Laundry sure has come a long way from the days of the washboard and tub. We now have computerized washing machines and dryers. Laundry detergent has improved, too. Two of our favorite modern laundry soaps, The Laundress and LeBlanc Linen Wash were featured in Elle Decor this month.

Lindsey Wieber Boyd and Gwen Whiting, co-founders of The Laundress®, created their eco-chic line of specialty detergent and fabric care to take the chore out of doing laundry. The Laundress detergents are highly concentrated, suitable for HE machines and hand-washing, and work in any water temperature. They are family safe, allergen-free, have no toxic fumes and aren’t tested on animals. The detergents use plant-based ingredients, and do not contain chlorine, petroleum products, or artificial color.

LeBlanc Linen Wash is a specially formulated cleaning solution for washing fine linens. The gentle, pH-balanced formula contains no bleach and can be used on all natural fibers, synthetics, and blends. All LeBlanc products are low sudsing and safe for use on HE machines. Their Linen Wash is available in a range of fragrances and special formulas for cleaning towels, lingerie, children’s bedding, and down.

It’s summertime and our thoughts are turning to the beach, what about you? If you can’t make it to the seaside, bring the seaside to your home with these great ideas from Elle Decor. They love the Blu Mare salad plate by Vietri for adding some cool ocean blue to the table.

They would look great in your beach house!

The editors at Elle Decor were “bowled over” by the Naxos Salad Bowl from Bernardaud. We love the bright, sharp lines contrasted with the soft simplicity of the shapes on pure white.

Designed by Olivier Gagnère, the Naxos dinner service shows masterful use of the transparency and finesse of white porcelain in a striking, three-dimensional design.

See the entire Naxos by Bernardaud dinnerware pattern.

Find out what makes Bernardaud the world’s best-selling French dinnerware.

Hollywood director Nancy Meyers, whose films include Something’s Gotta Give and Father of the Bride, has a great eye for decorating. Interviewed in Elle Decor, she lists one of her favorite things as her set of Royal Copenhagen dinnerware.

Learn more about Royal Copenhagen.

View more Royal Copenhagen patterns.

Softer than cashmere and available in a wide range of colors, Alpaca is one of the world’s most luxurious fabrics. We love the Herringbone throw in Royal Grape, seen here in the June issue of Elle Decor:

These luxurious woven throws are made from 100% baby alpaca, the softest Alpaca fiber available. It is collected without harming the animal. These throws are hypoallergenic, extremely soft and warm yet lightweight.

See our 40+ beautiful colors of Alpaca Throw, in both solids and classic herringbone.

Quest is a fun, fresh magazine that covers society and lifestyle in New York, Greenwich, The Hamptons and Palm Beach. Oomph’s style fits them perfectly. We recently spotted the oomph Backgammon Table in the June issue as a “Fresh Find.”

Customize your own here.

We think that Oomph’s colorful furniture is simply “the best”! So do the editors at House Beautiful – they included the Scallop Slipper Chair in the “The Best” column in the June issue.

The Scallop Slipper Chair is destined to be a classic piece – with it’s great scale and chic detailing it will really stand out in any room.

Available in four standard colors, which you can see here. Or to customize your own (like the warm red version above), contact us.

All things beach- and pool-related are in right now, as summer is upon us. It’s no surprise that Fresco Towels are getting some attention. Fresco’s “fresh summer style” is featured in July’s issue of Architectural Digest:

We just love the new soft colors of these towels in the Venetian Brocade pattern. They are available in Grey/Lime, Grey/Lemon, Sky/Mint, and Strawberry/Sand.

See all of our Fresco Bath Towels and Beach Towels.

Bungalow 5’s Jacqui Coffee Table is a versatile mix of modern and traditional elements. It looks great in a variety of settings – even with a Moroccan-inspired ikat theme! This cozy bedroom seating area was featured in the May issue of House Beautiful: Read more

If you haven’t seen the April issue of Elle Decor yet, hurry to a newsstand! The issue is devoted to international design, a topic we’re very fond of here at Gracious Style. There are so many beautiful, exotic interiors with tips on how to add an international flair to your own decorating.
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