If you assumed this kitchen belonged in an 18th-century chateau in the south of France you’d be mistaken but understandably so. You might be surprised to learn that the kitchen is attached to an estate built in the 21st century that is perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The room’s remarkable resemblance to an authentic Provencal kitchen from another era was achieved through close collaboration between the designer and homeowners. Kitchen designer Bruce Colucci of Le Gourmet Kitchen, Orange, California, was hired by the homeowner not only for his design experience, but also his passion for cooking—a passion the homeowner shares as well. “Cooking is a form of meditation for me, especially if it’s in a beautiful, well-designed, well-equipped kitchen,” the homeowner says.

Bruce developed a close relationship with the clients during the project and considers it among his favorites of his 35-year career. Many times a casual conversation would lead to a collaborative effort on a design element. “Understanding how a client cooks and lives in their space determines the direction of the design. The kitchen has to reflect the lifestyle of the client,” he says. “My vision was to make it functional regardless of whether the homeowner was cooking for the family or a large gathering. It is designed to accommodate both. It can expand or contract based on the need,” he says. “A residential kitchen is very much like a restaurant and has to function in the same way.”

The homeowners spend much of their time in the south of France, so they wanted their California kitchen to be an accurate reflection of French Provencal design. “The goal of the project was to recreate the authenticity of the kitchen design found in the south of France through the architecture and furnishings,” Bruce says. “There’s an art to creating a design that looks authentic rather than contrived.”

KEYS TO THE KITCHEN

Bruce conducted extensive research on homes in the south of France to determine the essential design elements. “The woodwork needs to be distressed using a slightly chipped paint finish to look like it’s been around for a long time,” he says. “Blending vibrant and subtle hues is important. Mixing patterns is important as well for a casual, effortless look. The use of pleated fabrics to hide storage and keep dust off the dishes is a classic element of French country style.”

The ceiling heights and architectural design of the 400-square-foot kitchen lent themselves to open shelves rather than high cabinets for a casual, comfortable ambience. The homeowner displays his culinary accessories, clay pots and canisters on the shelves. Among the homeowners’ favorite aspects of the kitchen are the upper windows for natural light, marble backsplash design, glass cabinets, open shelving and the range hood Bruce designed. “The hood looks like a fireplace hearth,” the homeowner says. Bruce’s favorite kitchen elements include the cooking ensemble, the range hood and the open shelves above the cooktop. “Although this kitchen is 16 years old, it still looks beautiful and new,” he says. “Good design is timeless. It’s comfortable, and you can look around and reminisce about travels. It’s so much more than a kitchen.”

Best Budget Ideas for a French Country Transformation

If your wallet won’t allow a complete French country kitchen makeover, here are a few ways you can add French flair to your kitchen without spending a fortune:

1. Swap glossy, contemporary faucets and hardware for options in an iron finish or those with an antique patina.

2. Open upper shelving to reveal your kitchen collectibles and use counter skirts or aprons down below to hide storage.

3. Display linen towels and tea cloths for a look that is rustic, luxe and practical.

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In Southern California, where sunshine and warmth are plentiful even at Christmastime, you can still bring the magic of winter indoors.

For Cindy Roberts, owner of Cute Pink Stuff, and her family of six—which includes her husband and four children, ages 10 to 19—her suburban Los Angeles home is kept looking pretty all year in a style inspired by feminine French-Nordic design. By adding her own handmade and natural touches, she’s able to capture a blissful and memorable winter theme.

“Each year presents a different decorating style,” says Cindy, iwho refreshes her home’s holiday scenery by introducing new DIY projects, color combinations and ornaments. Starting with a neutral background gives her plenty of room for her creativity to flourish.

The hardwood floors and most of the walls are painted in a cottage-white, which opens up the space and provides an easy opportunity to switch out the décor.

Because Cindy prefers a simple color scheme of red and white, borrowed from Swedish and French design, she can easily mix in Christmas décor with an occasional pop of pink—a beloved hue.

“In years past, I’ve been exuberant, opting for traditional red and green décor, colorful Christmas stockings,window dressings and poinsettia plants everywhere,” Cindy says.

“This year,I kept it simple with splashes of red on a white background (walls, floors, furniture) combined with rustic elements (burlap, pinecones, bird nests) and elegant shine (mercury-glass ornaments).”

While Cindy designs and sells many of the handmade decorative items found in her holiday décor, her minimalist ambience puts the spotlight on her artful pieces.

“Our home’s year-round style blends French Nordic with rustic and feminine elements,” she says. “Having a neutral palette of white makes it easy to incorporate splashes of red for the holidays. Adding natural tones of brown blends nicely without changing our year-round style.”

Cindy’s tips for creating a whimsical winter theme:

1. Simple crafting materials are all you need to add a festive touch to popular Christmas ornaments and decorations. Tie red, vintage seam binding or ribbon to vintage glass ornaments and hang them from a tension rod above a window.

2. Incorporate elements from nature for an authentic flair. Use pinecones, bird nests and boughs of holly to dress up your mantel and tabletops for a fun and organic seasonal look.

3. Display handmade pieces for a personal touch. Cindy’s burlap ruffle garland and linen rag wreaths create a unique winter aesthetic and cozy feel.

4. If you prefer a less-traditional holiday color scheme, go monochromatic. In Cindy’s all-white, cottage-style home, she opts for touches of red matched with natural tones found in twigs, pinecones and burlap, which add warmth and depth.

5. Scatter sentimental items. From vintage Christmas cards from years past to a favorite handmade piece, Cindy chooses to surround herself with items that she loves. “Collections of the same or similar items work well,” she says. “Each sentimental piece repeats a special memory that can be relived daily.”

6. Start a new holiday tradition that allows you to slow down and savor the experience. Cindy’s family sets out a special wooden bench that each child sits on to open gifts and thank the giver.

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The northern location of Sweden results in summers that are drenched in sunlight during the long days. Natural light is an integral part of the culture and homes throughout the region work this into their design using colors and textures that reflect it well. Sara Normann teaches us how to achieve the airy, yet traditional feel of a Swedish home in her the new edition of her book Simply Scandinavian. Even if your house is newer construction, you can still get that time-touched look we all love here at Romantic Homes.

Let The Light In. Get rid of curtains all together if possible. “Not having curtains is important in a culture that adores light. Houses in Sweden tend to be well set apart, which means privacy is maintained.” Natural light instantly adds a sense of openness and vitality to any space. If you need some coverage, choose white curtains in a sheer fabric. This will still allow light to pour in but shield the interior from outside.

Distress Tables. Making a kitchen or coffee table look worn is easier than it seems. Simply paint any wood piece with your favorite shade of white, allow to dry and rub sandpaper on areas that would experience wear naturally. The wood underneath will show through and give the furniture a charming rustic look.

Contrasting Metallics. “Materials like the rough, powder-coated steel of the classic Tolix chairs and stools break up the whiteness of the room and give it depth.” Find Tolix chairs at affordable prices online, where many vendors offer them.

Wide Floorboards. Emulate the locally sourced wood flooring of older Scandinavin homes using wide, pale floorboards. Normann notes that doing this adds a rural feel to the room and makes your home appear much older than it may actually be, giving it a sense of history.

Simply Scandinavian by Sara Normann
Ryland Peters & Small, $29.95; www.rylandpeters.com

Since the porch is the gateway to your home, why not set the stage for the beauty that is to unfold when crossing the threshold of your front door? Create a great first impression when welcoming guests to your home by decking out your space with your own signature style and following these five porch decorating ideas.

Remember that even small changes can make a big impact. If an entire overhaul of the front porch is out of reach, consider a spring cleaning and just one or two of the following…

1. Paint the front door or shutters a new color

The porch is the transitional space between outdoors and indoors, so mix the colors of your garden and outdoor paint colors with the style and colors of the entry. Using this approach the lines between outdoor and indoor will blend seamlessly

2. Make it pop

From spring flowers to fall harvest pumpkins, adding color can be an ever changing event. Then punch up the volume with outdoor fabrics on pillows and cushions.

3. Hang a pretty wreath

The design of this home is farmhouse inspired. The porch décor echoes this theme with a soft romantic tone and hints of cottage garden style. Although this is a new home, it was clear that great thought was given to even the smallest details to add tremendous character to the entry. For example, this wreath effortlessly adds beautiful organic undertones to the front door.

4. Refresh and refurbish

Peeling paint, sun-faded finishes and rusty railings will take away from any updates you wish to make. Buy or paint furnishings in neutral colors that complement the exterior of your home in finishes that will withstand the elements. Repurpose simple furniture items, such as this wooden stool, to display novelty garden items.

5. Place a new rug at the front door

Adding an area rug can define seating areas, eating areas and entry areas. They can also introduce color and pattern while helping to remove foot traffic and debris at the door.

For more on Melinda Graham, visit surroundingsbymelinda.blogspot.com.

With summer quickly approaching, what better way is there to show your love of the great outdoors than by hosting an al fresco farm-to-table celebration dedicated to the season’s bountiful harvest? To get the look of this vintage shindig styled by Sylvia Asmussen of Madam Palooza, here are 6 easy tips to recreate its farmhouse charm.

Use what you already own. Even if all your pieces didn’t come as a set, a mismatched, eclectic look will bring personality to your party’s décor. “Don’t feel like you have to go out on a shopping spree,” Sylvia says. “Use your everyday dishes and maybe add the fancy glassware to it to give a pop of panache. Mix in those pretties that are in the cabinets to accent your tablescape.”

Reinvent old items in new ways. To infuse your party with vintage style, upcycle flea-market finds in unexpected ways. On this tablescape, scraps of leftover burlap were turned into a table runner. Old buckets and a trophy were filled with flowers to transform into inspiring centerpieces. While you’re browsing flea markets, think of ways you can reuse some of the items you find so that they can serve double-duty as party décor and decorations for your home afterwards.

Make a statement. Similarly to when you’re styling a room, a vintage tablescape needs a statement piece for wow factor. At this party, the statement piece came in the form of a rusty orb upcycled into part of an inspired chandelier displayed directly above the table.

Take it outside. Think outside the box by bringing your favorite home décor pieces outside. Sylvia decorated this party with a crystal chandelier hung outdoors to make the gathering feel extra special. She also draped burlap curtains at the entrance to welcome guests to the cozy scene.

Don’t overthink it. When styling your party, the rules are that there are no rules. “Develop your own style of entertaining that fits you and makes you comfortable,” Sylvia says. “You will be more open to having people over and want to have intimate gatherings if you don’t feel intimidated and overwhelmed.” If providing a meal with several courses sounds too stressful, limit the party to just afternoon tea and desserts with a handful of close friends.

Add lots of layers. Mix a variety of textures and colors to soften the look of your rustic farmhouse table. Burlap, lace, linen, grain sack and the weathered wood all complement the feminine colored-glass compotes, floral china and metallics on this table. For your finishing touch, the food and flowers will add additional pops of color.

Sylvia Asmussen is the owner, stylist and creative force behind Madam Palooza.

For more information, visit madampaloozaemporium.com. For more upcycling ideas and tips, get your copy of Karen Jeanette’s Upcycled Style magazine, available on newsstands and engagedlifestyle.com on May 31, 2016. Follow the editor on Instagram at @KarenJeanetteStyle, or Facebook at facebook.com/karenjeanettestyle.

With farmhouse and romantic touches, this shabby rustic kitchen is ripe with ideas for your own. Emulate the style with help from these items we’ve rounded up from around the web.

Use white and gray trellis wallpaper for a touch of elegance.

Dress up your table with a large lace doily either in place of or atop a tablecloth.

Use a vintage porcelain creamer as a bud vase.

Vintage storage solutions also make for beautiful displays. Try using a wire basket on your countertop for extra dishtowels or for oven mitts and a metal caddy to corral spatulas and wooden spoons.

For artwork that’s both nature- and vintage-inspired, look to botanical prints like this one.

Bonjour! Have you ever been to Paris? The grand architecture, small alleys and winding cobble roads create a sense of wonder, romance and mystery. There’s no wonder Paris has the nickname of the City of Love. If you want to bring some of this romance into your own home, French antiques are the key.

Meet Lori Chandler, owner of Vignettes Antiques. Lori has been hunting down French antiques for over a decade and carefully curates her collection in her San Diego, California shop. Lori knows the secret to a dream home—to find pieces that are special and meaningful. “When you surround yourself with beloved vintage pieces, ones that you feel a connection with, not only will you have created your own signature look, but your home will stand apart with unsurpassed style,” she says.

Once you have the right pieces, you’ll want to display them so they shine. As her shop name suggests, Lori is a fan if vignettes, which are one way to create a beautiful display of various collectibles. Pair items with the same colors or materials. For example, in this display, Lori went with a brown and rust-colored theme, from the wicker jug and vintage French dress form to the rusted wheels, old books and weathered clock. She complemented the brown with bright blooms of white and peach, which makes the scene pop.

In this display, Lori applied the same principle, but instead used a garden theme to set the scene. Mushroom and bird statues, rustic baskets and outdoor dishware create a neutral base, and the bright greenery finishes it off.

Whether your French style aspirations include rustic industrial, glittery boutique or royal elegance, get out there to find those vintage pieces and allow your home to attain the romance of France.