It's that time again! We're reviewing our antiques and home decor blog posts from 2015 and it's very hard to pick just a dozen of the most popular stories of the year.

Before we start, we're grateful for all our good news this year. We received many honors from Houzz.com including a Best of Houzz 2015 award for customer satisfaction and service. Our upcycled vintage spoon chandeliers were featured on a TV show and we expanded and beautified our booth at the Antique Tobacco Barn in Asheville, NC.

There's more good news too, but let's look at the first six of our favorite 12 antiques and home decor blog posts of 2015. We’ll share the rest in our next post welcoming the new year.

1. Antique French Furniture in Newberry Mansion

Greco-Roman mansion in Newberry, SCWe always appreciate customers who return to us to buy antique, vintage, and new furniture and home decor accents, and then send us photos for our series of client  spotlights so we can see how their purchases look in their home!

Of the many that stand out from 2015, one is this gorgeous mansion filled with antique furniture chosen by our customer Tamra. In the blog post about the Newberry Mansion you'll see the inside tour with pieces Tamra bought from us including a French Country table, antique Hunting chairs and antique Mechelen buffets.

2. The Search for the Perfect Vintage French Sheepbone Chairs

Vintage French Sheepbone ChairsThe story about the 1950 vintage French Sheepbone chairs in Veritta's home in California was also a happy one for us because Veritta said she bought her dining table 10 years ago but she has been waiting all this time to find the perfect chairs!
See for yourself how right she was to wait for the perfect match, and also find out about the carved sheepbone style and why it's named that way!

3. Vintage Life Cat Porch: Build It and The Cats Will Come

Evening on the Cat PorchIn our ongoing saga about the renovation of our 1920s vintage bungalow, we made sure we created a special space for the cats too! Our story and photos about our cat porch was one of the most popular posts this year. Everyone enjoys sitting in this “cat paradise” screened porch.

Since then we also adopted a new little tiger cat, Pumpkin to join our family of (now) 9 cats and dogs. Meet her and read about how Pumpkin arrived during Hurricane Joachim.

4. Romantic Victorian Inns

The Oaks Victorian InnJust in time for Valentine's Day I took a virtual trip to Romantic Victorian Inns around the country. These four inns are great for a romantic getaway at any time of the year. The inns are decorated with period Victorian or Victorian style decor, adding to the charm of your stay!

5. Decorating with Mirrored Furniture

Ambella Home Casablanca chest mirroredTying in with the Hollywood Regency trend and the always-popular Art Deco look, I took the opportunity to shine a light on Decorating with Mirrored Furniture.

As you'll see in the story, mirrored furniture can be subtle, it doesn't have to be a bling-fest. Sophisticated new or antique mirrored furniture not only looks sleek and luxurious, it can also create clever illusions to brighten and expand a room.

6. How to Display a Collection

Pic: Other Metro Media/Bloggers Go Make Me

Pic: Other Metro Media/Bloggers Go Make Me

I enjoyed putting together this series on how to display a collection. It gave me the chance to explore the very creative ways different people organize and display their ceramics, jewelry, and other collections from vintage model trains to classic cameras.

Later, we also had a chance to show off my mother-in-law Kathy's huge collection of pilgrims and other Thanksgiving-themed objects. You can see Kathy's impressive collection of more than 700 pieces at the link.

I hope these highlights of the year provide you with some inspiration or just a little fun as you browse through.

Happy new year everyone! If you enjoyed this, see the rest of our picks for the year! Here’s the link for the Part 2 final six of our top 12 decor and antiques blog posts of 2015.[related_products is_auto_added="1"]

It’s that time again! We’re reviewing our antiques and home decor blog posts from 2015 and it’s very hard to pick just a dozen of the most popular stories of the year. Before we start, we’re grateful for all our good news this year. We received many honors from Houzz.com including a Best of Houzz […]

While last year's paint color trends were quite bright and bold, for 2016 many of the big paint companies are turning to a serene state of mind and picking dreamy shades of white! Of course, we're not all going to strip the paint off the walls and redecorate just to please the paint companies. Still it is interesting to see how similar the colors are this year and the reasons given by the paint companies for choosing these classic whites are all the same too: to create a tranquil sanctuary away from our fast-paced world!

Benjamin Moore Simply White

Benjamin Moore nominated Simply White as their 2016 Color of the Year. This photo shows how beautifully the layered white tones diffuse light and create a sense of peace and harmony. These white-washed walls make a gorgeous backdrop for the richly toned wood furniture and hand-hewn beams.

SW paint Color of Year Alabaster

Sherwin-WIlliams chooses Alabaster (SW 7008) as Paint Color of the Year for 2016. It is a symbol of new beginnings but the main reason cited by Sherwin-Williams for giving Alabaster a place on the pedestal is as an escape from the noise of the modern world. "Alabaster offers a sense of personal solace and revival to weary minds. It is the true neutral to set the tone for 2016."  It certainly looks graceful in this living room, and the mirror, glass, and silvery reflective surfaces all add to the light and luxurious feeling created by the Alabaster white.

Traditional Living Room by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators Nina sobiNina Design

Another oasis of calm is created by the Glidden paint company's 2016 Color of the Year: Cappuccino White.  The creamy off-white creates a soft and relaxing atmosphere, as you can see in this traditional San Francisco living room.

It is always great to get design inspiration for using classic whites, and these pure tones will work on walls in any room of the house and with any decor style.

https://www.euroluxhome.com/products/new-jonathan-charles-china-cabinet-country-farmhouse-painted-dusty-white-jc-1567.htmlWood furniture always looks great against painted white walls but sometimes people like to choose white furniture too for some white walls. This continues the visual flow and sense of spaciousness.

For example, this new white Jonathan Charles French Country Farmhouse cabinet will look very elegant on a white or other pale wall.

Even though the china cabinet is a stunning 7 feet tall, the white painted wood keeps the airy feeling going in a white room, and the glass doors add to the lightness.

Browse all our white new and antique furniture for more bright white ideas![related_products is_auto_added="1"]

While last year’s paint color trends were quite bright and bold, for 2016 many of the big paint companies are turning to a serene state of mind and picking dreamy shades of white! Of course, we’re not all going to strip the paint off the walls and redecorate just to please the paint companies. Still […]

Yesterday I shared some ideas on how to create Beautiful Guest Rooms in Traditional Style. That post focused on the essential furnishings that every guest needs for an overnight stay. Today I'm going to look at practical and stylish seating choices for a traditional guest room.

Traditional Bedroom by Philadelphia Design-Build Firms Foster-Willson Company, Inc

This guest room in Philadelphia is large enough for a separate seating area away from the bed. If you are lucky enough to have a generously proportioned guest room too, it is nice for your visitors to have a private corner to relax, read, or chat on the phone away from the main living area.

Victorian Bedroom by Midland Park Interior Designers & Decorators Treby Spanedda Interiors

If you don't have the space for a whole seating area, then a cozy arm chair or other comfortable chair will still be much appreciated. At the very least, it's good to try to place an attractive traditional bench or ottoman at the foot of the bed. It helps the bed look more 'finished' as well as providing some seating. The old chest in this photo looks wonderful and it cleverly doubles as storage. The Antique French Baccarat crystal chandelier is also a stunning addition to make a visitor feel very special. Funnily enough, I'm pretty sure we have that charming wall bracket or one very similar in our selection of Chelsea House wall brackets and display shelves!

Leather Bench TrunkWe have some nice storage seating in the gallery that would work very well at the foot of the bed.  For example, this handsome Sarreid leather trunk bench is one of the company's most popular pieces, and you can see why! The trunk is 18" high, so it's a good seating height similar to an ottoman, and it is crafted in buffalo leather, wood, iron and brass. The sturdy trunk bench has an antiqued finish and it's a fun addition to a guest room as it creates a traveler theme for your friends passing through on their journeys.

Bench with basketsWhile a trunk bench is great to stash extra blankets, something like this handsome new bench with an antiqued finish provides a different kind of storage. Convenient baskets beneath the seat can be used for toiletries or your guests' bits and pieces. The versatile baskets are easy to pull out and use in many ways during a stay.

Traditional Bedroom by Pennington Interior Designers & Decorators AJ Margulis Interiors

If you have ample storage and dressers already, then a sweet little bench at the foot of the bed still gives your guests a place to perch for a few peaceful moments. Or maybe it will serve as a tray or display surface sometimes, as in this photograph with a tea set on the bench. That would be a pleasant welcome after a long journey, wouldn't it?

Jonathan Charles Country Farmhouse BenchThis elegant walnut Jonathan Charles bench from the Country Farmhouse collection has a similar look. The high scrolling arms make a graceful silhouette to frame the bed.

So many choices! But whatever chair or bench style you like, your visitors will thank you for the time and thought you put into choosing seating for the guest room so they don't have to sit on the bed all the time!

If you've enjoyed this post on guest room seating, also get inspiration from the fabulous guest rooms featured in my post on Beautiful Guest Rooms in Traditional Style.[related_products is_auto_added="1"]

Yesterday I shared some ideas on how to create Beautiful Guest Rooms in Traditional Style. That post focused on the essential furnishings that every guest needs for an overnight stay. Today I’m going to look at practical and stylish seating choices for a traditional guest room. Traditional Bedroom by Philadelphia Design-Build Firms Foster-Willson Company, Inc […]

Around the holidays there are so many visitors coming and going, I thought it was a good time to look at some beautiful guest rooms designed with traditional style. These inviting guest bedrooms all offer a warm welcome and the practical comforts to keep your favorite friends and family coming back for more!

Traditional Bedroom by Montpelier Interior Designers & Decorators Cabell Design Studio

Let's start with the essentials. A gorgeous bed makes your guest feel special before they even open their suitcase. This room with French style decor and antique furniture is a perfect example. (You can find some fabulous new, vintage and antique beds on our website.) The pale pastel blues make this a very serene guest room.

Traditional Bedroom by Easton Interior Designers & Decorators Bountiful

Traditional Bedroom Decor

A pair of traditional nightstands beside the bed provides pleasing visual balance as well as a useful place for your guests to keep their bits and pieces organized. If you've ever slept in a makeshift bedroom without a bedside table, you'll know that it's a bit like injuring your thumb. You don't realize how much you use it till you can't! A well-dressed bedside table will have a lamp, some tissues easily to hand and an alarm clock. (A cell phone clock is just not the same when you have to hunt around for it in the middle of the night!) A pitcher of water, a notepad and pan, and a few magazines or books are always appreciated too.

Mediterranean Bedroom by Scottsdale Interior Designers & Decorators Sesshu Design Associates, Ltd

Of course you want some easy-to-reach lighting by the bed. This Mediterranean guest bedroom with an antique-inspired bed features charming wall lamps. This is a great idea as it keeps the bedside table top clear. However, the wall sconce approach is best if you will only ever have the bed in one place. Otherwise you'll be rewiring every time you move the furniture around!

Dale Tiffany Genoa Table Lamp

Bedroom Lighting

Many people opt for a table lamp for more flexibility. Our collection includes this stunning new Dale Tiffany bedside lamp with a hand-crafted glass shade.

The dragonfly design is designed to replicate the dragonfly designs on original Louis Comfort Tiffany antique lamps. A built-in nightlight glows through the glass base to silhouette the pretty dragonflies, making it a lovely finishing touch to comfort a child who is staying over for the night. Or, let's admit it, the nightlight will be great for adults too. We all know what it's like to wake up and fumble around in a dark room when we're staying in a strange place!

Traditional Bedroom by Mclean Interior Designers & Decorators StoryBook Rooms, LLC

Traditional Style Storage

The next 'essential' for a guest bedroom is something to put your suitcase on. It gets very old very quickly when you are digging around in a suitcase on the floor to find something. You can buy a suitcase rack of the type found in hotels and whip that out every time friends arrive, folding it up neatly in a closet the rest of the time. The wooden luggage rack under the window in this very traditional French Country bedroom manages to blend in well enough.  In any case, our eyes are on the gorgeous toile bed linens, the window treatments and that delicious painted armoire! (If you are looking for a wardrobe, we have some equally lovely new and antique armoires on our website.)

Amish Wooden BenchOr use a nice wooden bench like this new Amish bench for travel bags. As long as the bench is big enough to support a suitcase, you then have the option to use the bench as a useful piece of furniture when nobody is visiting. The main thing is to choose an easy-to-clean surface. Wood or metal are good, but you don't want an upholstered bench to double up as a suitcase rack for the same reason you don't want people putting their suitcases on the bed. Dirt alert!

This interior design style is a fantastic way to enhance your master bedroom furniture. From headboard to footboard, to design ideas for every color palette, your home deserves the best focal point on the market.

At EuroLuxHome.com, we have a wide variety of traditional furniture available for sale. From living room to dining room, we have the quality pieces to add to your traditional home. Pieces for your traditional living room include bookcases, coffee tables, end tables, loveseats and sectional sofas and more. Each of these home decor fixtures in this home design style are sure to turn your home into a showroom. From the upholstery to the solid dark wood, we have no doubt you'll be impressed by the craftsmanship. Perhaps a chandelier or area rug is what your space needs.

Furniture pieces for your dining room in this style include dining tables, dining chairs, sideboards and more. There is something so enticing about the furniture style that is traditional design. But that's not all we carry! Other styles include Victorian, Queen Anne, Chippendale, and many other 19th century and 20th century antique pieces.

These are the basic pieces of furniture for a beautiful traditional style guest bedroom. In my next post I look at stylish guest room seating ideas to ensure your visitors are always comfortable!

[related_products is_auto_added="1"]

Around the holidays there are so many visitors coming and going, I thought it was a good time to look at some beautiful guest rooms designed with traditional style. These inviting guest bedrooms all offer a warm welcome and the practical comforts to keep your favorite friends and family coming back for more! Traditional Bedroom […]

Any one of these easy decor ideas will add the perfect finishing touch to your traditional Thanksgiving table. "Easy" is the key word... we're all far too busy in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving feast to weave our own raffia cornucopia! But just the right handmade detail can create the perfect mood for the day.  Here are some easy ways to impress without stress!

Eclectic Spaces by Brooklyn Photographers Corynne Pless

An old thrift store platter becomes a charming chalkboard for your personal Thanksgiving message. Just cover a metal tray or platter with chalkboard spray paint... but don't serve food directly on the tray!

Handmade thanksgiving table decor

There is something about handwritten decor that is just so special for a holiday gathering. It is personal and welcoming with a heart-warming nostalgia that takes us back to simpler times.

These humble brown paper and string handwritten tags created by Becky at the ThisIsHappiness blog are terrific examples. Used to tie napkins and tied to a sprig of leaves as a place card, the tags would be quick to make and you could put different words of gratitude on each napkin holder.

Pumpkin vases

Everyone will feel the harvest happiness when they see these pumpkin and squash vases. Squashes come in so many colors you can take your pick for a lively 'traditional with a twist" display on your Thanksgiving table. Choose a hefty squash like a Hubbard to hold large stems or mini pumpkins for small posies.

To hold the flowers and some water, just carve out enough space in the squash to nestle a glass jar -- or a votive holder for tiny squash. You might need to trim the bottom of the squash to make it stand upright. If so, rest the cut surface on a tray or runner so the juices don't stain your table! Martha Stewart gives more how-to-make-it instructions if you need them - she created this lovely display.

Thanksgiving-Place-Holders-1
For a more glamorous look, gold-sprayed dried miniature Indian corn cobs make dazzling place cards, with each name written in gold pen on the husk. The easy DIY project is sure to be a talking point at your Thanksgiving table. The design is a perfect match for an opulent Rococo or Louis XIV style room, and it would also fit nicely with Hollywood Regency style.

Traditional Spaces

If you make this cookie turkey as a centerpiece it is sure to charm everyone, although all bets are off as to whether anyone will want to dismantle it to eat all the cookies after dinner!  The cookie turkey should be simple enough to make just by copying the picture although you'll need a steady hand to do the decorative glazing. No cocktails till you've finished!

Thanksiving harvest basket

If you've run out of time to do even the easy ideas above, you can never go wrong with a lovely basket filled with harvest foliage, fruits and vegetables.  (This one is arranged by Yvonne on her Stone Gable blog.)  The basket captures the spirit of the season and it looks wonderful on all traditional Thanksgiving tables. It's the perfect match for your antique  French Country furniture or for Tuscan or Farmhouse style decor.

Happy Thanksgiving, however you decorate your table![related_products is_auto_added="1"]

Any one of these easy decor ideas will add the perfect finishing touch to your traditional Thanksgiving table. “Easy” is the key word… we’re all far too busy in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving feast to weave our own raffia cornucopia! But just the right handmade detail can create the perfect mood for […]

We sell quite a lot of new and antique marble furniture. A buffet or nightstand with a marble top is always popular but we also have a nice range of sink chests with marble tops. We love the marble effect in decor and it seems like we're in good company. Many design magazines and other decor media are saying that marble is very on trend right now.

Red Marble Eastlake VanityCertainly this month's High Point Market - a huge and influential furniture market - showed a lot of marble finishes including marbled paper effects.  We think marble never went out of fashion, it's been a design classic for centuries! But it's great to know that it's back in vogue again, whether it's genuine marble or marble looks on everything from wallpaper to textiles. Here are some ideas of how to enjoy this elegant material in your home, starting with the real thing!

This fantastic 1890 American mahogany antique vanity or dressing table in the Eastlake style that we have in stock right now is topped with rose or red colored marble. The marble is  practical but it also gives an upscale look as well as a pretty burst of vintage color. You might also enjoy seeing this blog post about how our customer Kathleen made creative use of an antique French marble-top nightstand in her kitchen.

Safe House USA Marble Print duvet coverAnd this is even more creative - although of course it's not real marble. (Brr, that would be chilly!)

The white marble print duvet cover from Safe House USA looks incredibly convincing but it's really printed on a sanded poplin fabric.

The marble pattern looks fresh and airy and I think it could go with many traditional bedroom styles as well as with a more modern bedroom.

Dibbern Carrara TeacupIn the morning, you'll want to be woken up with a cup of tea sipped from this Dibbern Carrara teacup.

Carrara is the Italian city famous for the marble quarried there, and this cup is part  of the Carrara range of fine bone china tableware with the subtle marble design. It's made in Germany and sold by Dibbern retailers in the United States.

You can even find faux marble wallpapers, although I think it's hard to beat this beautiful marble effect by Calico Wallpaper.

Calico Marble Wallpaper

I'll keep looking out for marble finishes in home decor and if you spot the marble look cropping up somewhere unexpected, tell us in the comments box![related_products is_auto_added="1"]

We sell quite a lot of new and antique marble furniture. A buffet or nightstand with a marble top is always popular but we also have a nice range of sink chests with marble tops. We love the marble effect in decor and it seems like we’re in good company. Many design magazines and other […]

These new books about vintage French Country style look like great gifts for the holidays! Or treat yourself and your home to a touch of French style... I recommend indulging in a croissant dipped in café au lait while reading these books. It will help you get in the mood, right?

Charles Faudree Country French Legacy

Charles Faudree French Country LegacyCharles Faudree was a wonderful American interior designer based in Tulsa. Just like us he loved everything French - from the landscapes to the architecture and (of course) the stylish decor. Faudree died in 2013 but this book celebrates his legacy as a champion of French Country decor.

Author and photographer Jennifer Jordan shows us a selection of Charles Faudree’s decorating projects - kind of a 'best of French Country by Faudree' compilation! Clients also tell stories about working with him. What a wonderful tribute and great inspiration for all of us who love French Country style in our homes!

New Vintage French Interiors

Vintage French Interiors Get tips on how to create French Country style interiors in eclectic and interesting ways by combining vintage and antique French furniture with new and modern pieces. Decor ideas include displays of antique gardening tools across a wall, and other unique touches that lend a home tons of character and charm. The houses in the book connect to their natural environment by featuring earthy tones and natural materials like stone and wood. Author Sébastien Siraudeau has written several other books including Vintage French Interiors and French Country Style at Home, Here he takes us on a fresh new French Country trip!

My Stylish French Girlfriends

My Stylish French GirlfriendsHere's a glimpse inside a world that I bet many of us would like to try... even if just for a week or two! The author Sharon Santoni-Smith writes the blog My French Country Home about her life in Normandy, France. (Sharon is from England but she moved to France after she married a French man.) In this new book she writes not only about life in rural France but also about the chic tastes of her French girlfriends. She introduces us to 20 French women and takes us into their homes all over the French countryside, from grand chateaux to enchanting French country cottages. The coffee table book with beautiful photos shows how her friends dress, decorate and entertain in true French style.

After all that delightful French Country decor, you can indulge in even more if like. Just check out our own blog posts on French Country style or browse the French Country furniture and decor in our gallery![related_products is_auto_added="1"]

These new books about vintage French Country style look like great gifts for the holidays! Or treat yourself and your home to a touch of French style… I recommend indulging in a croissant dipped in café au lait while reading these books. It will help you get in the mood, right? Charles Faudree Country French Legacy […]

The last month has been great but very busy for Greg and me! If you've been busy as well and you haven't had chance to check in here on our home decor and antiques blog, here's a roundup of the posts you missed!

Antique French Hunting ChairsFirst, save money on a treasure for your home with our discount code to get 15% off new, vintage, and antique furniture and home accents. Our End of Summer and Labor Day sale runs through September 9, 2015.

Order anything at EuroLuxHome.com and you’ll get 15% off everything (as well as our always-free shipping) when you enter the coupon code at checkout: CELEBRATE

If you need some inspiration about how to mix antique furniture into your home, this recent client spotlight about our antique Chinese opera bench shows just how easy it is! Antique Chinese opera benchOur client Suzan G. chose well when she bought the Late Qing Dynasty hand-carved bench and put it in her hallway in Santa Barbara, CA. It makes a terrific style statement and fits brilliantly into a contemporary home.

Retrofit Sink Chest French styleAnother client, the interior designer Edwin Miller, got creative with our new, antique-inspired chest of drawers.

As you can see from the Retrofit Sink Chest blog post, Edwin thought the French style chest would convert into an excellent sink chest.  He's right - it looks great in his client’s guest bathroom!

Browse all of our client spotlights to see other beautiful homes. We love seeing these photos showing how our customers feature antique and new furniture and lighting from EuroLux Home in their spaces.

EuroLux Booth at Antique Tobacco Barn

Talking of spaces... we just expanded one of ours! We moved into a booth that is twice the size of our old one at the Antique Tobacco Barn in Asheville, NC. We also gave it a major makeover. This is the end result but you can see all the work that went into it in our blog post about our new big and bright Antique Tobacco Barn space.

Leeds Castle EnglandIf you're thinking about a trip to London, England, any time soon, you must check out my post about the beautiful and historic Leeds Castle, packed with antiques and gorgeous architecture. If a day trip from London isn't enough, you can even stay overnight at the castle.

Currey Shell SideboardFinally, even though summer is nearing the end, my post about Sea Shell Decor and Furniture proved that it can be summer all year round in your home.

Shell is a lovely and unique natural material. I gave examples of shells in everything from furniture like this shell-encrusted cabinet to shell-strewn chandeliers and throw pillows.

We hope you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend and enjoy these last days of summer.

Don't forget to take advantage of our discount code on antiques and new furniture and home decor while doing your Labor Day shopping. You've got till midnight on September 9, 2015, to grab yourself a deal![related_products is_auto_added="1"]

The last month has been great but very busy for Greg and me! If you’ve been busy as well and you haven’t had chance to check in here on our home decor and antiques blog, here’s a roundup of the posts you missed! First, save money on a treasure for your home with our discount […]

I loved writing my recent blog posts about beach style decor. As we're now in the last days of summer I want to finish off the beach theme with a post about shell decor. Shells in furniture and lighting are such a unique natural material and they create a distinctive look that is full of light.  I hope that all you beachcombers enjoy scouring the ideas in this blog post, even if you live many miles inland!

Beach Style Bedroom by Ojai Interior Designers & Decorators Kelley & Company Home

Shell collections always look gorgeous displayed in glass jars, as you can see in this Los Angeles beach style bedroom. Shell adds a nautical atmosphere which is a great match for a seaside condo or coastal cottage. Shell also tends to reflect light and one big shell as a centerpiece on a dining table looks pretty by candlelight.

Shell sconceAnyone can enjoy shell decor and furnishings even if you live far from the ocean. For example, this tropical shell sconce light in our online store adds a touch of color and whimsy to a living room, bedroom or hallway. The shell sconce would look pretty in a bathroom too... for all you mermaids!

Currey Shell SideboardImagine teaming a pair of orange shell sconces with this fantastic Currey & Company natural shell sideboard. The intricate detail of the shell-encrusted cabinet is amazing. It's perfect for your Mediterranean grotto bathroom!

Oyster Shell ChandelierMoving on to the dining room, can you picture this oyster shell chandelier hanging over your dining table? The Aiden Gray chandelier featuring genuine oyster shells is crafted with rustic rope details. Whether you like eating oysters or not, you can enjoy their famous aphrodisiac benefits. The eight electric candles create a truly romantic and unusual glow in your home!

Dale Tiffany Nautilus Shell LampAlthough this exquisite Dale Tiffany lamp is not actually made of shell, I have to mention it because it is hand-made in glass and styled with the sleek lines of a nautilus shell. The new Dale Tiffany Nautilus table lamp is crafted using traditional Tiffany glass techniques and each piece of hand-rolled art glass is hand cut, pieced and soldered by a glass artist. The sleek lines and opulent color ensure that the Tiffany table lamp will be a focal point for your room.
Orange shell throw pillow

Finally, If you're really going shell crazy, add a throw pillow! This French textile and USA finished shell throw pillow is boldly and beautifully designed with orange coral and large white shells.

The detail is lovely and at a plumply generous 19 inches wide, the square throw pillow makes a gorgeous impact as a finishing touch to your decor.

I hope that I've provided a little inspiration to help you come out of your shell... (Groan!) Summer doesn't have to go away just because the nights are getting shorter. I love the cheerful look of shell decor, as well as the natural beauty. Do you collect sea shells? Tell us about it in the comments![related_products is_auto_added="1"]

I loved writing my recent blog posts about beach style decor. As we’re now in the last days of summer I want to finish off the beach theme with a post about shell decor. Shells in furniture and lighting are such a unique natural material and they create a distinctive look that is full of […]

Leeds Castle in England has been called “The Loveliest Castle in the World” and it's easy to see why! The castle is the perfect day trip from London. But if you want to stay for longer, visitors can not just tour the amazing castle and grounds, you can stay there too!
Leeds Castle EnglandLeeds Castle is in the English county of Kent, which is known as 'the garden of England.' The castle is nearly a thousand years old and it's set in the middle of a fabulous moat, just like the stuff of legends.

Leeds Castle EnglandThe first stone fortification was built on this site in the 1100s and when Eleanor of Castile bought it in 1278 the castle came into royal hands. Over the centuries, it has been associated with a total of six queens of England. In the 1500s, King Henry VIII had a big makeover done on the castle to make it a truly resplendent royal palace for him and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

Leeds Castle Banqueting Hall

This is the banqueting hall and you can just make out a portrait of King Henry VIII over the fireplace. Henry didn't travel lightly… when he visited Leeds Castle in 1520 he took a crowd of 5,000 courtiers and retinue with him! The king was on his way to France for the famous 'Field of the Cloth of Gold' meeting with King Francis I.

Leeds Castle Drawing Room

Leeds Castle is full of original European antiques and exquisite architectural details. This is a wood-paneled drawing room.

Leeds Castle

What a lovely library! Look at the row of large porcelain vases lined up above the bookshelves as well as the urns on the mantelpiece over the fire. The old books look so handsome but I wouldn't want to have to dust this room!

Leeds Castle Maidens Tower Bed and BreakfastIf you plan to stay at Leeds Castle you have various choices including B&B, holiday cottages, and glamping. This is one of the bed and breakfast rooms in the 16th century Maiden’s Tower, decorated in period style with modern touches. Breakfast is served in a 17th Century oak-beamed restaurant.

Leeds Castle Knights Glamping Fantasy Camping

Or you can try glamping (glamorous camping) in one of the Medieval style Knight's Glamping striped pavilions in the castle vineyard. The pavilion tents are so posh that they sport four poster beds with cotton linens and you can keep warm on a chilly night with a wood stove.

Leeds Castle is about an hour from London and there's a lot to do on the 500 acres of formal gardens and parklands. Try punting on the moat, watch a falconry display, or explore the maze formed by 2,400 yew trees.

Check out my posts on other English Castle Hotels and French Castle Hotels for more unique and historic European vacation ideas. Send us a postcard if you go![related_products is_auto_added="1"]

Leeds Castle in England has been called “The Loveliest Castle in the World” and it’s easy to see why! The castle is the perfect day trip from London. But if you want to stay for longer, visitors can not just tour the amazing castle and grounds, you can stay there too! Leeds Castle is in […]

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