Kitchen design in Provence style - 80 photos of interiors after renovation, beautiful finishing ideas

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.

Lighting and kitchen decor in a country house

Mediterranean cuisine prefers a large amount of light, and the lighting should be soft and uniform, natural. First of all, it is important that the windows are open or slightly covered with translucent curtains. As for artificial lighting, you can install a central chandelier, illuminate the work area with a sconce or a forged floor lamp.

Style is formed by details, and Provence implies their abundant use. That is why it is important that a kitchen designed in this style has a number of decorative elements, including:

Pots with rosemary or basil.
Basket with lavender.
Fresh flowers in a pot.
Painted ceramic dishes.
Bunch of onions.
A small barrel of honey.
Mirror.
Porcelain figurine.
Antique or forged clock on the wall.
Panels and paintings with landscapes or ornaments.

When decorating a kitchen in Provence style, you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the French village. If you like this style, then you can install a hood in the form of a hood, and stylize the stove as an antique stove. If this seems excessive, then you can limit yourself to aged furniture, light colors when decorating the walls and decorative figurines.

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 2020.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Provence kitchen: colors

Provence style involves the use of muted colors that look faded in the sun. Bright elements are acceptable, but there should be few of them and only as interior accents.

Lilac is the traditional color for this style. A kitchen dominated by olive or blue will also fit into the rustic style. Kitchens in shades of white, for example, cream or ivory, are a common type of furniture. Also, the rustic style includes light gray and pale pink colors in its color scheme.

This style allows for soft yellow tones. These colors are suitable if the kitchen has little natural light and its area cannot be called large.

A kitchen in brown tones is an acceptable option. It is recommended to pay attention to light brown and beige. All dark shades are allowed for use, but in small quantities. It is worth remembering that the style does not allow for an abundance of contrasting combinations.

What kind of doors should there be in a Provence style kitchen?

Like the windows - wooden, classic, hinged.

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.

Textile

The rustic style involves the abundant use of textiles, but this is not practical for the kitchen and dining area. If you decide to maintain the style from beginning to end, then you need to use basic textile elements. For example, kitchen chairs can be decorated with removable covers that can be removed periodically to change the design of the room.

Other ways to use textiles in the kitchen of a country house in the Provence style to emphasize the rustic atmosphere:

Furniture upholstery. Chair seats should have floral patterns or squares and stripes. As for fabric, chintz, linen and cotton are used for this.
A tablecloth is an essential attribute of the dining table.
Curtains should be translucent, light and weightless. The color scheme is beige, white and other light shades.
Pillows. If the kitchen has a bench, sofa or full-size sofa, then they need to be decorated with hand-embroidered pillows with floral patterns.
Linen towels and lace napkins.
Lampshades for lamps with patterns.

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.

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.

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.

Color solutions

Before you start renovating the kitchen of a country house, it is important not only to choose a style, but also to know its main distinguishing features. To decorate a kitchen in the Provence style, light colors and pastel shades are used, for example, sand, gray, beige and all shades of brown. At the same time, France is not only rural fields, but also the spirit of nature, golden beaches and sea breezes. Based on this, blue, olive, lavender, terracotta and turquoise shades can also be used to decorate the kitchen.

As for the white color, its variations (milky, beige, etc.) will create a cozy and airy atmosphere. Among the patterns, it is better to choose a floral ornament, presented in the form of small flowers. An alternative solution is stripes or checkered patterns, which can be used both for wall decoration and on textile elements. Also, while studying the Provence style and the peculiarities of creating an interior, you can come across such a concept as “guineme” - cotton fabric with stripes or checks.

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.

Small kitchen in Provence style

The Provence style will look harmonious even if the design object is an ordinary small kitchen. We recommend paying attention to compact furniture sets. A corner kitchen would be appropriate, the configuration of which allows you to fully utilize the area of the room. A small corner kitchen in Provence style, instead of ordinary cabinets, allows for open shelves where decorative kitchen utensils are placed. The best option is a custom-made corner kitchen. A Provence corner kitchen can also include a small bar counter in its configuration, which is used instead of a table or work area.

Although a corner kitchen will save space, even after its installation there may be a shortage of square meters. A small room can be equipped with a folding or folding table. Among the practical options is a window sill extended to the size of a table.

A miniature kitchen is not a suitable place for numerous decorative elements. Rustic style welcomes the presence of cute little things, but it is better to keep them to a minimum. Choose decorative elements that carry a functional load. For example, a cutting board with a floral pattern, curtains with prints.

Do not forget that a small Provence kitchen requires the use of finishing materials with a low degree of texture. Rough brick or stone masonry is a suitable option if the kitchen has a large area. It is better to lighten the design of a small Provence kitchen a little by using delicate finishes.

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.

Technological kitchen in Provence style – it’s real!

Provence welcomes the presence of a hood, the shape of which imitates the upper part of the hearth. If you couldn’t find such a hood, then any model painted in a light color will do. The main thing is to abandon the hood, the material of which is chrome-plated metal. The hood should be in harmony with the kitchen set and not stand out against its background, because the rustic style does not imply the presence of modern appliances - a stove, a hood, a refrigerator.

But a kitchen without technological innovations is nonsense. Therefore, the task arises not to get rid of the stove or refrigerator, but to make them a harmonious part of the space. To make the interior look traditional, the hood, stove and other appliances can be stylized in an “antique” style. Another option is a maximally inconspicuous built-in hood or other equipment hidden behind furniture facades.

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!

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

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.

Provence kitchen design: main characteristics

Provence style got its name from the French province of the same name. Therefore, Provencal-style cuisine conveys the atmosphere of this picturesque southeastern region. The bright sun, endless lavender fields, and the sea coast create the backdrop for a simple and comfortable village life.

Provence style in the kitchen interior is:

natural pastel colors;
predominance of natural materials in finishing;
vintage or specially aged furniture;
There are many original interior details that become accents.

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.