Discover How to Bring Quintessential French Charm to Your Exterior
Imagine stepping into a charming cottage where every nook exudes timeless French countryside decor. The air is filled with warmth and comfort, as if straight out of a storybook.
Old stonework and well-developed vegetation immediately add charm to a house. Every year, especially in autumn, I ask myself what I can do to add a little charm to the entrance to the house. Last year, I thought about flower pots. I’m still unhappy with the result, so I won’t show you my front door. Although once repainted in gray, the door is more charming than in brown. I want to take inspiration from old houses to improve my unstylish 80s home a little. Taking inspiration from old houses to decorate your home may be a good idea to add a little charm to a house that doesn’t have any.
- Boxwood pruned into balls in the ground or in pots
- Other potted plants such as hydrangeas
- Mineral Accents. Of course, the houses here are made of stone, but the charm also comes from terracotta or cement pots, paving stones and other objects and sculptures.
- Climbing plants: Virginia creeper, wisteria, roses add character
- Lanterns: Illuminate the surroundings.
- Minimal Lawn: Less grass, more character.
Some examples of charming homes
Wooden Shutters
First of all, wooden shutters immediately add a pleasant touch. They dress up the house. The choice of color is not insignificant.The choice of color matters—blues and grays are currently trendy in France. If you’re building a new house, it might be a good idea to add wooden shutters. They may cost extra, but their charm adds value to the house, and may just make you fall in love with it.
Entrance Markers
A low wall to mark the entrance. An arbour that was added after the house was built and that could also be added to a recent construction. A pot on each side of the entrance. Lantern lighting.
- A low wall or muret to define the entrance.
- A pergola, even if added post-construction, can enhance any recent build.
- Pots flanking the entrance.
- Lantern-style lighting.
Spanish Inspiration
I don’t know how old this Spanish house is, but I like the high swimming pool in the continuity of the terrace.
- The Spanish house with an elevated pool seamlessly connected to the terrace caught my eye.
- Take cues from the Montserrat house: a path alongside the home, a large shade tree, window and bench pots, and evergreen boxwood or lavender for year-round decoration.
Breton Countryside House
Here, I like the square vegetable garden, very decorative and close to the house.
A sidewalk along the house, a shade tree, and pots under the window create a permanent and evolving decoration.
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A table and a few chairs for breakfast or to store a few flower pots.
Island Home on Île d’Arz
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Glycine and rose above the doors and windows. Here again, large pots of boxwood and, of course, lavender. With the warmer weather, I think they’re growing everywhere now. They smell so good, don’t hesitate to abuse them.
Medieval farmhouse – Elmueble.com
In front of these houses, boxwoods and potted plants are omnipresent.
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A small hedge of boxwood and wisteria decorates this façade. The balance between mineral and vegetation is also striking.
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The stone staircase: the ideal charming entrance.
How to turn an uninteresting exterior into a charming home
- Boxwood pruned into balls in the ground or in pots
- Other potted plants such as hydrangeas
- Mineral. Of course, here the houses are made of stone, but the charm also comes from terracotta or cement pots, paving stones and other objects and sculptures.
- Climbing plants: Virginia creeper, wisteria, roses…
- Lanterns
- Little lawn
You may have noticed that virtually all the shutters are blue or gray. No green or red shutters, or even brown, even though brown was very much in vogue in the 80s.
It’s not my intention to choose only houses with blue shutters. When I noticed this kind of uniformity, I looked specifically for red shutters, but I couldn’t find any beautiful exteriors with red shutters.
I’d love to know what color your shutters are? Does good taste have to be blue or gray?
