What makes Yves Delorme‘s Etoile Bath Towels so luxurious? Here at Gracious Style, we just had to find out for ourselves! From the vividly saturated hues to the thick but lightweight texture, these towels are an experience worth sharing.

When our Etoile Bath Towels arrived, we had the following reactions:

“What beautiful colors!” – Eve

“The different weave on the border really stands out.” – Si

“The color is sophisticated and the dobby border gives it a tailored look.  And if you look closely, you’ll see that the pattern on the border looks like small butterflies.” – Carolina

Next, we took them home for a test drive in their natural element: the bathroom.

This is where the feeling of the towels came into play. How would these be different?

“Right away, the softness of the material was evident, due to the combination of modal and cotton fibers. I have never used a towel with this fabric before, but now, this is the only kind of towel I use” – Eve

“It felt elegant …I really care about how linens feel, so I was thrilled to see that the Etoile was soft and not too heavy”. – Carolina

“The texture is soft and plush, like a teddy bear”. – Si

We had discovered the visual charm and irresistible feel, but it was the quality that determined our true satisfaction.

Due to the combination of materials, the unique modal-cotton blend makes Etoile lightweight, but still extremely absorbent.

“The fabric is softer and more absorbent without adding extra weight.  Best of both worlds” – Carolina

We came to the unanimous agreement that this towel made an everyday activity extraordinary. The only test which remained: would this towel maintain all of these essential qualities after washing? We washed, we dried, we repeated. The answer was Yes!

“I have now washed it three times with LeBlanc Linen Wash, and it is just as absorbent as it was when I first used it.  The color has also stayed the same” – Carolina

“The towel came out as fluffy and soft as it was when I first opened it, and had a crisp, fresh scent from the detergent”. – Eve

A true testimony to Yves Delorme Etoile Bath Towels, this collection not only has our stamp of approval, but our enthusiastic recommendation.

For more incredible items from Yves Delorme, click here!

At Gracious Style, we love to bring you the newest, most unique handcrafted collections, and we’re excited to introduce these truly divine textiles by John Robshaw.

Painter and Pratt graduate John Robshaw began his art career studying block printing in China, when a quest for the perfect indigo dye took him to India. He fell in love with their strong culture of textile design, and began working with local artisans and their traditional printmaking techniques on designs that incorporate a fresh, modern feel while still retaining the essence of India’s master handcrafting.

John Robshaw’s newest offerings are inspired by his stay in Pondicherry, a South Indian tropical city full of magic and beauty on the Bay of Bengal. Formerly a French colony, the city is also home to Auroville, a famous spiritual center founded by the Hindu teacher Sri Aurobindo.

The bright colors of Pondicherry’s French colonial architecture, the deep azure blue of the ocean, the rich hues of organic indigo dyes, and the vibrant spiritual life of the people of India all combine to create these stunningly beautiful collections of fine textiles.

John Robshaw’s Nikolo Collection echoes the wonderful decorative tradition of kolams – intricate, abstract designs laid out in colorful rice powder by the women of Pondicherry, inviting the goddess of prosperity into their homes. 

Only the finest traditional Indian craftsmanship is used to create these stunning pieces. It takes a day and a half for a skilled artisan in Jaipur to paint each of these pillows.

Bring the romance and serenity of South India into your bath with this hand-screened shower curtain and exotic hand-cut bathmat.

What’s your favorite John Robshaw design? Browse our entire collection here, and let us know!  

We love reading Marisa Marcantonio’s sophisticated design blog Stylebeat, and were thrilled to see Christofle’s Kawali Green Crystal Goblet featured in today’s post! These richly hued glasses embody luxury with their saturated color and geometric design, and add a touch of bright elegance to any cocktail hour, dining table or nightcap.

For more stylish ideas from Marisa’s blog, click here.

And to see more stunning glassware, visit our Christofle Crystal Shop.

Want to make this Valentine’s Day one to remember? Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two, or a luncheon with your closest friends, hosting for Valentine’s Day is the perfect way to celebrate!

Bold linens scream celebration. We love Yves Delorme‘s festive Face a Face Collection.

Warm your foyer or table with Simon Pearce‘s Highgate Heart Tealights.

Spark some romance with toasting flutes like Waterford‘s Love and Romance Red Flute Pair.

Accent your mantle with whimsical figurines. We love how romantic Herend‘s Kissing Swans are.

Make a statement with Vietri‘s glamorous Laurel Glass Red Serveware.

Details are everything! We love that extra punch of color with Alain Saint Joanis‘ Anglais Claret Flatware.

For more great Valentine’s Day ideas, click here.

Winding down the holiday season, it is time to think about your own needs. January is the perfect time to start those little changes that make a big difference.  Here are some New Year’s resolutions that will be the perfect treat for yourself:

Explore: Find new adventures in Graphic Image‘s 1,000 Places to See Before You Die…

…And bring luxury to any destination with sofiacashmere‘s Emilia Red Cashmere Travel Set.

Keep calm: Light Michael Aram‘s Ocean Coral Candle when you’re stressed. The soothing fragrance will bring peace and tranquility for the New Year.

Keep things clean: Doing laundry becomes a pleasure with the floral aroma of LeBlanc‘s Blue Violet Linen Care.

Stay organized: Selamat‘s Classic Large Desk Caddy will keep all your accessories neat and easily available.

Stay motivated: Be inspired each day with Natural Curiosities’ Quotes Collection.

Spend more time with friends and family: If you have a busy schedule, a cup of tea is the perfect way to catch up.

Seth: Hi I’m Seth.

Jenna: And I’m Jenna.

Seth: We’re not real people but avatars–

Jenna: Quit being such a geek, Seth!

Seth: OK, sorry, fictitious characters.  We were invented by the editors of Gracious Style to help you see how design are a part of all of our lives.  So in our fictitious lives, Jenna and I are both in our late twenties.  I’m a Project Manager at a non-profit.

Jenna: And I’m a visual designer for a gaming company.  We’ve been going out for two years now, and we recently moved into a new place in Brooklyn.

Seth: Take a look at our Pinterest board to see what our corner of the world looks like.

Jenna: We’re still unpacking, but this is how we’d love our place to look like:

Seth: This place is so cool, with all the metal and brick and the old school lights.  I could spend hours hanging out with my buddies here.

Jenna: This one’s my favorite.  I love all the old details — the molding, the fireplaces and mirrors, and the floor.  It’s looks so antique-y but cool at the same time.

Jenna: I love everything in this room!

Seth: I like the wood and brick look here.

Jenna: Just remember our place looks nothing like that yet.

Seth: It’s not so bad.  Jenna’s made it pretty nice already.

Jenna: Thanks.  But we’ve still got a long way to go.

Seth:  Not too long now — my parents just announced they’re coming down from Wisconsin for the holidays, so we better get it ready by Christmas.

Jenna: Oh boy.

Seth: Huh? What’s wrong?

Jenna: Well, this’ll be the first time I meet them, and we’ve still got stuff in boxes.  I’m scared!

Seth: You’re scared?  Ha ha!  Last time they were out in Brooklyn was visiting Luger’s for steaks 15 years ago, so as long as they don’t get mugged, they’ll be happy.

Jenna: What Seth meant to say was: we want to make this place really nice for them when they come out.

Seth: Yeah, so could you give us some ideas on how we could set up the guest room for them?

Jenna: Pictures would be great.  I’m a visual person.

Seth: And I’m not good at imagining stuff, so yeah, pictures would help me too.

Jenna: We’ll retweet all your suggestions and add our favorites to our Pinterest board with a big “Thank you!”

Can you help Seth and Jenna get their guest room ready for Seth’s parents?  Please comment below, tweet @GraciousStyle, or post on the Gracious Style Facebook page with your suggestions.

Company’s coming?  Why don’t you update your guest room with these essentials … any of them will make your guests feel pampered.

To find more bedding, candles, clocks, hangers, rugs, bath accessories, and lamps, visit GraciousStyle.com.

There’s never been a better time to stop up on classic items on sale! We’ve taken reductions on many of our favorite collections, so now’s the time to treat yourself. Quantities are extremely limited, so hurry!

View our complete sale section at GraciousStyle.com

Inspired by the lustrous mineral, Malachite trends have been striking both the runway and the home. The rich green hue and organic shape add the perfect decorative accent to any room or tabletop.

Flooding the catwalk with color, Malachite is one of the season’s most dynamic looks.

Finished with 24 karat gold details, L’Objet‘s Malachite Desk Accessories make stunning gifts with a bold statement.

The geometric accents of Tony Duquette’s Malachite Chargers add regal charm to your table.

For more ideas, follow our Malachite board on Pinterest.

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Surrounded by the constant motion of today’s busy world, it is easy to overlook the smaller details. But occasionally a vision can ground us, reminding us how fantastic natural beauty can be: a colorful sunset, the feathers on a bird, or the texture of a mineral.

“Cabinet of Curiosities,” L’Objet’s fall collection, is a feast for the eyes spanning centuries of design.  Inspired by natural history, geology and architectural relics, this is our favorite of founder Elad’s collections.  Flooded with saturated colors and fluid shapes, these stunning pieces will take you on an unforgettable journey.

Carrousel Gold is a miracle of movement and light, captured in an amalgam of 24-karat gold-plated brass and pure whimsy.

Snake and Crocodile are flights of fancy for lovers of faraway places, exotic textures, curious curvatures, and distinctive craftsmanship.

Coral is decadent, sophisticated, and entirely unexpected.

Malachite is bold and sumptuous, inspired by cultures ancient and new, united in a riot of elegance.

To view our all of our collections by L’Objet, click here.