Do you have a large wall in your home that needs some décor and you’re just not sure what to do?

Well… when my husband and I purchased our vacation home in Vermont, I had this dilemma in our kitchen. Most of the home needed a little “re-do” and I tackled the kitchen first. Think dark cherry wood cabinets with dark green countertops and matching green tile floors. Not that it wasn’t functional; I just preferred a light, airy feel, and my hubby agreed.

Once the kitchen renovations were finished, I was left with a large empty wall adjacent to the kitchen area. I knew it needed something; I just wasn’t sure what. I tried vintage shutters over a side table, but that became a catch-all for keys, dog leashes etc. My next thought was to put a large mirror or piece of art there, but with the rustic nature of the house, I really wanted something different.

And then an idea popped into my mind: breadboards! I’ve brought back so many antique breadboards from France over the years, and love displaying them in many ways throughout the shop. I thought a collection of different boards would be perfect on that wall, so I decided to sneak some away with me to Vermont.

I love to use breadboards as serving platters for entertaining so having a wall display would make them easily accessible. I also don’t have a lot of extra storage space so I could kill two birds with one stone: beautiful decor and storage!

I decided to use narrow shelves with a lip along the edge to hold the breadboards displayed upright. I planned the layout first, to make sure there was enough space between shelves for the large boards. To keep with the “light and airy” feel, I wanted to keep some open space on the wall and not make the shelves too crowded. I added two shelves, arranged the breadboards on the wall, and I love how it came out!

Old breadboards come in all shapes and sizes and usually have unique markings from wear. I love that there’s a story behind the years of use, maybe in a French country kitchen or boulangerie (bread bakery) long ago. Some have cracks, burns, knife marks, and even areas where repairs were done with copper or metal braces! With different types of wood, they have variances in color, and one side is usually darker than the other. The side with the darkened patina is the one that was used most often. I recommend playing with all these different elements to add more character to the display.

There are many ways to decorate with old breadboards to add a rustic French farmhouse look to your décor.

Don’t hesitate to tag us in your pictures on Facebook or Instagram @lesfleursandover if you chose to recreate this wall display or share other ways you decorate with breadboards in your home.

Thank you for following along.

Merci,
Sandra