Provence style kitchen: original ideas and solutions

The kitchen in the living area is not only a functional place for cooking, but also an area that is responsible for the comfort and atmosphere of the entire home. Today there are many fashion trends in its design, among which the Provencal style is worth highlighting. It is this design option that is very much in demand in the course of arranging modern dwellings, since it is able to fully convey the mood of comfort and family warmth.

There are interior solutions in the decor of kitchens that will always attract the attention of housewives. It is to this category of design that Provence belongs. A feature of design in the French country style is the beauty and comfort prevailing in the created environment, which is especially true for such a main room in the house as the kitchen.

It will be possible to revive the interior of even the smallest and most modestly furnished kitchen with the help of old little things., which must be present in the modern design of the premises in the spirit of the French province. First of all, these are objects and things made from natural materials - solid kitchen shelves, old painted jugs, plates, decor items made using decoupage technique, various baskets for storing food or useful trifles. And also the effect of antiquity should be present in kitchen furniture, and a kitchen project may include wooden beams or objects decorated with natural stone.

The accent in the interior in the Provence style will be placed on the main attribute of the kitchen - the family hearth. Therefore, this area is distinguished against the general background with the help of decoration. In addition, the rustic style offers the maximum amount of natural light in the room thanks to the large windows. In a private house, it will be much easier to implement such a requirement. If there is a lack of lighting, for example, in an apartment, it should be replenished with the help of artificial lighting devices. In general, a modern Provence style interior is quite easy to bring to life in any room, even with a small kitchen area.

In the course of work on the creation of such a design, it is worth observing the main requirement for the environment - a general atmosphere should be formed in the kitchen, combining elegance and French sophistication with rustic simplicity. Thinking about such a combination of directions, it may seem that the idea is unlikely to be realized, but the study of all the details can surprise with its result.

In the course of creating a Provence kitchen, it is necessary to avoid the use of modern materials in surface finishing., the emphasis should be on the naturalness of the raw materials. In addition, when arranging, it is worth avoiding placing electrical household appliances of the latest generation in open areas.All microwave ovens, multicooker and steamer must be securely hidden inside cupboards. However, such functional elements of a modular kitchen as a bar counter may well be present in a room. This is especially true in corner rooms.

It is important to use objects, furniture and finishing materials that visually will look as natural and old-fashioned as possible. Even when using synthetic fibers, for example, for curtains or tablecloths, it is worth choosing textiles that imitate cotton or linen.

In a rustic style, they will be inappropriate. As for the lighting of kitchen areas, then with the help of several options for devices it is worth highlighting the work and dining areas. In the first case, it is worth arranging the lighting so that the worktop is illuminated with bright light from artificial sources, or planning the placement of furniture so that it is located near the window. As for the kitchen table, this place should be lit with diffused and soft light.

Therefore, the Provence style kitchen will include spotlights and a large chandelier., which will also become a necessary element of the overall style of the room. The lamp should be of an original shape with an interesting shade, including various decorative elements, openwork edging. And also any lighting fixture should be placed in the center. Overhead ceiling devices that can imitate candlesticks or garden lanterns can be noted as a suitable option.

Among the basic design requirements, it is worth noting a calm color palette, the presence of a variety of textiles, including curtains with different prints. In addition, all decoration should not clutter up the space and interfere with maintaining order in this functional room of the dwelling.

Provencal floors, ceilings and walls are made out in basic colors:

• all shades of white;
• terracotta;
• Gray;
• cream tones;
• lilac;
• light blue palette and so on.

The choice of pastel shades in a rustic style will not be accidental, since it is these shades that give the overall decoration an airiness, visually increasing the space. In addition to the above basic shades, Provence allows the use of brown and azure options for finishing materials. The choice of the color palette is based on the main requirement - the naturalness of the selected color.

It is more correct to plaster the walls, in order to give the interior the effect of antiquity, you can deliberately leave some areas without finishing. And also in demand for this direction in the interior textured plaster mix, which can imitate brick or ceramic tile finish.

Some designers recommend covering the walls with vinyl wallpaper., they have a long service life, in addition, the material is quite resistant to mechanical damage. It is worth noting that such a finishing material can be decorated with a floral print, which is relevant for this style direction. Among the suitable and fashionable design options for Provence-style surfaces, the masters create the effect of a burnt-out and aged material from the sun.

The shade of the wood should be in contrast to the color of the kitchen set. However, dark wood-like materials are not suitable for small rooms, which will visually reduce the room. And also the kitchen walls, especially in the working area, are decorated with tiles, the basic shade of the material is beige, which is most often complemented by natural patterns and images of flowers. For corner and small Provence style kitchens, designers recommend choosing mirror elements that can highlight the area near the stove, focusing on this part of the room. As for the ceilings in the kitchen, light colors are combined with wooden beams, very often the surface is finished with white plaster.

A suitable color for kitchen floors is wood shades, but it is not necessary to use expensive wood for installation indoors, since laminate or linoleum with a textured surface that imitates a board can be a budget alternative. In addition to brown, the board can be bleached. In addition, it is allowed to combine several textures and materials. Thus, you can perform zoning of the room, highlighting the work area with a dark one, and lay light tiles near the dining table, or vice versa.

In this case, you can choose light door leaves, as well as blocks with additional stylization for a rustic interior, where painting or ornament will be welcomed. As for additional accessories, in this case, the brightness will be quite relevant. Among the suitable options for the color palette, it is worth picking things up in yellow, burgundy or purple. This also applies to dishes, it is better if it is painted in various techniques.

As for the main arrangement of the kitchen - a furniture set, the priority will be vintage options or artificially aged tables, countertops and shelves. Quite often, a room is equipped with hanging wooden cabinets with open shelves., on which, as a rule, kitchen utensils or decorative items are laid out - vases, figurines, and so on. In addition to a large number of open boxes, Provence allows the use of glass facades, sideboards. In addition, it would be more correct to complement large kitchens with a massive sideboard, you can even have a non-standard shape.

The fittings deserve special attention; the use of forged handles and carvings will be a beautiful and appropriate solution. And also the handles of the cabinets can be made with imitation of gold leaf. Rustic corner kitchens should be designed with an island in order to increase the comfort of the room, as well as make the kitchen more functional. If the project involves a bar counter, then the filling of the room should be supplemented with high bar stools, but not made of metal, but made of wood, and their backs must be forged.

Kitchens that stand out for their large space would be better equipped with a good wooden table in the dining area., during the selection of its form, this interior solution does not imply strict restrictions, the main thing is that it should be in harmony with the rest of the decoration. However, the massive table should be accompanied by appropriate chairs, corner sofas, benches, or other seat options with soft cushions. It can also be a great idea to place chairs with floral capes and beautiful armrests in the dining area.

The main rule regarding the availability of various accessories is the presence in the room of several bouquets with fresh flowers, in this case, you can use bright options with a riot of colors. And also a composition of plants for rustic kitchens can be made from ordinary wildflowers placed in clay pots. In addition to plants, the chosen interior should have handmade decorative elements.

Among the appropriate beautiful and original items, it is worth noting figurines made of wood or ceramics., wicker bread bins, napkin holders, containers for storing useful kitchen utensils. Patterns with flowers, painted plates from Italy, antique wall clocks with carvings will be relevant for such premises. Plates for decoration can be not only ceramic, but also copper or brass. For large and small kitchens, you can use painting, paintings with various landscapes, portraits and photographs of family members or ancestors in wooden frames are also suitable.

This applies to ordinary curtains or Roman blinds. The last option should be bamboo. It is important that one window opening or several let in a maximum of light into the kitchen; short curtains in a cage, strip or flower remain relevant. It is right to start the selection of textiles for curtains, given the location of the window openings. As for the southern windows, it is best to decorate them with dense types of fabrics, and the northern openings will need light materials.

Floral melodies will again turn out to be a suitable pattern, however, when choosing a pattern, it is necessary that it be in harmony or be similar to other textile elements in the room. If you want to highlight the window in the room, then the rustic style allows you to use excellent colors and patterns on the curtains, so you can focus on the necessary subject. When choosing curtains, do not forget about the fasteners for them, which, as a rule, are located on the sides.

In the course of designing the curtains, one can pursue the goal of giving the window opening a doll-like tenderness and festivity. In the dining area, in order to maintain the overall style, designers recommend using decorative pillows with a multi-colored or floral print, which will have a positive effect on the comfort during lunch or a simple tea party. Do not give up hand-made floor rugs or woven paths. They can be rectangular, circular or square.

The colors of the textile decor can be restrained, where beige and its shades will become the predominant color, however, things designed in blue versions, as well as products from yellow, purple and pink fabrics, will be able to harmoniously fit into the interior. The preferred material will be simple and beautiful linen or cotton. You can use not only floral patterns, but also a cage with a strip, all kinds of ruffles and lace.

All household appliances should be designed in one style solution.so that the interior does not break up into chaotic islands, but constitutes a single concept. The devices will be partially visible. Some manufacturers offer a range of devices that, according to the description, are specially stylized for retro, but the disadvantage of such products will be the rather high cost. However, this technique can be offered at a more affordable cost by Russian, Chinese or Belarusian manufacturers.

A rather bold decision when decorating a Provencal style kitchen will be to use a pale white headset, the height of which will reach the ceiling as much as possible. Due to the prevailing light palette, the furniture will not look massive, which will exclude the effect of a piled-up space. However, in the course of implementing this idea, care should be taken to ensure that there are many open shelves in the cabinets for storing useful things and appliances, as well as for a decorative function.

In this version, the sink will also be in white, and the semi-antique figured mixer will only complement the interior being created. Among the functional appliances in the kitchen, stylized as Provence, there will be an extractor hood above the stove, imitating a chimney. A dining area with corner benches, wicker decor and flowers on a round table will complete the overall concept. Brickwork on the walls in this case will help to zone the space.

It is possible to decorate a Provence-style kitchen in an original way, even with a minimal area, using the reception of arranging a dining area opposite the window, which can be a worthy replacement for a bar counter. Interesting chairs on high legs with a low back and soft poufs will make eating very comfortable, and the view from the window will dispose you for long and leisurely conversations over a cup of tea.

It will be possible to decorate the window using roller blinds with playful tassels to adjust the position. An open wrought-iron shelf and lamps made in a similar way can be used as a decorative element, stylized in antique style. Despite the presence of dark elements, the kitchen looks quite spacious and consistent in one stylistic solution of French charm and laconicism.

Among the color variations that would be appropriate in the Provencal style of kitchens, blue shades can be used. And in order to rationally use the space in the room, the headsets should be placed at a right angle. The simplicity of the rustic interior can be emphasized by a sideboard with stained-glass windows in floral technique, and the wooden edging of furniture with a hood in a box styled in copper will be appropriate in a French interior.

For tips on how to decorate a Provence style kitchen, see the video below.