French Country Kitchen Cabinets

For those who have traveled to France and have been able to see the French-style homes of the countryside may have been inspired by their interior design and wish to incorporate certain elements into their kitchen. While there are various ways to make French country kitchen ideas your own, one of the easiest ways to do this is by making sure that you have the right type of cabinetry. French country kitchen cabinets are known to be elegant, cozy, rustic, and functional. There are various ways to make sure that the cabinetry compliments your existing kitchen decor (e.g., quartz countertops) but here’s our guide to the French kitchen and its cabinetry.  

What is the French Country Kitchen Style?

For homeowners leaning more towards a French country kitchen design style, you may already be thinking wrought iron elements, natural materials, copper accents, open shelving, brick walls, quartz countertops, a wood dining table, and an open kitchen space but what do French country kitchens actually look like?

A true French country kitchen is inspired by the French provincial style but has a strong sense of elegance. This will differ from home to home, but if your interior designer recommends marble countertops mixed with traditional furniture, then that may work for your own home. Other French country kitchens may incorporate more farmhouse style elements like a wood kitchen island, off-white open shelves, a rustic sink, custom kitchen cabinets,and a stone floor. Popular decor inspired by France and the countryside include:

  • Toile
  • Animal decor
  • A neutral color palette
  • Stone elements
  • Distressed paint
  • Exposed wood beams
  • Elegant and curved furniture
  • Antique decor
French country kitchen design

Are French Country Style Kitchen Cabinets Still In Style?

Yes, French country kitchens and their cabinetry have a certain je ne sais quoi about them that makes them popular today. The french country interior design style is elegant, rustic, can be modern yet traditional, and is just as cozy as the farmhouse design style. 

French Country Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

To really emulate this style, here are some French country kitchen ideas that you can incorporate:

Exposed Stone to Showcase Your French Country Cabinetry

Instead of a light, plain wall, choose exposed stone as your cabinetry’s backdrop. French country kitchens will look more rustic when the stone wall is used to showcase the contrast of a light wood cabinet and the stone. You can also choose stone that matches your French country style floor or compliments the marble accents around the room. 

Reclaimed Wood Cabinets for that French Country Flair

Another way to add a modern twist to traditional kitchen designs is by using reclaimed wood for your furniture. The kitchen cabinetry in particular can be made out of this same wood in order to create elegant cohesion and match other wood kitchen decor. 

Open-Shelving for Your French Country Kitchen

French country kitchens do not necessarily have cabinetry which means that your interior design can consist of open shelves that are installed from the floor to the ceiling. These wood shelves can be used to showcase decor but also create storage space for copper pots, animal decor, appliances, dinnerware, and other cookware. 

Pegs Above French Country Cabinets for Your Copper Pots and Pans

A French country kitchen can look very lived-in and rustic with wood elements like pegs which are where pots and pans should be hung. Pair this farmhouse style element with wood cabinetry that has white glazed doors. 

French Country Style Wallpaper Behind the Wooden Cabinets

Staying true to French country kitchens, a toile wallpaper from the floor to the ceiling can be used instead of paint. Not only are wallpapers with these colorful patterns the epitome of a French style country kitchen, but they can be used as an interior design element that draws the eyes to the rustic cabinetry. 

Decorative Cabinet Doors Made Out of the Same Wood as the Beams in Your French Country Kitchen

A French country kitchen can never have too many wood elements and a great way to make a space look more put together is by making sure that the kitchen decor is made out of the same materials. For kitchens with exposed beams made out of a certain type of wood, use the same wood for your furniture, kitchen island, and cabinetry.

An Antique French Country Kitchen Cabinet to Match Your White Color Scheme

Another favorite out of the various French country kitchen ideas out there is adding antique finds in a modern space. For a French country kitchen that has an all white interior design scheme, using different shades of white and mixing modern and antique decor will add different textures and make a room more interesting. Look for a French country or farmhouse style cabinetry and choose a shade of elegant white paint that will fit into your French country kitchen best. 

Brass Accessories on the French Country Cabinets

To add more rustic elements into French country kitchens, choosing brass pulls and knobs for your cabinetry will do just the trick. You can also choose to use the same brass as your rustic sink and other accents in the room. 

Use an Entire Color Palette to Create Zones in Your French Country Kitchen

Instead of using some color as accents around your country kitchen, use different colors in a single color palette to create divisions and zones. French country kitchens often follow an open-space interior design which may make it difficult to get a sense of where everything belongs. Use one color on your cabinets that will connect it to the kitchen island and another color for the marble countertop and surrounding furniture to divide where people should dine. 

Decorative Accents to Emulate the Baroque French Country Style

Use marble for the floor and make sure that the cabinets are painted or crafted with decorative elements in order to give your modern kitchen a Baroque French feel.

Choose a Detailed Crown Molding and Muted Shades for French Country Cabinet Doors

Another one of the French country kitchen ideas that you can use is by making sure that your cabinet doors are a muted color but have intricate crown moldings. This detailing, which you can also incorporate onto the ceiling or the floor, can really elevate a French country kitchen. 

Mix Cabinet Finishes in Your French Country Kitchen

A French country kitchen can have different variations of the same design element in order to add depth, texture, and interest. If there are different cabinet finishes that you are interested in and want to incorporate into your French country kitchen, then do so! You can have some glossy cabinet doors and some more matte or textured ones in different areas of your French-inspired country kitchen. 

Use Nature’s Color Palette for French Country Kitchen Cabinetry

The ultimate tip among all of the French country kitchen ideas is to choose colors that are found in nature for your space. Any interior designer will recommend that the kitchen decor and elements like the furniture, light fixtures, the sink, floor, and cabinetry should all be colors that are natural. This means different shades of brown, green, deep reds, beiges, yellow, and other colors that you may see outside of your French country home. 

French Country Kitchen Cabinets
french country kitchen design inspiration