Country brings together under a common name a group of village areas, which include Provence. It is adjacent to such colorful "relatives" as Russian, Spanish, Italian, American styles. Provence is just one of the directions that is geographically tied to its place of birth - the southern region of France. In fact, this simple, distinctive ethnic style has a bright spot on the background of its “neighbors” and continues to attract more and more admirers who have been able to appreciate its lightness and unpretentiousness. What is the secret of such popularity? In a world where people are accustomed to reaching out for material values, flaunting, flaunting their wealth or imitating their existence, letting dust of "luxury" into the eyes, lacks conciseness, simplicity and comfort. Provence becomes an oasis of moral relaxation from the endless race, which has become an integral part of modern life.The direction is characterized by a special light, warm atmosphere, which is difficult to find in the chrome-plated hi-tech cold or the Loft air of industrialization. How difficult is it to design a Provence style living room? Is this option suitable for budget repairs and is the task feasible without the involvement of external masters? In the article we will answer these and many other questions.
Provence style got its bewitching name because of the area in which it formed. Now this historical region in the south of France is part of a large region (Alps-Cote d'Azur-Provence). Its capital, Aix-en-Provence, is considered one of the oldest French cities. The outlines of the region were formed using natural borders: the Mediterranean Sea, the Alpine slopes and the picturesque Rodan River, which carries its waters all the way to Switzerland. The region is replete with vibrant landscapes that amaze tourists with its simple beauty and rustic charm. The warm climate, the sea coast, the snow-capped peaks of the Alps on the horizon, numerous villages and sights, cobblestone streets, low stone fences, neat squares, lavender field carpets and the special coziness of a hospitable heartland - all this splendor won over not one heart that looked at the bright light of Provence . Due to the mixing of cultures, one can stumble upon tombstones of the times of the Roman Empire, the ruins of majestic cathedrals, fortress walls, examples of ancient architecture and monumental castles of medieval nobles.It was this region that “seasoned” with traditional herbs traditional French cuisine, which gained new notes of original taste, which became known far beyond the borders of the country. Local residents grow spices right in the gardens near the houses: miniature beds in addition to practical purposes also decorate the landscape.
It is not at all surprising that the hospitable corner of France has become a Mecca for tourists and those who just want to have a nice vacation. So what style could appear under the warm wind among mountains and panoramas of sea bays, where the waters of the Mediterranean Sea have been gnawed by stone cliffs for many centuries? Unusual, inspiring, picturesque, rustic beautiful and simple, cozy, warm, with a delicate aroma of spices, immersed in greenery and lush inflorescences - this is the only way to describe genuine Provence. He is completely deprived of the pretentiousness of luxury, it is not customary to shock the public and showily demonstrate his wealth. In the outback, even time flows differently - life slows down. Provence inspired artists, poets, writers, architects and musicians. Here is the same If castle, beyond the walls of which on the pages of the Dumas novel languished Edmond Dantes, the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde (the "guardian" of Marseilles), the ancient "papal" city of Avignon, the pearl of the Cote d'Azur Nice, the lavender plateau Valensole, Verdon Gorge and the "dead city" Le Baux de Provence, hollowed out in the rocks. On these lands lived the Celts, Romans, Gauls, Greeks, Germanic tribes (Franks and Visigoths), Arabs. In ancient times, Provence was even a sovereign Kingdom, which subsequently first became part of the Holy Roman Empire, and then France. In this region, for many centuries there has been a tremendous mixture of cultures, which was reflected in the interiors of local houses. The Provence style is considered to be the “beginning” of the style of the end of the 16th - the beginning of the 17th centuries, when it finally acquired clear forms, primarily in local architecture. It turned into a full-fledged line of design as a counterweight to the complex, ornate baroque, which at that time was "professed" in the north of France.Although Provence existed before, but it did not have clear canons in the design and official status of the “style” of the French hinterland, one of the varieties of country music.
Characteristics and features of the style
The following features are characteristic of Provence, by which it is possible to easily determine this particular style:
The abundance of white and pastel colors in colors.
A lot of greenery: spicy herbs, weaving plants (hops, ivy, grapes), small wildflowers.
Old, battered furniture that underwent restoration, but retained its history even under a layer of paint.
Wicker chairs and tables that can be easily used both in the house and in the backyard.
Wide panoramic windows providing access to the magnificent scenery on the street.
The abundance of decorative elements made by hand (the so-called handmade), small sculptures, paintings with rural landscapes.
Floral prints, a perky cage and a strip typical for country textiles (furniture upholstery, curtains, tablecloths, carpets).
The prevalence of wood, natural stone or brick, metals (brass, copper) in the decoration.
Cotton and linen are the two main textile materials. If you use another fabric, then it must be natural. Provence does not tolerate synthetics.
Massive chandeliers, wrought iron candelabra and lamps.
Decor is an important part of the Provence style. You don’t have to skimp on it. For the living room, paintings, vases, mirrors, pots with fresh flowers, wicker baskets, blankets, hand-sewn pillowcases for sofa pillows are ideal. The true center of gravity of the living room in the center of Provence will be a fireplace with a bundle of firewood in a forged wood and a ceramic shelf under beautiful little things.
Zoning - space organization
The classic layout of any room, whether it be a bedroom or a kitchen, is carried out according to a simple principle: free space in the center and filled at the edges.Modern interiors of studio apartments and combined rooms have long moved away from these canons. They actively use original options for dividing the space. In a living room decorated in the Provence style, absolutely any zoning methods are applicable:
The actual separation of the two areas of the combined room using furniture, decorative screens, classic arches, textile curtains.
Conditional zoning with color, light or using different prints / patterns on the surface of finishing materials.
You can also distinguish a room with the help of paired decor elements. For these purposes, for example, two massive floor vases, or tubs with weaving plants, are suitable. By the way, the “living wall” of decorative scindapsus, cissus, ivy, philodendron (room grapes) or monstera will ideally fit into the interior of any room in the Provence style.
Color solutions and prints
To draw inspiration, choosing the basis of the interior palette, you can watch the spring blooming nature. The color scheme of Provence is based on white and light shades of lilac (lavender), green (leaves of plants), brown (tree), blue (water and sky), yellow (sun). You can safely use light colors of any color, it is impossible to "miss" with them.
White living room
If the room is small, then you can resort to a win-win option and make the main color white. It symbolizes purity, integrity and has a beneficial effect on a person. Of course, the “sterile” whiteness is not suitable for decorating a living room; in any case, it will have to be diluted with a pair of other shades. Since white is neutral in nature, it is successfully combined with any bright and pastel colors. As part of the Provence style, it is better to use brown - the natural color of wood and create an interior with an ombre effect: color gradation from white to brown using intermediate tones.From a variety of shades, it’s enough to choose four or five, which together will create a soft, light composition. To give the interior airiness, you can use a couple of accents of sky blue or pistachio, olive flowers.
Living room in pastel colors
Pastel colors are the basis of the Provence style. What colors belong to this group? The main characteristic of pastel tones is their muffledness, but in no case is not faded. If you draw a parallel with watercolor paints, then the color on the palette is not diluted with water, after which it loses saturation, and is made less bright due to the addition of white. If you add milk to the juicy blue of the sky or the greens of fresh foliage, you will get one of the pastel shades. The most popular tones of this group include brown derivatives: cream, beige, coffee with milk, vanilla, terracotta, ocher, golden brown, chocolate, flax, pearl and ivory. To create a composition in the Provence style, pink, sky blue, pale lilac, peach, and pale yellow are also suitable. When drawing up a color composition, only the principle of combining shades and their quantity is of importance. It is not recommended to use more than seven to eight pastel colors. It is best to resort to the combination algorithm by analogy: one main color and two or three of its “pale” derivatives with varying degrees of saturation.
The group of pastel tones includes shades of all eight colors (the colors of the rainbow and purple, as the connecting link of the Itten circle between red and purple) and even gray, which is nothing more than “diluted” white with black.
Shades of blue and lavender
Lavender color and shades of blue are bright colors, the juiciness of which needs to be balanced with white, gray or pastel neutral tone, a close relative of the main in Itten's circle.For example, snow-white furniture looks great against the background of wallpaper in a blue flower and organically combines with lavender curtains, carpet, tablecloth or upholstery of upholstered furniture.
Shades of green and olive
Shades of green can be present in the living room exclusively in indoor plants, but these tones will make a wonderful basis for the color composition. For finishes in the Provence style, you should choose muted variations: malachite, olive, viridian, khaki, mustard, jade, emerald. In smaller portions, brighter tones are added to the composition: mint, pistachio, spring green, chartreuse, lime. Greenery is tinted with white, pastel shades of brown (a natural combination of a tree trunk and its crown) and gray.
Bright colors in style.
Provence is full of optimism and warmth, it is simply impossible to create such an atmosphere without bright notes. Juicy colors must be carefully added to the interior picture, evenly distributing them throughout the room. It is optimal to use saturated colors in decor and textiles: carpets, curtains, furniture upholstery, pillows, bedspreads, vases, caskets, baskets. As accents, you can take purple, yellow, blue, green, purple colors.
Finishing and materials
Provence style does not accept imitation. Only natural materials should be used in the decoration. Of course, you can make exceptions for urban apartments, where conditions, for example, do not allow the walls to be sheathed with natural stone, but the imitation should be of the highest quality, that is, visually indistinguishable from the original. Although the Provence-style interior looks simple enough, you will have to prepare your wallet for serious tests before purchasing materials, since in this case you won’t get cheap.
Walls
For walls, ordinary plaster is suitable. It is carelessly aligned to create slight surface irregularities. Plaster can be combined with brick or stone.The latter is better left for finishing those sections of the wall that are located below 1 m. Otherwise, too heavy masonry will give an extra load to the surface. Such decoration in the fireplace area will look luxurious. Wallpaper is also a great option for a Provence style living room. You should choose a material with a picture in a small flower. It is allowed to combine several patterns or alternate stripes in a flower with checkered or striped wallpaper. In country houses, you can use a rounded beam or logs from which the building is built as a finish. Their surface is covered with special compounds that will protect the material and extend its useful life. Combined options look good: wooden walls and surfaces glued with wallpaper or covered with plaster.
Floor
When designing the floor, you will have to forget about such affordable and cheap materials as carpet and linoleum. Expensive bulk coating is also not combined with the rustic simplicity of the Provence style. The best solution is a tree, preferably in the form of boards. Plank floors with light scuffs - a kind of time stamp are only welcome. In the recreation area, near armchairs and a sofa, the floor can be covered with a short-haired carpet.
Ceiling
The ceiling should be white and not attract too much attention, since the main accent of the surface - a massive chandelier more than compensates for this monotony and nondescriptness. It is better to use regular plaster. As we have already mentioned, the Alps surround this region of France from the west, therefore, there are light notes of chalet in the style - a direction characteristic of mountain villages. One of the distinguishing features of this style is the use of massive wooden beams with roughly processed surfaces. Previously, they were an integral part of the design, but subsequently transformed into a decorative element.The Provence-style ceiling can be complemented with light wood beams, while the chalet is mostly dark wood. To emphasize the color scheme of the living room, their surface can be painted in the shade of the main tone. In country houses, where the ceilings are high, it is allowed to use wood to finish the entire surface.
Lighting
Decorative lighting, which is so popular in modern styles, is not suitable for Provence. The light should be soft and as natural as possible. A massive ceiling chandelier is an indispensable element in the style of the French outback. Models decorated with wrought iron and crystal are welcome. Perhaps this is the only element of luxury that has been preserved in the Provence style, as a relic of classicism, from the heyday of the latter. Local lighting is represented by wall sconces, table and floor lamps. They are decorated with forging, fabric shades in a small flower. As a complement to the main lighting, you can use massive metal candle holders with tall wax candles.
Living room furniture
Upholstered furniture is chosen from wood with floral upholstery, in a cage or strip. The recreation area is decorated according to the classical scheme: in the center is a wooden coffee table with forging elements, surrounded by a sofa and a pair of armchairs. Near one of the walls they put an open rack for books and small decor with a niche for a TV. By the way, if there is an opportunity, then it is better to hide this child of the century of high technologies behind the door, since it does not always look appropriate in a rustic interior. You can use old furniture that is being restored: covered with paint, create artificial scuffs, decorated with paintings and decoupage. Forged fittings, decorative monograms, carved patterns on the facades are welcome. Furniture on tall, curved legs will look stylish.
For a chest of drawers or a coffee table, you can go not to a furniture store, but to the so-called flea market, where old furniture and decor are sold. There is always the possibility that you will find a great antique item or armchair, sofa that has no value, but is shrouded in its history. Time stamped things are highly regarded in provence.
Windows - design options
Windows should remain open, that is, they cannot be covered with dense curtain fabrics and deprive the living room of natural light. In the French outback, the houses are equipped with panoramic windows that lead directly to the backyard to a gazebo or patio with a fountain. In city apartments (especially Khrushchev), one can only dream of such luxury. For Provence, Roman, French and Austrian curtains very similar to them are suitable. If the windows are large enough, then the top can be decorated with a lambrequin. For narrow small windows, simple modern curtains on grommets or pleated blinds are more suitable. If the owners want to add a twist to the design of the windows, then you can use the stylish Color Block models with the ombre effect, in which the fabric is painted in several shades that flow smoothly into each other. Bamboo, panel, Japanese curtains and blinds for Provence will not work. If you add them to the interior, then it will become more eclectic.
Decor and accessories
Even at the dawn of the Provence style, the inhabitants of French villages made furniture and decor with their own hands. If earlier furnishings were the result of hard work, now the process of their creation has turned more likely into a pleasure and a useful hobby. A pleasant bonus to handicraft production will be the reduction in the cost of repairs for exactly the amount that you would have to spend on the purchase of items made by yourself. The interior in the style of Provence uses an abundance of decor. Not a heap, but a moderate placement of jewelry, which add a special charm to the design.Pillowcases for pillows, curtains, lampshades, tablecloths do it yourself. A warm shawl or plaid, which will artistically fall in neat folds from a sofa or chair, can be knitted from coarse threads. Baskets for storing little things are woven from willow twigs. Vases, flower pots, caskets are decorated with mosaics of placers of ceramic fragments, kraft paper, burlap and twine. A stylish addition to the mantelpiece will be an embroidered tapestry seam in an oval frame.
Living room with fireplace in a country house
The presence of a fireplace in the living room in the Provence style makes the interior cozy and adds “warm” notes to it. The hearth is invariably associated with a measured rural life. The fireplace can be made of brick or stone. It is complemented by a stylish wrought iron firewood and decorative stands on high legs with wide metal plates. On special occasions, candles are placed on them. If the room is large enough, then you can install a freestanding fireplace. For more popular attached models, the wall is decorated with a group of paintings in the framework of different shapes, painted plates, small racks on the sides with books and small decor. To mark a separate resting place under the crack of burning firewood, you can put a low couch, ottoman or banquet with colorful upholstery on curved legs near the fireplace.
Living room in Khrushchev
The hall in Khrushchev, as a rule, does not differ in dimensions. For the living room, compact furniture is chosen and the Provence style is combined with the principles of minimalism. The task is difficult, but doable. It is better to refuse the central location of the furniture group (sofa / armchairs / coffee table). They lean the sofa against one of the walls, and on the contrary put a rack with a niche under the TV. It is better to use a compact coffee table on wheels, which, if necessary, can be moved to another place. In the design of small rooms adhere to pastel colors in combination with white.Instead of multilayer Roman or Austrian curtains, laconic curtains are hung on the windows.
Kitchen-living room in a studio apartment
In combined versions, the living room is usually combined with a kitchen and dining room. Differentiation of zones can be carried out using furniture (just turn the sofa back to the kitchen), decor, color and texture of finishing materials. Decorative gratings made of metal or wooden battens painted in light colors will suit Provence. The kitchen area is decorated with typical decorations for rustic interiors: bow knits, painted dishes, straw and burlap panels, wicker baskets for storing vegetables. In decoration, it is better to use tiles. It is better to abandon the popular bar counter, which helps to combine areas in modern apartments, in favor of a traditional dining table with a group of wooden chairs. If the room is large enough, then you can resort to a peninsular layout, which in the interior of Provence will look appropriate.
Conclusion
Provence has incorporated centuries-old traditions of designing village houses in the south of France. The unhurried, unhurried life of the outback is strikingly different from the crazy urban pace and magnetically attracts the tired, weakened inhabitants of the "concrete jungle". It’s not so difficult to recreate a piece of this cozy oasis at home, we are convinced of this. And it does not matter which apartments are at your disposal: a country house, a private cottage, a cramped or spacious apartment. The light, warm wind of the Cote d'Azur with an admixture of alpine freshness, the scent of lavender fields and hints of spices can burst into any dwelling, just want to.
Country brings together under a common name a group of village areas, which include Provence. It is adjacent to such colorful "relatives" as Russian, Spanish, Italian, American styles. Provence is just one of the directions that is geographically tied to its place of birth - the southern region of France. In fact, this simple, distinctive ethnic style has a bright spot on the background of its “neighbors” and continues to attract more and more admirers who have been able to appreciate its lightness and unpretentiousness. What is the secret of such popularity? In a world where people are accustomed to reaching out for material values, flaunting, flaunting their wealth or imitating their existence, letting dust of "luxury" into the eyes, lacks conciseness, simplicity and comfort. Provence becomes an oasis of moral relaxation from the endless race, which has become an integral part of modern life.The direction is characterized by a special light, warm atmosphere, which is difficult to find in the chrome-plated hi-tech cold or the Loft air of industrialization. How difficult is it to design a Provence style living room? Is this option suitable for budget repairs and is the task feasible without the involvement of external masters? In the article we will answer these and many other questions.
Content
History of the appearance of style
Provence style got its bewitching name because of the area in which it formed. Now this historical region in the south of France is part of a large region (Alps-Cote d'Azur-Provence). Its capital, Aix-en-Provence, is considered one of the oldest French cities. The outlines of the region were formed using natural borders: the Mediterranean Sea, the Alpine slopes and the picturesque Rodan River, which carries its waters all the way to Switzerland. The region is replete with vibrant landscapes that amaze tourists with its simple beauty and rustic charm. The warm climate, the sea coast, the snow-capped peaks of the Alps on the horizon, numerous villages and sights, cobblestone streets, low stone fences, neat squares, lavender field carpets and the special coziness of a hospitable heartland - all this splendor won over not one heart that looked at the bright light of Provence . Due to the mixing of cultures, one can stumble upon tombstones of the times of the Roman Empire, the ruins of majestic cathedrals, fortress walls, examples of ancient architecture and monumental castles of medieval nobles.It was this region that “seasoned” with traditional herbs traditional French cuisine, which gained new notes of original taste, which became known far beyond the borders of the country. Local residents grow spices right in the gardens near the houses: miniature beds in addition to practical purposes also decorate the landscape.
It is not at all surprising that the hospitable corner of France has become a Mecca for tourists and those who just want to have a nice vacation. So what style could appear under the warm wind among mountains and panoramas of sea bays, where the waters of the Mediterranean Sea have been gnawed by stone cliffs for many centuries? Unusual, inspiring, picturesque, rustic beautiful and simple, cozy, warm, with a delicate aroma of spices, immersed in greenery and lush inflorescences - this is the only way to describe genuine Provence. He is completely deprived of the pretentiousness of luxury, it is not customary to shock the public and showily demonstrate his wealth. In the outback, even time flows differently - life slows down. Provence inspired artists, poets, writers, architects and musicians. Here is the same If castle, beyond the walls of which on the pages of the Dumas novel languished Edmond Dantes, the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde (the "guardian" of Marseilles), the ancient "papal" city of Avignon, the pearl of the Cote d'Azur Nice, the lavender plateau Valensole, Verdon Gorge and the "dead city" Le Baux de Provence, hollowed out in the rocks. On these lands lived the Celts, Romans, Gauls, Greeks, Germanic tribes (Franks and Visigoths), Arabs. In ancient times, Provence was even a sovereign Kingdom, which subsequently first became part of the Holy Roman Empire, and then France. In this region, for many centuries there has been a tremendous mixture of cultures, which was reflected in the interiors of local houses. The Provence style is considered to be the “beginning” of the style of the end of the 16th - the beginning of the 17th centuries, when it finally acquired clear forms, primarily in local architecture. It turned into a full-fledged line of design as a counterweight to the complex, ornate baroque, which at that time was "professed" in the north of France.Although Provence existed before, but it did not have clear canons in the design and official status of the “style” of the French hinterland, one of the varieties of country music.
Characteristics and features of the style
The following features are characteristic of Provence, by which it is possible to easily determine this particular style:
Decor is an important part of the Provence style. You don’t have to skimp on it. For the living room, paintings, vases, mirrors, pots with fresh flowers, wicker baskets, blankets, hand-sewn pillowcases for sofa pillows are ideal. The true center of gravity of the living room in the center of Provence will be a fireplace with a bundle of firewood in a forged wood and a ceramic shelf under beautiful little things.
Zoning - space organization
The classic layout of any room, whether it be a bedroom or a kitchen, is carried out according to a simple principle: free space in the center and filled at the edges.Modern interiors of studio apartments and combined rooms have long moved away from these canons. They actively use original options for dividing the space. In a living room decorated in the Provence style, absolutely any zoning methods are applicable:
You can also distinguish a room with the help of paired decor elements. For these purposes, for example, two massive floor vases, or tubs with weaving plants, are suitable. By the way, the “living wall” of decorative scindapsus, cissus, ivy, philodendron (room grapes) or monstera will ideally fit into the interior of any room in the Provence style.
Color solutions and prints
To draw inspiration, choosing the basis of the interior palette, you can watch the spring blooming nature. The color scheme of Provence is based on white and light shades of lilac (lavender), green (leaves of plants), brown (tree), blue (water and sky), yellow (sun). You can safely use light colors of any color, it is impossible to "miss" with them.
White living room
If the room is small, then you can resort to a win-win option and make the main color white. It symbolizes purity, integrity and has a beneficial effect on a person. Of course, the “sterile” whiteness is not suitable for decorating a living room; in any case, it will have to be diluted with a pair of other shades. Since white is neutral in nature, it is successfully combined with any bright and pastel colors. As part of the Provence style, it is better to use brown - the natural color of wood and create an interior with an ombre effect: color gradation from white to brown using intermediate tones.From a variety of shades, it’s enough to choose four or five, which together will create a soft, light composition. To give the interior airiness, you can use a couple of accents of sky blue or pistachio, olive flowers.
Living room in pastel colors
Pastel colors are the basis of the Provence style. What colors belong to this group? The main characteristic of pastel tones is their muffledness, but in no case is not faded. If you draw a parallel with watercolor paints, then the color on the palette is not diluted with water, after which it loses saturation, and is made less bright due to the addition of white. If you add milk to the juicy blue of the sky or the greens of fresh foliage, you will get one of the pastel shades. The most popular tones of this group include brown derivatives: cream, beige, coffee with milk, vanilla, terracotta, ocher, golden brown, chocolate, flax, pearl and ivory. To create a composition in the Provence style, pink, sky blue, pale lilac, peach, and pale yellow are also suitable. When drawing up a color composition, only the principle of combining shades and their quantity is of importance. It is not recommended to use more than seven to eight pastel colors. It is best to resort to the combination algorithm by analogy: one main color and two or three of its “pale” derivatives with varying degrees of saturation.
Shades of blue and lavender
Lavender color and shades of blue are bright colors, the juiciness of which needs to be balanced with white, gray or pastel neutral tone, a close relative of the main in Itten's circle.For example, snow-white furniture looks great against the background of wallpaper in a blue flower and organically combines with lavender curtains, carpet, tablecloth or upholstery of upholstered furniture.
Shades of green and olive
Shades of green can be present in the living room exclusively in indoor plants, but these tones will make a wonderful basis for the color composition. For finishes in the Provence style, you should choose muted variations: malachite, olive, viridian, khaki, mustard, jade, emerald. In smaller portions, brighter tones are added to the composition: mint, pistachio, spring green, chartreuse, lime. Greenery is tinted with white, pastel shades of brown (a natural combination of a tree trunk and its crown) and gray.
Bright colors in style.
Provence is full of optimism and warmth, it is simply impossible to create such an atmosphere without bright notes. Juicy colors must be carefully added to the interior picture, evenly distributing them throughout the room. It is optimal to use saturated colors in decor and textiles: carpets, curtains, furniture upholstery, pillows, bedspreads, vases, caskets, baskets. As accents, you can take purple, yellow, blue, green, purple colors.
Finishing and materials
Provence style does not accept imitation. Only natural materials should be used in the decoration. Of course, you can make exceptions for urban apartments, where conditions, for example, do not allow the walls to be sheathed with natural stone, but the imitation should be of the highest quality, that is, visually indistinguishable from the original. Although the Provence-style interior looks simple enough, you will have to prepare your wallet for serious tests before purchasing materials, since in this case you won’t get cheap.
Walls
For walls, ordinary plaster is suitable. It is carelessly aligned to create slight surface irregularities. Plaster can be combined with brick or stone.The latter is better left for finishing those sections of the wall that are located below 1 m. Otherwise, too heavy masonry will give an extra load to the surface. Such decoration in the fireplace area will look luxurious. Wallpaper is also a great option for a Provence style living room. You should choose a material with a picture in a small flower. It is allowed to combine several patterns or alternate stripes in a flower with checkered or striped wallpaper. In country houses, you can use a rounded beam or logs from which the building is built as a finish. Their surface is covered with special compounds that will protect the material and extend its useful life. Combined options look good: wooden walls and surfaces glued with wallpaper or covered with plaster.
Floor
When designing the floor, you will have to forget about such affordable and cheap materials as carpet and linoleum. Expensive bulk coating is also not combined with the rustic simplicity of the Provence style. The best solution is a tree, preferably in the form of boards. Plank floors with light scuffs - a kind of time stamp are only welcome. In the recreation area, near armchairs and a sofa, the floor can be covered with a short-haired carpet.
Ceiling
The ceiling should be white and not attract too much attention, since the main accent of the surface - a massive chandelier more than compensates for this monotony and nondescriptness. It is better to use regular plaster. As we have already mentioned, the Alps surround this region of France from the west, therefore, there are light notes of chalet in the style - a direction characteristic of mountain villages. One of the distinguishing features of this style is the use of massive wooden beams with roughly processed surfaces. Previously, they were an integral part of the design, but subsequently transformed into a decorative element.The Provence-style ceiling can be complemented with light wood beams, while the chalet is mostly dark wood. To emphasize the color scheme of the living room, their surface can be painted in the shade of the main tone. In country houses, where the ceilings are high, it is allowed to use wood to finish the entire surface.
Lighting
Decorative lighting, which is so popular in modern styles, is not suitable for Provence. The light should be soft and as natural as possible. A massive ceiling chandelier is an indispensable element in the style of the French outback. Models decorated with wrought iron and crystal are welcome. Perhaps this is the only element of luxury that has been preserved in the Provence style, as a relic of classicism, from the heyday of the latter. Local lighting is represented by wall sconces, table and floor lamps. They are decorated with forging, fabric shades in a small flower. As a complement to the main lighting, you can use massive metal candle holders with tall wax candles.
Living room furniture
Upholstered furniture is chosen from wood with floral upholstery, in a cage or strip. The recreation area is decorated according to the classical scheme: in the center is a wooden coffee table with forging elements, surrounded by a sofa and a pair of armchairs. Near one of the walls they put an open rack for books and small decor with a niche for a TV. By the way, if there is an opportunity, then it is better to hide this child of the century of high technologies behind the door, since it does not always look appropriate in a rustic interior. You can use old furniture that is being restored: covered with paint, create artificial scuffs, decorated with paintings and decoupage. Forged fittings, decorative monograms, carved patterns on the facades are welcome. Furniture on tall, curved legs will look stylish.
Windows - design options
Windows should remain open, that is, they cannot be covered with dense curtain fabrics and deprive the living room of natural light. In the French outback, the houses are equipped with panoramic windows that lead directly to the backyard to a gazebo or patio with a fountain. In city apartments (especially Khrushchev), one can only dream of such luxury. For Provence, Roman, French and Austrian curtains very similar to them are suitable. If the windows are large enough, then the top can be decorated with a lambrequin. For narrow small windows, simple modern curtains on grommets or pleated blinds are more suitable. If the owners want to add a twist to the design of the windows, then you can use the stylish Color Block models with the ombre effect, in which the fabric is painted in several shades that flow smoothly into each other. Bamboo, panel, Japanese curtains and blinds for Provence will not work. If you add them to the interior, then it will become more eclectic.
Decor and accessories
Even at the dawn of the Provence style, the inhabitants of French villages made furniture and decor with their own hands. If earlier furnishings were the result of hard work, now the process of their creation has turned more likely into a pleasure and a useful hobby. A pleasant bonus to handicraft production will be the reduction in the cost of repairs for exactly the amount that you would have to spend on the purchase of items made by yourself. The interior in the style of Provence uses an abundance of decor. Not a heap, but a moderate placement of jewelry, which add a special charm to the design.Pillowcases for pillows, curtains, lampshades, tablecloths do it yourself. A warm shawl or plaid, which will artistically fall in neat folds from a sofa or chair, can be knitted from coarse threads. Baskets for storing little things are woven from willow twigs. Vases, flower pots, caskets are decorated with mosaics of placers of ceramic fragments, kraft paper, burlap and twine. A stylish addition to the mantelpiece will be an embroidered tapestry seam in an oval frame.
Living room with fireplace in a country house
The presence of a fireplace in the living room in the Provence style makes the interior cozy and adds “warm” notes to it. The hearth is invariably associated with a measured rural life. The fireplace can be made of brick or stone. It is complemented by a stylish wrought iron firewood and decorative stands on high legs with wide metal plates. On special occasions, candles are placed on them. If the room is large enough, then you can install a freestanding fireplace. For more popular attached models, the wall is decorated with a group of paintings in the framework of different shapes, painted plates, small racks on the sides with books and small decor. To mark a separate resting place under the crack of burning firewood, you can put a low couch, ottoman or banquet with colorful upholstery on curved legs near the fireplace.
Living room in Khrushchev
The hall in Khrushchev, as a rule, does not differ in dimensions. For the living room, compact furniture is chosen and the Provence style is combined with the principles of minimalism. The task is difficult, but doable. It is better to refuse the central location of the furniture group (sofa / armchairs / coffee table). They lean the sofa against one of the walls, and on the contrary put a rack with a niche under the TV. It is better to use a compact coffee table on wheels, which, if necessary, can be moved to another place. In the design of small rooms adhere to pastel colors in combination with white.Instead of multilayer Roman or Austrian curtains, laconic curtains are hung on the windows.
Kitchen-living room in a studio apartment
In combined versions, the living room is usually combined with a kitchen and dining room. Differentiation of zones can be carried out using furniture (just turn the sofa back to the kitchen), decor, color and texture of finishing materials. Decorative gratings made of metal or wooden battens painted in light colors will suit Provence. The kitchen area is decorated with typical decorations for rustic interiors: bow knits, painted dishes, straw and burlap panels, wicker baskets for storing vegetables. In decoration, it is better to use tiles. It is better to abandon the popular bar counter, which helps to combine areas in modern apartments, in favor of a traditional dining table with a group of wooden chairs. If the room is large enough, then you can resort to a peninsular layout, which in the interior of Provence will look appropriate.
Conclusion
Provence has incorporated centuries-old traditions of designing village houses in the south of France. The unhurried, unhurried life of the outback is strikingly different from the crazy urban pace and magnetically attracts the tired, weakened inhabitants of the "concrete jungle". It’s not so difficult to recreate a piece of this cozy oasis at home, we are convinced of this. And it does not matter which apartments are at your disposal: a country house, a private cottage, a cramped or spacious apartment. The light, warm wind of the Cote d'Azur with an admixture of alpine freshness, the scent of lavender fields and hints of spices can burst into any dwelling, just want to.