Mood Board Making: French + Modern = Eclectic: a house log

This week’s kitchen mood board is a mix of charming french-inspired accents and clean modern touches for an straightforward collected over time feeling that is anything but cookie cutter:

1. The color palette for this imaginary room is all about navy-ish charcoal tones, deep pistachio hues, soft blue grays, and antique whites. We’d enjoy to see the walls get a coat or two of artichoke-chic paint (which you see represented by that large rectangle of green at the top of the board) – try Benjamin Moore’s Sesame 381. The cabinets in the kitch could remain wood or white (either would work with this scheme) but you could also paint them an antique white tone and even add a bit of aging glaze to get that weathered french feeling for extra credit.

2. This deeply discounted table simply oozes Parisian elegance, and when paired with these affordable pistachio and wood-toned chairs (which would tie into wood cabinets if you’ve got those) it makes for a pleasant casual yet cohesive mixed & matched effect.

3. We enjoy the idea of adding in some crisp modern pieces to keep the whole look from feeling too obvious or themey, and this $149 lotus flower pendant would look so fairly hanging over the table.

4. Antique bronze or hammered gold curtain rods with ring hooks would truly add to the polished but casual vibe, and these breezy (and totally budget friendly) smoky blue-gray curtains would introduce some pleasant moody ambiance.

5. Lively little modern pops of color in the form of accessories like this cute electric water kettle would be oh so charming on any countertop.

6. This stunning little runner began it all (it is the first item that I found, which inspired the rest of the board). I enjoy how elegant and polished it is. It is a pleasant balance of french-inspired fairly (thanks to the sheen and the delicate dots) and modern cool (thanks to the dark food-friendly hue and the geometric pattern).

7. This cute little antique white cabinet (on clearance!) would work so well with the round table and I am obsessed with the shape of those glass cut outs in the doors.

8. The concept for this room is truly all about the mix, so I searched high and low for a pendant light (simply $49!) that could be hung over the sink (heck, two or three of them could even be hung over an island or peninsula). I hoped something that could be layered into the same room with the lotus pendant that I found for over the table. They certainly do not “match” but I can picture them happily coexisting in a space like this for that certain je ne sais quoi.

So there you have it. An imaginary kitchen makeover that I am still daydreaming about. Anyone out there with a penchant for french-inspired decor and antique white? Or a craving for artichoke colored walls?

Psst- Looking for oodles of mood boards? Search them by color or by room right here.