In Style: Earthy Chic Decorating

Bring the relaxing feeling of nature into your home with furnishings made from natural woods, fibers and elements. Many of these Earthy Chic pieces are made from reclaimed wood and metals and sustainable woods. Weathered tables, wrought iron chandeliers, wicker accent pieces and natural beaded chandeliers will bring a calming effect into your home sanctuary.

You don’t have to live in a log cabin or a country setting to connect with nature. Even the most modern interiors come to life when objects from the outdoor world are brought inside. The fabulous rooms above belonged to celebrity couple Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi whose home in Beverly Hills, CA area was recently bought by Ryan Seacrest. These rooms prove you can add rustic touches and natural elements, yet still have a feeling of sophistication with clean, modern lines.

Nature is the ultimate inspiration—and trends in decor and design surely reflect that. Botanical abundance, stone walls and weathered furnishings create a calming space even in an office or powder room. This design trend is very popular with the eco-friendly lovers who are concerned with environmental effects in their home. And those who want a zen-like sanctuary home are also drawn to this decor. To bring a touch of Mother Nature into your home with Earthy Chic furniture and decor, visit Belle Escape.com.

Coastal Home Decorating Themes

There is nothing quite like the feeling of the beach. Whether you have a coastal cottage getaway or merely want to evoke the spirit of the seaside in your permanent home, there are many simple ways to incorporate the carefree, fresh, ocean feel into your decor. So enjoy the sun, sand and sea and everything that is so wonderful about summer!

A white coastal cottage look is all about having a clean, easy, breezy look.  Crisp whites create a serene, calming feel. Painting white from floor to ceiling with white slip-covered furnishings really show off the best part of a beach house: the view out the windows. And, of course, you can always accent with some colorful throw pillows.

Invite the colors of the seaside indoors. A palette of pastel sea greens and blues with shabby chic furnishings bring a comfortable, casual and tranquil element into the decor.

Shells, starfish and bits of coral are all terrific choices for decorating your seashore cottage space. Shell encrusted furnishings, mirrors and decor make a grand statement.

Using a pop of color in accessories or elements can often be seen in bright corals.

If using a neutral palette of taupes and whites be sure to add plenty of texture to add depth and interest. Wicker furniture, sisal rugs and weathered wood are common choices to create the casual look.

Nautical themes are a fun way to add touches of sea life to your home. Anchors, netting, boats, lighthouses and more are great way to add pizzazz in a coastal-style home.  Pair nautical-themed decorative items with a white slip covered couch and blue striped throw pillows to get the feeling of being out at sea. Minimal detailing and inviting furniture goes along with the low-maintenance and relaxed setting.

For a serene Bali-style retreat, look for furniture with darker wood tones, sheer curtains and canopies and Asian-style lamps and pottery.

Infusing Caribbean style into your room design can help liven up any room in your home and give you that laid-back island mentality. Lush house plants, dark wicker pieces and light upholstered furnishings are ideal ways to bring the Caribbean style to your own home. If you love coastal cottage furniture and decor, please tell us your story or favorite way to create a seaside way of life into your home!

Furnishing your Coastal Escape

Soft hues of foamy greens and blues, sandy browns and crisp whites…can you feel the ocean? A beach home is a special oasis where you can escape from it all. Add a painted coastal chest to create a fun and exciting atmosphere or a stunning crystal blue chandelier to sweep you away.  With popular pieces like these Aqua Rattan Counter Stools, this shell-studded chest and this coastal shabby chic chest, your coastal cottage will feel cozy, calming and beautiful.

There are so many ways to make your beach place stand out. Colorful rattan chairs, heavily distressed white mirrors or tables with painted motifs will add flair and style to your coastal retreat.
The Shadowbox Coffee Table below is a perfect centerpiece to show off all the treasures you have collected from the sea. The great pleasure that having a retreat by the coast can give you and the casual and relaxed feel that you get while on vacation can be captured in the design of your living space with our beautiful coastal cottage collection.

Home Sweet Romantic Getaway!

What is the most romantic getaway you can recall?  Perhaps you spent your honeymoon strolling the streets of  Paris or your 25th wedding anniversary along the canals of Venice. Maybe you’re planning that perfect vacation in Provence or Tuscany.  With a few decorative touches it is possible to recapture these moments and turn your home into a dream escape.

Romantic Dinner in Paris. Photo Credit: Paris Perfect

Ah Paris–no one does “amour” like the French.  Intimate sidewalk cafes, beautiful architecture and artwork and, of course, the sparkling lights throughout what is often referred to as the City of Light.  Capture the romantic and chic feel of Paris in your home with beautiful French furniture that combines old world design with cosmopolitan flair.

Our "belle sejour en Provence" last summer

Provence, the perfect place to relax in the sun, enjoy fine cuisine and explore medieval sites. But what makes Provence so unique is the richness of colors on door fronts, the scent of lavender on countryside walks and the raw natural beauty.  For colorful pieces that capture the feel of Provence, see our French country furnishings.

Our Terrace View - Romantic Getaway to St. John.

Is there anything more romantic than a warm tropical getaway?  Create your own home oasis with pieces from our Coastal Cottage collection.  The collection features lighting fixtures as sparkling and blue as the ocean, distressed white finishes on furniture and accessories like our sea turtle pillow or coastal painted chest.

Romantic Getaway to Venice. Photo: Ann & Wayne Stumpf

Stunningly beautiful views in Liguria. Photo: Bernadette Madier LeRoy & Marguerite Maloine

What comes to mind when you think of Italy?  Is it the delicious food, the amazing countryside or the ancient cities?  Capture the dramatic landscape of the Italian Riviera or the regal and mysterious feel of Venice in your own home with Tuscan style furniture from our Tuscan Villa collection featuring warm aged finishes and classic designs.

Create the Perfect Escape at BelleEscape.com

Our belief is that everyone should bring a bit of their favorite romantic spot into their home and we can accomplish that with furnishings from our Vintage French, French country, Tuscan and Coastal Cottage collections.

What romantic destination spot inspires your home interiors?

Belle Escape’s Best Selling Furnishings in 2010

Looking back at 2010, Belle Escape had a wonderful year helping an ever increasing number of homeowners transform their primary residence or vacation home into a dream oasis! We enjoyed learning about our customers’ visions and working with them to find the perfect pieces to get the exact look and feel they desired.

In 2010, our customers loved browsing all style categories, but French Country, Vintage French, Coastal Cottage and Cottage Chic were especially popular. In the furniture category, accent tables, chests, console tables, coffee tables, dining room tables and headboards were in highest demand. In home decor, chandeliers, decorative mirrors and wall art were the best selling items. About 70% of our customers purchased furnishings for their primary residence while 30% were furnishing a vacation home. And while Belle Escape’s customers come from all over the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, our most enthusiastic fan bases can be found in Texas, Florida, California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Toronto and Montreal.

Some of Belle Escape’s best selling furniture and home decor items in 2010 are shown below. Here’s looking forward to helping more and more of you create your dream home in 2011!

Vintage Pedestal Table

Vintage Scroll Table

Carved Bird Table

Provence Drink Cabinet

Fleur de Lis Side Table

Vintage Princess Entry Table

Vintage Princess Entry Table

Antiqued Bishop coffee table

Coastal Shadowbox Coffee Table

Coastal Shabby Chest

Damask Hall Chest

Seashore Shell Chest

Duchess Chest

Westminster Buffet

Rhapsody Flair Sideboard

French Toile Sideboard

French Country Overhang Buffet

Garden Cottage Floral Headboard

White Shabby Cane Headboard

Solid Wood Bird Headboard

Provence Chandelier

Vintage French Mirror

White Shabby Chandelier

Carved French Trumeau Mirror