Provence is a rustic style characterized by simplicity, naturalness and practicality. The kitchen in such interiors plays an important role, because in Provençal homes, it was not only where food was prepared, but also where all family members gathered and sat down at a large dining table. Thus, the kitchen in the style of Provence should be spacious, it is often combined with the dining room, less often with the living room. But using the features of this style, you can equip a small-sized kitchen.
The main features of the Provence style:
- Light, pastel colors in decoration and furniture.
- Floral ornament.
- Forged elements.
- Natural materials.
Ceiling
Designing a kitchen in the style of Provence begins with the ceiling.
If you follow the design to the smallest detail, then the ceiling is plastered, but not leveled to an ideal state, some bends and depressions are allowed. Next, chalk whitewash is applied, but in the conditions of modern kitchens, such a solution will be impractical, so it is better to paint the ceiling with white water-based or acrylic paint. The final touch will be cross beams made of wood, covered with varnish or with an aging effect.
Departing from tradition, the ceiling in the Provence kitchen is made suspended or suspended with a matte white surface. This option is much more practical and allows you to install a variety of lamps to fill the room with light – another feature of the Provence style.
Another solution will be a wooden ceiling. In the conditions of modern housing, railed suspended ceilings are suitable, preferably wooden or aluminum, plastic with a light matte surface, which has a more natural appearance.
The walls
Kitchen walls in Provence style have a rough or smooth surface. They are painted in light tones, and one of the walls, for example, near the dining table, is done in a dull green or blue shade, which emphasizes the naturalness of the interior.
Finishing materials with a rough texture look good on the walls. It can be decorative plaster or liquid wallpaper with sawdust as a component.
If you choose wallpaper for the kitchen in the style of Provence, then it is matte paper. Choose light yellow, green or blue wallpaper with an indistinct pattern, as if faded from the sun, or with a floral ornament.
A part of the wall, for example, an apron, a column, an area at the dining table, is made under brick or stone masonry. This can be done with various finishing materials, starting with wallpaper and ending with tiles.
The apron area is usually decorated with tiles, mosaics or wooden panels. The color differs from the main one by several tones lighter or darker.
Floor
The original Provence is a stone floor. Natural or artificial stone, tile or laminate with an imitation of a stone surface is laid as a floor covering.
In the modern style of Provence, a wooden floor is more common. These are natural boards or an imitation – laminate or tiles under wood.
If we move away from “naturalness”, then the optimal solution will be ceramic tiles in the style of Provence in the kitchen, which allows not only to imitate any surface, but also to choose any colors and their combination. So the floor can be laid with black and white tiles in a checkerboard pattern. Complementing this with curtains with a black edging and a dark countertop on the kitchen set, you can get an excellent result, effective and contrasting.
Furniture and appliances
Kitchen furniture in Provence style is made of natural wood. A budget option is allowed – painted MDF. The color of the kitchen set can be white, olive, pistachio, blue, blue or sand. An additional feature of the furniture is the aging of the surface, the presence of scuffs, patina, vintage fittings, cracks.
The facade of the cabinets is finished with inserts, carvings, and panels, which perfectly emphasize the rustic style and French chic.
Cabinets are preferably made with open shelves, and dishes and kitchen utensils serve additionally as decorative elements. Shelves can remain completely in view, or be covered with glass doors or special curtains. Dishes, bottles and cans that do not fit into the style are hidden in closed cabinets.
The dining table and chairs can be wooden or forged.
The equipment is chosen built-in with the possibility of hiding it behind a facade that matches the rest of the furniture. The glossy surface of modern kitchen appliances will not fit into the interior of the kitchen in the style of Provence. If you have an electric kettle, multicooker, or microwave, then buy models that match the style (light matte body with floral patterns) so that they harmonize with the environment, or when they are not in use, they are stored in a closed cabinet.
The stove in the Provence kitchen is large and functional. Above it is installed a large hood, made in the form of an old fireplace chimney. The hood is an important element that not only cleans the air, but also emphasizes the features of the style.
Lighting: windows and lamps
Provence style is a lot of natural light. In a Provençal kitchen, all the walls are occupied either under furniture or under windows, and in equal proportion. The windows are large with wooden frames painted in white or to match the color of the kitchen furniture, if the windowsill also plays the role of the countertop.
Few modern homes, unless they were designed specifically in the Provence style, can boast of large windows, especially in the kitchen. As a rule, this is a small window opening that provides the minimum necessary natural light. In this case, the solution will be the installation of lamps.
Provençal lamps have forged elements, glass or fabric lampshades decorated with floral and plant ornaments.
The main sources of light are “antique” chandeliers, sconces, candelabra. Two chandeliers are usually hung – one above the dining table, the other above the kitchen island.
Additional lighting is provided by numerous built-in spotlights.
Functional lighting is also present – illumination of the working area, an apron with spot furniture lamps or pendant lights, if there is no cabinet above the work table.
In other words, lamps in the Provence-style kitchen are installed wherever possible.
Textile
When choosing tablecloths, curtains, fabric lampshades and other textiles for the kitchen in the style of Provence, a number of nuances should be taken into account:
- Only natural materials – linen or cotton.
- Color – pastel blue, pink, orange, green shades.
- Drawing – floral patterns, straight lines, cell.
- The presence of embroidery, lace and ruffles will be the finishing touch.
On the chairs, you can place small pillows on ties to match the color of the tablecloth. They will complement the interior and emphasize the comfort of the Provence style.
Light, weightless curtains are hung on the windows, but their complete absence is better, so as not to interfere with natural light entering the kitchen.
Accessories
Provence style loves accessories.
Indoor flowers in porcelain or clay pots, in metal buckets or flower pots will look good in the kitchen. Plants can be any, but flowering options are better – lavender, rose, sunflowers. Separately allocate a place for seedlings – basil, rosemary, dill, parsley, onions and others. The exception is plants that grow in tropical climates, deserts, such as ficuses, varieties of cacti, vines. They do not fit well with the style of French country housing.
Part of the kitchen utensils in their disposal in mind: on open shelves, on hooks, hangers. It plays both a functional and decorative role, therefore it is made of copper, bronze, and has metal inserts. Dishes made of porcelain, bright, white, which attracts attention. Decorating with dishes is a creative approach, Provençal cuisine contains diverse elements that are not suitable for one service, but have a similar design or color palette. The main thing is that the dishes form a harmonious composition and please the eye.
The final touch will be various interesting little things:
- wicker baskets for fruit or bread;
- hanging bundles of dried herbs, onions, garlic;
- clock;
- cookbook;
- bird cages;
- candlesticks;
- porcelain figurines in the form of vegetables, fruits, livestock, flowers.
Decorating a Provence kitchen is easy. Imagine yourself as a French housewife who collects small things that are pleasing to the eye and useful for the kitchen “from around the world”.