French Country Style Architecture

Exterior

• The chateau-style look characteristic of many early French homes exudes ornamentation and the formality of luxury and richness. As with any design, cultural fashion or fad, the pendulum is bound to swing the other way at some point. In French architecture, this shift came in the form of the French Country style. The French Country style moved away from the classic formality and high fashion of the chateau style, returning architecture to a more natural design. The exteriors of these homes are usually humble, often incorporating stone or stucco on the exterior.

Roof

• The roof of the French Country style building has a steeped pitched line. The high angled roof gives the appearance of height and spaciousness. The roof line includes dormer windows. The dormer window is a window set in a framework extension, providing both light and air to the upper parts of the house. Tiles are common on roofs, as they are in most other areas of a French Country building.

Interior

• Inside the French Country style building, floors are typically made of tile, stone or wooden planks. The decor is understated elegance rather than ostentation, inviting the warmth of family with the use of products found in nature. The inside architecture of the French Country style includes wide, prominent wooden beams in the ceiling along with arched entryways. Plaster smooths down the walls. The floor plans of French Country style buildings tend to be designed symmetrically. Natural materials predominate throughout the buildings designed in French Country style.

Colors & Texture

• French Country style architecture can be suited to the tastes of the owners, but traditionally included yellow interior walls with red or blue accent colors. The designers in the French Country architectural style add charm and warmth with the use of warm, bright colors. While cool colors of green and blue sooth and calm, warm colors of red, orange, and yellow excite and energize.