High quality and amazing design are key factors in La Pierre Ronde, which is the first property financed by Swiss investors and designed by the Danish property developer Bjorn Stiedl.

This amazing property has after a thorough but tactful renovation now been put up for sale, ready for the quality-conscious proprietor.

In the middle of the town centre of the picturesque Provencal village of Eygalieres in the centre of the Alpilles mountains, Bjorn Stiedl has converted a 330 m2 traditional townhouse to a unique living experience for the large family with the possibility of housing a number of guests who are accustomed to and are expecting to be welcomed in an inviting and sumptuous environment.

You will find La Pierre Ronde directly across from the village church and on the border of the medieval part of the city. A gentle incline leads from the village centre and up to the property, giving it a scenic view from the entrance and down towards the village. A courtyard framing the entire property ensures peace and quiet from the bustling village outside.

The house has 5 bedrooms, most of them with en-suite bathrooms, large living and dining areas, sumptuous furnishings, a fully equipped bespoke kitchen and a number of terraces that naturally link the garden outside with the cosy atmosphere indoors. Glass doors bring the light into the house, and make the beautifully appointed garden an extension of the interior of the house. The local Provencal style has been naturally combined with modern European standards and design, and all materials are of the best quality wood, stone and glass.

The garden has been beautifully landscaped, and there is a tastefully designed sundeck in the private garden area behind the house.

The Provencal village of Eygalieres in Les Alpilles is the place to buy property in France after Cote d’Azur has been run over by the “new money” from Russia and China. The city has an authentic charm, and there is an extraordinary blend of the sun, light and the scent of lavender and herbs that is entirely unique.

The area has been attracting distinguished proprietors such as the royal family of Monaco, celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and others who seek the reclusive charm far away from prying eyes and the hustle and bustle that Cote d’Azur regrettably has become in the past five years.

Please visit for more information choclate imotions

When it comes to staying in a city, you often seem to be spoilt for choice when choosing a luxury hotel. Sometimes, though, there is a hotel that stands out from the rest through an amazing location, unique facilities, or just the quality of its service. Some of these luxury hotels are renowned as the most famous or prestigious in their respective cities, while others are not as well known but remain the accommodation of choice for discerning visitors. Here are the hotels of choice for five of the most exciting cities around the world.

The City: Marrakesh

The Hotel: La Sultana

Staying at this luxurious Moroccan Riad is like taking a step back in time, as great efforts have been made to make La Sultana a real feast for the eyes. It is laid out in traditional style around a central courtyard, and each of the lounges and bedrooms are decorated with antique furniture, marble bathrooms, sculptured ceilings, and paintings alongside the traditional features of a luxury hotel room.

This hotel has more to it than just opulent décor. It is a complete spa hotel, with an amazing hammam, sauna, and a beauty centre offering numerous luxury health treatments. Rounding off the hotel’s features are a restaurant, elegant bar and a swimming pool. For a taste of traditional Moroccan luxury, hotels don’t get any better than this.

The City: Rome

The Hotel: Portrait Suites

There are plenty of big name luxury hotels in Rome, but if you are looking for something a little different, a stay at the Portrait Suites, located on the famous Via Condotti, could be perfect for you. Elegance and class are the essential qualities at this boutique hotel, and it’s no surprise – the hotel is owned and run by the Ferragamo fashion house.

With only 14 studios and suites, this is a highly exclusive place to stay and, as you would expect from this “fashion hotel”, the décor of the suites is stylish and tasteful. Particular importance is placed on the materials used, including boar skin and marble, and each studio is furnished with a bar corner, kitchenette and other mod cons.

The City: Paris

The Hotel: The Plaza Athenee

Since it first opened its doors in 1911, this luxury hotel has provided the very best accommodation in the heart of Paris. Located between the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower, the Plaza Athenee is in a perfect central location. And with members of staff outnumbering rooms by three to one at this luxury hotel, a high quality of service comes guaranteed.

As well as being perhaps the best place to stay in France’s capital, the Plaza Athenee is also one of the trendiest places to drink thanks to its famous cocktail bar. If this wasn’t enough, Alain Ducasse, the most acclaimed chef in France – with a total of 14 Michelin stars – is Head Chef, making a stay at this hotel a serious culinary delight.

The City: London

The Hotel: Charlotte Street Hotel

For those looking for the finest boutique hotel in London, they need look no further than the Charlotte Street Hotel. Perfectly located in London’s West End, this hotel is filled with Bloomsbury paintings and bronze statues – all adding to the warmth and difference of the place. Every bedroom is uniquely decorated with artworks and handmade furniture, and the décor is an elegant mixture of art-deco and contemporary. This boutique hotel also features a cinema showing black and white classics, a gym and classic cuisine is available downstairs at Oscars, the bar and restaurant of the Charlotte Street Hotel.

The City: Geneva

The Hotel: La Reserve

This luxury spa hotel is undoubtedly one of the finest places to stay for a visit to Geneva, even though it is located just outside the city itself! La Reserve is in the middle of a ten acre park on the edge of Lake Geneva and the city can be reached by a daily boat service. The décor of this spa hotel reflects its beautiful surroundings and mahogany and marble keep a classy and natural feel throughout. The magnificent spa offers a great range of health and beauty treatments and the hotel also features three outstanding restaurants. For a relaxing holiday in beautiful surroundings, it is hard to beat La Reserve.

When it comes to the elegant things of life the French have no rivals. Whether we are talking about fashion, interior design or furniture style, they have that “je ne sais quoi” that makes everything they touch desirable and glamorous.

French fashion has always been elegant, forward thinking and lavish, just like French furniture. If women have always wanted to wear the most beautiful clothes from the best French designers, now there is a craze for furnishing our homes with glamorous French furniture. In a way it’s like extending the fashion trends into our homes. If you want to dress yourself with the most elegant ensemble, why not dress your bedroom accordingly?

A smart and eclectic mix of different French styles will turn your house into a stylish and comfortable home. Create the perfect reading corner with a gorgeous Louis XV armchair, or turn your bedroom into a boudoir with a delightful French Armoire and a Rococo style bed – there aren’t any rooms that won’t benefit from a little French styling.

But where does this craze come from? It all definitely started in Paris, in the 17th century under Louis XIV – “le Roi Soleil” – who ruled from 1643 to 1715, the longest reign of any European monarch. The reign of the French king Louis XIV commences what experts would call the start of ‘elegant’ furniture design in France. French furniture became refined in design, with a lot of emphasis on flowing, symmetrical design. Louis XIV saw the birth of Baroque style. The Versailles Palace was decorated in a strong, dramatic and exuberant style echoing the king’s strong leadership in a period of war and colonial empire building. The French classical Baroque style was grand and impressive, a symbol of the king’s power.

The French aristocracy became obsessed with interior design, beauty, decadent living, and French furniture became desirable, and crazed for ever since.

When Louis XIV died in 1715, his five-year-old great-grandson became Louis XV. As he was too young to take the throne, his uncle Philippe, the Duke of Orleans, was appointed Regent until the king attained legal majority in 1723. The transitional period between the opulent baroque period and the less formal rococo era of Louis XV became known as French Regence.

Italy is a leader in fashion and design, second only to France and the Parisian shopping district that is the fashion capital of the world. When trends are set and forwarded to New York, they come from one of these two locations. That includes not only clothing but home and furniture designs as well. In order to be hip and in the know, it’s important for designers in the United States to make pilgrimages abroad and see what the latest and greatest offerings are across the Atlantic. In terms of bedroom furniture, Italy has turned to the simplistic use of platform beds, which are modern and basic, with sleek lines and sharp angles.

In today’s society, people change their minds frequently and want instant gratification. That’s true the world over, even in places like Italy where the lifestyle is a little slower paced and less rushed. That means that, if someone wants their furniture to last through the changes in trends and personal style, it is essential for the pieces to be as generic as possible. Contemporary beds designed out of Italy are being manufactured this way specifically for such a purpose. Of course, because the furniture is meant to last through numerous redecorations and for many years ahead, the beds produced here are of the highest quality. At the same time, Italians are frugal and won’t spend more than necessary, looking for the best value for their buck.

Of course, in Italy just as in many European nations, the apartments or “flats” as they are called are much smaller than what people are used to in the United States, so furniture has to accommodate the space available. This leads to combination pieces like bookcase headboards, which offer a place to store books and other important items that need to be accessible while not taking up extra space. It will also grace the head of the bed with style that reflects personal taste and a sense of self through the items that are chosen for display.

The trundle day bed is especially popular when it comes to roommates sharing one of these small flats, most of which are no bigger than the living rooms in a typical American home. This allows for seating on the sofa bed portion during the day, which is transformed into a bed at night, as well as a second bed that can be put away during the day to clear up more floor space.

Even in larger houses, rooms are not as spacious as those in North America, so king sized furniture is not the best option. Instead, Italians are more likely to purchase queen wood beds, choosing wood because of its durability and stylistic appeal. And, in order to provide a very basic canvas upon which to build a new design or theme, many Italians will take advantage of the plainness of platform beds. This creates the opportunity to quickly wipe the slate clean and start anew without spending a fortune on new furniture with each whim.

Looking for some elegant interiors to furnish your home? While there are several options to choose from, you might want to consider French furniture. French furniture was essentially Parisian furniture that was created for the royalty, upper bourgeoisie and the aristocrats. The furniture is crafted artistically with a lot of attention to detail. It embodies mainstream designs of Europe and its decorative arts; it draws its influence from regions such as Russia, Spain and Sweden.

If one is looking at elegance that brilliantly stupefies craftsmanship with the inclusion of scrumptious fabrics, then French Furniture is of your type.

Every piece of French furniture has its own identity and does not require any other adornments. You can compare a single stand alone piece of furniture as a painting on the wall. They can lighten up and beautify any part of the room, even if it is just a single piece of furniture that is placed in the hallway. The fabrics are brightly coloured with gold gilds and the fabric used to complete the look of the furniture is usually high quality silk.

There are a few contemporary French furniture types that need mentioning, like the French Beds and Chaise Lounges.

The French bed is made of strong sturdy wood or iron which is always accompanied with delicate and ornate carvings. French beds have the most elegant look and can easily add a touch of class to a bedroom. They are all time classics and can go along with any decor or theme of a bedroom. Simple bedrooms can be decorated with the classic white or cream coloured French beds. There are also glamorous beds that come particularly with gold gilts and the upholstery is mainly made of silk. French beds are opulent, graceful, charming and luxurious and are simply timeless. There is something very unique about French beds and not many styles of furniture can be regarded as the same.  Trends in furniture never stay too long, however the French bed is always avant-garde furniture that goes along with any style.

Chaise Lounges were invented during the 18th century in France and the reason for it being upholstered was mainly for comfort. The feeling of lounging on a chaise lounge is immaculate and only makes one feel like a rock star. Several other lounge designs are inspired by the shape of the chaise lounges.  Chaise lounges typically means a long chair and is nothing close to a day bed that has no back, no arms and is flat. The chaise lounges are handcrafted individually to give it that unique touch and feel. The fabric again can be according to the buyers preference, however they mainly come upholstered in silk. A chaise lounge can be placed anywhere inside a room or even outdoors. Wherever it is placed, it definitely improves the look and feel of the room, giving it a soft elegant and opulent touch. It can even spruce up the dull look of a bedroom or living room. Who wouldn’t want to add a touch of elegance to their home and a chaise lounge will help achieve just that.

Internationally recognized brand

Known as a leading furniture manufacturer in France and throughout Europe, Gautier increasingly deals with international consumers worldwide, offering comfort, trendy and fashionable design, and a collection of models for any use and any age at affordable prices.

Gautier was the first manufacturer to simultaneously obtain three ISO certifications. In fact, materials used in Gautier furniture production are carefully selected, to respect the environment and sustainable development.

These facts highlight and prove Gautier’s will to match the strictest international standards and seriously compete worldwide. To enhance that philosophy Gautier has recently opened many shops in four continents.

The newest design tendencies reproduced by Gautier

In order to match the various needs worldwide, Gautier has always developed a broad range of furniture for children, babies and adult bedrooms. In addition Gautier now offers many modular pieces designed to fit any living room space.

Here are the latest Gautier collections for the current year:

Five ranges have been just conceived:

1. Stuart.

2. Manhattan.

3. Setis.

4. Power.

5. Lola.

All Gautier collections are guaranteed 5 years.

Be the first to know about each of Gautier collections – 2009

Stuart

Stuart is the new range of sliding door wardrobes which blend with a variety of schemes and efficiently suit any space.

Note that the Stuart wardrobes can be equipped with additional optional fittings, to meet any of your needs. You can find a trouser rack, a shoe rack and various shelves in different widths, which you can fix to your wardrobes.

Manhattan

The Manhattan range is made to give you more flexibility to make your living room more and more stylish. TV units and desks of this collection have been conceived to be adaptable and adjustable. Reflect on the easiness on the eye of the whole Gautier unit.

Setis

You will find every basic furniture item you need for any room, in the Setis collection: Dining tables, chairs, coffee tables and TV units. All the items of Setis collection are alluring by their stylish graphic design and mixture of trendy materials they are made of.

Power

The Power collection is especially conceived for your ambitious teenage child, or just to help you find the most suitable design and colors for your studio. Innovative and ingenious pieces are used in ways to optimize your space without settling for any compromises on aesthetics.

Lola

What if you have a dreamful daughter? Gautier just offers a special tender and romantic atmosphere through its Lola collection. This range includes refined furniture with curved contours in soft ‘cosmetic’ tones.

Visit Gautier’s illustrated website www.gautier.co.uk and you will see clearly the differences between these ranges, and feel the remarkable evolution of both design and ergonomics. You won’t be disappointed.

It’s always interesting to follow the trends worldwide in fashion and design, but if you really want to know what the newest styles and ideas are, you should track the developments in Paris. The French are always fashion forward, and Paris is the fashion capital of the world, whether you are talking about clothes or furniture. To be in the know and ahead of the general public, you have to follow the market in France. One of the more popular trends in French bedroom furniture right now is to install a mini bar in the bedroom, complete with all the accessories and barstools.

In France, most people are laid back and unconcerned with many aspects of life, with the except of style and fashion. Being as hip and trendy as they are, the French are quite fond of contemporary bedroom furniture, which is less ornate than many of the more classic styles of old. In fact, there is little if any detail work directly applied to the furniture of choice, and all details are typically added through the d?r and theme design in the room. In fact, this works out better for them because they can be fickle and change their style frequently with aspirations of instant gratification, one thing they do have in common with Americans.

This is important because it leads to the decision to use contemporary bar stools and counters for the bar they are going to build. After all, it would look a bit ridiculous to have a simple platform bed with no intricacies matched up with an ornate 18th century English bar. Instead, the French are quite careful to make sure their styles match from top to bottom of a room. If they are going for shabby sheik, every last detail is refined to give this impression, for example.

While you can find some ultramodern styles in metal, most French people prefer wood bar stools for their bar, as it looks more elegant, is sturdier, and often matches the rest of their bedroom d?r better. Interestingly, it is often also cheaper, despite its superior quality to most of the metal products on the market. Of course, this is all based on personal taste, and even in France, many will look to be different from the crowd or seek out that perfect metal setup that is trustworthy and high quality design.

Perhaps making sure the home bar matches the master bedroom furniture is the number one concern of the Frenchmen as they built their little watering hole. Luckily, that’s easy to do, since barstools come in pretty much all the same wood types as the beds and accessory furniture on the market. In fact, those who are especially excited about the mini bar will design the entire bedroom around this part of the room rather than vice versa. Watching the French advance in their designs can definitely provide tips and ideas for your own home that will be entirely fashion forward just like the fashion capital of the world!

Europe between 1600 and 1750 was an area of new scientific discoveries, new philosophies, new political ideologies, development of cities, time of social transformations and time of absolutism. In brief it was time of great transition, social adolescence – it was dynamic and turbulence time. Baroque as each multimedial style reflects this social, cultural and political mood. New art dimension was supported by powerful Roman Catholic Church as perfect propaganda instrument and by despotic European leaders as kings – emperors. As a consequence this style as other before was plying in theatrical rules to achieve the biggest impression. In fact were differences in style dependent from part of Europe, social patronage or function of art, but what about interiors…?

Tropme l’oeil

Illusory paint technique commonly used in baroque for great – scale ceilings pictures but also as a mural, oil and furniture. It was applied both in churches, palaces, private residential houses, in galleries, libraries, halls, and bedrooms or internal domes with mainly allegorical scenes. From great painters should to mention Pietro da Cortona, Andrea Pozzo, Baciccio and Charles Le Brun.

Stucco Work

It is kind of application used on walls or as a cartouches for trompe l’oeil in manner of three dimensional decoration. Forms to use in this period were s-shaped, organics and ovals. Common were gilding, silvering or painting stucco with sharp colours. Final effect was more similar to sculpture than basic form.

Gilding

Gilding was an application of thin layers of gold on different surfaces as plaster, wood or metal. In the case of furniture similar technique was Ormolu, as spectacular as deathly dangerous for workers using it because of poisonous fumes generated in that process.

Wall treatment and coverings

The walls were treated in different ways, with wood paneling, painting in fresco, with stucco work and plaster, covering by wallpapers, tapestries, large – scale mirrors (includes Venetian Mirrors), with enormous windows (includes French Windows) extending interiors on gardens or artistic creating landscape and with carved wooden doors. Other types of wall elements were marble pilasters, columns and fireplaces with masterpieces mantels. Wallpapers in baroque were both, imported from China with beautiful, rich colourful patterns and also rich, damasks. In both cases it gives oriental taste. Tapestries were know before, but in baroque considerable development in production was evident. The most remarkable workshops were in Italy – Agostino Melissi and Francesco Barberini, some in France and Netherlands Mirrors in baroque constituted particular facility. Firstly, they expended the interiors and intensified dynamic impression but what is more important put into the rooms theatrical, unreal and mysterious aura. It could be small or medium, handed on the wall carved and framed, covering large parts of walls of which an excellent example was Galerie des Glasses in Versailles, where mirrors were made by first royal glass manufacture founded in 1665 on the initiative of Louis XIV and Colbert, still existing today. Windows as a symbol of status were used to greate scale with transparent glass. Divided in rectangles, toped with arcs to let the light penetrate the rooms, give clearity architectural details and integrate interiors with fabulous gardens. Marble pilatsers and columns were elements which divided walls into the section for sculptures or paintings displays or to set the pace and floating impression. Chimneypieces in Baroque were carved especially from marble, decorated with gilded ornaments and frequently were parts of wall’s composition with mirrors, columns, pediments, sculptures, lights and other movable objects. A sometimes mantel includes timber or steel parts such as parts of decoration and essential for fireplaces equipments.

Floor

In fact, floor coverings were rarity but great baroque achievements were wood parquets arranged with simple geometrical patterns with multicolored timber. Sometimes stone or marble were used in parquet order. Typical woods for parquet were cherry, maple and beech and other types of hardwoods as they may be cleaned easily and are more durable.

Stairs

Other very important element of baroque interiors were stairs, because of its forms rooms could definitely change movable character. Usually stones stairs were twisted into the space, curved line put energy and permanently turbulence. Widely settled with stone or metal balustrades, carved and often topped by sculptures and lights.

Wood, woodwork and furniture

Timber as a material was very preferable and common in that period. Usually used were oak and walnut in view of flexibility, natural abilities and sustainability. It was the great material for wall paneling, later it could by incrusted by decorative layers exotic woods like mahogany or zebrawood, common gilded and painted. It was used to build cupboards, balconies, canopies, cabinets, book shelves or other steady equipment for new types of rooms like libraries, wealthy and powerful citizens or ecclesiastical interiors. Another woods elements were doors, rich carved, scientific objects like globes or measures instruments. Furniture to compare it with renaissance gained more ornaments, more curved lines and bulging shapes. They were often painted with techniques imitating marbling or graining, lavish gilded, with inlays exotics material like ivory, tortoise – shells and silver.

Lights

Both, natural and artificial light in baroque had particular meaning. As many other inventions as light stunt vastly usable as decorative elements of contemporary interiors. Heavy, large – scale’s crystal chandelier or made from bronze with glass finish were used as often as possible.

Sculpture and other objects

Indispensible elements were sculpture and also other objects to be connected with news inventions. Because movement was one the most important principles in baroque and sculptures as objects reflected human movement that this medium turn into basic interior elements of this period. Arguably the greatest Master of this time was Bernini. Mainly marble sculptures as human portraits or group of people in most cases with ecclesiastical themes were arranged like free-standing, standing in niches, as tombs and large compositions. In late baroque one more element had begun his existence. As a new device for time measure clock became a new element which was more decorative then usable but always with triple meaning of dynamism: forms of clock, movement of hands and changing of time.

To summarise, baroque as a style was so unconsciously varying that final effect of artistic creation was very often as splendid as kitsch.