Tufted Chic Furnishings

Tufted furniture is right on trend for 2012 and is updated and modernized for a fresh new look. Tufting is the art of upholstering by pulling and puckering fabric through a thick layer of padding and fastening it in place with a button covered in the same fabric. It takes a steady hand and precise care, but the end result is magnificent. The fresh new look eliminates the traditional feel of tufting and allows it to blend well with many different styles and furnishings. Plush chairs like this French Chic Loft Chair and French Script Chair are perfect stand alone pieces that will complement any decor with their beauty.

Belle Maison Francaise has many tufted pieces to choose from. Natural linen fabrics in neutral colors to add to the softness of the furnishings. Tufted chairs and sofas are in style, but have you considered an ottoman that can be cozy and functional too? This Square Tufted Elm Wood Ottoman is a great way to add a style. A coffee table with storage underneath and can provide extra seating when needed? Ideal for many households. The tufted furnishings may be a trend for 2012, but truly, “tufted” truly is an enduring style.

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.

Create an Earthy Oasis

Celebrate Earth Day this week with items from our Earthy Cottage Collection. Inspired by nature, created for everyday use, this collection uses organic materials such as river rock, natural wood, rattan, linen, driftwood and seashells to construct beautiful items for your decor. Look at the rustic sophistication of the rattan accent table, the large wooden orb chandelier and the round dining table below!

The detail and construction are incredible with earthy furniture made to bring the beauty of nature indoors and surround you with a feeling of peace and tranquility. Lovely!

Shabby Chic Style Furniture in Bloom!

Springtime is in bloom! Flowers lovers will adore these hand-painted floral chests and tables in Shabby Chic Style. What better way to bring the feel of Springtime into your home all year long?

Take a look at these lovely chandeliers in blue and pink – perfect for a girl’s room! And our hand-painted and distressed mirrors and chests in shades of pink, blue and white will add a touch of feminine elegance and style to any room. If you love this style, see our collection of colorful painted furniture.

Paisley is Hot! Home Decor Trend Alert 2012.

Paisley is in! At Fashion Week in February, the catwalk lit up with vibrant paisley patterns. Paisley represents movement, energy and variety which reflects the emerging mood which is bolder, sassier and ready for action!

Of course, the colors and patterns on the runway influence home decor trends. Here is Elle Decor’s March 2012 Trend Alert, featuring colorful and fun paisley furniture and decor, including Belle Escape’s Paisley Floor Screen.

Belle Escape's Paisley Floor Screen - featured in the March 2012 issue of Elle Decor

Belle Escape’s whimsical hand-painted chests and sideboards with paisley motifs are also right on trend!

Introducing our New Hillside Collection

Inspired by the outdoors, this collection of cottage style furniture brings Mother Nature inside your home. The collection includes lovely buffets, dining tables, display cabinets and more with hand-painted motifs and distressed finishes.

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?

Exciting New Design Trends in 2012!

Are you looking to update your furnishings or add a little flair to your home? For inspiration, take a look at some of the hottest design trends for 2012!

Design industry experts come together each year and develop color and style trends that are, at least in part, based upon current world affairs and the atmosphere they create.  For example, despite our country’s economic challenges, the new year has ushered in a mood of resilience and determination, so Pantone chose a bright and energizing tangerine as the color for 2012.  Furniture trends this year look to embolden us with bright colors and mirrored pieces while also providing a sense of comfort and security with traditional styles and reclaimed hardwoods mixed with metals. Here are some of the 2012 furniture trends.

Photo Credit: Eloquence Inc.

•  C”est magnifique!  French style furniture remains popular with its romantic cabriole legs, scalloped edges and beautiful gilding details.  French country design features the bright colors of the Provence landscape along with comfortable and rustic furnishings that will add warmth to any home decor.

Photo Credit: Tumblr Images

• Mirrored furniture will add a bit of bling when used as a buffet in the dining room, an end table in the living room or as a beautiful bedside table in the master bedroom. And tufted chairs, headboards and benches are all the rage this year!

Photo Credit: Flickr

• Along with the 2012 color of the year, tangerine, other bright colors are making an appearance in home design.  Expect to see lovely shades of turquoise and pink along with silver and brushed gold accents.

Photo Credit: Aidan Gray

• Stylized pieces made from reclaimed woods are also popular this year. Designers are now creating popular period pieces with reclaimed woods and applying a weathered finish, similar to the one that appears on our Weathered Limoges Oak Chest. An eclectic blend of metal, glass and wood is also appearing on many items including coffee and accent tables, chests and other pieces.

Belle Escape has many pieces that reflect these trends, especially French.  Please stop by and take a look and let us know what 2012 hot furniture trends you are introducing into your home this year.

Belle Escape – Artistic Furniture!

Belle Escape inspires artistic expressions about life’s special moments and dream escapes. Check out these designs featuring Belle Escape’s shabby chic furniture and decor.

Diamond Carved Mirrors

Aqua Louis Wing Chair and Ottoman

Coastal Shabby Chic Chest

Floral Coffee Table – featuring Taylor Swift who furnished her new home with furniture from Belle Escape!

Silver Tin Display Cabinet – just gorgeous!

Aqua Oceanic Chest – A fun, whimisical chest for a coastal cottage!

Blue Fleur de Lys Chest and Vintage Vines Wall Chest – Ooh la la!

Country Scenes Coffee Table – a French country delight!

Live from the High Point Furniture Market!

I’m here at one of the world’s largest furniture shows in High Point, North Carolina and can’t wait to share my new finds on www.BelleEscape.com! High Point, a small town in the middle of North Carolina, comes to life twice a year when it hosts the High Point Market. It boasts about ten blocks filled with high rises and storefronts featuring a huge array of the latest furniture designs and home décor, and people from all around the globe descend upon this town to ooh and ahh!

Of course, the High Point Market features all styles of furniture and décor, from ultra modern to antique reproductions, but we are focusing our attention on cottage style furniture, especially French shabby, French Country and Shabby Chic!

We were thrilled to find so many new designs from the Louis period. Take a look at these lovely painted and distressed French reproductions… ooh laa!!

We always enjoy meeting the rock stars at the furniture shows — the furniture designers, of course! We especially enjoyed meeting Rachel Ashwell, the creator of Shabby Chic, who is back with a lovely new line of shabby, and even more chic, designs. We also met with Tara Shaw who has been selling antiques for two decades and is now introducing a gorgeous line of authentic European antique reproductions.

Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic and Donna Jensen-Madier of BelleEscape.com

Tara Shaw of Tara Shaw Maison

Many French country furniture pieces also caught our eye, including this authentic French country dining table, these teal colored table and chairs, and this black distressed kitchen island.

We also looked for decorative items, like wall art, pillows and chandeliers that will accentuate our French style furniture, and found so many lovely items we think you’ll love. Here’s sneak peek at some items we are planning to add to Belle Escape.

Now that we’ve walked the show, tested items for quality and comfort, and gushed over the new designs, it’s time to share these treasures with all of you! Stay tuned for lots of new, gorgeous items at www.BelleEscape.com!