I prefer something that is more suggestive of a Paris cafe. The use of black and white floor tile: mosaic tiles or checkerboard, bistro chairs, zinc table, marble countertops, subtle incorporation of motifs like Marie Antoinette's bee in a few tiles or maybe wall paper. Classic subway tile and soft buttery yellow walls to warm it up.

like your suggestions designers edge, much better than Emily's photo ( no offence meant)

There is nothing more French in the interior than an Art Deco chair. It creates an atmosphere around itself. Keep in mind though, Art Deco speaks symmetry. If it's a chair, have 2 of them :)

When approaching a French Design Concept I first determine if the client wants casual, formal or a mix of the two. Next I expose the client to the materials used during the different time periods. By going through this process I can determine how best to design a kitchen that not only meets the clients dreams, but so they will know what the ideas are based on. Some clients want to be as authentic as possible while others care more about the function than being true to the period. There is no right or wrong way to go. But all of this should be taken into consideration. I will say this, most kitchens these days are put together in a fragmented way. Cabinets are selected, counter tops, flooring, lighting, window placement all independent of each other. If you want an over all theme like a French Kitchen all of these items should tie together. As usual I am writing a book, so I will shut up now and find a photo of a kitchen I designed.

Great answer Leo!

here's a kitchen in france

and another one

one more

On Mr. Dowell’s comment, I feel the concept feels French country or casual with the warm color of the wood stain, stone floors, and lantern fixtures. That being said I would change your decoration color scheme, Reupholster the chairs to black and of white striped cloth, buy some blk/wht towels to tie things in, and bring in a lot of roses (whites, pinks, reds).

For some reason breakfast area with a round bistro table makes it French for me :)
Another French touch is wine crates - toss one or two into your kitchen for planting herbs or storing trays.
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"Pardon my French"-Canadian/Native American/Irish kitchen...and these horrible photos; my good camera has reached a sad end.

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I'm sorry iI don't have a picture to share now.This areally lovely example of what country French means to you. I think the colors are very authentic, I stayed in B&B in Provence last summer and your picture brought memories back. Bbterp

I would have a Fleur de Lis motif on something. Maybe a damask wallpaper. At least two French chairs in a transitional fabric. And French Pastry. Yummm

I'm not a big fan of rustic French decor, but I'm always of the opinion that Parisian chic is always in!

i don't know what it is about the French…. but their aesthetic is hard to duplicate and yet somehow impeccable. the subtleties of their taste (culinary and visual)… that's what i've decided. all the little subliminal things you don't actually see. it's the whole package with them. my grandma lived in Marseilles, and though she herself was not French, the culture indeed influenced her sense of art.

Something stenciled or hand-painted on walls or around the edge of hood .
stone walls or faux painted to look like stone

Colours: yellow, blue & white.

When I moved into my house, there was an oval stain glass window with a fleur de lis. I echoed that on the stairs by painting the tops navy and the risers yellow with a navy fleur de lis stencil every three steps. Love how it turned out.

Also have an antique hall table that has three front curves that is somewhat reminiscent of French decor.

A toile lampshade or pillow, a french commode/chest, a louis oval back chair, a crystal vase with ormolu embellishments. We love french furniture and accent pieces we have been collecting them for years now.

for reference: real French kitchens…(i.e.: in France)

3 view of same French kitchen. simple, easy to replicate, authentic

Beautiful kitchen - totally love it!

my POV: if you wish to have a French look, then look to France, because to have inspiration that's American generated seems like it would be further and further lost. like playing the game of 'Telephone'. every time it's repeated/referenced it loses something in translation.

Agree strongly with eightpond....the Frenchified look shown in the lead photo is cartoonish and clearly (screamingly) American and has nothing to do with French aesthetic or the French approach to living. For one thing, it's overblown, ostentatious, impractical, and unchic, whereas authentic French designs tend to be restrained and usually frugal verging on utilitarian. When the French do splash out, they do it with restraint and high style and wouldn't dream of the pointless faux-antique lanterns, heavily carved peasant-style cabinets, stencilling or other touches we see in the lead photo, or fleur de lis or roosters either. I'm attaching another authentic French kitchen in France.

i found another one:

Absolutely agree and these photos echo my comments at the very beginning of this discussion,. Like the women on Paris streets, the beauty lies in restraint and in beautiful detailing, but always combined with flair..

Bonjour
What about Toile de Jouy wallpaper.

toile wallpaper, curtains, upholstery- but in black and greys

what a mess, too much of everything no flow!!

I love your ceiling, but I think you should simplify everywhere else.

There's way too much going on in that kitchen. A true French person would laugh that kitchen right out of France. Personally, the only thing I would add to that kitchen is a French interior designer and a wrecking ball to demolish the entire thing. Visually, it's a hot mess.

Eightpond you are so spot on the kitchen example in your first post. It was more French than any of the others and I have to agree with the statement

"my POV: if you wish to have a French look, then look to France, because to have inspiration that's American generated seems like it would be further and further lost. like playing the game of 'Telephone'. every time it's repeated/referenced it loses something in translation."

The thought of a kitchen with a patterned wall paper is not French in my opinion but for a bath it's fine. As a decorative artist the use of stencils looks too contrived, limited and amateurish in my opinion. The French are very particular of their heritage and their art work is usually all hand painted and the use of ornamentation (grotesque) is not found in the kitchen. French ornamentation is found more in their furniture and moldings and the use of grisaille (shades of gray) and trompe loeil (to fool the eye) in the interior or exterior architecture. The use of ornamental (grotesque) painting is more Tuscan and/or Italian style. However The old plaster and stone finish of the walls in the first photo was very well done and gets my thumbs up for more of an authentic old world French style. "French country" on the other hand is something entirely different and more 19th century I believe like blue deft tile and porcelain decoration but not exactly sure

I believe many have missed the real question on here. I think the photo was not meant to be critiqued, is that right Emily Hurley?

The QUESTION WAS 'If you wanted to add some French touches to a space, what would you do? Let's hear your best tips! '

Gorgeous! When I came upon this is took my breath away--everything now is boring white! I'm not a fan of blue, but this is beautiful, warm, and inviting--home!

if i wanted to add some French touches to a space i would find authentic solid usable antique pieces that serve an oft-used function. i would not use replicated 'frenchie' faux anything. i'd severely limit any curlicue thing-a-ma-bobs that have zero function. the hutch in Emily's reference photo is 'almost' there, but not-quite, because it's a reproduction. in general though….hutches are good, because un-matched is good. (if you're going for French Country…but if French Urbane…well then that's totally different!) ornate is not as good as plain. oh! and better to have one good real thing than a ton of indonesian reproductions! stay away from big box stores! go-to recycle/upcycle/flea/antique stores. get real!

well, the "real" french kitchens are simply a couple of regional MODERN examples. They are not "correct" they are simply other kitchen style examples...and plain and utterly boring. It actually looks like some abandoned building pictures. I've seen plenty of country french kitchens that resembled the interpretation, the focus of this article far more than your couple examples.

Personally I prefer the look of all the stuff OFF my cabinets as well. But some people love dusting with their time. I think if you are going to keep your cock on the kitchen counter though, you're probably looking spanish not french. :)

But since you asked, the embellishment on the island is toooo busy for me. Cream not white. I'm not a big fan of the green travertine top either. Beyond that I like it. I'd let you cook for me! :D

My wife and I have actually been planning on redoing our kitchen in a French style. We're pretty sure we have the basic general theme covered, but we want to add some nice French decorations to add to the effect. I never realized just how heavily crystal and glass is used in French decorations, going off of these pictures. I think both would add a really nice touch to our kitchen. Hopefully we can find some decorations we really like! http://fancychicandvintage.com/category_11/French-Kitchen.htm