French influence comes to life in Mukilteo cottage

Rustic. Old World. Welcoming.

These are words often associated with French country, an interior design style that requires a delicate balance of bold colors and fabrics, Old World accents such as stone, metal and wood, and country-casual furniture and accessories.

Though it’s a hugely popular style, today’s endless array of furnishings and surfaces have made the delicately eclectic nuances of French country a little tough to pull off.

But Connie Kiersted of Mukilteo, despite such challenges, despite a lack of formal interior design training, has achieved the ultimate in French country chic in her Mukilteo home.

Once a run-of-the-mill cottage, her completely remodeled home has become a showcase for her own interpretation of French country sophistication.

“I just love the feeling of bold colors in French decorating,” Kier­sted said. “This is dramatic. It’s so warm and cozy.”

Indeed, Kiersted’s kitchen and living room are both bold yet comforting spaces.

Deep rich red is the signature color here, followed closely by black and white.

Rich woods, subtle stonework and elegant tiles all seem to merge seamlessly.

Meaningful accessories, including French pottery, handmade lavender-filled dolls and delicate souvenirs from France give both rooms a personal touch.

In the kitchen, Kiersted worked with Creative Kitchen and Bath of Lynnwood to help bring her vision to life.

She also worked very closely on structural improvements with her son-in-law, Paul VonGrey, with VonGrey Custom Cabinets of Oak Harbor.

Originally from California but transplanted most recently from Colorado, Kiersted was worried about the lack of sunlight in the Northwest.

That didn’t stop her from choosing black as the dominating color for her kitchen and as a strong accent color in her living room, including ebony-painted maple cabinets sanded around the edges for a rustic appearance.

Her appliances, hardware, switch plates, cabinet knobs and even her matte finish farmhouse kitchen sink by Franke are also black.

White and golden tones, however, help balance out the space.

Ivory plantation shutters and a white ceiling accented with bead board and beams brighten up the space.

Rustic alder cabinets, covered in a golden stain followed by a rich mocha glaze, alternate with the black cabinet sections to create a striking contrast.

“I love the wood,” Kiersted said of the alder. “I wanted knots in it.”

Large travertine tiles cover the kitchen floor with a warm coppery beige hue, while the rustic porcelain tiles on the counters look like stone under the warm glow of the under-cabinet lighting.

Kiersted, in a particularly whimsical move, chose a black chandelier from Pottery Barn for the center of her kitchen.

She dressed it up with homemade paisley lamp shades, a perfect foil for the many crystals that splash light around the kitchen when sun pours into the house.

“Every grandma needs a little bling,” said Kiersted, who moved here to be closer to family, including two granddaughters on Whidbey Island. “I wanted to have some places with some sparkle.”

But Kiersted didn’t stop with paisley lamp shades when it came to print fabrics in the kitchen, a signature note of French country.

Her window treatments feature a red-and-white floral print trimmed with gingham and paisley accents. She also customized just a few of her kitchen cabinet faces with a red-and-white toile hung in a pleated fashion behind a grid of chicken wire.

In the nearby living room and dining area, Kiersted repeated many of the fabrics, including the toile on two large chairs and an ottoman.

Her main sofa is a tufted beauty, also done in red and white. Nearby, a red leather easy chair sits draped with a quilt Kiersted made of red, white and blue scraps left over from her decorating and remodeling projects in the house.

“It’s not about the things,” Kiersted said. “It’s about feeling loved and warm.”

Part of the warmth in both spaces comes from stone. Kiersted hired a mason to cover the 3-foot wall between the living room and kitchen with white, rustic stone, creating an Old World look.

She painted the once-red brick fireplace white to match it, creating an easy contrast with the black wood-burning stove insert and a large armoire Kiersted painted black and distressed for an antique look.

Kiersted’s living room furniture collection echoes the tone of the knotty alder kitchen cabinets. Most of the pieces are made of honey-colored pine or similarly hued wood, including a 250-year-old French cradle, an antique expandable cottage table and a tall hutch filled with red and white European plates.

Dick Pope, a kitchen designer with Creative Kitchen and Bath, said the home is an expression of Kiersted’s personality.

“She was fun to work with. She was full of ideas,” he said of the retired physical therapist. “Everything she does has that touch. She’s just a warm wonderful person.”

Reporter Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037 or sjackson@heraldnet.com.