Valentine’s Day Special!

Take 10% off accent tables at Belle Escape until February 14th with the code Valentine10. We have a new selection of accent tables beautifully hand-painted with colorful flowers for a bouquet that truly will last forever!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Creating a Romantic Home

A romantic home invites you to fall in love with the beauty of your surroundings. Hand-carved furnishings and elegant decor charm from every corner, and a calm color palette and plush seating appeal to the senses. To create your own romantic retreat, start by combining classic design with modern day comfort, and complete the look with a few opulent touches.

When selecting romantic furniture, who better than the French to turn to for amorous inspiration? French reproduction furniture, with origins in the era of the Louis kings, is known for its curvaceous forms, ornate carvings, and hand-painted details. To build a backdrop for romance, choose hand-carved consoles, tables, and cabinets painted in whites and neutral tones to establish a calm, serene environment. Commonly known as shabby chic or French shabby, furnishings are heavily distressed to achieve a timeworn feel.

French shabby console

Vintage princess entry table

Round swag table

French hutch & buffet

In a romantic home, seating is also key. Seating options should be varied, plentiful, and always cozy. Consider French canapes and loveseats in luxurious fabrics such as velvet, and add accent pillows to create an extra plush and welcoming look. Choose pillows with different shapes, fabrics and embellishments to create both dimension and intrigue.

French canape

French burlap love seat

Chairs should be equally as inviting. Armchairs and dining chairs with oversized cushions will inspire relaxation and romance.

Louis XVI Bergere arm chair

Princess dining chairs

White rococo ottoman

With a muted color palette and comfortable seating in place, it’s the finishing touches that will give a room a truly amorous ambience. Intricately carved mirrors serve as elegant yet understated wall decor.

Valbonne French mirror

Baroque acanthus mirror

Vintage French mirror

Crystal chandeliers provide a touch of glamour and subtle, sparkling lighting. Candlelight creates instant romance; place carved candleholders and vintage-inspired candelabras on top of a dining table or mantel. Inject passion colors in small doses by incorporating accent pieces with red and pink hues, such as a a chandelier with red droplets or a side table with a painted floral motif.

Red crystal drop chandelier

White French shabby chandelier

Crystal drop candelabra

Vintage French candle holders

Pretty in pink table

Lastly, a beautiful sculpture next to vase of freshly cut flowers will create a romantic look on top any chest or table.

La Dame sculpture

To help transform your home into a romantic escape, visit the online boutique Belle Escape to find more French shabby furniture and elegant home accents.

Choosing Statement Pieces for Your Home

Statement pieces are bold and unique and, as the name implies, make a statement about the owner’s personal style. They inject character into a room with hand-carved details, vibrant colors, original artwork, and intricate details. A well-chosen piece of statement furniture can completely transform a room and is often termed a “conversation piece.” It is the piece of furniture that turns guests’ heads and gets them talking. For the homeowner who seeks to stand out from the crowd and create an interior that reflects his or her individuality, incorporating statement furniture is key.

To choose the perfect statement pieces for your home, consider not only your style but also your interests. Those who are passionate about European history might incorporate hand-carved French reproduction pieces, such as Louis XV chairs with silk-screened artwork, hand-painted console tables, and elegant sofas and love seats.

Louis princess dining chairs

Vintage Louis XV console

French canape

An outdoors lover who seeks to replicate the feeling of nature in her bedroom might choose a whimsical headboard with carved birds and hand-painted floral artwork, or hand-painted chests displaying songbirds and vines.

Garden cottage painted headboard

Vintage vines wall chest

Songbird cottage chest

A collector might place a distressed shadowbox coffee table in his living room to showcase old family photographs and vintage keepsakes, or display a large, hand-carved cabinet to highlight books and decor.

Shadowbox coffee table

Another way to choose statement furniture is first to discover a piece that you admire and let it define your style. The statement piece can then inspire how you decorate the remainder of the room, or even your entire home. A brightly painted French country hutch will create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in your dining room. To finish off the look, add a hand-painted table with paisley artwork and hand-carved wooden chairs. Then, bring French country elements into your kitchen with floral artwork or rooster décor.

Dijon display hutch

Yellow cello chairs

Floral king doors wall art

Furniture that has been painted with inspirational words and phrases will also make an original statement. A tall chest painted with French words can stand in a hall or entryway to spark intrigue from passersby, while a brightly painted cottage-style chest displaying “Greatest cup of coffee” is ideal for java lovers.

French words storage chest

For a truly individualized look, Belle Escape offers custom finishes on statement furniture to help achieve a look that is truly one of a kind. Remember that decorating your home is an opportunity to express your personality and discover even more about your style. Enjoy finding the statement pieces that will make your home uniquely yours! You can see more statement pieces below and at our online boutique.

Landscape credenza

Paisley spindle buffet

Floral expression table

Chateau printer's chest

French country library cabinet

Furniture and Decor Trends: 2010 Sneak Peak

With the New Year approaching, predictions are in regarding the next wave of trends for furniture and home decor.

In 2009, many Belle Escape customers sought furnishings that provide a sense of comfort and familiarity, putting reproduction furniture in high demand. Cozy cottage-style furniture with heavy distressing and hand-painted accents were especially popular.

In 2010, reproduction furniture will receive exciting new updates to reflect a hopeful outlook. As spring approaches, color palettes will become increasingly brighter. Reproduction furniture will receive colorful new fabrics and finishes, and fresh metallic colors will enliven furniture and decor. Here’s a sneak peak of some of our newest items, available in early 2010:

We look forward to sharing many new furniture and home decor items with you in 2010! Have a happy New Year!

Taylor Swift’s Unique Picks from Belle Escape

Country music star Taylor Swift recently purchased her first condo in Tennessee, and she is furnishing it with hand-painted, cottage-style pieces and decorative accents from Belle Escape.

“I just bought my first condo in Nashville, so I am always looking at tile samples and wallpaper now. I’m so excited. It might seem old, but I’m having so much fun,” says Swift. “I’m doing whimsical, quirky, eclectic tree house. I just really want it to be different from everywhere else I see.”

Belle Escape is honored to help Taylor Swift achieve this unique look for her new home. Here are some of her picks—a charming combination of country cottage and French elegance!

Garden cottage painted headboard

French curve chest

Shimmering tower secretary

Lily white double sconce

Lily white sconce

You can find all of these items and more cottage chic furniture in our online boutique, Belle Escape.

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.

Customer Spotlight on Debra from Sacramento

While living in Italy, Debra Rossaro developed a love for collecting antique paintings and furniture—one of our favorite things, too! She now resides in Sacramento and cites “anything Louis” as her favorite style of furniture and home décor. Debra recently purchased a vintage pedestal table and Louis XV-style armchairs from Belle Escape, customizing each piece in a mustard yellow finish to create a home escape blending Louis elegance with Tuscan charm. She now takes our questions.

Belle Escape: What is your favorite interior design style?

Debra: My favorite interior design style is without a doubt Louis XV. I have sprinklings of Asian accents in my home, such as small cabinets on bathroom walls, but anything Louis is my favorite.

BE: What do you love about Louis XV?

Debra: I find Louis XV furniture to be very elegant and romantic without being gaudy like rococo or Gothic.

BE: What decorating project brought you to Belle Escape?

Debra: I just love furniture, and I saw the Vintage Pedestal Table and Louis XV Arm Chairs and fell in love. I put my old kitchen set, which I had gotten from Pakistan, in storage, and I’m now using my new one.

Vintage pedestal table, shown here in creamy off-white. Debra put her own touch on this table by choosing a mustard finish.

Ornate French shabby style Louis XV armchairs with hand-carved details and a cane seat and back. These chairs are hand-painted and heavily distressed.

BE: Can you tell us about your experience with Belle Escape?

Debra: I can’t say enough about Belle Escape. My Pedestal Table and Louis XV Arm Chairs are absolutely beautiful. The quality is superb. The wood is good, heavy and solid. I chose a distressed mustard stain, which is too beautiful for words. My order arrived exactly on time. They said it would take ten weeks, and it was exactly ten weeks when delivered.

BE: Thank you, Debra, for sharing your interior design style and for showing Belle Escape customers how to put their own unique touch on their furniture!

Louis-style Furniture Gets Eclectic

The French style of furniture and décor known as “Louis” is getting an eclectic new makeover. Louis-style furniture, with origins in the era of the five French monarchs all named Louis, is staying true to its traditional, elegant forms while incorporating a new variety of chic fabrics and colorful, distressed finishes. At Belle Escape, we call it “French Shabby.”

While each of the five Louis kings put his own touch on the furniture commissioned during his reign, the style is known collectively as “Louis.”  Two styles frequently reproduced in homes today find their influence from Louis XV and Louis XVI. Louis XV favored curved forms and intricate carvings, while Louis XVI preferred classical, straight lines and square forms.

Louis XV canape.

Louis XVI love seat.

These timeless styles, revitalized with new interpretations, are popular in French shabby chic homes. Louis-style chests, consoles and tables are hand-painted with motifs of vines and botanicals and heavily distressed to present the look of an aged antique. Loveseats and side chairs are upholstered with interesting fabrics, such as burlap and canvas, and include unique artwork and pops of color.

Louis art canvas chairs.

Louis champagne vines chest.

In addition to their presence in shabby chic, French country and cottage-style homes, Louis-style pieces are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners who are simply after an eclectic look. As many people are choosing to blend styles, these new adaptations of classic furnishings are ideal for any home.

French shabby cane back love seat.

Vintage Louis XV console.

Authentic Louis XV side chair

Louis XVI sofa.

To see more French Louis and French shabby furniture, visit the Belle Escape online boutique.

Find Belle Escape on Facebook!

We are pleased to announce that you can now find Belle Escape on Facebook! We hope that fans of Belle Escape will join us there to connect with other lovers of beautiful shabby chic and French country style furniture and home decor. We promise to share with you the latest news and unique styles from Belle Escape and encourage our fans to post photos of their own beautiful home escapes. We look forward to connecting with you there!

Artistic Expressions with Belle Escape Furnishings!

Belle Escape’s artistic hand painted furniture and chic decor are used by designers to create images that reflect their mood and the places they’d love to escape to. Check out just a few of the images created by artists below.

Belle Escape’s French Clock

Much Madness Is Divinest Sense by lifeinthefashlane on Polyvore.com

Belle Escape’s Cheval Noir French Clock

Time Runs.. Read below! (: by Lara→ Miss Nick Jonas! ♥ [0N!] on Polyvore.com

Paris by Shade-of-Grey featuring Dollydagger earrings

Belle Escape’s Odalisque Canvas Pillow

Dream of green by Valeria Lorenza featuring Vera Wang Jewelry

Belle Escape’s Aged Wooden Lanterns

for micyyy by yumayummymommy2 featuring Ted Baker Clothing

Belle Escape’s Floral Painted Headboard

hmmmm by vanessa_essa on Polyvore.com

Belle Escape’s Eiffel Tower Decor

paris love by мишка featuring Miss Selfridge

french chic by Isla :] on Polyvore.com

Belle Escape’s Chateau Printer’s Chest

French Cinderella by annamodel101 featuring Lipsy

Belle Escape’s Floral Wall Art and Painted Chests

Cosy room by Korrel on Polyvore.com