28 Classic French Country Kitchen Ideas That Are Equal Parts Rustic and Chic

A French country kitchen is equal parts rustic and chic, with an emphasis on neutral colors, natural materials such as wood, and a reverence for the simple beauty of everyday objects. 

The decorating aesthetic known in the English-speaking world as French country style is an homage to the charms of the French countryside that is copied around the world with architects, interior designers, and home decorators seeking to transport the charm and elegance of the French countryside to their own backyards.

Check out these French country kitchens that demonstrate how to borrow a bit of French style to make your own space into the warm, charming, effortlessly chic gathering space it was meant to be.

• 01of 28Use Gilded Finishes Design by Mindy Laven HomeThis French farmhouse-inspired kitchen from Mindy Laven Home is decorated with elegant details like lantern-style pendant lights and scattered paintings with gilded frames on the walls that contrast with the wood beams, cabinetry, and flooring.
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• 02of 28Add a Statement Oven Hood Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie SoeferThis kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors has pale neutral tones, natural wood floors, and a monumental oven hood with classical curves that lends the space a French country-inspired vibe.
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• 03of 28Collect Copper Cookware Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra RibarThis all-white kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors has a black metal rack mounted to a painted brick wall that houses a collection of copper pots that are as pretty and shiny as they are useful, and will be the last pieces of cookware you will ever have to buy if cared for properly.
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• 04of 28Opt for a Butcher’s Block Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie SoeferThis kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors gets some French country street cred thanks to a French-style butcher block placed in the center of the room in lieu of an American-style kitchen island.
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• 05of 28Highlight Ceiling Beams Design by Anne Rae Design / Photo by Jenny SiegwartThe vaulted ceilings in this spacious California kitchen from Anne Rae Design are highlighted by dark stained wood beams that add definition and a refined take on rustic style that adds character to the large, airy space.
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• 06of 28Include a Farmhouse Table Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Amy NeunsingerAn easy way to add a French country sensibility to your kitchen is to skip the kitchen island and install a farmhouse table instead.This 1920s Los Angeles hunting cabin from Leanne Ford Interiors has a laid back and unpretentious air, channeling French farmhouse spirit with a rustic medium-toned wood table surrounded by simple white chairs.
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• 07of 28Decorate with Vintage Tools Design by Anne Rae Design / Photo by Jenny SiegwartDecorating your kitchen with utilitarian accessories like vintage or antique wood cutting boards and metal cooking utensils and molds is a simple way to add a sense of history and create a layered feel in a modern kitchen, like this space from Anne Rae Design.
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• 08of 28Incorporate Patterned Tile Design by Charlie Coull DesignIncorporating pretty patterned tile in soft shades of blue, bentwood bar stools, and vintage-style pendant lights adds a little bit of French country flair to this kitchen from Charlie Coull Design.Continue to 9 of 28 below
• 09of 28Choose Natural Materials Design by Anne Rae Design / Photo by Jenny SiegwartThis kitchen from Anne Rae Design highlights natural materials like wood and stone, with a rustic oven surround and wooden bar stools that add French country finesse.
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• 10of 28Use Mismatched Cabinets Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra RibarThis kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors channels French country spirit with its mismatched storage pieces.The mix of open wood and metal bracket shelving and stacked vintage cupboards with an aged painted patina adds interest and character while providing a place to store supplies and avoid clutter.
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• 11of 28Use Checkboard Flooring Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie SoeferThis family-style kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors has checkerboard flooring with an aged patina that looks like it wasn’t installed yesterday, adding an aged patina to a new kitchen.
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• 12of 28Highlight Original Features Design by Jessica Nelson Interior Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki PhotographyYou might not live in a French country farmhouse, but embracing original features in your home is one way to channel some timeless Gallic charm no matter where you live.In this kitchen renovation, Jessica Nelson Interior Design turned a dark kitchen into an open and airy space, exposing the original brick chimney that adds character to the kitchen and the dining room on the other side of the wall.
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• 13of 28Keep It Rustic Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie SoeferChunky wood ceiling beams, a stone-topped wood island, and a row of copper pots hung above the kitchen sink window add rustic charm to this kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors.
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• 14of 28Try Bistro Bar Stools Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie SoeferA pair of classic French bistro bar stools sitting side-by-side at the end of a peninsula creates a cozy seating area in this kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors.
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• 15of 28Use Industrial Lighting Design by Rashida Banks for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Keyanna BowenSimple industrial-style pendants, a framed painting leaning casually against the backsplash, and an oversized vase filled with flowering branches adds some refined rustic charm to this timeless modern kitchen designed by Rashida Banks for Emily Henderson Design.Continue to 16 of 28 below
• 16of 28Add a Bistro Table Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie SoeferThis kitchen corner banquette from Marie Flanigan Interiors introduces some classic French style into a modern American kitchen thanks to a marble and iron bistro table and some industrial French metal Tolix-style chairs.
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• 17of 28Choose a Wooden Island Design by Jessica Nelson Interior Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki PhotographyIn this kitchen from Jessica Nelson Interior Design, a French-style wooden two-tiered work table with turned legs adds charm to the space while retaining the function of a modern kitchen island.
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• 18of 28Add French Accents Design by Jessica Nelson Interior Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki PhotographyThis white, modern American kitchen from Jessica Nelson Interior Design serves as a neutral background that allows French-style details like cross-back wooden bar stools and a crystal chandelier to take center stage.
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• 19of 28Layer in Natural Elements Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra RibarIn this kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, dark wood open shelving and vintage-style metal brackets provide a space to house everyday items, decorative objects, and flowers that bring the beauty of the outdoors inside.Add some lavender and you can pretend that you picked it from the field outside your window in the South of France.
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• 20of 28Mix Old and New Design by Jessica Nelson Interior Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki PhotographyIn this kitchen from Jessica Nelson Interior Design, original brick walls, an antique-style chandelier, and vintage-style French country bar stools add character to the all-white kitchen with its modern cabinetry and finishes.
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• 21of 28Use Rustic Baskets Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Max Kim-beeLeanne Ford Interiors added some French country flair to a Pittsburgh home with rustic hardwood floors and a row of woven baskets on the lower shelf of the kitchen island that add storage and texture to the room.Continue to 22 of 28 below
• 22of 28Try Herringbone Wood Floors Design by Kate Marker Interiors / Photo by Margaret RajicRustic wood herringbone floors, white-washed brick walls, and a wood-based kitchen island are some of the details that preserve a sense of authenticity in this historic home renovation from Kate Marker Interiors.Continue to 23 of 28 below
• 23of 28Hang a Curtain Under the Sink Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid RollsIn this country cottage from Leanne Ford Interiors, a curtain casually hung beneath the vintage farmhouse sink hides clutter while adding an old world sense of charm and ease.Continue to 24 of 28 below
• 24of 28Use Brick Flooring We Are True HomeWe Are True Home chose a thin brick floor tile that lends a new kitchen an old world European-style feel.Continue to 25 of 28 below
• 25of 28Texturize the Walls Lobster and SwanWhile it’s impossible to recreate the centuries-old patina of an old French farmhouse, you can help to create a time-worn feel by forgoing crisp white walls and adding texture using layers of chalk paint and wax, like this homey kitchen from Lobster and Swan.Continue to 26 of 28 below
• 26of 28Install a French Range Design by Basic Projects / Photo by Kate TowillBasic Projects turned a dark and cluttered kitchen in Charleston, SC into a clean and classic oasis that mixes old and new.The designers replaced wood tops with marble, added a farm sink, and installed a classic Lacanche range in dark green that brings a classic Made in France feel.
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• 27of 28Mix Styles Design by Brexton Cole InteriorsThis bright white kitchen from Brexton Cole Interiors has French touches like a farmhouse table with a matching bench and a midcentury modern chair on the end and French rattan bar stools that reflect the mix of styles and periods that embody the French country aesthetic.Continue to 28 of 28 below
• 28of 28Embrace Imperfection Lobster and SwanThis rustic English country kitchen from Lobster and Swan would look just as at home in the French countryside, with its mix of simple, natural materials, open shelving, mismatched tableware, industrial lighting, bentwood chairs, and lightly rumpled linen curtains that have an effortlessly chic appeal.

What should go in a French country kitchen?

A French country kitchen should feature wood cabinetry, a good oven range for cooking family meals, timeless, and high-quality finishes such as tile, brick, or stone.

French country kitchens often include a long wooden farmhouse table with plenty of seating for gathering family and friends, as well as vintage lighting, a rack of copper pots, or even a fireplace.

What are the best colors for a French country kitchen? 

French country kitchens are often neutral spaces that include light, earthy colors that range from shades of white, beige, gray, and brown, or colors such as yellow, red, and blue depending on whether the inspiration is a Provençal farmhouse, a rustic thatched cottage in Normandy, or a provincial chateau.

What’s the difference between French country and farmhouse style? 

Much of what we think of as traditional or farmhouse-style interiors that are so ubiquitous today have roots in French country aesthetics.

Both styles put an emphasis on a rustic but refined sensibility that prioritizes natural materials such as wood, stone, brick, and metal, embraces timeless everyday objects, and favors warm and family-friendly interiors built for gathering and entertaining.