Apartment interior in french style– a real find for romantics and creative people who value convenience and dream of a cozy and stylish apartment. This style of room decoration can be completely different: from gentle and romantic Provence to sophisticated classics. However, they are all united by impeccable taste and comfort combined with moderate luxury.
Bright room in French style
Origin of the design movement
The French style has evolved over many centuries. It echoes different eras history of France, and it reflects classic, Empire, Baroque and Art Nouveau styles.
Surprisingly, the apartments of the French are able to reflect their character, values and lifestyle. The thriftiness of this people and respect for the traditions of their country is evidenced by the use of antique items in the decor, which laconically fit even into the design of modern interiors.
The French skillfully combine antique objects passed down from generation to generation with modern furniture and the most advanced technology.
If you don’t have any antiques, then you don’t have to spend a fortune shopping in antique shops. Flea markets are a great alternative to expensive antique stores. If you like creativity, then there are many artificial aging techniques that can be used to design various decorative elements.
French style design
Peculiarities
The characteristic features of a French-style apartment are elegance and slight negligence. Restrained colors, graceful shapes, antiquity combined with newness and comfort that comes first - this is what distinguishes this interior.
The walls are usually decorated with light, plain wallpaper, sometimes decorated with stucco. The floors in the room are chosen slightly darker than the walls. The shades should not be too different, because the French style does not accept sharp contrasts.
The most popular floors are wooden parquet. A special chic is antique parquet.
The textures are predominantly matte. Glossy surfaces are represented mainly by mirrors and lamps, of which there are usually quite a lot.
Great attention is paid to details. Carved legs, gilded frames and forged elements add aristocratic nobility to the design of the room with a slight touch of subtle luxury.
If you decide to decorate your living room in French style, then the iconic elements that will transport you to a cozy apartment in the center of Paris will be a fireplace and a neat tea table.
Living room in French style
Instructions for use
This sophisticated style will appeal to creative and romantic natures those with a delicate taste, as well as everyone who values aesthetics and convenience.
You can “fit” such an interior into a wide variety of rooms:
- city apartments with high ceilings;
- country houses;
- hotel rooms;
- small cozy cafes.
The exception will be studio apartments. The French prefer a standard layout with separate rooms and corridors.
Color palette
Parisian interiors are always full of light and air. White color is basic when decorating a room. Walls, floors, ceilings and furniture - everything can be snow-white, because the French believe that there is never too much white. It’s quite difficult to get by with this color alone, so the French use different shades of it:
- pearl;
- lactic;
- cream;
- pale pink;
- light green;
- light yellow;
- coffee with milk.
French style in the interior of an apartment does not imply abundance bright colors. They are usually used only to create accents.
Dark shades, such as brown, gray, and even black, are usually represented in the room by accessories, and less often by furniture.
Light design in French style
French style kitchen
Layout
The French style in the interior is quite capricious and has a number of requirements for the layout of the apartment.
First of all, it should be standard, with separate rooms and corridors connecting them. A studio apartment is not suitable for creating such an interior.
The French value space, so the area should be wide enough and the windows large. Floor-to-ceiling windows, which are called “French” windows, will fit perfectly into the living room.
Another requirement is high ceilings. It will be a huge plus if they are also decorated with stucco.
Exquisite French design
Finishing
Wall decoration can be either smooth or textured. It is perfectly acceptable to leave them simply white or paint them in other light shades. Such a background psychologically relaxes, expands the space, and also effectively highlights the interior created around it.
French style in the interior allows different kinds wall decoration:
- matte paint in pastel shades;
- patterns with embossing and unusual texture (for example, vinyl or textile);
- liquid wallpaper;
- Venetian plaster;
- decorative rock;
- photo wallpaper.
Light parquet flooring is a classic for a living room or bedroom. Moreover, aged parquet looks relevant, but it needs to be slightly tidied up: replace damaged boards, sand and varnish. In the kitchen and hallway it can be replaced with a glossy one floor tiles or mosaic.
The ceiling can be left white and absolutely simple, or you can work on its design. There may be suspended ceilings or wooden beams that will fit perfectly into the Provence style. To decorate more complex interiors in a city apartment, you can decorate the living room ceiling with polyurethane stucco, or hang a beautiful gilded chandelier in the center.
White French style design
Apartment design in French style
Furniture selection
Modern French style in the interior involves a combination of old and new. That is, it is not at all necessary to buy antique shops and force the apartment antique furniture. One item will be enough, which can be played up with completely new furniture.
For example, in the bedroom you can put a massive oak bed with curved legs, made in an antique style, but combine it with modern wardrobes and armchairs.
The French respect themselves and their living space, so they furnish their apartment only with decent things. Furniture must be of adequate quality and elegant design. Curved legs and backs, soft upholstery and sophisticated forms are what you need to focus on when choosing.
French style in the bedroom interior
Textile
This element of French-style interior design needs attention Special attention. French interior distinguished by a special ability to combine various materials. The main principle remains the same - the room should look luxurious, but not pretentious, but as if no special effort was put into creating it.
For the manufacture of curtains, pillows, and upholstery, materials from velvet, silk, satin, organza and taffeta are used.
Fabrics are chosen in light shades, plain or with patterns. The Provence style is characterized by floral motifs.
Apartment interior in French style
Beautiful living room in French style
Embodiments
This sophisticated style has many interpretations, including:
- luxurious palace style, which includes elements of Baroque and Empire style;
- excessive baroque style;
- majestic empire style;
- rustic Provence;
- discreet Norman style
Often they intertwine with each other, creating unique interiors in the best traditions of France.
Some of the more popular of these styles are worth talking about in more detail.
French style kitchen
Classic
This option is universal, suitable for both city apartments and country apartments. The classic French style is very restrained and discreet, prefers calm colors, against which the decor looks especially advantageous. Beige, pistachio, coffee, light blue and soft pink shades are widely used.
An important rule is to maintain smooth transitions from one color to another. The color palette should be well thought out, and the colors should be combined with each other.
In the classic French style, matte and textured surfaces predominate, and stucco decoration is encouraged. Antique or truly antique items add a special charm to the design.
French style in the interior of the apartment
Bright bedroom in French style
The effect of subtle Parisian chic can be achieved with light curtains made of single-color natural fabrics or tulle.
The following accessories will fit perfectly into the overall style:
- decorative elements handmade: embroidery; lace napkins; boxes decorated using decoupage technique;
- mirrors and paintings in gilded frames;
- candlesticks;
- small bouquets in porcelain vases;
- dishes and souvenirs.
If a classic French interior is planned in the kitchen, then best choice will become a large dining table with elegant curved legs and a matching set of chairs, ideally upholstered. Design kitchen set should be fairly open, with shelves on which you can display beautiful dishes and figurines. Work surfaces are usually made of noble materials such as marble or granite.
French style bedroom design
Parquet is not the best profitable solution for the kitchen, it is quite acceptable to replace it with a smooth one ceramic tiles. Creative people can diversify the interior wall painting with a characteristic French landscape.
The French style in the bedroom interior gives the owners every right to experiment with the choice of furniture. Antique or modern items, as well as their combinations, provide considerable scope for imagination. A four-poster bed with a high headboard will look especially luxurious in the bedroom.
A living room in a classic French style involves an abundance of light and space, light colors, elegant upholstered furniture made with elements of carving and forging, high-quality fabrics and materials. The highlight of the living room can be a fireplace, which will become its stylish addition, will add comfort and luxury to the surrounding environment.
French style in the bedroom interior
Provence
Provence style is French country, ideal for country houses, permeated with an atmosphere of calm and harmony. It would also be appropriate in a city apartment. Such an interior will allow the owners to escape from the bustle of the metropolis and mentally transport them to the French province to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
This style is simple and naive: laconic wooden furniture, floral patterns, natural fabrics and materials. However, it is difficult to call it moderate, because this type of country style is distinguished by an abundance of decorative elements, upholstered furniture and textiles.
Beautiful bedroom in French style
Its main features are:
- large windows and moldings;
- pastel colors;
- plain plastered walls or wallpaper with small flowers;
- wooden floor;
- natural wicker furniture or solid wood furniture;
- antiquity effect;
- decor using flowers, dishes, textiles, paintings and souvenirs.
This French style in the kitchen interior involves a large dining table, several small lockers and open shelves, forced porcelain dishes and cute trinkets.
The bedroom should be airy and cozy, with light decoration, large soft bed, voluminous curtains and bedside tables filled with flowers, boxes and books.
It is worth noting that French country is very gentle and romantic, so it is more suitable for women's bedrooms.
Bright room design in French style
Living room in French style
Modern French style
Interior design in the French style is constantly transforming, incorporating new trends and harmonizing them with established traditions. Therefore, French interiors should not be associated with the fashion of bygone times. Its modern interpretation is very relevant today.
Modern French style is even more simple and laconic than its predecessors. Displaying luxury and expensive things is considered bad manners. The well-being of the owners is reflected only in objects of art and antiques.
The space should under no circumstances be cluttered. The furnishings are made with ease and ease, and the furniture is arranged in a deliberately casual manner. Distinctive feature is the variety of chandeliers and lamps that are placed in different parts of the living room or bedroom.
French style room interior
French style living room design
Natural materials predominate here, both in decoration and furniture, and in decorative elements.
The French are masters of eclecticism, so the modern French style combines elements of classics, country and palace luxury.
The variety of variations of the French style allows you to fit it into a wide variety of rooms. The luxurious palace style is suitable for decorating a hall, Provence - for a dining room or bedroom, and its modern version will decorate any living room or hallway.
Video: French Provence in the interior
The talented Thompson Custom Homes designed and built this stunning home. Traditional French interiors will always be in fashion because they are undeniably inspiring and loving. Every room here is tastefully decorated. Combination natural materials and the antiques look amazing. What a kitchen costs! I won’t get ahead of myself, you’ll see for yourself *)
Completeness chic interior add high ceilings and light design makes the space seem even larger. In the dining room, you should pay attention to the floor.
Next to the kitchen is a family meeting room.
This is one of the most beautiful kitchens I have ever seen. Millet buffets are adorable. Note the built-in refrigerator on the right.
There are many details in this house that captivate at first sight. Just take a look at the women's table, which is located near the French doors leading to the garden.
Luxurious leather sofa seems very convenient.
Bedroom and bathroom inspire elegant design. Have you noticed the ceiling above the bathroom?
My jaw drops every time I look at these photos. Let me know if the same thing happens to you!
A selection of houses from the French village
Endless lavender fields, luxurious villas and small, like toy houses of southern villages, surrounded large gardens with fruit trees, azure sea, and lots and lots of sun - this is exactly how we imagine Provence Lucky people live in these places and their home decor is also happy - pastel colors, a lot of textiles, antiques and cute little things. The latter are especially important, the whole essence of Provence is in the details: a lot of lavender, wrought iron furniture, baskets, family photographs, patchwork quilts, old dishes and mirrors. We have collected a selection of villas, houses and apartments located in real Provence to find out if they are all made in a traditional style.
Good old Provence in Vannes
The selection opens with the most classic villa on our list: Provence as it is. Sunny house with large windows and all the attributes of village life - stone floors, wooden beams, pottery and many flowers.
Pay attention to the furniture: a good old wardrobe, covers on the sofas, wicker chairs, rustic tables. Instead of lamps there are lamps, and there are a lot of textiles in the rooms - blankets, covers, chair cushions.
Creative silence of Arles
The next hero is the house in Arles, a fresh combination of modern design, antique furniture and handmade accessories. This interior with emphasized simplicity is a place created to escape from Paris, arrange a rustic retreat, relax and give all your energy to creativity. Take a closer look - there is little furniture in the rooms, rather simple materials, terrazzo floors and old folding leather chairs. Country chic in French
Another wonderful place where you can hide from the hustle and bustle and stress. A colorful, warm villa by the famous architect Louis Laplace, where guests are always welcome - no matter people or birds. Interesting solution– painting the walls and ceiling the same color adds French charm and whimsy to the rooms. The curtains in the rooms are made by hand, and the black and white engravings (they are called “mezzotint”) belonged to the grandmother of Laplace’s companion. Sun and air in Aix-en-Provence
Atypical and very striking - the example clearly shows that Provencal villas do not always have to be huge. This little trailer... a good option for a summer home near the city. It may be misleading, but the main attribute provencal style – big garden– the house still has it. The house seems to be created for unity with nature: there is nothing superfluous in it, and the only accessories are flowers and huge windows. Provence in a new way in La Roquette-sur-Sian
Classic Provence - light colors, wooden beams, beautiful forged chairs and accessories, neat light fabrics, stone floors... But look how a futuristic fireplace changes the atmosphere! Such a detail - perfect solution to give your home freshness and comfort at the same time. French tenderness in the center of Arles
You didn’t think that we only prepared for you sunny villas on huge plots? Here is an example of a small studio apartment. Everything in the apartment is much simpler, but if you look closely, you can find aged stone and wooden floors, a lot of fresh flowers, light curtains and delicate color scheme. Good example that harmony with nature can continue in a small apartment. Vintage miracle in Chateauneuf-Grasse
This house is full of vintage items and a slight nostalgia for roots. Unhurried, a little naive - look, for example, at the farm lamp and the collection of pans in the kitchen. Country in the French style, where the living room fits both a bright velvet sofa and neat, sophisticated armchairs from a beautiful French castle. The spirit of southern France on the island of De La Motte
This restored 18th-century farmhouse is actually a hotel in a pear orchard in Avignon, often hosting weddings. Which is not surprising: a little naive, elegant, but rustic, the house has absorbed the flavor of southern France. It seems that all the accessories - from the painted plates to the hats hanging in the hall - were made by local craftsmen. Luxury and eclecticism in the south of France
To complete our list of Provencal diversity, look at the example of a luxurious chateau in the southern part of France. This castle is not a typical Provence, full of eclectic decor and rooms where the furniture literally matches the color of the walls, and the floor is another way of putting it. In the chateau there are many, really many, prints wildly combined with each other, and in a room with light, calm walls, the wooden ceiling attracts attention. Airy and calm villa in Valabrega
With photographs of this villa you can take a break from the previous one - it is so weightless and light. Wicker, almost weightless furniture, vintage accessories, fireplaces and antique stoves, worn floorboards and stone floors. Strictly speaking, this villa is non-residential - it belongs to Atelier vime, a French company that creates wicker furniture and often serves as a photo studio for this furniture. As we can see, not every house geographically located in Provencal communes exactly replicates the style of a French village. However, even they have something Provencal - for example, the desire to be closer to nature and use natural materials in decoration. Eco-friendly estate: For many centuries, it was the French masters of art who set the tone in the field of architecture and interior design. This trend has not changed...
France is a country that embodies all possible beauty, luxury and sophistication of taste. For many centuries, it was the French masters of art who set the tone in the field of architecture and interior design. This trend has not changed to this day. French-style houses may differ from each other in design and the material from which they are made.
TYPES OF HOUSES IN THE FRENCH STYLE
There are several variations of traditional French houses.
Let's take a closer look.
- Bbasic type, which can be observed in the northern part of the country. French houses, one-story stone or wooden buildings, the foundation of which lies wooden frame. Where under one roof there is both a dwelling and a number of adjacent outbuildings, stretched in a line along the street.
- In the northeast of the country they predominate court type buildings. Alpine houses are located in the Alps and Pyrenees.
- In southern France and on the island of Corsica, the predominant type of housing is buildings, like a Latin house. Traditional house, as a rule, consists of a living room, which, according to historical information, served as a kitchen and dining room, plus the house had 1 or 2 bedrooms.
Building materials used to build a house
Basic building blocks, which were used to build peasant buildings in France, for a long time served a variety of local rocks:
- limestone,
- granite,
- sandstone,
- basalt.
The most commonly used of these is limestone as it is easy to work with. The material is used for the construction of buildings in the Paris Basin, Touraine, Anjou, Poitou, in some areas of Provence, Lorraine and Burgundy, Franche-Comté.
In Brittany, walls are built from large pieces of granite, stacked on top of each other and held together with cement. Numerous narrow gaps are filled with limestone.
In Auvergne the main construction material- basalt.
In the province of Vosges, most houses are built of pink sandstone.
In the west of France they predominate frame houses, which are built on a brick foundation.
As for wooden houses, then a frame of wooden racks, braced and transverse, and the inside of this frame should be filled with a mixture of clay and chopped straw, plus baked clay bricks.
Depending on conditions environment Frame filling options may vary. In the case of installing a multi-storey private house, oak beams, which are characterized by increased strength, should be used as the frame material.
Distinctive features of the French-style house are plastered walls and mansard roofs.
STRICT RULES CHARACTERIZE THE FRENCH STYLE
France, being an agricultural country, is distinguished by the fact that for a long time on its territory there were quite a lot of private houses, which stood separately on quite a significant plot of land. A traditional French house is a mansion, which has been and remains popular both in France itself and far beyond its borders.
Strict distribution functional zones in the house and the arrangement of rooms around a central living room in which the family spends time together is considered a cultural feature of the French style home.
They try to follow strict rules not only when planning the interior, but also during major construction. So, in a certain area, for example in the province of Provence, you can only find houses in the French Provence style, but each house may have certain private features.
If you are building a house in the French Provence style with your own hands, it is unlikely that anyone will force you to achieve harmony with the surrounding buildings, since the main thing is to follow the architectural rules of construction:
- Characteristic roofing material, which can cover a French chateau, chalet or Provençal house, is tile or slate. Despite the stereotypical feature of the French population to live in luxury, they are stingy, which does not allow them to cover their roofs with expensive profile iron, the price of which has always been high.
- The walls can be built of brick or natural stone, however, those who want to save money can use budget option- start construction from solid concrete blocks.
- In addition, every home must be equipped with a chimney for a fireplace or wood stove.
- In general, building your own home for a family is the dream of all French people, so even citizens with average incomes strive to build housing with their own hands and according to their own design, just so as not to become the owner of a standard housing from a developer.
Typical a private house in Paris is a two-story building, top floor which is made into an attic. The walls are made of light stone, brick or covered with plaster. The roof is covered with red tiles. And another feature of a French-style house is the presence of white window frames.
- The facade of the building does not have the shape of a straight line; in most cases it is curved or interrupted. An interesting architectural feature of a French cottage can be a built-in round or square shape. This tower usually has a staircase leading to the second floor.
In the Middle Ages, such a structure served as a dovecote and all noble people had to have one, but even now, when there is a need for it architectural element, from its functional point of view, has disappeared; the instructions for the construction of mansions in the French style still require the stage of erecting a tower.
CHATEAU STYLE HOUSE AND ITS FEATURES
Among the variety of types of houses built in the French style, one distinguished option is the French chateau. If you look at the photo of this house, at first glance it will not seem very attractive.
Distinctive characteristics:
- ABOUT nor are they distinguished by the rough lines that were the norm in the Middle Ages. It was then that these castles were common in France.
- A French chateau is now rarely seen in pure form, as modern architects are developing “a la chateau” designs that try to imitate medieval castles.
- This style is distinguished by the presence of a spacious area around the house, the absence of emphasis on the foundation, instead of which the first floor is immediately installed. It is occupied by utility rooms and common rooms, while the bedrooms are located on the top floor.
- There must be several buildings around the house, for example, a barn, a bathhouse, or something else. On the second floor there should be French windows - huge, from floor to ceiling.
- House designs with French windows allow you to visually increase the space of a living space and make the building more picturesque from the outside.
The interior decoration of a chateau is created around the main staircase leading upstairs, which is usually located in the center of the living room - directly opposite the main entrance. The outer walls of the chateau are evenly plastered and painted in pastel colors.
COUNTRY STYLE IN FRENCH
The province of Provence in France, due to its location in a special climatic zone, characterized by the fact that strong winds constantly blow there, predetermined the appearance of a house in the French Provence style. In order to protect the house from the wind, it has some features.
For example, French windows in a private house of this style have small sizes, and the facade must additionally be lined with natural stone. In addition, there should not be any porches on it; the only entrance is a large, powerful door.
SPECIAL CHARM OF INTERIOR DECORATION
WITH inside, just like outside, french houses have a special charm. French interior never becomes outdated. There should be no unnecessary elements here, since the French style is distinguished by an elegant and romantic atmosphere. There should be no plastic furniture inside the house; the main material is natural wood, better oak.
You can decorate furniture with any accessories that will add sophistication to the design, for example, use leather inserts, lace, expensive fabrics.
Forging is a favorite subject of the French style for creating furniture. Metal inserts Wooden chests, tables, chairs and shelves are often decorated.
