Provence is an interior design style that suits well both for decoration country houses and small apartments with a standard layout. It originated in France, in the town of Provence. Household customs of its inhabitants, the way of their daily life, the spirit and color of the local nature are reflected in the canons of interior design.

The main features of the style:

• finishing with natural materials: metal, wood, stone;
• the color palette of the style - light pastel tones as if burnt out from long exposure to the sun;
• small floral ornaments;
• good illumination due to large windows and local artificial light sources;
• elegantly shaped vintage, aged or restored furniture;
• decorating with manual labor: artistic painting, wood carving, weaving, knitting and sewing;
• an abundance of live and dry bouquets, indoor plants;
• light, translucent;
• textile decorations - ruffles, cutwork, lace;
• obligatory presence of forged elements. At the same time, forging is allowed only in French, delicate, delicate and graceful;
• clay, ceramic or porcelain decor details;
• open shelves and shelves with accessories placed on them;
• slight negligence in the arrangement of furniture.

Zoning

Living space in Provence may or may not be divided into rooms. The layout of each room is based on the principle of freedom of space in the center and its filling along the edges. If separation occurs, it is advisable that the rooms are not too large. If it is not there, then the zoning of a large space into functional zones is carried out using finishing materials, furniture, large potted plants or curtains.

Walls

Usually the walls are covered with paint or plaster, which does not hide their natural defects: irregularities and roughness. Partially or completely walls can be decorated brickwork or natural stone, friezes and stucco moldings. Any decor items look good on a light background of the walls. A vaulted wooden ceiling or exposed beams against the background of a whitewashed surface will perfectly accentuate the style. A simpler solution is painting in one of the colors traditional for Provence.

Floors

Plank wood floors with signs of wear should be whitewashed or painted in a light shade. Laying with tiles or parquet will not break the style either.

Windows and doors

Doors and window frames- wooden, aged in appearance, painted in one of the shades of white or retained their natural color. It is desirable that the fittings are made of wrought iron. The wider the window openings, the better, even an option is possible panoramic glazing- from ceiling to floor. Floral painting on the inner door surface will add originality and romance to the interior, and a glass insert will allow rays of light to penetrate through it.

Furniture

Despite a touch of wear and tear, furniture in Provence looks much lighter and more elegant than in others. Wooden furniture, whitewashed or painted in pastel colors, with forged elements, high curved legs, carvings and monograms - each piece of furniture is selected in order to solve not only functional, but also decorative tasks.

In the interior of the French province, there are always low pot-bellied sideboards, painted chests of drawers, sideboards and mezzanines. Small dressing tables are scattered throughout the home and decorated with ceramic pots with indoor plants.

Rooms can be furnished with self-restored antiques or purchased antiques. In addition, on sale you can find collections of completely new stylized furniture with artificially applied elements of aging.

For creating light summer mood Provence style involves the use of rattan wicker furniture, in particular, rocking chairs.

The colors of Provence are pastel, soft. No annoying screaming bursts are allowed. Warm shades of white set the background against sandy yellow, brown, green, blue, pink accents. Also used are bleached pale blue, lemon, olive, lavender colors.

Textile

Textiles play one of the leading roles in creating Provence-style interiors. The most important criterion the choice of fabric is its naturalness. The most commonly used here are cotton, linen, wool, muslin, chintz. The ornament and color of all textiles in the room must be identical. Most often, this is a small floral or plant pattern. Geometric patterns are less common: a cell and a strip. Handmade embroidery, knitting and hand-made rugs will add a sentimental feel to any interior.

Traditionally, windows in Provence overlook the garden. To enjoy the view of fresh greenery and flowers, the curtains are made transparent and light or removed altogether.

Lighting

Also one of essential conditions Provence style - a sufficient supply of natural light. The houses of the inhabitants of the French province of the same name are bathed in the sun most of the time, which determines the washed-out, washed-out interior colors. In the dark, lighting should also be well organized. Its direct participants are a massive central chandelier with crystal pendants on metal frame or in the form of several candlesticks, decorated with painted table and stylized kerosene lamps.

Decor

Large round mechanical clocks with Roman numerals, mirrors, rectangular or round mirrors, landscape paintings, prints, photographs or simply blank wooden frames, suitcases, boxes, vases, fruit holders, candlesticks, vases, birdcages, beautiful painted porcelain dishes and figurines, decorative plates on the walls - these are the little things that make Provence a Provence. Handicraft items add to the rustic charm of the interior, and even a cart wheel can serve as a stylish decoration for the interior.

The symbol of Provence is lavender and lavender... The inhabitants of this French province constantly decorate their homes with flowers: live and dried, meadow and home, arranging them in vases and pots of white and blue shades or hanging them around the room in pots. Sometimes the most unexpected items are used to decorate with flowers, for example, a rubber boot, a kettle, a bucket or a casket that has served its life. Sometimes the herbarium is simply hung on the wall.

Another recognizable attribute of Provence is the rooster, the symbol of France. Especially often his figurines and images are found in the kitchen or in the dining room.

Provence style bedroom

Decorating the relaxation room warms and soothes with warm, delicate shades. Looks great unobtrusive floral ornament on the wallpaper. In this case, a combination of finishes is allowed, for example, one of the walls is painted out, upholstered with wood or decorated with painting. The ceiling is traditionally flat and white.

The main focus of the bedroom is on the bed, which is its focal point. Wooden models of natural light colors or warm shades of white, decorated with carvings, harmoniously fit into the interior of the French hinterland. A good choice there will also be a vintage forged model with simple, smoothly curved outlines. The rug by the bed keeps your bare feet warm.

The light canopy, which creates a sense of airiness, and the lace bedding, decorated with hand embroidery, perfectly convey the romanticism of Provence.

In addition to the bed, of the furniture in the Provencal bedroom, there are usually wooden or wrought iron soft armchairs and chairs, wicker rattan, banquets, bedside tables on thin legs, antique dressing table, chest of drawers or wardrobe.

Decorative pillows, rugs, bedspreads, and all kinds of other textiles soften the interior and bring comfort that is so necessary in this room. Upholstered furniture upholstery made of natural rough fabric or cashmere.

Curtains with all kinds of frills, flounces and ruffles protect from sunlight and decorate the window. Color palette curtains, wallpaper, furniture upholstery, linen and other decorative elements must be completely or partially identical.

The main chandelier is usually installed in the center of the ceiling, with glass shades on forged holders or a dense fabric lampshade with a fringe. Quieter light, suitable for night reading, give curly table lamps on bedside tables, sconces or floor lamps.

It is often found in the French bedroom. A natural or artificial hearth will undoubtedly add coziness, help relieve stress and distract from disturbing thoughts.

Cute little things like flower vases or animal figurines bring a room to life. Wood-framed engravings depicting a rural landscape or flowers are appropriate wall decorations. Mirrors in elegant frames help create a special intimate atmosphere.

Provence style bathroom

Tiles are commonly used in bathroom cladding. The color palette includes gentle tones of blue, pink, sand. For flooring, darker terracotta and brown shades are acceptable. Details of forged metal, of which Provence abounds, are painted in gilded, silver, pearlescent colors. For walls, it is recommended to choose options with patterns that match the style, and for the floor, a texture that imitates natural wood is well suited. From bright elements of tiles or mosaics, you can fold a kind of rug in front of the bathroom, in the center of the room, or decorate your mother's bath, and decorate the wall with a colorful panel.

It is desirable that the room is filled with natural light and fresh air through the window. The glass in such a window should be divided into several cells.

Plumbing in Provence style bathrooms has all modern features but has gentle curves and a vintage look, like the matt brass mixer tap with two valves.

The oval bathtub stands apart on curved legs. Made of cast iron or acrylic, it can be protected by a wood-like draped tablet screen.

A metal, porcelain or marble sink is built into a wooden cabinet or chest of drawers. In other cases, it has a console with forged, earthenware legs or with a cast base.

A shower cubicle with wood-like side panels can also safely fit into the style, despite its modernity.

The central chandelier in the bathroom on the whitewashed ceiling is not much different from the chandeliers in other rooms.

Aged wooden furniture with wrought iron fittings is also relevant for the bathroom. For example, a solid chest of drawers, a curbstone, a pencil case, a wall cabinet will successfully fit into the interior. Folded towels and linens can be conveniently laid out on the open wooden shelves. If space permits, a leather or wicker chair can be placed here.

As stylish accessories in the bathroom, there are thin wrought iron or rural style towel racks, wicker baskets made of wicker, a mirror framed by a handmade frame.

Provence style kitchen

French country is the coziest style. Every detail of his interior is impregnated with maternal love and care. The tones are soft and calm. Sometimes in French kitchens there is furniture made in dark colors. In this case, the interior decoration and the rest of the decor should be light.

The walls in the kitchen are plastered and painted. Aged wood, tile, stone and brick are most often applied locally, to highlight any areas. For example, the “apron” of the working area is faced with natural stone, tiles with a discreet floral pattern or mosaic masonry. The same materials are used for floor finishing.

A Provence style kitchen set is easy to purchase from any major furniture manufacturer. But you can also collect in the kitchen various items found in a single copy and restored. This solution is especially important for country houses.

A vanity unit with a stone countertop, a sink with a brass valve mixer will successfully fit into a stylized interior. A small square table successfully conveys the atmosphere of a country house. Sideboard with glass doors or just nailed wooden shelves flaunt the dishes. Nice little things are placed on open shelves: beautiful ceramic plates, vases with dried flowers, candlesticks, wicker baskets.

Textiles are the most recognizable attribute of style. Its color and pattern is repeated on all elements: tablecloths, napkins, chair upholstery.

Canteen

In a dining room decorated in the Provence style, textures of brickwork or embossed plaster are most acceptable. It is recommended to stick to matte milky, beige, pale yellow, light green tones.

Furniture

Solid vintage furniture plays with warm shades of white or natural wood colors. Aged wooden table, round or rectangular, with carved legs, denotes the visual center of the room. Chairs, most often, are selected in a classic look, upholstered in natural rough fabric. The dining room is often combined with the kitchen or living room.

Living room in Provence style

Living room floors are usually wood, plank, or natural stone or tiles. Replacement with laminate is not allowed.

Furniture

Graceful. The art of the designer is to enchant and not repel a touch of wear and tear. Furniture is arranged slightly casually. A chest of drawers with a mirror suspended above it, a sideboard with porcelain sets, vases and other cute little things, other pieces of furniture merge into a single composition of a French country house. And of course, it's hard to imagine Provence without a fireplace in the living room! And the armchair by the fireplace, covered with a blanket, attracts attention, creating incredible comfort in the room.

The group of upholstered furniture is made up of a sofa and several armchairs with natural fabric upholstery placed around the table. The latter can be round or rectangular, with wooden carved or curved legs. Light curtains, carpet on the floor, sofa upholstery and other textiles have something in common with each other in color and ornament. Lots of decorative pillows and knickknacks set the mood for a sentimental one.

Anything that causes nostalgia for home is suitable as accessories, for example, framed family photos, old canvases.

The hallway is usually the smallest and a dark room in the House. Therefore, for finishing materials, it is better to choose lighter colors. On the walls in the hallway, the texture of brickwork, whitewashed or covered with paint in a warm light shade, looks interesting.

Stylish decoration is based on wooden front door with forged handles and a large mirror in a beautiful frame. From furniture, small mezzanines, curbstones, a chest of drawers are preferred. It is good if there is room for a sofa made of wood or wrought iron, painted in White color... Chintz, cotton or linen with a small floral pattern are suitable as upholstery.

Provence style nursery

Provence style is well suited for a nursery. Natural materials will preserve health, and natural colors will have a beneficial effect on the developing psyche of the child.

For decorating walls in a nursery, pastel-colored wallpaper, with or without patterns, is most often used. For boys, a checkered or striped pattern is good, and for girls - in the form of small bouquets or individual flowers.

It is better to cover the floors lined with parquet, board or tiles with a rug so that the child does not catch a cold or slip. Multilevel plasterboard structures on the ceiling will be inappropriate here. It is better to choose a fabric stretch fabric.

The uniqueness of the interior will add art painting walls, doors or furniture acrylic paints done with the help of professionals or by yourself.

A bed, a bedside table, a children's sofa, a table and chair for classes, a wardrobe - this is a modest set of items for furnishing a child's room. You can choose neutral furniture that does not stand out much in the interior, or, on the contrary, you can focus on it with the help of interesting colors and old graceful forms. Stylish wicker baskets and baskets are perfect for storing toys.

The sleeping place for the girl is decorated with rich textiles and many pillows; a canopy is hung over the headboard. For boys, the bed has a more ascetic look.

The child's room should be well lit. In addition to the main chandelier, additional local lamps are installed by the bed, above study table, above the play area.

Photos of Provence style apartment

The Provence style perfectly adapts to the modern conditions of urban life. This can be clearly seen in the stylish Barcelona-owned family with three children.

Some fragmentation is overcome due to spatial continuity interior decoration... The dazzling white color of the walls and stucco ceilings fills the rooms with air and light. Against this clean background, the patterned tiles with which the floor is laid look especially bright. With the changing details of patterns and color accents, it brings stunning dynamics to the interior and at the same time serves as a zoning of the space. The heating system and the beauty of the ornament led to the absence of rugs and rugs. It should be noted that the tiles are much easier to care for than other floor coverings. This is important for a family with growing children.

The dining room and living room are combined. In the living room area, simple, rectangular furniture is arranged a little chaotically, which creates a natural, playful mood. Children in such an environment feel very comfortable.

The sofa is upholstered in a gray natural fabric with a slightly rough texture in the spirit of the Provence style. Lurid drawing of the table and decorative pillows are kept within colors floor tiles.

Several mirrors framed with wrought iron, a poster, a globe and other little things complete the image of the room, making it solid.

The dining area looks larger and deeper thanks to the large mirror on the wall. An angular old-fashioned sideboard, flaunting wine glasses, salad bowls and dishes, accentuates the snow-white background. The composition of dry plants also emphasizes style, being its indispensable attribute. She brings a touch of naturalness to the overall composition of the interior. Family photos in color frames dilute this rather concise setting, denoting true values apartment owners.

Sunlight, fresh breath of the sea, natural color - all these are integral features of the Provence style. Together with him, the warmth and comfort of the rural life of southern France comes to the house.

The Provencal style can be formed by more than one generation, absorbing all the new details and acquiring its own unique character. But it will always be characterized by elegance and softness, freshness and lightness, simplicity and airiness, romanticism and subtle sensuality.

And talk about the romantic and feminine style of Provence.

Provence is a magical land in the south of France, here life seems to have stopped, and a cheerful, peaceful atmosphere reigns. Lavender fields, olive groves, blue skies and bright sun - the nature of Provence is reflected in the atmosphere of French country houses and cottages, and the interior style of the same name has gained popularity around the world and is successfully used in the decoration of both spacious villas and small city apartments.

“Provence” in French means province, therefore this style is often called French country. Rustic chic will perfectly fit into the atmosphere, creating a cozy romantic interior.

The main elements of the Provence style:

1. Natural materials: untreated or aged wood, stone, natural fabrics, ceramics
2. Light pastel colors
3. Floral patterns and prints
4. Plants and bouquets of natural flowers
5. Various textiles: pillows, tablecloths, ruffles, ruffles, lace
6. Natural light, thin sheer curtains
7. Abundance of decor

Provence style: wall decoration

Plaster is usually used to decorate the walls in the Provencal style. At the same time, some carelessness in decoration is deliberately emphasized, giving the interior a provincial atmosphere. The walls are always painted in light colors - warm yellows, blues, pinks.

Since houses in Provence are made of stone, this material is also often used for wall decoration. Rough stone or raw blend beautifully with pastel colors and floral designs.

If the walls are papered, preference is given to a floral pattern, as well as a vertical strip or cage in pastel colors.

Provence in the interior: floor

Wood with a pronounced texture is mainly used for the floor. In addition to wood, you can use stone and tiles in natural shades: brown, terracotta.

Almost all Provence style furniture is made of wood. Furniture is either painted or retains its natural texture and shade.

The most popular colors for staining: white, milky, pastel shades of blue, pink, green.

Vintage furniture with a history is especially appreciated. Grandma's dresser or rocking chair will perfectly fit into the interior, creating the right mood. Scuffs, chips, cracks - all traces of antiquity are not painted over, but are deliberately emphasized.

However, if you do not have such family heirlooms, it does not matter - nowadays many brands produce such furniture. You can even give your wood furniture that distinctive aged look yourself. Fortunately, on the net you can find a lot of instructions on how to paint and age furniture with your own hands.

Textile

Textiles are a very important part of the Provence style interior. Natural fabrics look especially harmonious: linen, cotton, chintz.

In the style of a French village - light and airy. Natural light is essential for creating a sunny mood.

Flowers

Floral motifs prevail in the Provence style: roses, small wildflowers, poppies, lavender - flowers on pillows and tablecloths, flowers on furniture, textiles, ceramics, tiles ...

The interior is full of live plants and or dried flowers and herbs.

The Provence style implies an abundance of decor: in addition to textiles, there are many ceramic vases and figurines in the interior, wicker baskets and colorful boxes, in the kitchen there are many jars of spices and herbs, in the living room and bedroom there are pillows, rollers, bedspreads and capes. Little things pleasant to the heart, brought from travels and selected with great love, enliven the interior, filling it with history and positive energy.

Forged elements add a special charm to the Provence style interior: the headboard, lamps, shelves, chair legs.

Chandeliers play a very important role in Provencal interiors... Luxurious crystal lights combine with vintage wood furnishings and rough wall and floor finishes to transform rustic country into French chic.

The Provence style is incredibly popular in Russian homes, its closeness to nature and simple elegance allows you to take a break from the rhythm big city and enjoy the beauty of country life.

And which style is closer to you: minimalism, brutal, luxurious or still romantic Provence?

›Provence style

Provence style

I present to your attention our attempt to understand what is Provence style or Provencal style. For the analysis, information was used not from encyclopedias and hackneyed sites, but from forums from Russian-speaking people living in France. Before collecting information, our knowledge of Provence style ended in light-colored wooden furniture and lavender, lavender, lavender again.

Well, let's get down to collecting our picture called Provence style design from puzzles. The puzzles will be decorative elements, painting walls, tiles on the floor, curtains, furniture. We will especially dwell on the theme of Provence style cuisine.

Provence style colors

Colors that are typical for interior in Provence style, it is, first of all, fresh and bright colours that create a cheerful mood. There are only two main colors - this is the color of saffron, that is, orange-yellow and blue color lavender, which is said to grow in abundance in Provence.

Important in Provence style ( provence style) a combination of neutral colors such as gray, white, beige, mustard, rust with bright Provencal colors such as yellow, orange, olive, lavender, cobalt blue, red.

Provence furniture

Provence style home furniture mostly wooden tinted, possibly with patina, garden furniture - iron, forged. The latest trend in Provence style is that garden furniture moves inside the house.

Typical furniture- this is a sofa, as if consisting of two or three chairs with wicker armrests and seats.

The color of Provence furniture can be pastel with finishing in an additional color, the furniture itself is modest, but with painting in the form of flowers and fruits. On the facades of furniture, sprigs of lavender, spikelets, sunflowers, and sprigs of an olive tree are often drawn.

To give furniture provence style, it is necessary to nail the slats onto smooth facades without relief, paint the furniture with light paint, and all the protruding parts of the doors with paint darker than the main background.

For storing linen in the houses of the French village, large wardrobes with glazed doors are used, with inside which the curtain can be pulled. A strip of lace is attached to the edge of the shelf, and, of course, bags of lavender are placed, which repels moths with its smell.

Provence style fabrics

Provence style fabric with characteristic patterns of olive tree branches, bouquets and bouquets of lavender, baskets with lavenders, and do not forget about poppies. On beds and sofas, even on tables, bootie covers.

Provencal fabrics are durable, do not fade, hardly wrinkle, rich colors. These fabrics are used for sewing napkins, pillows, curtains. Two layers of cotton, batting between them, are stitched in a peculiar pattern by hand or on a typewriter - this sewing technique is called Piqué de Marseille or Marseille stitch.

How can you determine that the fabric is in the Provence style: the symbols of Provence are made on it in the form of spikelets, olives, lavender, sunflowers, fabrics, both with a geometric pattern and floral, both pastel and bright colors.

Bedspreads bootie

You can't do without a bootie in creating Provence in the interior. Provencal boutiques are quilted bedspreads.

The embroidery of the bootie consisted in quilting individual elements of the ornament, stuffing them with special threads. As a result, the ornament acquired relief. Tablecloths, bedspreads, napkins made using the bootie technique are durable, do not require ironing, are not easily soiled, and keep their shape well.

Walls in the interior in the style of Provence

Walls in the interior of a house in the village of Provence always white, that is, whitewashed or colored, there is a lot of colored clay in Provence. Walls can be lavender, yellow, terracotta and no wallpaper or wooden walls... The painting of the walls is uneven, with spots, as if an inexperienced person was painting.

Curtains in the interior in the style of Provence

Natural fabrics for curtains in Provence style - linen, cotton and organdy (very thin cotton). The curtains in the kitchen are above all simple. For example, it can be lace curtains up to the middle of the window in the Bistro style. Such curtains are also called short curtains, because they are hung on a cornice or string, which can be at any window height, usually in the middle. Often the upper part of the window remains open, but sometimes it is decorated with a lambrequin (upper part), which is made of the same fabric.

Provence style ceiling

There are wooden beams on the ceiling, which are either painted, or whitewashed, or generally remain in their natural color.

Provence style floor

The floor is usually covered with baked red clay tiles. Tiles are square or rectangular, less often hexagonal. Small tiles.

Wicker baskets in the kitchen for fruits and vegetables, for storing linen in cupboards. The pottery is brown and without glaze.

An important detail- lamps on high legs. Such lamps are installed in the living room, and in the hallway, and in the corridor on the console, dressers.

Style provence very popular and loved. It is ideal for decorating country houses. Separate elements of the style can add coziness and warmth to a city apartment. Below is a small “instruction” on how to create a home paradise.

This style came to us from the south of France, namely from which is located on the Mediterranean coast and is famous for its magnificent landscapes. They say that no other province of France gives as much emotion and feeling as Provence.

The Provencal house is heaven on earth. It is literally permeated with warmth, coziness and delicious smells. It is filled with aromas, colors and energy of the surrounding nature.

In such a house, you rest your soul, lead a leisurely lifestyle, work for pleasure and feel a sense of serenity.

Originally a Provencal house, it is a rural house with small windows and small rooms. Inhabitants Provencal houses strived to make their rooms light, visually more spacious and just as cool, since the region is very hot and sunny.

As a rule, more than one generation has grown up in a Provencal house. House of Provence is a house with its own rich history, it contains many ancient memorabilia, which are treated with care and love.

The external simplicity of the Provence style is deceiving. Its implementation requires impeccable taste and painstaking work. The style that took shape over the years of life in the south of France cannot be exactly repeated in Russia, it is impossible to implement in our conditions. But! It is in our power to create the necessary associations and convey the spirit of the old, neat, charming and very, very cozy style provence.

In order to properly stylize a Provencal style setting, you need to understand its philosophy and know its main characteristics.

If you want to see a Provencal style in your home, then remember that you only need to take to create a Provence natural materials- stone, wood, metal, natural fabrics.

We also choose natural colors. We take as a basis light colors: white, milky, cream, beige, sand, light brown, light gray, pale lemon, pale orange, pale green, olive, blue, lavender.

We use green, blue, lavender, brown, ocher as accents.

It must be remembered that the interior in the Provence style is light, without excessive contrast. Therefore, the colors are only natural, pastel, muted, as if burnt out in the sun.

Provence is characterized by a combination of pastel blue and pale yellow colors, symbolizing the flowering meadows of Provence. But the combination of red and white in Provence is rarely used.

A typical feature of the Provence style is the aged and worn surfaces and things: a wooden floor with cracks, worn terracotta tiles, laid out unevenly, slightly peeling furniture facades sunburnt surfaces.

In Provence, if a stone: then rough, if metal, then with a dull sheen, if furniture, then with scuffs, cracks and chips.

Finishing should be rough, to the point of carelessness, as if it was not done by professionals.

Walls, frames, doors

We put plaster on the walls. Moreover, the plaster is applied clumsily, with irregularities and "bald spots" through which the masonry can shine through.

We can decorate the walls with glazed bricks and natural stone. We can sheathe the walls with clapboard or facing board.

If we paint a brick, lining or just masonry, it will also be very Provencal.

And here are the walls with paper wallpaper not typical of the Provence style.

As a rule, the walls are white, light yellow, light blue, milky white, less often pastel gray, pastel beige, very rarely light pink.

Wooden doors and window frames should be painted in white paint and have the effect of aging and wear.

We can decorate the walls with friezes and decorate with stucco in the form of flowers, vines, oak branches. We can also decorate the doors with floral painting.

Ceiling

We paint the ceilings with white paint, decorate with wooden beams - dark for contrast or bleached. The beams should be chipped, with a darkening effect from time to time.

Floors

As a rule, in the premises of the first floor, the floor is stone, terracotta or sandstone, and on the floors in the rooms there is a wooden plank floor.

Boards should look raw, painted, aged, and tiles should have cut corners, uneven edges.

Provence wood floors are generally light.

Furniture

Provence style furniture is wooden, wicker and forged, or wooden with forged or wicker details. Necessarily dyed, bleached.

Of course, furniture should look like it has served more than one generation with faith and truth. The paint on the furniture should be peeling, the surfaces themselves should be frayed, small chips.

The main colors of furniture are white or any discreet color strongly diluted with white - cream, light green, lavender, brown or light wood.

Often furniture can be decorated with floral designs carved from wood, or painted with floral designs, blue, green and orange curls.

Mandatory pieces of furniture - sideboard, sideboard, low dressers,

bookcases, mezzanine cabinets and drawers, chairs with wicker seats or wrought-iron backs, round dining tables in aged white wood,

wrought iron beds:

Provence loves a lot of small tables and console tables that find a place for themselves everywhere (in the living room, bedroom, in the hallway).

Furniture should not be solid, rude and rustic as in other country (American, German or). The French have it graceful. And this is one of the main features of the Provence style. Forged Products a la "provincial France" are very elegant, delicate, which is not inherent in every country.

Often, furniture is complemented with forged elements, copper handles, hooks, stands.

Textile

Since Provence came to us from village life, we will also use simple natural fabrics: bleached linen, light chintz, rough cotton and wool with a printed floral pattern. We can use cambric, muslin, satin and silk.

The color of the textiles is beige, milky, yellow, terracotta, ocher, lavender and sky blue. As you can see, it is not bright. And there is no need to add excessive pomp and sophistication to textiles, because we do not create aristocratic luxury, but sweet rustic comfort.

It will be better if you take textiles in a flower, since a strip and a cage in provence is used less often.

Let's make the bed in bed linen with sewing, ruffles, embroidery, lace. We will make the bed quilted in the same flower. Let's not forget about the canopies.

We will throw covers on chairs, put more pillows on sofas, place embroidered in the technique of reticulation and crochet napkins, and woven floor rugs.

Let's take care of the window decoration. As mentioned above, Provence initially developed as a style of a small rural house, in which the windows were small. But later, when Provence became popular, he moved to villas, cottages, country houses, that is, to houses with large windows. But one thing remained unchanged - light transparent curtains (developing in the wind) or even their absence.

Provence is not compatible with tightly drawn curtains. The fact is that not to curtain the window is typical for rural styles... After all, the window overlooks private territory and, as a rule, in a garden in which flowering plants grow and the sun is shining. The window is constantly open, so a light curtain is enough.

Openness, transparency, maximum air and light access - these are the main attributes when decorating a window.

Curtains can be decorated with ruffles, cords, bows, hairpins, ribbons, but it's better not to be smart.

Decor and lighting

Provence is very fond of many small, pretty, charming and with all this useless trinkets: candlesticks, vases, baskets, fruit bowls, boxes, pots, etc.

The knickknacks are made of ceramics, glass, wood (aged), cardboard. Also, decorative details can be forged (lamps, candlesticks, photo frames).

The more cute trinkets you have, the better - the more Provencal.

On the walls we place still lifes and flower landscapes, decorative ceramic plates, Wall Clock with paintings, candelabra, graceful shelves, mirrors in forged or simple painted frames.

Provence is very fond of white or porcelain dishes, wicker items (baskets, plates, trays).

One of the key elements of the Provence style is flowers. Moreover, flowers are present at home all the time (from the garden), and not "about" as we do.

We arrange flowers in every room of the house: on the windowsills of the kitchen, on dinner table, to the bedroom on the dressing table, or bedside table, in the bath.

If the house is a country house, then the flowers should be outside the house - on the terraces, by the porch, along the paths. In general, bouquets and bouquets should be literally everywhere.

Lavender is my favorite flower.

A characteristic feature of the style is the use of crockery for flowers according to the principle of “whatever came to hand”: in ceramic pots, in zinc buckets, in kitchen faience, etc. There is a special charm in this.

Make flower arrangements with fruits and vegetables. The composition should be simple, not intricate and always colorful.

You can play with the marine theme, relevant to the Provence style. Decorate the room with shells, seagull figurines, and a fishing net.

Use textiles with white and blue stripes. The nautical theme is especially popular in bathrooms.

In Provence, it is important that the living space is sufficiently illuminated by the sun. In Provence, it is customary to arrange the kitchen on the east side, so that during breakfast you can enjoy the first sunbeams... In a Provencal house, a person seems to follow the sun. Dinners are often organized at outdoor terrace located in the west.

Chandeliers, sconces, table lamps, floor lamps are usually forged. Lamp shades are often made of floral fabric.

The Provence style is worth it to be properly studied and perhaps something to design in this style at home.