Every once in a while, a house comes along that is so extraordinary, it literally takes my breath away.

Tory Burch’s twenty-five room neo-Georgian estate in Southampton (featured in the March issue of Vogue) is ravishingly beautiful.  Reminiscent of homes from the Gatsby era, it is classically proportioned and detailed, but it’s been freshened up with a vibrant sense of color and pattern.

The long driveway is gorgeously framed with an allee of mature sugar maple trees …
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Do you love graphic, contemporary designs that are practical enough for everyday use?  Then you’ll love Caskata, artist Shawn Laughlin’s new line of contemporary dinner and servingware.

Named for the place ‘where the bay meets the ocean’, Caskata specializes in designs that fuse a modern, graphic sensibility with traditional New England themes like sea life and lobster bakes.
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The answer is ALPACA!

These furry little guys are Suri Alpacas, South American cousins of the llama.  Alpacas come in a rainbow of colors, so there are 22 colors of natural Alpaca fleece available, all of which is harvested without harm to the animals.
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We love the rich, colorful patterns of Mottahedeh’s porcelain dinnerware. A favorite of bridal registries, the company has an interesting history to go along with their beautiful dishes. The company was founded by a husband and wife, Rafi and Mildred Mottahedeh, who were avid collectors of antique porcelain. They began by making reproductions of museum pieces, available for sale in museum gift shops. Later, entire dinnerware collections were designed from antique patterns. Often one solitary plate would be the inspiration for a new design.
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After they were featured in Oprah’s “My Favorite Things” holiday TV show, the drawer liners created by elizabethW in San Francisco were sold out for weeks.  And with good reason.  Who doesn’t love to walk into a closet that smells fresh and filled with natural scents?
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Last year, we visited St. Petersburg, Russia and we were awed by the magnificent art and architecture in this city.  It reminded us of Paris; the buildings share a similar Classical style, but the colors were much more vibrant and the designs more extravagantly ornate.

Our two favorite sights were the Hermitage, truly the most magnificent museum we’ve ever visited …
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They both love Fresco Towels!!!  Fresco’s beautiful patterned beach towels, bath towels, and tote bags are getting rave reviews from all over.
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If you’re traveling to London, there’s a new luxury hotel in Belgravia that’s been getting rave reviews.  Blending traditional British hospitality with an American attitude, the Belgraves hotel features crisply tailored and relaxing interiors.

Decorated by British designer Tara Bernerd, the 85-room hotel is just a ten-minute walk from Harrods and Knightsbridge, and one mile away from Buckingham Palace.

The hotel is a seductive oasis in the heart of the city.   Done in neutrals with pops of warm color, the interiors are modern and plush.  Like other Thompson hotels, the bedrooms are luxuriously appointed with custom-made 400 thread count Sferra bed linens and bathrobes.
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Oscar fever is in the air! This year’s Academy Awards are on Sunday, February 26. We’re looking forward to Oscar parties, how about you? If you’re dreaming up some party designs, be sure to enter our Oscar Party Design Contest!
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What’s your favorite part of staying at a luxury hotel? For some, it’s the fluffy towels; for others, the soft white sheets. In fact, Forbes Travel Guide reports that towels and sheets are some of the most often stolen items from luxury hotels.

You don’t need to risk arrest to take home the same luxurious products used in your favorite hotels, however. These same quality linens are available to purchase here at Gracious Style. We can even ship them right to your door!
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