The charm of an old French kitchen lies in the patina of age – the crackled wood, a rogue stone that loosens itself from the hearth, the warmth emanating from a marble counter long after the sun has set. Lives were lived here and there are stories to be told. Nothing tells that story better than elements borrowed from nature, when kitchens were handcrafted with equal parts love and necessity.
Wood
Wood is a warm and essential part of kitchen design. Crafted into shelves and pantries, it holds the ingredients and tools necessary for daily cooking. Wooden chopping blocks and islands are popular in French kitchens for other reasons, as well.
Wood has an anti-microbial property that makes it an excellent surface for food preparation. Long before the advent of dishwasher-safe cutting boards and bleach, a wooden board, thoroughly wiped clean and rubbed down with lemons was the method of choice for cutting ingredients.
The aesthetics of wood is also something to consider when designing your kitchen. It has a warmth and hominess to it. Even a cold looking, monochromatic space can be enlivened with a few well-placed wood accents. Some popular and easy to find options are wooden countertops, island surfaces, and furniture. Beautiful, freestanding antiques such as pie safes and shelves can be found at affordable prices
Marble
If you do a lot of baking, consider designing a marble baking station in your kitchen. If placed in a shady area that doesn’t receive direct sunlight, the marble stays chilled. The coolness helps dough to retain its shape and avoid getting overworked. The entire counter doesn’t need to be marble, just a small insert in a strategic location.
Stone
Stone accents in French kitchens historically come from the fireplace hearth in old French kitchens. Functionally, they hold heat and can be a wonderful place to put bread dough to rise. Aside from the physical warmth of stonework, it brings a rustic, old-fashioned element into the kitchen that can’t be achieved with any other material. If you, like most households, don’t have a kitchen fireplace to work with, install a decorative stone arch or build a border along the wall.
