Country-Style French Architecture

Traditional French country houses are very much inspired by Greek and Gothic architecture. While the modern farmhouse and house styles are a combination of both old classic features as well as new modern elements.

Throughout the entire country, you can see different types of homes, but traditional French country homes features front porches, tall arched windows, exposed wood and plaster walls, etc. If you’ve ever thought of having a house like this or renovating your current home to make it look like a French provincial house, then you’ve landed on the correct page.

Here, you can learn more about the original French architecture, the color palettes this house uses, their roof styles, building materials, and many more. If you are looking for luxury living with a touch of natural elements, then you might consider having a look at the homes with French provincial architecture in mind.

Since every country has its own architectural significance, each of them is pretty different. Historic French homes date back to the 1600s and 1700s when many nations were not even founded. So, we will recommend you read this post till the end and have a look at the French architectural home designs.

Original French Country Architecture Characteristics

Old and classic French homes were most rustic and made with natural elements; in the late 19th century, during King Louis XIV’s reign, the architecture changed a lot. Many American soldiers saw these French architectural details and applied them in their country too. There are various elements of French doors that you can see in the homes of the United States too.

These days, most French houses have adapted hip roof designs with four sloping sides. Also, people started building tall second stories too on their homes as classic French houses were only ground floored. If you are thinking of having authentic French country house plans, then consider adding natural stone elements on the exterior walls. At the same time, interior decorating ideas can be obtained from the internet as well.

You can Also Read: Quick House

History of French Country Home Exterior Walls, Tall Windows and Doors

As we said before, French provincial homes are built with architectural styles that originated in France, surrounding countries, and elsewhere. With time, the country has seen a lot of modifications, and now a lot of homes do not reflect any historical elements or styles.

Since everyone loves customizing their homes according to the trends, you can see houses with different styles like multi-level buildings, usage of modern age elements, multi-paned windows, weathered finish, etc. Here are some of the key elements or styles that you can see in a historical French home.

• Natural stone facades.
• A tall and sloping roof.
• Tall rectangular windows.
• Double chimneys.
• Wood-planked ceilings and plaster walls.
• Natural stone or wood flooring.
• Calm and soothing color palettes.

Characteristics of French Country Exterior Design

Neutral Color Palettes Throughout The House

If you notice, then you will find that almost every house that has got a French country design has a very subtle color scheme on it. It doesn’t matter if you talk about the interior or exterior color; they both share the same type of color palettes. Although a lot of things are left untouched, generally, these houses have warm colors.

Built With A Selection of Natural Materials

Apart from the French doors that are generally made of iron, the entire house is built with natural elements like clay tile, stone facades, stone or brick, etc. The structure is generally made with stone, but in modern times, you can consider getting a bricky look. Talking about the interior, having exposed wood beams in the living room is a must.

Bigger Living Spaces and Dining Room

To have more light and openness, in the early 20th century, French homes adopted the idea of having bigger windows in the living room and steep hipped roofs. You will notice that most of these homes have these things in common, but some people had custom homes features like big round towers like chimneys along with hipped roofs.

French Provincial Homes Architectural Styles

We think now you know a lot about the architecture of French homes, and now it’s time to read more about interior design elements and decor ideas. If you want to modify your home with Gothic architecture or United Kingdom residential architecture, then you might have to look at the example of French countryside colonial architecture we have shared above.

You can always buy a pre-built colonial home, but it is always better to renovate your current home to give it a whole new look. Below we have shared some decor ideas that you can apply to your homes to give them a French architecture look yourself.

• Consider having furniture made with different types of wood.
• Use natural elements like clay, stones, or bricks for the exterior.
• Don’t forget to have minimal color schemes like white, cream, pale yellow, etc.
• The flooring must be made of wood too.
• Try to buy and add a few antique pieces like mirrors, clocks, or ceramics.

French Country Homes and Front Porch

In the late 17th century, the second story windows of French homes started using red brick or stucco exteriors. At the same time, the front door and living room had wooden beams above them. It was inspired by European architectural styles. When it comes to outdoor living, real estate inspired by French architecture must have good exterior ideas and must be made with iron and steel. Right now, a lot of vacation homes in France and nearby areas still have these features. French colonial contemporary homes tend to have minimal paint colors and high roof designs as well. If you are thinking of giving your home a French look, then consider having symmetrical layouts even on the second floor too. 

Read Also: Modern Colonial Style House

Final Words

So, this is all about the neoclassical architecture of French homes, and we hope you have found what you were looking for. More information related to the French country exterior roof styles and interiors is shared on the internet. You must consider reading more about it before moving ahead to give your home a look like this.

We will keep this post updated with more information, like French homes decorating tips, so keep visiting this page. If you know something more about French country houses and architectural features, then do share your views with us so we can include them on this page.