A country home in France is nothing but a dream for most of us, but for Rita Theil and her family, it’s a dream come true. Rita, who owns a French-inspired decor store in Aurora, Ont., and her husband fell in love with this 1729 farmhouse, located on a picturesque 30 acres in the city of Toulouse.

The perfect kitchen
Flowers, freshly picked from the garden and casually arranged in rustic containers, are set to one side so they don’t distract from the stunning view of the quaint French countryside. Late fall in France seems synonymous with a bounty of fresh fruit for the taking; the same goes for wine and cheese.

Toulouse charm
Taking special care with the heart of the home, Rita designed the high-ceilinged kitchen herself, commissioning local artisans to bring the space to life – or vie, we should say, since Rita wanted to capture that quintessential Toulouse style: sunny yellow walls, warm wood tones, rustic brick and stone accents and huge doors and windows that overlook terraces and her massive garden.
A bounty of fresh produce
"Basil grows like crazy around the property, so I cook with it almost every day,” says Rita.
Local products
Local artisanal condiments, from sugars to oils, are stored within arm’s reach of the stove.
Soothing wood
In keeping with quintessential Toulouse charm, homeowner Rita Theil went traditional and painted the walls a warm yellow – a colour that’s a calling card for the French Country look. She carried the colour through to the accessories as well.
A place to cook and entertain
The fireplace, featuring an ornate 16th-century mantel, actually works, but it’s not often in use. “The mirror on top is from an old dresser,” says Rita. “They just fit perfectly together.” It’s that casual-chic style – mixing old with new and featuring functional accessories – that makes this kitchen the heart of the home and representative of that French joie de vivre!

Though Rita Theil outfitted her home with items from France, you can grab similar finds at her Aurora, Ont.-based boutique, Jackryn France.
A sunny space
With her choice of buttery yellow wall paint, Rita Theil lets the sun shine into her kitchen, even on cloudy days. If floor-to-ceiling yellow feels a little daunting, try to incorporate the sunny shade through smaller accents like trim, cabinetry, table and chairs.
Creating the look
{1} Margot Austin, Style at Home senior design editor: “I’m a recent convert to yellow, and it’s just perfect for a room where you start your day. For a kitchen, I love a warm, muted shade – nothing crisp and sunny or too intense and bossy. I like this shade because it recalls the creamy buttery goodness of home baking.” Style at Home Collection Butter SD016, Beauti-Tone.

{2} Croma Design: “This shade adds a splash of accent colour and works well with both white and grey.” Flower of Passion 14-7 Pratt & Lambert.

{3} Tommy Smythe, Sarah Richardson Design: “Heavily infused with green, this yellow has a neutral quality that makes it much more flexible than most yellows. Flexibility is a must in decorating – and dating, but that’s not my area of expertise!” Sarah Richardson Designer Palette Buttercup SR 51, Para Paints.

{4} Catherine Therrien, Style at Home senior editor: “Soft yellow paired with white is an uplifting, fresh scheme, and combining that palette with dark indigo accents makes the look more modern.” Crème Fraiche 2023-70, Benjamin Moore.

{5} Erin Feasby, Feasby & Bleeks Design “This is a nice wall colour that’s still soft and livable. The green undertones keep it modern and current without being too bold a statement.” Martha Stewart Living Rice Paper MSL059, The Home Depot.