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!

New Additions to our “Aqua Breeze” Line

Trend forecasters have named shades of blue and turquoise the “it” colors of 2010, and we couldn’t be more excited! At Belle Escape, we love all things blue.

Take a peak at our “Aqua Breeze” line, popular among fans of shabby chic and coastal-cottage style. We just added many beautiful new items featuring aqua accents and breezy blue motifs.

Our favorite pieces include an aged, vintage-white French writing desk painted with light aqua ornamental artwork, and hand-carved Louis XV armchairs with plush cushions adorned with whimsical aqua botanicals.

Aqua cartouche writing desk

Louis XV princess arm chairs

It’s no surprise that blue is a popular choice for homes today. More and more people are forgoing vacations in exotic locales and instead choosing to create an escape within their own homes. Blue—the color of sky and sea–is both optimistic and uplifting, calming and relaxing…the ideal accent color for a dreamy, ethereal home oasis!

Here are more new additions to the “Aqua Breeze” line:

Aqua French Louis chest

Louis botanical aqua arm chairs

Aqua breeze shabby chest

Toile side chairs

Fleur de lys gypsy table

You can find these items in our online boutique at www.BelleEscape.com.