Modern French Country Living Room – Learn the basics of French Country design style and how you can modernize it for to fit your lifestyle.

Hello Friends,

Today, I’m joining my three sweet interior design friends for our 3rd Edition of Designing Women Tell All. 

This month we’re discussing Living Rooms, Family Rooms, and Great Rooms. We all have different design styles, so this is sure to be a fun and information packed edition filled with beautiful rooms photos. And if you’re anything like me, I know you’ll love getting a peek inside of everyone’s home!

You can find our 1st Edition on 2023 Interior Design & Decorating Trends here and our 2nd Edition All About Kitchen Design here.

Welcome to My French Country Home

If you’ve been following me for a while, either here or on Instagram, then you already know that I have a love of French Country style. The soft, serene, and rustic elegant style of French and European Country design has a timeless and tranquil feel that speaks to my soul.

Thankfully, the exterior of our home is a French Country Farmhouse style, so it’s a match made in heaven, if you ask me!

The majority of our home is decorated in French Country, but I do also have a couple of French Country Farmhouse bedrooms; more on those at a later date.

Exterior of Our French Country Home

Characteristics of French Country Design

The French Country design style is a blend of rustic design elements of its provincial origin with the refined interiors of European homes.

Its charm and enduring appeal is that there is really no “One Size Fits All” recipe. There are however, design elements that are quintessential to the French Country style.

1. Timeless and tranquil, with a lived-in rustic elegant feel.
2. Soft color palettes of gentle neutrals (whites, creams, and beige) paired with faded colors of blues, greens, yellows, and browns.
3. Toile, chinoiserie, stripes, florals, checks, and plaids are the types of patterns often used. Natural fabrics in linen, velvet, and cotton are the top choices.
4. Brick, stone, and stucco materials are often used, both as interior and exterior building materials.
5. Wood beams, wood and natural stone flooring.
6. A blend of old (antique/antique reproduction) and new furniture is prevalent throughout home.
7. Timeworn and imperfect pieces are honored and welcomed in wood stained and painted furniture pieces.
8. French armchairs with exposed wood details, often upholstered in linen or velvet are commonplace, as is gilded accent furniture pieces.
9. Vintage-style chandeliers, sconces, and lamps are used throughout the home, often mixing and matching to have that curated over time look.
10. French mirrors are typically gilded or painted.
11. Landscapes, botanicals, portraits, and still life artwork pieces with vintage appeal can be seen throughout the home.

Our French Country Living Room

This is our main living room downstairs, so naturally it’s the room we gather with family and friends. It’s also the room where we watch television.

The overall size of the room is a fairly decent size at 21’L x 19’D, from window wall to opposite wall. However, we have three rooms that feed off of it, so the livable room size shrinks down to 16’L x 14’D due to needing walkways for traffic patterns. Thankfully, I can seat 7-9 people in here comfortably, when needed.

Modern French Country Living Room with Stone Fireplace Flanked by Built-In Cabinetry designed by Kristy Mastrandonas

Our French Country Living Room with Stone Fireplace and Custom Built-In Cabinetry

French Country Styling Ideas

Common accessories seen in French Country design:

1. Woven baskets
2. Ginger jars, either chinoiserie style, plain or embellished, or both
3. Candle holders of all sort of materials – wood, glass, gilded metal
4. Plates and large serving pieces are often used as decor when not in use
5. Corbels of all shapes and sizes, typically ornate in either chippy painted finishes or stained finishes
6. Decorative cloches and baskets made of chicken wire or glass
7. Books – old and new
8. Plants and flowers

French Country Living Room Coffee Table Styling

French Country Bookcase Styling

French Country Coastal Tabletop Decor

See my French Country Coastal Fall Decor here and my French Country Coastal Christmas Decor here.

What Is Modern French Country Design and How to Achieve This Look In Your Home

1. Use natural stone and patina finishes, inviting imperfections that add character and charm.
2. Choose light fixtures (chandeliers, sconces, pendants, and lamps) that have a painted or patina finish. Don’t be afraid to mix & match
3. Embrace clean and rustic design elements: wood beams , marble countertops and backsplashes, wood floors with imperfections.
4. Use furniture with gentle curves mixed with linear, more tailored furniture pieces in the same room. Those contradictions add interest and create your unique look.
5. Design with a Curated Eye – mix and match furniture in both stained and painted pieces, use both new and vintage pieces; select vintage-inspired artwork and one-of-a-kind pottery and accessories.
6. Use a serene and calming color palette, for all building material selections, paint colors, and furnishings. FYI…Neutral doesn’t have to be white, cream, beige, or grey. Think outside of the box and use a calming shade of green.
7. Layer soft colors and faded prints.
8. Use Rustic stone or stucco on the fireplace paired with a rough hewn mantel.
9. Above all, have fun! And remember, there’s no such thing as “One Size Fits All”!

Meet The Designing Women

Crystal of Sweet Valley Acres is a northern girl, living in Canada. Crystal has been an artist and dreamer since birth, and loves creating beautiful spaces in her home and garden for her family and friends to enjoy. She also loves pushing her builder husband, Bentley, to his very limits when it comes to building and renovating. After 33 years of marriage and taking on 11 homes that were the worst house on the block and turning them into show stoppers along with three new builds later, Crystal has a wealth of knowledge and experience. In addition, she has won many awards for garden design and used to own a home and garden decor store for many years. This month, Crystal is sharing Coastal Farmhouse decor ideas for your living room.

Coastal Styled Living Room by Crystal of Sweet Valley Acres

Lynn of Living Large in a Small House, lives on lakefront property in Illinois. She has a BA in Interior Design and was the owner of a full-service interior design studio for over 10 years. She specialized in high-end residential new build and renovation interior design, working as a team member with architects and contractors. Since 2000 she has consulted exclusively for friends and family. This month, Lynn is sharing her all of her best decorating tips on how to decorate with vintage decor pieces.

Vintage Decor Vignette by Living Large in A Small Home

Sheri of Savvy in the Suburbs, lives in Texas, not too far from me and we’re friends in real life! Sheri had a very successful interior design business for many years and is now enjoying fluffing her own nest, spending time with her family – three married children and five grandchildren, and growing in her relationship with the Lord. She relishes family time and believes in the old adage: God first, family second, all else third. She’s enjoying the opportunity to share this truth as well as her years of design expertise and love of all things home. This month, Sheri is sharing expertise on how to create a French Country Farmhouse feel in your family room.

French Farmhouse Family Room by Savvy in The Suburbs

And Yours Truly, Me!

For the past three decades I’ve been designing and decorating luxury model homes and private residences, and loved every minute of it…well, mostly!

I’ve recently semi-retired, but I’m still very passionate about interior design and decorating. And now that I have a little more time on my hands, I finally have the chance to share my 35 years of knowledge with you!

If you would like to know more about my credentials and a few fun facts about me, you can find that here.

Well, that it about wraps it up for today! Thanks so much for dropping by!

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