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The French Kitchen

February 11, 2014

By putting a fresh finish on existing antique pieces, Jean-Christophe gave this French style kitchen a sense of country comfort.

French country kitchen dining table
Cherrywood parquet top dining table and Avignon ladderback chairs handmade by Jean-Christophe.
French country buffet
This buffet was refinished in antique white to give it a French country feel and tie in with the rest of the room.
French kitchen with marble benchtops
Continuing the colour scheme across the marble bench tops and cupboards helps to integrate modern appliances with the more traditional decor.
Four framed botanical prints
Botanical prints custom-framed in cracked antique white and blue with gold edging to match and accentuate the mirror.
Chandelier and gilded mirror
The white finish on this reworked chandelier and this lovely gilded trumeau mirror help to open up the space.

Jean-Christophe was asked to give this kitchen a fresh look and add his touch of the French style.  The room already contained many beautiful pieces, some of which were antiques, so Jean-Christophe decided to simply rework the pieces, lifting them with a new finish.

The existing wrought chandelier was originally a dark grey colour and was transformed using an antique white paint, which softened the look of the chandelier and helped to open up the kitchen space.  The room was also home to a charming kitchen buffet, which was carved from oak and had originally been finished with a timber polish.  To enhance the French country feel of the room, Jean-Christophe suggested giving the buffet a new finish, using the same antique white as was used for the chandelier.  The wire chicken mesh front gives the buffet a rustic feel, while revealing the assortment of French tableware inside.

In the kitchen proper, the carrara marble top pairs well with the antique white semi-traditional kitchen and modern appliances so that the overall effect is a somewhat refined French country look.

At the side of the kitchen, a provincial dining area had been created.  The cherry wood parquet top table and the set of cherry wood ladderback chairs were original pieces, handmade by Jean-Christophe 15 years prior and had been bought by the owners from a friend.  These dark pieces provided a pleasing contrast to the newly painted white furniture.

Already a feature of the room, a stunning antique trumeau mirror with bright gilding and deep china blue patterned china was set against the wall.  Next to this Jean-Christophe placed four botanical prints that were framed using custom made timber frames in a colour scheme of cracked antique white and blue, with gold edging to match and accentuate the mirror.

The room overlooks a leafy courtyard and barbecue area with a wonderful Sydney harbour view, providing an abundance of natural light and helping to create the feeling of a country kitchen.

 

Jean-Christophe Burckhardt

Jean-Christophe Burckhardt

An expert on interior design, craftsmanship and fine arts, Jean-Christophe has trained extensively in Italy, France and Switzerland. Since moving to Australia, he has supplied many of the country’s grand homes and collected a number of awards for his furniture designs.