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[blank]For the French Country fireplace, the most typical are the old carved stone sort. These can be found antique or be carved new . They are often quite high, and not necessarily very deep, but if they have been designed properly then they draw well and heat efficiently.
[blank]In this house, we have two open fireplaces that burn large quantities of wood through the winter months. The house may already be warm, the sight of the flames just adds so much atmosphere that the effort required to tend the fire and maintain the fireplace is worthwhile.
[blank]Few labels can be as freely used as ‘french country’ … not that I am very well placed to say anything, but ahem … well, this is my blog and I live in France, in the country so I’m allowed![blank]I’m sometimes asked what I think French Country means, and I can only refer to the homes I see around me here in Normandy.[blank]
[blank]For the French Country fireplace, the most typical are the old carved stone sort. These can be found antique or be carved new . They are often quite high, and not necessarily very deep, but if they have been designed properly then they draw well and heat efficiently.[blank]
[blank]In this house, we have two open fireplaces that burn large quantities of wood through the winter months. The house may already be warm, the sight of the flames just adds so much atmosphere that the effort required to tend the fire and maintain the fireplace is worthwhile.[blank]
I think my favourite fire is the one we light in the dining room for Sunday breakfast.
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[blank]As you can see from the pictures I am favouring a dark to neutral colour palette around the fire at the moment.
[blank]And when it comes to accessories, they remain traditional. The cast iron plaque against the back wall, a pair of decorative chenets for holding the logs and of course a big log basket. Mine is currently a sturdy champagne grape collecting basket.
[blank]Voilà! – condensed French country from me to you!
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21 comments
Is the second to last image of the grey sofas your home? I absolutely love that room.
Oh they are all so beautiful. I would love any of them and I adore a roaring fire. Hugs, Marty
I like those grey velvet sofas, hope the fire doesn't spark them
cudowne inspiracje!
https://paulapearls.blogspot.com/
Your rooms are glorious and I love the use of greys and blacks!
I could happily live in any of those rooms, but especially the first and the last. Thank you for the fireplace tutorial, I hadn't known about the shallow construction. And love those cast-iron firebacks.
Beautiful examples Sharon! I love a fire in this brisk autumn weather!
xoxo
Karena
New_2013 Designer Series
All of it is beautiful and fire roaring adds so much ambiance.
I love the firebacks! I had one shipped in to Canada a couple of months ago – it is originally from France and is 200 years old. It will be adorning my new kitchen shortly. I love the idea that whenever I look at the fireback I'll think of how many families for so many years were kept warm by it.
Hi Sharon!!!
Just looking at the fireplaces made me warm!!! How inviting!!!
The rooms are very country and beautiful!!! This is why I love your
Blog. We get to see things that are from a by-gone era.
Thank you for being a great host!!!
Pam
xox
What great fireplaces. I have two but not as wonderful yours are. I love the stone carved mantel. Your rooms are beautiful. We will have a fire this weekend. Di
I would love one of those iron firebacks! Do you think I could carry it on the plane? 🙂
beautiful photos…a fire in winter does so much more than just send out heat, doesn't it???? love it!
(a friend and I have been trying to reach you through the guest cottage email with no luck…thought I might try here!!! thanks!)
Sharon…
I am going to love this series. Our American interpretation of French Country is so very "staged".
You know how much I have adored your French girlfriend series. Real homes with a purposeful, placement of life's necessities and object d'art. Just heavenly. Thank you.
w/L
Charming & so very beautiful Sharon, each one of them.
there is nothing that can take the place of a roaring fire + be it french or american. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
Sigh!!
Loving that first photo of the fireplace!!
Ooooh, can I move in? Beautiful!
You sure have some life there! 🙂 Beautiful.
This place looks really great and authentic, but a bit rustic at the same time. Why don’t you renovate this fireplace or replace it with something more modern?
Also, think that in modern houses with all those easy-to-catch-fire materials if is safer to replace old open fireplaces with Pellet Stoves like we did. It is powered with pellet fuel and has a glass cover for safety. This fuel is fully organic, so this was doubly as important for us. And it happened to be cheaper than traditional solutions.