French Country House Plans: The Ultimate Guide

However, this style has evolved quite a lot over the years. While this style has managed to retain that rustic charm that you can link to rural France, it has been fine-tuned to accommodate modern architecture.

Since we will be discussing French country home plans in this article, we want to start by describing the types of buildings that fall under this category.

French Country House – What Exactly is It?

If you are thinking of these as house plans in French country then you are not far from the truth. The city of Provence is said to be the origin of French country homes. You can visit here to learn more about Provence in France.

This style is quite unlike other French décors and architectures which are very ornamental. Rather than being heavily ornamental, this style is often more subdued, it typically prefers function in place of aesthetics.

It doesn’t matter whether it is a lavish estate or a simple rural farmhouse. Any home built with this style typically prefers comfort and warmth rather than any aesthetic value.

Dominant exterior features of this housing type include stonework as well as curled gentle arches while interior features include plaster walls and exposed beams.

Common building materials used for the exterior walls are stone, brick, and stucco. The roofs are often symmetrical and steep. Multi windowpanes are the final features used to create a clean appearance that speaks casual, neat, and elegant.

Modern French Country House Plans

As we earlier said, this building type has evolved quite a lot over the years. Now, French country house plans are house designs that draw inspiration from rural France’s old farmhouses.

These plans like the source they draw inspiration from are big on symmetry and have brick or stone exteriors. However, they adopt any size from modest to luxurious estates, and even small homes. The homeowner can decide on any size of their choice. The home size is often a key consideration for the French country floor plans they have to peruse before they decide on one.

French Country Home Plans – Types

There are different French country home plans available for you to pick from. Therefore, having a clearer understanding of the available types will go a long way to help your selection process.

To aid your decision process, we will now discuss 4 major French country home plans.

1. Petite

You can guess from the name of this building type that it is on the small side when it comes to size. Some of the houses that fall under this category are even small enough for them to be referred to as tiny houses.

They are typically just a level and have either 1 or 2 bedrooms. They are made to fit into narrower spaces. This makes them a perfect choice for areas that are densely populated. Also, if you are looking for a place to age then this may be exactly what you need.

2. Porte-Cochere

Porte-cochere adds more luxury and romance to your space. When the elegance of this style is combined with a porte-cochere, the appearance of your home will be upgraded. Your curb appeal will also increase.

Aside from improving your home’s elegance, a porte-cochere will also serve other functional purposes. For instance, it can act as an enclosed space protecting your home from sunshine and rain. It can also be used as a connector between the main building and a detached garage or carriage house.

3. Wrap-around Porch

If you like to relax outside your home then a French country home that has a wrap-around porch will be ideal for you.

The wrap-around porch often has a different length from that of the main porch. You can have either the back or the front porch wrapped around either both sides or just one side of your house. Alternatively, you can decide to make the pouch fully wrapped. Upper-level porches are also available to you.

When it comes to options, this style leaves you with endless possibilities.

4. Two Thousand Square-Foot

If you are considering two thousand sq. foot French style house plans, then our guess is you are being inspired by French monarchy regal palaces.

This style directly contrasts with the petite category which is first on our list. Homes built with house plans of French country designs are typically big and very luxurious. They often resemble elegant villas and chateaux rather than functional Provence farmhouses.

French Country House Plans – Examples

Knowing what the plan entails is great. However, seeing examples of French country floor plans isn’t the same thing as this.

Therefore, we will now give you two examples to make for a better understanding.

Conclusion

In this read, we have discussed what a French country house is and other important things about the house plans used for this style.