Content
- The main features of the Provence style
- Provence style kitchen decoration
- Walls
- Ceiling
- Floor
The main features of the Provence style
Provence is a southeastern region of France, the name of which literally translates as “province”. Provence is a unity with nature, gentle sea waves, gentle sunbeams, endless lavender fields with a bewitching aroma, clean rural air. Provence is a style that combines elegance, comfort and simplicity..
The Provence style has 4 distinctive features:
- light and calm shades;
- use of natural materials;
- furniture “antique”;
- accents on the little things.
The sophistication and lightness of the Provence style fits into a wide variety of rooms and spaces. Provencal interior is based on convenience and unpretentiousness, and simplicity and unobtrusiveness allows you to enjoy it for a long time without the desire to change the environment.
Provence style kitchen decoration
Walls
There are many options than decorating walls:
- wallpaper;
- painting;
- plaster;
- textile;
- decorative panels etc.
For decorating walls, Provence style wallpapers are used extremely rarely, traditionally the walls are plastered and painted. As a design solution, it is quite possible to finish one wall with wooden panels, ceramic mosaics or stone. However, in a small city apartment, the wallpaper will also look very appropriate. In addition, this is a fairly budget option..
When choosing a wallpaper, it is important to consider the features of the kitchen. Longitudinal stripes visually expand narrow rooms, and vertical stripes visually make higher ceilings. In a small kitchen, it is better to choose a wallpaper with a small and dim ornament, and large rich drawings are suitable for spacious rooms or for designing a single wall. If the windows of the kitchen are facing north or trees interfere with the penetration of sunlight, pay attention to light wallpapers of warm colors (sunny yellow, ivory).
The brickwork fits perfectly with the Provence style, but it hides the space quite a lot, so in small kitchens it’s better to refuse it.
But when choosing materials for decorating walls in the kitchen, you need to consider not only their appearance (color, ornament, texture), but also functionality. After all, the kitchen is, first and foremost, a cooking cooking zone, respectively, the materials should be easy to clean, moisture resistant and not spoiled by temperature changes. Learn more about the intricacies of choosing wallpaper for your kitchen can be here.
Ceiling
In the traditional village houses of Provence, wooden ceiling beams, as a rule, do not mask anything. In modern apartments, there is no need for them as such. Therefore, they are exclusively decorative in nature. However, only homeowners with very high ceilings can afford such decoration, otherwise the visual space becomes much smaller. If your house has low or low ceilings, it is possible to decorate with beams only a small part of the ceiling. The same applies to multi-level ceilings. Glossy stretch ceilings in provencal style do not fit.
Floor
To ensure that the kitchen floor matches Provence style, it is advisable to use materials with a rough texture. Ceramic tiles, laminate under a natural tree (possibly with a rag effect), and parquet will look beneficial. For the budget option, linoleum with a dimly pronounced pattern is suitable.
For a Provence style kitchen, choose a matte flooring. This is more in style and much more practical in terms of cleaning..
Furniture
Provence style is characterized by the use of so-called “antique” furniture. It does not have to be antique objects, it is quite possible decorative “aging” of furniture. However, the interior items should not look just brought from the store, but living here for a long time, having their own history, keeping little secrets.
This is where the secret of charm and charm of the Provence style lies – it has a soul in it.
Another feature of the Provence style is the use of natural materials: wood, fabrics, stones and ceramics, forged products. Therefore, in a Provencal kitchen, a table with forged legs, chairs with soft fabric upholstery, a countertop made “like a stone” will look great.
Lighting
Provence cuisines have a lot of light, making them seem very spacious. But this style is not limited to natural lighting, so the main decoration of the ceiling and the source of light, especially in apartment buildings, is a chandelier. Provencal chandeliers, like all other interior items in the Provence style, are made from natural materials. Therefore, give preference to fixtures, which consist of:
- forged elements;
- wooden elements;
- ceramic elements.
A Provence-style chandelier with a textile lampshade will look appropriate.
Floral lights and floral motifs prevail in Provencal lamps, light pastel colors. If there is not enough space for the chandelier in the kitchen (for example, due to low ceilings), it can be replaced by several local lamps, designed in the general style.
Due to the constant exposure to bright sunlight in traditional Provencal cuisines, all colors fade and become moderate tones..
Elegant little things in the interior
Lovely trinkets – this is the main highlight of the Provence style! Wrought iron candlesticks, neatly arranged small bouquets, cute fruit baskets, sea shells or a cage with a canary – you can choose! As they say, little things do not play a major role – little things play everything.
Pay special attention to the curtains.. Curtains should be light, light, almost weightless, but not transparent. Choose natural matte fabrics for sewing curtains, without lurex and gloss. They can be plain or with a pattern (floral motifs, cell or strip). Do not burden the curtains with a huge amount of ruffles, bows, fringes – the curtains should be as simple as possible. Small blinds can replace some furniture doors..
In a Provence-style kitchen, it is not necessary to cover the table with a tablecloth; the countertop may remain open. But if you prefer to use tablecloths, then they should be combined with curtains. It is not necessary to use an identical pattern, but the color scheme must be sustained. And no oilcloths!
Provence style kitchen decoration
Provencal color palette
The color scheme of the Provence style is light, muffled and as if slightly faded under the influence of sunlight, shades of beige, lavender, turquoise. Such paints give a feeling of coziness and comfort, they do not irritate the eyes, which will allow you to relax as much as possible after a hard day. But it is not necessary to completely exclude saturated colors from the interior – they will organically fit into your kitchen as bright details and accents.
Provence color scheme
| Cold shades | Warm shades |
| Sky blue Lavender Brown Light gray Olive | Yellow Peach Pale pink Warm beige Terracotta |
Provence in shades of white
Very often, various white tones (ivory, ivory, with a blue tint, etc.) are used as the base color. If your kitchen is located on the south side and you need to “cool it down” as much as possible – use cold shades of white, if the main task is to add as much light to the kitchen as possible – choose warm colors. In a dark kitchen, pure white will look grayish.
Provence in shades of green
Green color is traditionally considered noble and it is this color that can be called the color of natural harmony and balance. In a Provence style kitchen, olive, pistachio, and herbal shades of green will look good. The undoubted advantage of green in the interior is that it, along with white, is combined with all other colors, but at the same time less soiled and more practical.
Provence in shades of yellow
Yellow is an ideal solution for dark and small kitchens that need a visual extension of space. The color of the sun can be used to decorate walls or furniture. The most popular shades are close to the color of butter, sunflowers or straw. These are the warmest colors in the Provence palette..
Provence in shades of blue
Sky blue, aquamarine, azure will appeal to dreamers and romantics. In addition to the traditional Provencal style of floral and floral motifs, thanks to the blue shades you can add a little sea to the interior of your kitchen.
Provence in Lavender Shades
The collection and sale of lavender brought fame to Provence. The boundless flower fields are incredibly beautiful and excite the imagination of the most demanding esthete, but this is nothing compared to the heady aromas that spill over them. You can use not only color, but the image of lavender. And how much comfort will bring into your kitchen the aroma of a small lavender bouquet!..
Provence in dark shades
Dark colors in the Provence style are also allowed, but in small quantities, for example, for furniture and accessories, but still such tones are more characteristic of other varieties of country style. Choose natural dark shades – ebony, stormy sky, moss, chocolate. And be sure to remember that the dark colors of the boot look beneficial only in large and spacious rooms.
Provence in a miniature kitchen
Even if your a very modest kitchen – do not despair!
- For decoration, choose light shades of warm tones – this will visually expand your kitchen and make it brighter.
- Do not clutter up surfaces with unnecessary trash, but try to pick up kitchen utensils so that it not only fulfills its intended purpose, but also acts as an original accessory (for example, salt shakers, bread bins, cutting boards with drawings). Instead of trinkets, you can place themed pictures on the walls, and Provence-style watches will become a beautiful and practical detail that takes up a minimum of space.
It’s better to choose some decor items that fit perfectly into the interior, than clutter up the space with a huge number of trinkets and turn the kitchen into an exhibition of junk!
- Give preference to unobtrusive floral patterns in textiles and wallpapers. If you want more saturation or texture, and the size of the kitchen does not allow you to “walk around” – select one wall for decoration.
Provence-style kitchen-living room
If your kitchen is large enough, then you can not only place a cooking zone in it, but also a zone for receiving guests. Place a sofa, Provencal-style sofa or small armchairs in the kitchen. It is very convenient to use the folding kitchen table, which with just a few movements turns into a dining room. A small fireplace, which gathers the whole family or a large noisy group of friends, will give charm.
Conventionally, two zones can be divided with the help of flooring, laying it only in the working area or only in the guest room. Use floor lamps or sconces as additional fixtures.
The same tips apply to studio apartment owners. See other design options for the kitchen-living room can be here.
Provencal cuisine from IKEA
The famous Dutch furniture company IKEA is famous for the production of quality and functional products. But its distinguishing feature is that IKEA gives you the opportunity to choose not only strong and reliable furniture, but also beautiful and appropriate to your tastes and preferences. Including provence-style kitchen furniture.
DIY Provence Charm
Limited in funds? Or is global repair planned only in the distant future? Or maybe you want to create comfort in the house “from and to” on your own? No problem! You can breathe in the charm and attractiveness of Southern France with your own hands.!
- repaint the furniture in bright colors;
- add or change all fabric decor items in the kitchen to light and light fabrics with a suitable pattern;
- decorate the kitchen with flowers;
- create your own charming baubles.
What could be easier than collecting a small bunch of wildflowers and putting it on the table? Do it – and a little Provence will already appear in your house. Choose a light fabric in colors in the store and sew the curtains and the lower tablecloth out of it, from the rest you can make a curtain for a cabinet or a napkin for a bread box. Decorate your kitchen utensils with floral motifs using decoupage or painting techniques, and modern furniture paints will not only allow you to repaint the furniture in bright colors, but also give it a variety of effects (craquelure, rust, masonry, etc.)
Inspiration by provence: photos of the best kitchen design solutions.
Enjoy, get inspired, get ideas!
Read also about other ideas for creating a unique design your kitchen.
