frills and flounces is encouraged.
Curtains can be decorated with a lambrequin or tied with braid.
Sometimes “cafe” curtains are used.
