Design of a French Country House The exteriors of many French country-style residences are made of stone, brick, or stucco. French country home windows frequently have many panes and are occasionally enhanced with iron balconies. The interiors feature wood furniture with exposed wood beams and wooden floors.
Features commonly found in French country houses include:
French country homes are generally two to four stories high with clapboard siding, wide porch areas, and usually include a basement. They tend to be more compact than American homes but not as small as English homes. The size of the house depends on the needs of the family. If the family is large, it may be necessary to build an addition on to the house for bedrooms or a kitchen.
The style of the home was created by Charles-Ange Leblanc in the 18th century. He built his manors in the Maine region of France outside of Paris exactly according to an old English model. These homes make use of natural materials such as stone, clay, timber, and even dirt if the land is fertile. The goal was to create a home that was self-sufficient and did not rely on electricity or plumbing for its survival.
Traditional French country houses had large gardens with trees, borders, and other landscaping features.
Many similarities exist between French-inspired and Mediterranean-style dwellings. Both styles share elaborate masonry, stucco cladding, and finely carved doorways. The front entryway of this French country property is highlighted by an elegant iron balcony. That same style can be found in many Mediterranean countries including Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece.
French country homes are characterized by their wide-open floor plans, high ceilings, and large windows. They often have a central hall with separate rooms off of it, such as a living room and dining room. The kitchen is usually located near the back of the house so that it does not interfere with outdoor living. A pantry may be available but not always included in the design of this type of home.
Mediterranean-style houses are generally smaller than their French counterparts and often have only three floors instead of four. Because much of Spain, France, and Italy is coastal, these dwellings will typically have two stories and a small attic space. They tend to use white walls as a backdrop for colorful tile or wood flooring. Windows are typically placed on both sides of the house for increased natural light and air circulation.
The term "French Countryside" refers to the rural scenery of France. This style of home development began around 1720 when the French government encouraged wealthy landowners to develop land previously used for grazing cattle or growing crops.
French rural architecture is an Old-World style that originated in France's countryside. The phrase refers to rural manor houses and chateaux built in the 1600s and 1700s. The style is characterized by large windows, high-peaked roofs, and exterior plasterwork.
Of all the European countries, France has the largest number of old buildings. Much of this architecture dates back more than 500 years. France's rural heritage is particularly important because most towns and cities across the country have a lot of old architecture.
There are two main types of French rural architecture: manorial homes and chateaux. Manors were large estates owned by wealthy landowners called barons or lords. They were usually located near towns or cities where they could attract workers and customers. Chateaux were smaller manors built for individual barons or nobles. They often had larger gardens and better-kept grounds than their manor house counterparts.
Some famous manors include Château de Versailles, which was built for King Louis XIV; and Château d'If, which was used as a prison and a hospital before being converted into a museum. There are also many chateaux around France including the one where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned after she was accused of treason.
The country's domestic architecture is quite diverse, and typical French houses in Brittany, Franche-Comte, and Parisian neighborhoods are plainly not the same. We shall not be discussing regional or Renaissance architecture, but rather specific home forms seen in France. There are essentially three main house types: the château, found mainly in central and northern France; the parish church, which serves as a model for town halls and other large buildings; and the farmhouse, which functions as the standard residence for farmers and agricultural workers.
All French houses have a door on the ground floor, some have more than one. The number of rooms varies from just a single room for a peasant family to several floors for a rich merchant's mansion. Windows are usually small, with only a few large windows on the upper floors. Each room has a window, although it may be blocked up by a partition or fitted with wooden shutters.
Roofs are generally flat, made of tiles or shingles. They may be steeply pitched or nearly flat, like a bell tent. Wooden beams run vertically between the walls and the roof, supporting them. These are called "joists" and are where the doors and windows are usually hung. Floors are usually made of wood or stone, with a rug placed over them at certain times of year.
Living Rooms in French Country Style. The goal of French country style is to combine the coziness of a rural house with the beauty of French design. We hope these living rooms inspire you as you plan your ideal French country living room. Let's take a look at some of the essential aspects of a French living room.
First, there are two types of French country living rooms: those with paneling and wainscoting, which make the space feel more traditional and cozy; and those with a stone or wood floor, which give the room a modern touch. Both types of rooms feature comfortable seating for watching television or reading, but if you want to show off your collection of books or magazines, you'll need another place to put them. Bookcases are extremely popular in French country living rooms, so if you have one, you're ready to go! Otherwise, you can use an end table or chest for keeping your items organized.
Second, French country style living rooms usually have four to five paneled walls, with the remaining wall covered in wallpaper. If you want to include other colors in your living room, such as red or blue, then just make sure they don't compete with the white used on all the other walls. A black-and-white photo arrangement is also very popular in French country style living rooms, so if you'd like to include some pictures, choose frames in contrasting colors instead of using white ones for visual interest.