How to Create a “Parisian” Interior

Parisian Design with a Modern Twist

I love the subtlety of these design elements that play on traditional French interiors - the pink velvet armchairs, dramatic light fixtures, and the clean lines of the wall panels echo French classicism in a modern and minimal way.

I LOVE a classic French interior!  And while most people know it when they see it, it can be difficult for design clients and affectionados to describe unless they know exactly what they’re looking for.  

So I want to break down some of the key characteristics of classic French style, so you, too, can recreate the look in your own home if you need a little extra “ooh la la” in your interior right now. 

What I love about french style is the innate beauty of the architecture itself: the lofted ceilings, the parquet wood floors, and the double casement windows, among other things. 

But my favorite feature of French interiors by far is the intricate moldings. From floor to ceiling, moldings make a space feel elegant and grand, but my favorite decorative millwork of all is definitely on French walls. Boiserie (or carved wood paneling) first appeared in 14th-century French churches and has been used in public and private spaces throughout Europe since then. Originally made from marble or plaster, moldings have been part of the classical decorating toolbox since ancient times. But none do moldings quite like the french--from decorative boiserie to excessively ornate crown molding. I love it all!  Especially the white-on-white wall-to-molding look.  

Another noticeable characteristic of French architecture is the mansard roof punctuated with dormer windows. The beautiful rooflines that I identify with Paris were inspired by François Mansart, the French architect credited with popularizing the mansard roof and introducing classicism into Baroque architecture of France. (I’ll write a separate post on Mansart and his roofs because I am so utterly obsessed with them!) But for now, here are... 

Classic French Interior Characteristics:

• Parquet flooring (in a herringbone pattern)

• Boiserie (carved wood paneling on walls)

• Wainscotting

• Mansard roofs

• Lofted ceilings

• Double casement windows

And you can't forget the key characteristic of anything french, that "je ne sais quoi" indescribable, effortless, and often imperfect beauty that never ceases to take our breath away.