9 Ways to Conjure a Parisian Bistro in Your Kitchen
Stir in some French flair with lighting, flooring and decor that may have guests requesting a menu
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
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I've yet to meet someone who spent any time at all in Paris and didn't come away smitten with the dining culture of that great city. Bistros, cafés and brasseries anchor countless neighborhood corners, spilling over with regulars and guests who come to savor the atmosphere as much as the food. Of all these, the bistro — a small, casual restaurant with a simple and hearty menu — is the one that feels most evocative to many of us across the pond.
You may not be able to uproot your Parisian bistro of choice, but you can bring a little of its essence home. Here are nine signature elements that add up to a bistro-inspired look and feel.
You may not be able to uproot your Parisian bistro of choice, but you can bring a little of its essence home. Here are nine signature elements that add up to a bistro-inspired look and feel.
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1. Intimate lighting. The best bistros feel snug and inviting — especially in the evening, when soft, low light floods the space with warmth. Glaring lights or bulbs with a harsh cast kill the cozy mood. Layer in low-hung chandeliers, sconces, pendants and floor or table lamps to create a diffused glow.
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2. Window awnings. Awnings cap off interior windows with tailored grace. For the most classic look, choose a striped fabric, such as the crisp black and white in this kitchen.
| 3. Bistro chairs. A perfect marriage of comfort, style and durability, these low-slung rattan chairs feel faultlessly chic. Authentic rattan and cane models can bust your budget, but look for knockoffs made of materials such as plastic and aluminum. Vary the colors, as here, to add a little visual interest. |
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4. Tile floors. Both charming and easy to clean, penny tile or hexagonal tile is the hallmark flooring of a traditional bistro. Pepper white field tile with a small pattern or a border in black. Or go for oversize black and white checkerboard tile instead.
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| 5. Advertising posters. Colorful wall hangings that advertise champagne, travel regions and Gallic goods help to give a bistro its character. Group a series of them together or make a splash with just one oversize poster as a focal point. |
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6. A professional range and hood. We're not talking sleek and sporty — think traditional French manufacturers such as La Cornue and Lacanche, whose products wear ornate, distinctive detailing with flair. The catch? The price tag: These ranges can cost upward of $20,000. If you can't invest that kind of cash, search online or at local kitchen retailers for smaller stoves from European manufacturers, which add a Continental touch.
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| 7. Cookware on display. In a restaurant kitchen, pots, pans and dishes have to be close and easy to grab. Stock open shelving with simple, brasserie-style dishware (plain white or with a colored rim) and store cookware on a wall- or ceiling-mounted pot rack (bonus points if your pans are well-worn copper and steel). |
| 8. Chalkboards. What's a bistro without the menu of the day scrawled in chalk? Even if you use your chalkboard for grocery lists and household reminders rather than for announcing soupe à l'oignon and charcuterie, you'll get the same effect. Stick with tradition and hang a framed chalkboard on the wall, or cover a refrigerator panel with chalkboard paint as these owners did. |
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9. Zinc countertops. A zinc bar top is a quintessential part of a French bistro, so much so that "zinc" is actually a slang term for these eateries. While you probably don't have a bar next to your breakfast table, you can get the same look with zinc countertops, which are becoming more and more popular (and thus more widely available).
Tell us: What do you love about bistro style? Share your thoughts in the Comments!
Tell us: What do you love about bistro style? Share your thoughts in the Comments!
Ideabook published on Feb. 12, 2013.
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Kitchen Backsplash Feature - North Vancouver
LED Glass Shelf
Herbs of Province on a LED glowing Shelf. How French is that! LOL JW
I love the chalkboard and posters.
I like the ideas of the awnings and specifically the stripes. I just thought personally the one inside the kitchen made it look inside out.
When we were in France the last time, I bought several bottles of flavoring - gorgeous bottles, French labels, different colors, inexpensive. I arranged them on the front of a spice rack. Trying to recreate it in the new kitchen.
I love the look and the idea!
Shipped our minivan over there and when we shipped it back, had it filled with things! Two antique mirrors, a sundial from 1490's, a capital, an old forged iron chandelier, etc
Didn't get my antique birdcage - too expensive or my table. Looking for one like in your Kendall's blog.