We make a kitchen in the style of Provence

Provence style translates as "provincial", sometimes referred to as Provencal or rustic. Its main definitions are cozy, light, bright. Charming style never goes out of fashion, probably because it leads to historical roots and causes an instinctive sense of security. The artistic direction comes from the rural areas of southern France, but having spread throughout the world, it is now supplemented by various national nuances.

Provence style is especially advantageously implemented in spacious rooms, where free access to each element is organized and an opportunity to evaluate its artistic merits is provided

This is a typical interior of country houses, although recently it has penetrated into urban apartments. Well suited for a large friendly family, where representatives of different generations live under the same roof. This is a style that combines a variety of joyful tones, floral prints, and wooden furniture. Each corner of the room is filled with air and light. Despite the fact that in the Provence style any room in the house can be decorated - a living room, a bedroom, an entrance hall and even a bathroom, he finds the best application and embodiment in the kitchen. This is a special place where it is always warm and joyful, where all households - adults and children, dogs, cats gather to find shelter and comfort from the stresses of modern life, sit next to the stove on which delicious food is prepared, and then evaluate her taste and culinary skills of the hostess.

To realize the basic principles of the "French rural" style in the kitchen is not difficult at all, rather exciting and fun. You may need to add a few touches and details to create an atmosphere of warmth and sweet antiquity. All elements are expressive and compete with each other in the richness of their intricate details.

Before you start filling the kitchen with furnishings, you should make sure that the decoration of the room corresponds to the general characteristic of the style.

The walls are smooth or “rough”, one of them can be painted blue or green to emphasize the connection with nature. To give a "vintage" part of the wall is made in the form of brick or masonry. The ceiling is plastered, light with transverse wooden beams coated with dark or light varnish.

Wooden beams are fixed on the white plastered ceiling, which perform not so much a support function as a decorative element in the Provence style

One of the options for flooring can be black and white tiles laid in the form of a chessboard, as well as natural boards or laminate that mimics a wooden coating or stone (a stone floor is a “clean” Provence, a wooden one is a concession to the construction technologies of urban houses and apartments) .

Large windows with wide wooden frames and massive window sills let in sunlight (this is a manifestation of the northern accent in the French image - in the homeland of the style, due to the hot climate, the windows are usually small in order to create a shaded cool space). Sources of artificial illumination are antique stylized chandeliers, sconces and candelabra.

A complex illumination system (including arched and rectangular windows, spotlights in the working area, pendant chandeliers stylized as antique kerosene lamps, a table lamp, the light of the fire from burning firewood in a fireplace) creates an atmosphere of solidity and comfort of an old rural house

The furniture is large and solid, with a large number of curved lines, without any decoration (except that light carving was used), the material for its production is fruit wood. The obligatory set of furniture includes strong dining tables of various shapes - round or rectangular, wooden or wicker chairs, elegant design, but very stable.

The material for the manufacture of the working component of the island with many drawers equipped with forged metal fittings and stools with seats made of high-quality handmade leather was solid wood

The Provence style is characterized by staining furnishings, as well as the use of artificial aging. The tradition comes from the time when furniture was inherited from generation to generation, and the new owners tried to update it and make any available changes, for example, painting in a new color.

A sign of Provence style - artificially aged or painted furniture

The design of the kitchen sideboard, the king among the surrounding pieces of furniture, resembles the one in which the great-grandmother kept festive dishes and homemade cakes - with doors decorated with a wooden grill, glazed with closed starched curtains.

Stylized as an old oak sideboard with closed facades, it looks like a family heirloom inherited from generation to generation

If we want to create a space in this style, it is not necessary to abandon the achievements of civilization, it is enough to observe some balance between traditions and new trends. Modern household appliances are not displayed, it is built into work desks, hanging shelves, cabinets.

Modern technologies in the old-fashioned interior - household appliances built into furniture (microwave, oven, hob, extractor hood, refrigerator, island with electricity and water supply), spotlights from ceiling lights and chandeliers suspended on forged chains create an indescribable atmosphere inextricable connection of the past and the future

A large, comfortable stove is equipped with a bell-type hood, reminiscent of an old chimney chimney. The hood fulfills its intended purpose - it purifies the air, and also serves as a spectacular decoration element.

The snow-white hood in the form of an old chimney is beautifully decorated with stucco molding, creating artistic unity with the surrounding furnishings - a set of furniture and accessories

Aprons in the working area are covered with tiles of golden, pink or terracotta color with drawings of fruits, vegetables or flowers.

The floral theme is implemented in decorating a window frame, countertops made of artificial stone, an apron made of ceramic tiles, fringing the hood

To equip the kitchen, retro-design refrigerators, chests and tables can be placed on which you can place ceramic vases with bouquets of dried plants, a family photo in a beautiful intricate frame, candles in antique candlesticks, wicker baskets of different sizes. Amusing figures from wrought iron act as a part of accessories or fastenings on a heavy wooden door. Brass or copper parts look organically - vessels, jugs, ladles and vases. Crockery utensils look as if they had just been taken out of an old pantry.

Kitchen utensils do not hide behind the facades of racks, it is placed on an open wall above the working surface of the table, polished and sparkling in a unique way decorates the interior.

Antique cooking tools coexist with high-tech products, creating a sparkling composition of shades of copper and stainless steel.

Hand-knitted striped covers adorn wooden chairs for a soft, homely look.

An important characteristic feature of the style is the abundance of flowers - hydrangea, geranium, decorative sunflower, wisteria, and especially lavender. A special aroma of freshness, nature and summer can give the kitchen bouquets of dried herbs as a fragrant additive for tea or medicine.

Fresh flowers are present as cut in table and floor vases, as well as planted in ceramic flower pots

The palette is dominated by shades of sand, ocher and earth. Accents can be lilac, cornflower blue or yellow.

The color composition of the traditional shades of Provence - white, cream, golden, green moss, lavender - looks harmonious, causing an association with a summer meadow on a hot day

The Provence kitchen looks very romantic and elegant in a white version, which visually enhances the feeling of clean surround space.

The refined and elegant kitchen in white furniture against the backdrop of cream walls expresses the idea of perfect cleanliness, freshness and severity, incompatible with mess

Of all the artistic directions in which you can decorate the interior of modern cuisine, the Provence style is undoubtedly the cutest, warm and elegant at home.

An interior in which all elements correspond to the Provence style - from the decoration of the room and color scheme to furniture, accessories and decorating