Finding the Right Entry Table for your Home

What feeling do you want to create when people enter your home? One of the first things people see is the entryway décor, often dominated by an entry table, those “ambassador” pieces that represent your home, make a statement to all who enter and often serve a functional purpose as well.

Console tables and small chests tend to be the most popular choices for an entry table. Round entry tables are also a good choice for open foyers. Generally speaking, console tables are seen as open and lighthearted, chests as warm and cozy and round tables as more formal, but there certainly is a lot of crossover. For example, a colorful or eclectic chest in the entry way can certainly create a fun loving vibe.

Console tables are by far the most popular type of entry table. These pieces are generally decorative and include at least one drawer to toss the keys, phones and sun glasses into upon arriving in the home. These cottage style console tables create a light and cheerful feeling and seem to say “come on in for a cup of tea and good cheer.”

Found on Flickr.com

Found on madeinaday.com

Earthy console tables are in high demand these days as people have become more environmentally conscious. The rustic console tables below create a sense of warmth and strength while also conveying a love for nature. Console tables hand crafted from reclaimed solid woods with weathered effects are particularly popular. These rustic tables looks great when adorned with plants and pottery, and placing a basket beneath provides extra storage space for shoes, blankets, pillows and more.

Found on honeywerehome.blogspot.com

Found on hookedonhouses.net

Found on cococozy.com

 Ornate French entry tables are the perfect choice for well appointed homes. These curvy aged pieces convey warmth and elegance. These console tables create a dreamy feel that lets guests know that your home is not only your castle, but also your oasis. Found on thedecorologist.com (Veranda Magazine image)

Found on chicposh.blogspot.com

For the more traditional home, a painted chest is a great entry way choice. A painted chest gives a feeling of warmth and whimsy, as if to say “we love family and traditions, but we know how to have fun!” And with so many painted chests to choose from, it’s fun and easy to choose one that reflects your family’s personality. One of the things I love about using a chest in the entry way is that you get a lot of storage space. You can store keys and odds and ends in the top drawer and fill the other drawers with items often needed when you leave the home, like sweaters, caps, gloves, storage bags and more.

Found on vintagehomeca.tumblr.com

Found on tumblr.com

Found on theenchantedhome.blogspot.com

Round entry tables are the perfect choice for homes with large, open foyers. Placing a round pedestal table just under a pendant light creates a sophisticated look, especially with a bouquet of flowers on the table along with books and family photos.

Found on MyDesignChic.com

Found on stylemepretty.com

To see more entry table ideas, check out this Pinterest board: Stylish and Unique Entry Tables and Chests

You can also check out some of Belle Escape’s most popular entry tables here: Entry Tables and Chests

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.

Vibrant Blue Home Interiors

I love the way fashion intersects with home furnishing trends. Earlier this year, the runways in New York and Paris featured exhilarating hues of blue that are now found on chairs, chests and sofas across the globe. According to Color Solutions International, the color trends this year “take you on an adventure” and the blue tones reflect “visions of the ocean’s ambiance.” So if you’re feeling compelled to bring the colors of the sea into your home, you are right on trend!

The colors of the sand, sea and sky found on the coast are easily transferred to the decor in your home with the help of inspired coastal cottage furnishings. You can recreate the relaxed, blissful feeling of vacationing on the beach in your own home by adding coastal accents and furniture in hues of blue.

Deep navy blue is particularly popular this year, especially when coupled with natural touches, such as rattan furniture. Together they exemplify a mix of cool strength and natural down-to-earthiness – the perfect balance.

 

Soft blues create a soothing and serene feeling and also mix well with natural materials, such as rattan accent tables and jute rugs.

Showcasing a few coastal accent pieces, such as beach style chairs, pillow with coastal motifs or coastal artwork, can be all you need to create that relaxed feeling of getting away to the beach. Whether you live by the sea or inland, these coastal-inspired interior design ideas offer plenty of inspiration to bring the look and feel of summer right into your home.

To find unique coastal furnishings to create the look and feel of a beach escape home, visit Belle Escape’s coastal cottage style section.

Finding Your Interior Design Style

What’s your favorite style? Spring is often the perfect time of year to refresh your decor and get a stylish new look! If you are unsure about your favorite interior design style, perusing images online is a great way to discover your look. Finding the right style isn’t about “what’s in style”, rather it’s about what makes you feel at home, what brings a smile to your face, and when it comes right down to it, what feels like “you”. Here are some of our favorite websites to search by style and room:

The HGTV Designer Portfolio section has an array of beautiful images and allows you to search by room, style and color. (Photo Source:  Heather Hilliard, Interior Designer)

Houzz is another great website  with thousands of high quality images of home interiors, and you can search by room, style, color, floor, furniture items in the room and so much more.

If you love Modern interiors, Freshome specializes in calm, refreshing  cosmopolitan interiors and allows you to search by home type, room and furniture.

House Beautiful’s Photo Gallery has thousands of designer room images from their magazine that will inspire you and get your creative juices flowing.

Finally, searching Google images is a fabulous resource, and you can search by any criteria.

To find furniture pieces  by your favorite style, you can also browse Belle Escape’s Interior Design Style section, which includes popular pieces in a variety of styles, including French country, shabby chic, coastal cottage, vintage french, farmhouse chic, industrial chic, rustic  and many more!

All of these online websites will provide inspiration as you plan a new look that will transform a house into your dream home!

Red is a hot furniture trend!

Fall/Winter 2013-2014 runway colors are vibrant, exciting and rich! And, as always, these fashion trends translate into home furnishing trends. Packed full of energy and excitement, the color red is creeping back into vogue in the world of interior design with this wave of vibrant hues coming in from fashion trends. For years, people shied away from this arresting color, but now folks are feeling bolder and taking bigger risks in their decorating. And as they do, red is steaming up the popularity charts.

Make a statement: Do you have a room that has many colors but you’re not sure which one to make a focal point? Or  a stark room of neutrals and you want to showcase one item? Add red! In rooms like home libraries, entertainment rooms, and home theaters, bring red into the décor to make a statement.  These rooms are for entertaining, lounging, or finding a good book to sink into. One red item: a chest, desk, or just a lamp can pull the entire room together with just that one piece of furniture.

Use red in dining rooms: Ever wonder why so many restaurants incorporate red into their décor in some way or another?  Have you ever heard that the color red makes people hungry? Apparently, it’s true, but know the limits of red. Painting the entire dining room fire engine red may feel like overindulgence. In the home, spots of red furniture and decor will do the trick. Red in the dining room, for example, can serve as a symbol of hospitality, without you ever saying a word! Red is a wonderful French Country color of choice as seen in this inviting dining room.

Create energy: Red in your home may be what is needed to create a new energy! Whether you use it to add a vibrant atmosphere or to enliven a rather dull décor, red can do all of this and more! Red can be played up as the main focal point of the room, or it can be used in bursts of accent colors in a subdued room.  In any case,, red will add an energy that will bring vibrancy and fun into any room.

Red outdoors The beauty of red is that it works in every style of home, from ultra modern to highly traditional. Don’t forget outdoor spaces as well. Red can be used to brighten up a deck or porch space. From bright red wicker chairs to subtle red accent on the walls, use red to enliven your home and bring energy to its inhabitants.

Beautiful New Cottage Style Furnishings

Cottage style furniture has never been lovelier! Here’s a peek at our newest items.

Furniture with gray wash finishes, metal top tables and hand blown lamps.

Hand painted chests, consoles and tables in neutral tones.

Metal coffee tables, accent tables and chairs for an industrial chic look.

Beautiful French style benches, chairs and ottomans with white wash finishes and neutral upholstery.

Classic French armoires and credenzas in shades of gray and distressed white finishes.

And plenty of whimsical and colorfully painted chests – the perfect conversation pieces!

Cottage Style Furniture

Cottage style decorating is an American favorite thanks to the comfort and versatility if offers. Cottage style decor blends the old with the new to create a cozy yet eclectic look that is always personal. In cottage style interiors, you will often find rustic wood tables with white distressed wood or cane back chairs and hand-painted furniture pieces in pastel shades or with floral or patterned hand-painted motifs. And what makes cottage style decorating particular fun is that there is always room for your favorite flea market finds, such as porcelain or glass vases, antique wall art and time worn books.

Cottage style interiors are often light and breezy, with white distressed furniture, lightly painted walls and touches of spring time flowers here and there. There’s a feeling of being in a cozy country home where life is just a little more relaxed, and perhaps a bit sweeter.

Cottage style often has influences of Italian and French country interiors.  For example, rustic exposed beams and wood flooring capture that warm, farmhouse appeal and the clean, uncluttered neutral color scheme is typical cozy cottage. Functional built-ins are representative of a cottage space, helping to achieve that visually uncluttered appearance. This room is large, but intimate as well with a comfortable sitting area and inviting dining table. A guest immediately feels at home without worrying they shouldn’t touch anything or sit anywhere for fear of ruining a precious item. These furnishings only get better with age and use.

The relaxed, beach cottage feel is a perfect match for the summer months. The sand colored rug and shades of blue grays and white make me think of a cool, foggy day at the seaside. Cottage style furniture and decor is adaptable to many different styles and can be combined in a flattering way. The result will always appear fresh, bright, welcoming and utterly charming!

Bring the Feeling of Spring into Your Home!

Springtime is here – one of my favorite times of year! The trees are in bloom with flowers in white, lavender and pink. Tiny purple flowers have sprouted up in the front yard. The lawn is glistening with beads of water from the light rains as rays of sun peak through white fluffy clouds, hinting at the warmth to come. It’s a marvelous time of year when life renews itself all around us in vibrant colors and soothing sounds. For lovers of springtime, you can bring the feeling of Spring into your home all year round by adding hand-painted furnishings or perhaps some painted lamps with bird or flower motifs.  Shabby chic chests and shabby chic chandeliers in shades or blue, white and pink are also a wonderful way to add a fresh feeling to your home.

It is not only a good time of year to do Spring cleaning, but to also add a new look to your home. While Mother Nature is hard at work outside waking up the flora and fauna, it’s also the perfect time for you to tap into your creativity and wake up the look of your home. A Garden Cottage theme might be what you are looking for in the sun room, or a Cottage Chic flair in the guest room. Be inspired and take a look at some of Belle Escape‘s lovely spring-time influenced pieces.

Garden Cottage Painted Headboard        Doves Sitting On Pedestal      Birds in Park Credenza

Painted Floral Cottage Chest              Floral King Doors             Rose Garden Bombay Chest

Woodstock Bird Lamp                Distressed Blue Bee Lamp                Feathered Friend Lamp

Antique Pink Flower Dresser  Hand Painted French Shabby Chest   French Shabby Chic Buffet

Pink Shabby Chic Chandelier   Louis Draped Wood Bead Chandelier    Sky Blue Chandelier

Choose Your Perfect Sideboard

French sideboards are both artistic and functional. These lovely pieces of dining room furniture are traditionally used to store your best flatware, china and linens for entertaining. The interiors usually have spacious cabinets, drawers or both and a flat surface top that can be used to serve buffet style. Some are a showcase piece in itself with hand-painted details, while others have glass doors that highlight the beautiful serving pieces shown inside.

Black Painted Cartouche Sideboard  Distressed Country Sideboard  Elegant Curved Sideboard

Before choosing a french sideboard or buffet, consider how much space you have in your dining room. A sideboard should be set back at least three feet from the table to allow free movement in the room and no overcrowding. Think of the great possibilities to use the surface of the sideboard for decorating with lamps for soft lighting, accessories and floral arrangements. Larger surfaces call out for a lovely tea service, while a smaller surface might just need a couple of tall vases or some pillar candlesticks to add height and visual interest.

Rhapsody Flair Sideboard     Vintage Carved Cottage Sideboard     Whimsical Back Sideboard

How about adding a little flair to your living room with a whimsical painted sideboard used as an entertainment cabinet? It could perch a flat screen TV and hold electronics and DVDs inside. Or how about in the bath to rest a vessel sink on top and towels below?  Your home is a reflection of you and what you love. It is an opportunity to display treasured items, so choose a sideboard style that suits you and a color that works best with your style and decor.

Whimsical Painted Sideboard     Vintage Provence Commode    Painted Country Sideboard

Vineyard Escape Home Furnishings

Are you a wine lover who wants to share your passion with friends and family? Belle Escape features an array of furnishings that reflect the old world style of a French vineyard, including aged, rustic pieces with metal accents. Our Chateau Doors Armoire has all of these details and looks as if it is the secret doorway to an amazing cottage vineyard.   

Think about what inspires you about your favorite winery,  from the lush beauty of the scenery to the barrel rooms with native-stone facades. Or perhaps you just love the artistry of the wine labels!  How about our functional Weathered Wine Label Chest  to keep serving pieces, linens and wine openers in for your next tasting party? Or try our Solid Wood Wine Chiller with a metal insert to keep your white wines cold when serving guests.

Instead of a traditional metal wine rack, how about creating a statement with this beautiful Italian Iron Wine Cabinet to store your precious bottles. Our furnishings are hand-crafted with exquisite detail to capture the essence of a vineyard chic design. Our Vintage Beaded Chandelier with it’s antique bronzed finish and lovely wood beaded embellishments is a timeless beauty that is sure to warm up any room. Whether you prefer an old world chateau-style vignoble in the Loire Valley or a charming countryside winery in Napa Valley, we have items to fit each category.