25 French Country Style Interiors That Inspire Rustic-Chic Design
Ooh la la!
There is something about rustic décor that makes a house feel like a home. Incorporating French country style into an interior space can make even the most urban house feel like it's tucked away in a tiny French village.
The style is categorized by moldings and earth tones with accents of mustard yellow and warm red. Adding in toile fabrics, florals, tapestries and farm animal motifs will give any space the classic look. Take a look at these 20 French country style interiors from the ELLE DECOR archives and prepare to master the look.
Elegant Country Bedroom
In Christian Astuguevieille's apartment in France's Basque Country, the bedroom’s cedar bed, knotted-rope furniture, and sculptures are by the owner.
Refined Bathroom
In a Connecticut country home, the master bath's tub by Sunrise Specialty has fittings by Sigma; the armchair is antique, and the ebonized Louis XVI commode is from Duane; the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore's Gray Owl.
Sunlit French Office Space
A 19th-century iron-and-marble garden table serves as a desk outside the bedroom in a Paris apartment; the chair is in the style of Louis XV, the lamp is a custom design, and the curtains are of a Holland & Sherry cashmere.
Quaint Living Space
In the great room of a Hudson Valley farmhouse, a row of French doors affords panoramic views of the Hudson Valley. The couple’s French spaniel, Georgie, rests on a custom velvet sofa. Designer Cathryn Collins purchased the antique console, wooden chest, and wingback chairs on trips to Italy. The 19th-century limestone columns are from New Delhi, the custom lanterns and laurel reed–and-leather rug are from Morocco, the pendant above the sofa was fashioned from an antique Italian tole lantern, and the curtains are of a Jim Thompson fabric.
Rustic Pastel Family Room
In a Hamptons home, the family room's sofa and club chairs are by Celerie Kemble for Henredon; the ottoman, by Bunny Williams Home, is covered in a Moores & Giles leather, the early-19th-century Louis XVI-style armchairs are upholstered in a Shyam Ahuja cotton, and the artwork over the mantel is by Mallory Page; the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore's Pleasant Valley, a grass cloth by Jeffrey Michaels covers the ceiling, the curtains are of a Bennison fabric, and the abaca rug is by Rosenfeld Carpet.
An Old World Dining Room
This Parisian pied-à-terre was designed for an American socialite who wanted to pay homage to Old World Paris.
The kitchen chairs in the dining area are 17th-century French, the chandelier is Napoleon III, and the backsplash is lined in 18th-century Portuguese tile. The fireplace is original to the apartment, the custom French oak boiseries and cabinets are in the style of the 18th century and the flooring is antique oak.
Sophisticated Pattern Play
In the same Parisian flat, the guest bedroom’s custom Turquerie style sofa bed and canopy are covered in a hand-printed cotton that was also used on the walls.
A French Formal Gathering Space
In the living room of porcelain designer Marie Daâge’s country home in the Loire Valley, Louis XVI chairs, left, and Regency chairs covered in a Lelievre velvet damask, right, flank the mantel, which is original to the house; the wall and curtain fabrics are by Braquenié, the birdcage is 19th century, and the rug is from the Conran Shop.
Animal Print Accents
In the same home, Vintage Louis XV–style chairs surround the table in the dining room; the paneling was painted to match one of the colors in Daâge’s porcelain line, and the bird illustrations were taken from books by the naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon.
In their 17th-century farmhouse in the South of France, Patrizia Maffeo and Dario Polenghi created lively backsplashes using antique tiles from Southern Italy. With a Louis XIV farm table, a skirted farm sink, and plenty of open shelving, it's the kind of kitchen you want to spend all day in.
A Floral-Accented Dining Area
Inside an 18th-century estate on a vineyard in Bordeaux, French country style can be found around every corner.
The dining chairs in this formal dining room were originally made for the socialite Daisy Fellowes. upholstered in an Hermes leather, the chairs surround an 18th-century mahogany table in the dining room. The chandelier is by Bagues, and the overmantel mirror is original to the house.
A Very French Guest Room
In a guest room on the same estate, an 18th-century lit a la polonaise is dressed in custom bedding and a canopy of hand-embroidered linen by Chelsea Textiles. The chandelier and mahogany table are 18th century, and the marble bust is of Marie Antoinette.
A 1912 Dutch Colonial in Philadelphia belonging to Keith Johnson and Glen Senk is an ode to French country chic. The marble-and-oak island is a replica of one at La Mirande hotel in Avignon, and the vintage grape-collecting basket is from the Champagne valley; other rustic elements include brick floor pavers and a whimsical chandelier.
A Warm And Welcoming Entryway
Greta Nicholas collaborated with designer James Huniford on restoring a derelict barn in Woodstock, New York.
A mica pendant by Huniford Collection hangs above a Regency table and an 18th-century chair in the entry. The 19th-century dressing table and 18th-century chair are American, the bronze statue is of Nicholas’s grandmother Frances Ottley Wood, and the doors and flooring are reclaimed wood.
Crisp French Linens
In the same Woodstock home, the bedroom, features an 18th-century Sheraton eld bed, dressed with antique French linens, the 19th-century chest of drawers is English, and the portrait is of Nicholas's grandmother.
A Vibrant History
In the drawing room of a historic French chateau owned by Count Jean de Ganay, Baroque chandeliers hang from a ceiling designed by Mogens Tvede; the furnishings include a Louis XV sofa and a red Louis XVI bergère, and the desk and bookshelves are both Regency style.
A Dose Of French Artwork
The marble mantel in the drawing room is Louis XIV, and the hand-carved surround is Louis XV; the bronze bird sculpture is by de Ganay’s nephew.
A Statement-Making Chandelier
Inside of De Ganay's dining room, the chandelier and chairs are Louis XIV, and the table and mirror are Regency style.
Kitchen Simplicity
At an Alpine getaway in St. Moritz, the kitchen ceiling and walls are covered in 18th-century Portuguese tiles, the 19th century French table is surrounded by English chairs of the same era, and the light fixture is 19th-century French.
A Classic French Country Table
In the dining room of this Hamptons home, the 19th-century French table, 18th-century Swedish chairs, and English breakfront are from Bloom; the chandelier by Stephen Antonson is from Dessin Fournir, and the artwork in the pantry beyond is by Mats Gustafson.
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