French country décor is timeless. It evokes visions of a cottage in the French countryside. Its intricate lines and detail provide a marvelous backdrop for living life in a home. Whether you are remodeling your kitchen or building a new home, the beautiful look of French Country is worth considering. There are some characteristics of a French Country kitchen that you should know as you plan.  

 French Country Kitchen Cabinets Characteristic #1: Stick to soft earth tones - The French Country look is all about bringing the colors of nature inside. Colors used should be off-white, pale yellow, or pale blue. If you are looking for a brighter accent color, red can be utilized for the French provincial look, but only as an accent.

French Country Kitchen Characteristic #2: Use tile or wood for the flooring - Large, travertine ceramic tiles will complement the look of a French Country kitchen very well. Easy to maintain and durable with heavy traffic, tile floors are a great solution for kitchen floors. Wood floors with dark stain and a distressed look also work well with French Country décor, but many people opt for tile because it is easier to maintain and doesn’t scratch easily.

French Country Kitchen Characteristic #3: Have French Country kitchen cabinets custom designed. One of the most well-known characteristics of the French Country look is the fact that the items are unique. Part of the charm of this style is the fact that pieces are different and not part of a mass-produced line of furniture. This holds true for kitchen cabinets. If you are looking to obtain that French Country look in your kitchen, custom cabinets are important. Off-white, pale yellow, or pale blue wood cabinets with a distressed look will go well in a Country French kitchen. If you are installing an island in the kitchen, it can be distressed black, but this is more of a modern touch and should only be used on an island French Country kitchen cabinet.

French Country Kitchen Characteristic #4 – Use stucco or brick for the walls. To get an even more authentic look in a French Country kitchen, stucco and brick are the answer. Brick accents look especially lovely on an archway leading out of the kitchen. Ceramic tile is also a nice accent of the kitchen backsplashes, but the color of the tile should be a similar color to the cabinets, and to keep the French Country look, the tiles should be on the smaller side and free of design.

French Country Kitchen Characteristic #5 – Install a range hood. Range hoods are very much a part of French Country kitchen décor, and they look especially nice over the oven. Most designers make these range hoods a color similar to the cabinets, but they can be copper or red to add a little color to the kitchen.

French Country Kitchen Characteristic #6 – Use granite for the countertops. Although granite is used in contemporary kitchens, it does complement the French Country look very well. Stick to colors similar to the cabinet color.