A light taupe would work well, depending on your counter selection. Something like these.

Are you planning on painting the cabinets? Painting traditional raised panel cabinetry like that seems to lend itself to taking on a French country flair! Here is a link you might find useful: White Kitchen Cabinet Article on Maria Killiam's site (if you click on the link, scroll down for a good example of painted oak cabinets helping a kitchen taking on a French Country flair) HTH

I like the flooring and the handle you chose! I agree with previous post to use lightest color in fabric sample. Good luck!

Pick a color out of the fabric, a lighter version of the gold in the fabric sounds spot on! -Erin

I lute favorite kitchen - from houzz, of course. So paint cabinets white - pine butcher block counters ( or a good quality arborite in pine ) and pine pulls. Back slash white tiles. Dreamy! You don't need to go with the farm sink. You can the rest of the photos on houzz

Don't know what happened with the first couple words of my post above.....?! Here is one other pic.

I would definitely paint your cabinets a lovely off white. Either add a Quartz kitchen top. Their is a lovely white with sparkly bits which will ounce light around. As for your wall color I would choose a lovely light grey. Splash a k can be a lovely wallpaper with a whitand black pattern. You can then have glass installed over the wall paper to protectors spills.

If you change your cupboard handles go for a metallic black finish. Bring in splashes of red with accessories to Brighton things up like a red kettle etc. carry a red throw theough to your sitting room and dining area. Hope this helps. Laureen

Decide what will be the biggest 'wow' of the kitchen and then spin off colors from there.

The last kitchen remodel I did, we found the most beautiful granite for the counter tops. It have large veins of merlot running through it. So the colors of the the rest of the kitchen were muted and matching for this. We had cherry cabinets (with lit glass uppers to keep the heaviness down) and a marble backsplash with a very light merlot grout. And although the buyers like lots about the house, they cited the kitchen as the decision maker.

I would suggest re-claimed barn wood for some of the counters, some sort of stone on the island, not granite.The cabinets can be painted Farrow&Ball "Fawn", on the upper ones," French Gray" or "Blue Gray" on the lower cabinets..break it up!Walls can be plastered with a rough finish "Clunch" color also from F&B.. A rustic farm sink for sure, what else in France do they use? I would choose fabric last, it is the least important! Concentrate on the things that will not be changing through the years..You can visit my kitchen in Better Homes&Garden Feb.2012 or Cottage Style (fall winter 2014) . Ann Rae Interiors in Guilford, ct.

For a french country look, I would go with either a soft yellow or, if you're willing to put in a little more time, a faux plaster finish in similar colors. Lighter and warmer than your current gold color, but it would go nicely with your curtain swatch. And (like the great kitchen below) blue accents here and there will help the look.

You should choose the paint color LAST depending on what counter top you choose (even the paint color for the cabinets if you are going to paint them). There are a million paint colors to choose from but a much smaller selection of hard materials.

Here is a post from a color expert: http://www.mariakillam.com/vancouver-colour-expert-how-to-pick-the-right-colours-for-your-kitchen/

I agree with considering the idea of painting your cabinets an off white to gray color. Nuvo Cabinet Paint is really easy to use (you don't have to sand your cabinets before painting... Just clean well with windex). If you are leaving the cabinets as they are, My suggestion would be a soft yellow like Butter Up or Full Moon but Sherwin Williams and go with light colored counters so that your red and black accents shine!

Celery green. Absolutely. No 'down days' in the kitchen when it's celery green. There's lots of space in this colour to choose the kind of green you like. I speak from experience.

follow a few of the links provided and go with the look and colors you prefer... this is one link I found... [French Country kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/country-french-cottage-traditional-kitchen-salt-lake-city-phvw-vp~3688471)

Best color to go with those wood cabinets

Hi Kimberleys. Lots of good ideas here. Love the French country idea you have. Is there any green in your fabric? Green is fabulous. Light yellow is classic french country. you really should paint some or all cabs. Many French country kitchens have at least two different cab finishes/colours. What do you think of these as inspiration?

You definitely will want to encorporate a big beautiful swirley iron chandelier like these!!! I'm getting excited!!!

Pat Sawyer - I have a gardener green country French kitchen. Agree with maggiesetler to pick out countertop first. Think about what a little French farmer would have in his country home! My cabinets (brand new) are ivory with solid on bottom and glass opaque on the top. My window treatment is simple white background with black French script and red postage stamps. Went with dark brown countertop to go with dark laminate distressed wood planks. Backsplash is Woodland Mushroom mosaic from South Cypress (wonderful selection with very unusual stone/glass combinations). Research, research, research til you find what combinations work for you - buon jour!

Also agree with choosing counter first UNLESS you are adamant about walls being a certain colour. Coastalsher- your kitchen sounds lovely. Can you share a photo?

Coby0032 - I am technologically challenged and don't have a digital camera to upload. But stay tuned to Houzz, hoping to upload a picture around March 19 (my son-in-law's camera). Once again, thanks for the wonderful comment!

I think my sister whitewashed her cabinets and highlighted them, maybe with a golden color. She lives in CA so I can't go look to test my memory. Her kitchen is very French looking and beautiful. I think she has a rooster for decoration and a photo one daughter took in France enlarged and framed. It is a beautiful kitchen. I'll see if she can post her kitchen. I think she is on Houzz.

Coastalsher-Roger March 19 ish. Do you have an iPhone?

Here is a link to one we did last year here in Dallas. Definitely succeeded in changing the look. Please check out my site or e-mail me for more ideas. Thanks! [Antiqued Cabinets[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/antiqued-cabinets-dallas-phvw-vp~25594958)

@Norsk Construction and Design--thank you for mentioning the Nuvo Cabinet Paint. I am not the original poster, but I have been wanting to paint my own kitchen cabinets for some time but hesitated because I thought it would be so difficult and time consuming. I just checked out the Nuvo Cabinet Paint website and was amazed how easy it sounds! I just want to ask your opinion since you've used it before (or spec'ed it to be used): Nuvo says you don't need to sand first (except over the, often typical, fake-wood, "photo-engraved" vinyl over particle board end panels). Do you find it improves the durability of the paint finish if you DO sand first, or is that not necessary at all? How is the durability of the paint in general? I like the fact that they say you don't have to take the doors off, but is this difficult to paint around? Just wondering. Thanks.

Fun2learn - TAKE THE DOORS OFF. My previous kitchen I painted the cabinets and left everything intact. Warm beige with dark chocolate trim. Doors had multiple ridges to paint. Big mistake that probably took me 4X the time to do. Coby0032 - no iPhone but send email to coastalsher173@outlook.com and I will forward to you when I get the picture. Please just Coby0032 email.

I think some contrast with the floors would look great. I can't tell if that is navy or black in your fabric but trying something dark and bold would look amazing. Good luck- can't wait to see the finished product! Btw- I had black cabinets in a past kitchen- very Paris bistro!

Coby0032: green ceiling in one of your pics - love it - very daring - nice wrap-around cozy feel - you've got me thinking!! thanks!

@ fun2Learn - I started out leaving the doors on the cabinets on my first Nuvo Project (pictures here). After I realized how fast this paint dries, I decided to take them off. But only a few at a time. The kit comes with the perfect sized roller for cabinet projects. Tip: when you are done painting for the moment, wrap the roller (paint and all) tightly in Saran Wrap then place in a plastic grocery bag or ziplock bag and put it in the refrigerator. You won't waste paint by cleaning your roller and it won't dry out. Chalk paint is another good option for paper covered cabinets. My favorite is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. You don't have to sand with this option either. Just make sure to seal the paint with the special wax coating suggested.

To me 'French Country' is all about mixing color. A 'Rooster' motif certainly would pick up the colors in your fabric. And the wonderful range of tile for a backsplash has a number of beautiful options.

Being a wood person, I would not paint the cabinets. Refinish, perhaps, but not paint. I have never seen a painted cabinet that stands up to wear like natural wood.

But, I too, would agree on selecting a countertop material first. We put in a Cambria stone years ago and I love it. No maintenance required other than normal cleaning. And we are doing the same countertops in our new home. Another bonus....no matter what you choose, it is all the same price so easy to budget.

For French Country the look should be bright. White cabinets and dark knobs. Keep the walls light also and use the colors in the fabric to accessorize. If you keep the colors white then you can change the accessories when you get tired of the colors. This also keeps the kitchen looking fresh and bright in the winters months. No dark colors at all on the walls.

save the wood grain sand and white wash or use a light green, grey or beige wash but do keep the wood grains the next owner will be glad you did.

Glenn

I have the same type kitchen, would love to see what your end up with...

French country is fresh, warm, muted, definitely not dark but would not use the term bright. Coastalsher- will do. Pat Sawyer- I know!!! I am a big fan of coloured ceilings and in kitchens there is typically so little colour on walls because of cabs. Carrying whatever the walls are doing onto the ceiling just works!! 9.9 X out of 10.

Coby0032 - but if you have low ceilings, small rooms and use intense colors on walls (green, gold, blue), best to use white or off-white on ceiling. Plus my kitchen opens to dining room and carried green in there. But one french blue wall that carries over into living room. MCMlover - in So Cal, we have no winter months but sometimes fog and sadly very little rain. I have basic intense colors but accessories use similar colors and can be moved from room to room. Just because an item is in the kitchen dept. doesn't mean it can only be used in kitchen. White kitchens and walls get dirty - especially with kids! French Country is comfortable and cozy especially with roosters but not too many. Yellow and blue is just too predictable for me but I have yellow and/or blue in each room but not main focus.

Agree very much. I see customers going for a "designer" look with dark ceilings with rooms that often don't support it. Also agree with one Rooster but not a themed room. Be creative but avoid deep ruts. The ceiling is often referred to as the "fifth wall" but it is a critical one.

I know everyone likes white or light but I wouldn't overlook some of the reds/oranges(?) in your sample? It is a pop of colour that may work.

EBK...After you Google the French Countryside form & style you will soon realize there are no limits. In your case a pale jade green on the walls & light neutral for ceiling, picking up a color from tiles to integrate could be an option. Now you are free to add details (accessories, wall decor, accents, cabinet knobs, etc.) to further incorporate this style. Hope this helps!

EBK...See above

I think a white distressed look would be nice for french country.

Coastalsher- Agreed re small rooms. Always about context though. Kymberlyz- what are you thinking at this point? Thoughts about colour?

I love Orange and painted a door from kitchen to garage orange. It is a great accent color! Orange is often discussed as making people hungry.

When I hear "French Country," I automatically picture cream cabinetry with a brown glaze, yellow walls, and splashes of blue and white dishes around. The 80's honey oak cabinetry doesn't seem like French Country to me at all. The color paint you have on the wall now looks nice with your current cabinet stain and the fabric sample.

My advice runs contrary to what others are saying. In your request you did not mention changing cabinet colors and I would not. It's too big a commitment. I would pick a middle tone from the floor tile that works well with the cabinet for the walls. I would continue it into the dining area. It will make the two spaces feel bigger and less chopped up. Then use the rich colors in your drapery fabric for cushions, pottery, wall decor. And yes, use lots of iron so the black accent runs through the whole space. It might be fun to try a color on the ceiling but put up some large samples and see how they look in different lighting situations before you go for it. With lots of natural light, it might be a great way to warm up the space.

Thank you to everyone for sharing your expertise and opinions. We are so grateful for your time. At this point we went with a light color for the walls which looks beautiful with our new floor. Cabinets will be updated in phase 2 with countertops. Black accessories including a black pottery barn dining set are leading us toward our ultimate kitchen goal. Ironically the comments on rooster accents are spot on as I've been an avid collector since visiting Paris when I was 17. No comment on the length of time I've been collecting! Thanks again all!

Nothing says french country to me like blue. It would be especially nice if you are keeping the cabinets the same. And yes, I think blue with the fabric you have selected this fine. Have Fun, good luck

This post got me wondering "what are real French kitchens like?", so I googled and stumbled onto this interesting blog post that answers that question. Here it is if you are intersted:

https://becomingmadame.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/french-kitchens-the-inside-scoop/

I have an open plan kitchen day area and dining area. My cupboards are ivory with oak work tops. I already have a brown sofa in this area of the home. I would like to know if I put a sage green and pale grey/ silver on the walls would this compliment the room ?

Definitely chose your counter first. It’s much easier to select paint and alter it based on counter color than the reverse. I’d eliminate the red paint below the chair rail and paint the walls all the same color to give height to the room and avoid choppiness. Are you sure the fabric lends itself to country French? In the photo it looks more American country. Have fun. You’ll love the transformation.