Vintage French bread boards are charming and so on-trend. Come see how you can add that French farmhouse style to your interiors, too!
I know you guys know I love just about anything French, but vintage French bread boards are something that I kind of stumbled on in terms of collecting. I don’t even remember where I first saw them, or what made them call my name, but they definitely did.
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This might be one of the prettiest uses of vintage French bread boards ever photographed! I love that they are the artwork in this breakfast room. By Brooke Giannetti.
They are plain, and worn out, and definitely unglamorous, but wow, do they have character. They’re something my mother would probably think belongs in a garage sale (haha!), but I just adore them.
So simple and cute. Love the shape of this one! Design by Barbara Westbrook.
Here one is used on the island to feature a vignette. Via Debra Hall Lifestyle.
Actually, I like any bread boards, even new ones, but the old French or European ones are particularly special. They are usually quite worn, with an amazing patina that comes from years and years of use and handling. I love the texture they add wherever you display them.
Here I used them on top of some vintage baskets to form a “table” to display my little Christmas tree!
However, once I fell in love with them, I found out they are somewhat rare, and definitely not cheap! (Story of my life: whatever I decide to collect always seems to be expensive!)
A vignette I created on the kitchen table recently.
Here they were used to fill that empty space above the sink. And I love that unusual board with an initial on it! Via Renovation Style magazine.
So, slowly but surely I’ve been looking and hunting and have found a few so far. I also discovered that the German and Eastern European ones are slightly less expensive, and can give the same look for much less.
So gorgeous! Via Dreamy Whites.
Whether you stack them in the kitchen, hang them on a wall, or lean them on a mantel, they add tons of vintage charm and French farmhouse style. I especially love displaying them in a kitchen vignette, or even using them to serve bread and cheese.
Yes, I do use them to serve food! (once cleaned and disinfected)
A little vignette I did on the counter last fall. This is one I brought home from my trip to Provence!
They’re such a great way to add texture to any space, but especially the kitchen. In a room that is primarily white, and often utilitarian, they bring much needed warmth.
One of my favorite places to display them is on my range hood mantel. This one is Eastern European, probably German. I love the cross strap wood look of these!
And they mix well with their French cousins, demijohn bottles and vintage baskets! For more inspiration on all these French finds, be sure to check out my post on French farmhouse kitchens.
The kitchen table is one of my favorite places to display them. I love the layered look of using it over a runner as a stage for whatever display is there.
I’ve sourced several French ones for you below, along with lots of European ones (from other countries besides France). But since they can sometimes be more expensive, I’ve also listed some reproductions.
And of course, if you buy a new one, you can always leave it outside for a couple of weeks to speed up the distressing! 😉
Shop Bread Boards
Sheila
xo
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out more decorating ideas and inspiration below:
Dough Bowls: How to Decorate with Them & Where to Find Them
How to Decorate Using the Rule of 3
5 Simple Tips for Decorating with Art
Diana says
Love your blog!
You should check Entertaining with Beth
She has a B&B in France . I think you will love her!
Sheila says
Thank you so much Diana, I so appreciate your support! And thanks for the tip – I’ll check it out! 🙂
Sheila
Maureen says
I LOVE your stove and hood!!!! Will you share with us what brand the stove is?
Sheila says
Aww thanks Maureen! The range is Wolf and the hood was custom made by the cabinet maker from my design. Hope that helps!
Sheila
Lisa Page says
Could you share where you found the darling small breakfast table below the bread boards.
Thank you.
Sheila says
Isn’t that table so cute?! I believe it’s an antique!
Debbie says
I love them
Beth says
Loved your post! Can you tell us the color of your kitchen cabinets…. we’re getting ready to have ours professionally repainted in a warm slightly off white…. been searching for the right one!
Sheila says
Hi Beth! Our kitchen cabinets (as well as all the doors and trim in our home) are Cloud White by Benjamin Moore (my fave white paint!) It’s a clean, neutral white (I wouldn’t say off-white as it is a true white) that is warm, not cold. Hope that helps!
Brenda Sima says
These are great vignette ideas! I too love anything French! I am trying to hold off on bringing out the pumpkins because its so hot here …but it didn’t stop me from just buying 3 more small ones for my table vignette! You give me great ideas thank you!
Sheila says
haha love that! And thanks Brenda – I’m so glad you liked the post!
thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to comment! 🙂
Sheila
Elizabeth says
Sheila, I so enjoyed this post! Love the vignette on the kitchen table. I will make a trip over to “Shop My Home” to give me even more ideas. I love the idea of the Bread Boards with the white pitcher, perfect accent!
Sheila says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post Elizabeth! Bread boards are one of my favorites to decorate with – hope you find some good ones! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
Sheila
JC says
I LOVE the patina of the french bread boards, in particular, but really all wooden cutting/bread boards are my love too. I have three, but there is always room for more. Thanks, Sheila, for the links above! I’m going to have fun looking through those!
Sheila says
Oh I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it! I love them so much, and couldn’t agree more – you can never have too many!
Thanks for stopping by!
Sheila
Rosalind says
I am looking forward to Autumn and loved your pumpkin-breadboard vignette. Such great ideas! Thank-you!!
Sheila says
You’re so welcome my friend! We need a cool-down soon so that we can feel more fall-ish!
Sheila
xo
Jennie Giordano says
I LOVE your site. I am very interested in the white pitcher you feature in your Antique French Board kitchen table
vignette. I am loving the pitcher in the vignette with the Dundee products and the fresh hydrangeas in the clear bowl.
Have been searching a long time for that exact look. Can you help? Thanking you in advance.
Sheila says
Hi and thanks so much! That particular pitcher was purchased at Home Goods a few years back. I did link some very similar pitchers in my kitchen shop on the blog. If you go to “shop my home” and then “kitchen” you will find some similar ones. Hope that helps!
Sheila
Anja says
Hi Sheila,
Love the vignette you’ve created on your kitchen table.
Adore the white jug.Will you be so kind to tell the brand of the jug,please?
Perhaps I am able to find a similar one over here.
Sheila says
Hi and thanks so much for stopping by! That pitcher is an old one. I’ve linked some similar ones in my “Shop my Home” tab on the blog. Simply click “Shop my Home” and then “Kitchen” to find some similar pitchers. Hope that helps!
Sheila
Sue says
I love your idea for the breadboards. I just bought one of your suggestions. Thanks, I am looking forward to receiving my board.
Sheila says
I am so happy to hear that! I think you’ll love them!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Sheila
Becky says
I just recently purchase a french bread board. I want to hang it on the wall, however, it doesn’t have a hole in it to hang and I still want the ease of taking it down to use. I noticed in the pictures above you had one hanging, how did you mount it?
Sheila says
Hi Becky! So happy for you that you just bought one – they’re so great! As far as hanging, the only hanging in the photos does have a hole in the handle at the end. However, depending on how heavy yours is, you could do those Command Strips or something like that. However, then it would need to stay up. You could also add a small shelf or ledge and lean it, which is where I have mine and how a lot are in the photos.
I think if I were you, I’d probably drill a hole in the handle so that I could hang it! Either that or do a ledge. Good luck with it, and thanks so much for stopping by!
Sheila
Amber Ferguson says
Just gorgeous! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Sheila says
Thanks so much!
Jamie says
I love my French bread boards in my kitchen too. They make such a beautiful statement against all the white.
Hugs, Jamie
Sheila says
I love them in your kitchen!! You know your kitchen is one of my favs anyway:) And it’s so true! I adore the warmth and texture that all the pale woods bring to a white kitchen. I cannot get enough and hope to find some more in my travels.
Have a great weekend Jamie!
xo
Joanna says
I have several sizes and shapes of bread boards but all are reproductions. I use them mainly for cheese or fruit trays when entertaining. I love the character in the old ones though and knowing they were used by someone long ago. There are many more ways to add character to your hone presented here.
Sheila says
I love that you use them Joanna! That’s the key, I think, to getting new ones to age, just use them! And I agree, the character is really the best part. But that’s why I sourced some new ones as well as the vintage, so some people can buy new and make their own character.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Sheila
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage says
I love love love this post. I love all the ways you showed to decorate with the french bread boards. It is gorgeous to see the natural wood with all the whites. So pretty. Happy Friday. Have a great weekend.
Kris
Sheila says
Aww, thanks so much Kris! I love them too! And I feel the same way – the wood looks so good against all the white in the kitchens.
Happy weekend to you!
Sheila
xo
Shirley @Housepitality Designs says
Love, love Bread Boards…I find that the wonderful antique ones are getting pricier….would love another shopping trip to France!
Sheila says
Me too!! I wish I could’ve brought more home, however, with that 50lb suitcase limit, and the fact that they are SO heavy, I didn’t dare bring home more than two! Of course, I’d be more than happy to go again:)
Sheila
xo
Shelli Adams says
Sheila
We love your blog, your style and how you so beautifully share your design ideas! Thank you for adding us to your “get the look” section…. we also love French Bread Boards and were lucky to have shipped from France over 100 that had been stored from the 1940’s when a large industrial bakery closed right after the war. We love each and every one…. as do our customers. Thank you again and Happy New Year!
My best
Shelli
ChaseVintage on Etsy
Chasing Vintage
Sheila says
Thank you so much Shelli! Your bread boards are gorgeous and exactly what I love! I’m so glad I found you and could introduce you to my readers.
Happy New Year to you!
Sheila
Carol Heartfelt Whimsies says
Just so much character!! Love them! And that mix of silver, ironstone and cutting boards in Brooke’s old kitchen are just amazing!! Can’t wait to hear more about your trip to France!!
Sheila says
Isn’t there?! I just adore them! And Brooke is seriously amazing! She was using them before anyone else even thought of it!
Our trip! We are going to Provence and driving through the south of France. Hoping to find LOTS of pretty things to buy:)
Thanks for stopping by Carol!
Sheila
xo
Bobbi says
These vintage french bread boards are beautiful! I love the way they were used as artwork on the mantel. Thanks for sharing!
Sheila says
I couldn’t agree more! I’m just in love with them! After writing the post, I’m even more in the mood to find more:)
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Sheila
Shelly says
How do you tell if it is from France? Of course if you buy it in France you know it is from there. Is there a mark on the ones from France? A shape or style can be reproduced easily, so I am wondering how you know it is a French bread board? Thank you for teaching us. I see many at flea markets and there are a lot of people making them and distressing them to make them look old.
Sheila says
Hi Shelly!
You are so right, there are a lot of reproductions out there, as well as ones that are actually from Germany or other European countries. To tell you the truth, unless you really know your stuff it can be hard to tell. But to start with, talk with the vendor, ask a lot of questions. I’m a big believer that most flea market and/or vintage vendors are pretty honest about their stuff.
The French boards are normally small to medium in size (not huge) and rectangular, VERY thick and sometimes have flared corners at one end (the one in the second photo in the post is French). Also, anything that is really cheap or seems too good to be true is probably not French! Having said that, I’m not against the German ones (I have two myself) or the repros, I just believe you should know what you’re buying. I sourced several French ones in my post (they are sellers on Etsy that are IN France). That is an easy way to be sure:)
Thanks so much for stopping by, and for taking the time to comment! Have a great weekend!
Sheila
Shelly says
Thank you Sheila! I am going to a flea market this weekend and one of the vendors sell bread boards. I have purchased two from her, and she has pretty ones. I will ask her about them this time if I see one I want. I think one I purchased was a reproduction, the edges seemed too rough compared to the top cutting surface which had a nice patina. I still like it, but wanted old ones only.
Thank you for responding and teaching us.