French country decorating is a very popular style right now. When done right, the overall look of your home will be  inviting and elegant. Here are some guidelines on how to add the French country look to your home.

French country colors typically  include mustard, butter yellow, celadon (a light olive color), salmon, cornflower blue, sunny yellow, soft gold, fiery red, burnt rust, bright grass green, dark hunter green, cobalt blue and soft ocean tones. To define pieces and give a strong base to all these beautiful colors, black and dull grays are used often as backround colors.

• In the kitchen and entryway aged terra cotta tiles, natural stone or even brick will create a French country look.
• Exposed beams in the ceiling also add to the country feel.
• A stone fireplace with a wooden beam mantle is also a common element in French Country decorating. The hearth should be made of clay or brick.
• Plaster walls roughly stained or painted are also a must.
• Windowsills are deep and windows are usually tall and narrow. Shutters are usually used, and growing vines are planted around windows and doors to accent and give added charm to the look.

Furniture can include:

• Wrought iron and metal furniture and light fixtures
• Dining tables are usually rectangle or round with a low sheen finish to make it look more like raw wood.
• Dining table chairs are usually ladderback style or have vertical slats with a small amount of carved details.
• Armoires are common in many rooms to store clothing, linens and tableware.

Here is a great example from our portfolio: