French

The french are famous for their stylish food and it's therefore no surprise that many people want a french-style kitchen in their own home.

For a rustic design with timeless style, go French.

French kitchens are a mixture of country style rustic and traditional kitchen design which can be a difficult image to get right if you don't know what you're doing.

Here are a few tips to keep you on track:

• The majority of french kitchens have a table which is used for both food preparation and sitting around to eat.

• Cupboards, tables, chairs and any other furniture should be wooden and very simple designs. A french kitchen has no place for metallic objects, other than pots and pans.

• A stone tiled floor immediately creates a french kitchen feel, but if you prefer something warmer there are alternatives. However, lino and similar products are not viable options if you want to remain authentic in your design.

• You might consider painting the walls a warm colour and using stencils to create a Fromagerie feel. If you'd prefer to remain more neutral, white walls are perfectly fine and will work well against the wooden furniture. However, to avoid your kitchen walls looking sparce, you can buy metallic french wall signs which look great and are normally inexpensive.

• Storage in a french kitchen is designed to be funcitional. Cooking utensils are normally on display and within easy reach for the convenience of the chef. Open shelving might be considered or hanging pots and pans overhead on carefully placed hooks.

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