How to Paint a Kitchen in the French Country Style

The decor of French Country kitchens mixes elegance with rusticity. This style intersperses rough materials with refined touches. The sunny walls of a French Country kitchen are both attractive and utilitarian. You can achieve the same look of antique, whitewashed plaster with a colorwashing technique. Mix in some charcoal dust to age white paint. Alternatively, you can use other natural pigments like yellow ochre or red oxide to create tinted wall paint in traditional French Country colors.

Drop cloths
Sponge
White latex paint in flat finish
Large bucket
Respirator
Powdered pigments
Stir stick
3-inch angled paintbrush with synthetic bristles
5-inch flat paintbrush with stiff bristles
Soap

Instructions

- 1
  Place drop cloths over the floors and counters in your kitchen. Wipe the walls clean with a damp sponge.
- 2
  Pour white paint into a large bucket. Add powdered pigments to make the shade of your choice. Wear a respirator when using dried pigments. Avoid using toxic artists' materials like cadmium and cobalt. Blend the pigments with the paint using a stir stick.
- 3
  Apply paint to areas next to the ceiling and trim with an angled brush. These brushes give you more control and will help you keep paint off surrounding surfaces.
- 4
  Use a wide, stiff brush to apply the wall paint. Apply the paint in all directions. Visible brushstrokes and other imperfections help mimic the rough, antique plaster found in authentic French Country kitchens.
- 5
  Allow the walls to dry. Decide if you want to apply a second coat of paint. Using a single coat of paint will create an uneven, whitewashed look. Two coats of paint provide more complete coverage.
- 6
  Wash the brushes with soap and water. Shake excess water out of the bristles. Smooth the bristles back into shape.

How to Apply Chocolate Glaze to Cabinets

How to Apply Polyurethane Wood Finish

Faux Finishing