A shoe box full of images capturing life in India at least a century ago has been discovered in one of Scotland's national collections. 178 plate-glass negatives were found inside a size-nine Peter Lord shoe box by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in Edinburgh.

I fell in love with this style when I vacationed in Barbados several years ago and stayed at Sam Lord's Castle, the former home of actual pirate Sam Lord, who lured ships aground by hanging lanterns in the coconut trees. Captains mistook the lights for the nearby port city of Bridgetown and ran their ships into the reefs. Sam and his men then promptly looted them. This beautiful plantation was decorated in authentic West Indies British Colonial style and couldn't help capturing my heart. Unfortunately this beautiful historical landmark burned to the ground in recent years, a sad loss for the people of Barbados. As the British colonized the world, from America to India and the West Indies, they left a distinct style behind. This worldly and timeless design was influenced by the climate and cultures of the places the British inhabited. And British Colonial style was created. At its largest, the British Empire covered approximately one-quarter of the world. It truly was the empire on which the sun never set. As British subjects were sent around the world to the colonies to govern, do business, and protect the home country's interests, they brought with them the traditional decor from home which they intermingled with local materials and styles and adapted them to suit the practical needs of climate and landscape. They produced a unique and beautiful blended colonial style. Built upon the romance of its bygone namesake era, tropical British Colonial and it's beautiful Caribbean Plantation homes recalls the exoticism of the tropics with the substance of traditional design. Let the music whisk you away to the islands! google.com Tropical British Colonial furniture takes its utilitarian influence from the tropical environments in which it was found. Using generous proportions of local wood such as Teak, Mahogany, and Mango Wood, this furniture was designed to absorb much of the humidity found in those areas. desiretoinspire.net Since the wood expands and contracts, much of the construction also used natural grasses and rattan to allow for this movement. I love the woven straw walls of this interior space. noordinaryhomes.com British Colonial floors are often covered with woven sisal or reed mats, baskets are used for storage, and caning and weaving is used in chairs and furniture like this headboard. Ralph Lauren Bamboo is also a popular material for bedding and other furniture. Ralph Lauren Walls in British Colonial interiors are usually light in color which is lovely contrast to the dark wood floors and furniture. The pale colors help make the rooms seem light and airy which is important, at least psychologically, to counteract the oppressive heat. google.com flickr.com Tall, rounded windows or garden doors - An elegant touch often found in British Colonial decor. floridadesign.com belclairehouse.blog... Shutters to keep out the hot midday sun and ceiling fans with wide, rattan fanlike blades that helped to decorate as well as cool plantation rooms are all with us today. Other elements for your tropical British Colonial interior include mosquito netting draped around beds for a fun touch and bamboo shades for covering windows http://thefoodogatemyhomework.tumblr.com/ To truly evoke a tropical paradise, dot the room with exotic plants. bayviewfurniture.co... oceaniaislandliving... Many times a room would be decorated with a trompe l'oeil effect adding depth and drama to an otherwise blank room or wall. markdsikes.com 2.bp.blogspot.com British Colonial furniture is a great complement to both traditional and transitional furniture designs and that's what keeps it relevant to this day. www.lisafarmerdesigns.com Adding elements of this style to your home not only brings an air of romance and sophistication to the overall design, but will make you feel as though you've traveled around the world collecting without ever having really left home at all. pictureofelegance.b... www.dblinteriors.com Tropical and British Colonial styles mesh together well because they both rely on themes of exotic islands and far-off travel. houzz.com photoarchive.1stdib... thedecorista.tumblr.com Ralph Lauren Be sure and include large potted plants such as ferns and palms as well as orchids in your design. jadoredecor.blogspot.com www.dblinteriors.com www.floridadesign.com Add a four poster bed to your bedroom. Decorate it with rich colors reminiscent of the tropics or Asia. Wicker and rattan furniture also fit well in a tropical or British Colonial bedroom. Add cushions or bed covers with a large tropical floral print. Use a large rattan trunk for storage at the end of the bed and look for heavy dressers and armoires with ornate Indian designs and rustic hardware. google.com www.housebeautiful.com architecturaldigest... This style is equally fabulous outside as well!! Visit my website at www.lisafarmerdesigns.com Click here to see the previous post! http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2013/06/decorating-with-french-trumeau-mirrors.html This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

Whenever I see shipping containers, my inner architect kicks into high gear and I start planning and designing homes and cottages in my ...

Many many years ago I saw this terrific picture in one of my Military Modelling magazines and for some reason the image just stuck with me... And when first Hat released their British Camel Corps and then the Navel Gardner Gun teams I knew just what I wanted to create. Then when I saw this image on the Paul's Touching History blog everything fell into place... Back to the queue and the Dervish Camalry Duncan

I just might have India on the brain, seeing as how I recently posted on British Colonial decorating (which you can read about here ) and am...

Gaur Hunt - unknown Maharajah of Bikaneer with his 200th tiger, 1939. Rhino hunt in Nepal. Rhino Hunt, possibly Maharajah Citarakhan of Nepal. Lord and Lady Curzon with tiger shot in India, 1903. Father and son native tiger hunt, India 1930s. Indian hunter with a Himalayan black bear, 1930s. Nepal, butchered rhinos Lord and Lady Cuzon, governor of India in 1903 with tiger. Prince of Wales, after his tiger hunt. Skinning a tiger. Male Javan rhino shot on 31 January 1934 at Sindangkerta in West Java. Specimen is preserved in the Zoological Museum of Buitenzorg (Bogor, Indonesia). European hunter with a dead Javan rhinoceros, 1895, Java Island. Borneo, 1925 - Captain George L. Anderson with a Javan Rhinoceros in Sandakan region of Sarawak. Cambodia, 1930 - William Duckworth with a Javan Rhino. Sumatra, 1952. From T. Schilling, Tijgermensen van Anai with trophy Sumatran rhino and native guides. The Man-Eater of Champawat. The Champawat Tiger is a legendary female Bengal Tiger. She is allegedly responsible for more then 400 human deaths in Nepal and the Kumaon area of India in the early 20th century. This tiger was often seen roaming the streets outside populated villages and would even try to break into huts. She was shot the day after killing a 16-year-old girl. Even today there remains a “cement board” marking the place where the tiger fell in Champawat town. An autopsy revealed that the tiger had broken upper and lower canine teeth on the right side of her mouth, which is often the case with man-eating animals. As humans are easier forms of prey. Around the same time the Panar Leopard was terrorizing people in the Kumaon District of Northern India. This male leopard is also alleged to have killed around 400 citizens, striking utter fear in the parents and children of many small villages. Both of these animals were hunted down and killed by legendary big cat hunter and author Jim Corbett. Corbett was an Indian-born British conservationist who was extremely talented at stalking and killing man-eaters. These two animals are widely regarded as the most deadly of all time. N.A. Baikov, a lifetime member of the Society of Study of the Manchurian territory, the author of the book "In mountains and woods of Manchuria", St.-Petersburg,1915. Posing with a Manchurian tiger trophy at home. A man-eater hunted in India by John Stoddard with natives, 1890s. Published in "India - 13 volumes" by John L. Stoddard in 1901. Jim Corbet and the man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag, India. "The Mother Of Evil" , terror of the hills, the man eating tigreass of Tallades, shot by Jim Corbet. King George V of Britain, mounted on elephant during a shikar in Nepal, 1911. Bird shooting party in Mandalay, western Burma, 1885. King George V, mounted on elephant, departing for a shikar. A massive tiger hunt organized by Maharajah of Alwar in 1926 for his British guests: a dozen elephants and aproximately 300 people involved. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on tiger hunt in India, 1961. ANTELOPE HUNTING USING CHEETAH[BEFORE CHEETAH BECAME EXTINCT IN INDIA ]ENGLISH SPORT HYENA SPEARING INDIA ELK HUNTING IN INDIA 1875 THE PRINCE''S TEA IN JUNGLE AFTER A TIGER HUNT 1876 PIG STICKING [HUNTING]IN SANTHAL COUNTRY FORESTS INDIA[by English men] ENGLISH RULER IN INDIA - FAVORITE SPORT --HUNTING ;WITH DEAD RABBITS BRITISH OFFICER'S TIGER SHOOTING[ SPORT]INDIA 19TH CENTURY Nylghau Hunt India Hunting Old Print 1884-[english sports] Shooting Trip Dalma Bengal India--- Deer Maunbhoom 1887 LEOPARD HUNTING Antelope India 1857 1887 Hunting Gaour Indian Bison Shikaree Men Sport 1886 Mugger Hunting Ana-Sagar Lake Ajmere India Sport 1888 Black-Buck Shooting India Men Horse Sport Animals 1889 Tiger Shooting India Sport Men Natives Guns Camel 1890 'khedah' catching wild elephants in camouflaged enclosure at MYSORE STATE SOUTH INDIA 1882-ENGLISH MAN'S SPORT-HUNTING MONKEYS;ROCK SQUIRREL; MOUNTAIN GOAT LORD AND LADY CURZON ON HUNT 1903 WITH DEAD TIGER George V stands in his howdah. Other members of the hunting party watch from behind. Hunting party on elephants with slain tiger. The "ring" is a method of hunting peculiar to Nepal. The hunters mounted on elephants form a "ring" and move in on their quarry, which has previously been stalked and enclosed in the area surrounded by the ring. There were a total of 39 tigers killed during this hunt. The Maharaja of Nepal stands in his howdah on the left, and George V stands in his in the centre. Hunters with slain rhinoceros. There were a total of 18 rhinoceroses killed during this hunt. George V sits in his howdah on the right, and the Maharaja of Nepal looks down from his howdah on the left. ENGLISH FAMILY WITH TIGER SKIN TROPHY -INDIA 1880"S HUNTING BEAR ENGLISH MAN HUNTING RHINOCEROS-INDIA-1900'S 1911--KING GEORGE 5 ON HUNT -39 TIGERS KILLED IN THIS HUNT !! KING GEORGE 5 OF ENGLAND HUNTING TIGERS AND RHINOCEROS ,BY RING METHOD -USING MANY ELEPHANTS TO FORM THE RING The "ring" is a method of hunting peculiar to Nepal. The hunters mounted on elephants form a "ring" and move in on their quarry, which has previously been stalked and enclosed in the area surrounded by the ring. TIGER HUNT 1930'S 1908--ENGLISH MAN'S HUNT-AT OOTY ENGLISH MAN'S SPORT-IN INDIA -1905 -HUNTING FOXES WITH FOX HUNT DOGS 1870-TIGER HUNTING-SPORTS-ENGLISH MEN-USING ELEPHANTS AND CAMELS The Prince and Princess of Wales in shooting dress, 1900. George V shooting tigers, India, 1911, (1935). The King and Queen Mary travelled to India in 1911 to attend the Delhi Durbar The Prince of Wales tiger shooting in India, 1921. Lord Curzon of Kedleston with the Maharaja of Rewa and Captain Wigram "in the jungle with his bag of tigers". Date: 1903. Jim Corbett- jim corbet BRITISH COLONIAL RULERS WITH PET CHEETAH [NOW CHEETAH IS EXTINCT IN INDIA DUE TO HUNTING] Photo of the Prince of Wales on a tiger hunt in British India, 1875-1876. RHINOCEROS FIGHT IN BARODA BEFORE THE PRINCE OF WALES *An antelope hunt USING TAMED CHEETAH-BY ENGLISH MASTERS OF INDIA 1880 the great hunt in india by english--Illustrations of Indian Field Sports Selected and reproduced from the coloured engravings first published in 1807 after designs by Captain Thomas Williamson of the Bengal Army Hunters going out in the morning Beating Sugar Canes for a Hog The Chase After a Hog Hog Hunters Meeting by Surprise a Tigress and her Cubs Chasing a Tiger Across a River The Dead Tiger Shooting a Leopard Hunting an old Buffalo Driving a Bear out of Sugar Canes The Hog Deer at Bay "A Tiger Hunting Party"*, 1876 Padding a Tiger"*, 1876 Sketches in Southern India: shooting alligators on the way home from a picnic"*, from The Graphic, 1879 "Ten Days' Sporting Trip in the Jungle of India"*, from The Graphic, 1880 Shooting the Ibex"*, 1880 *"Small Sport in India"*, from The Graphic, 1882 Quail Snaring with Trained Cattle"*, 1883 "Pig Sticking in India"*, from The Graphic, 1883 Illustrations of Indian Field Sports Selected and reproduced from the coloured engravings first published in 1807 after designs by Captain Thomas Williamson of the Bengal Army Hunters going out in the morning Beating Sugar Canes for a Hog The Chase After a Hog Hog Hunters Meeting by Surprise a Tigress and her Cubs Chasing a Tiger Across a River The Dead Tiger Shooting a Leopard Hunting an old Buffalo Driving a Bear out of Sugar Canes The Hog Deer at Bay

Table setting at a luxury camp in Africa. Um, yes please! Singita Grumeti Reserves

British Empire style decor inspiration photos: Think balmy nights, mosquito netting, large verandahs, tents, animals prints, palm trees, deserts...

British-born India Hicks revels in her home in the Bahamas.

To create the look and feel of a turn-of-the-century African safari, complete with zebras grazing near the camp, we enlisted producer Michael Reynolds, photographer Anthony Cotsifas, and prop stylist Eugenia Santiesteban Soto for a New York City photo shoot. Find out how the images came to life.

images via pinterest the destination/literature combination for this week is ever so slightly less luxurious than last week's cannes, but in no way less glamorous: 1920s safari. full of colonial adventure, romance, khaki, big-game hunting, flowing mosquito nets floating over four-poster beds in white tents under vast expanses of star-studded ski, kilimanjaro looming in the background. teddy roosevelt, english aristocracy, and ernest hemingway. and i believed all was lost after the second world war.. ..luckily, i was mistaken. a friend, equally enthralled as i by all things of pre-war grandeur, most recently introduced me to cottar's safari service. founded in 1920 by a family inspired by teddy roosevelt's adventures in east africa, cottar's has continued the classic tradition of the glamorous safari ever since {minus the big-game hunting these days}. images via {here} white tents and brown colonial furniture, persian rugs, flowing mosquito nets and glowing fires, and all of the romance of those old black and whites. kiera knightly even did a feature for vogue here in 2007, and the 'press page' of the website is absolutement filled with high-profile, endless praise. cottar's and its notion of 1920s safari camps brings such novels as out of africa to mind, naturally, but a slightly lesser known tale is that of ernest hemingway in true at first light. published by one of his sons posthumously, it contains anecdotes of heminway's reign as a safari guide and his time spent there with his fourth wife, hunting and fraternizing with the local tribe, a symbolic struggle with a dangerous lion, laden, of course, with colorful, tragic figures, and his beautifully evoked scenes and subtle romance. one of his lesser known works, i would recommend it as a most serious hemingway fan, but also as a glimpse into the glamour of an age both past and preserved. and it may be the next best thing to a proper cottar's safari. images via pinterest will true at first light make your summer reading list? i've just finished age of innocence and am now onto the help to balance out this literary tour de force with something more lighthearted. what are you reading? i hope that your weekend is off to the most beautiful start. although it's still too cool to sunbathe, the sun has finally shone through the london grey. xx hillary p.s. want to channel hemingway/1920s safari style? a charming look for late summer/early autumn: image via pinterest

Welcome to the 399th Tablescape Thursday! When I was on safari in Kenya last September, I stayed in romantic Giraffe Manor for one of the nights I was there. Giraffe Manor, built in 1938 in the style of a Scottish Hunting Lodge, is truly like something out of a storybook. The Rothschild Giraffe is endangered and the good folks at Giraffe Manor are doing what they can to increase the population. Did you see the new baby that was born recently to Kelly, one of the giraffes at Giraffe Manor? You can see a photo of him on the Giraffe

Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Tanzania

Once a white boxy loft, Ralph Lauren Home's New York showroom is transformed seasonally and currently displays the 2011 Spring Collection, "California Romantic". Each season, Ralph Lauren Home designs a new collection of furniture, fabrics, bed linens, tabletop and accessories all of which have a common theme chosen by Ralph. I had the chance to view the collection at Ralph Lauren Home's showroom, located in a large Chelsea loft, which is completely redesigned each season so that every detail, from architecture to accessories, reflects the season's theme. The 2011 spring collection was partially inspired by Ralph's trip to Africa last year. Like all things RL, no detail is overlooked and walking through the showroom made me feel transplanted to a luxe safari. The Maya Stoneware and Bamboo Flatware are a nice ways to dress up bamboo. Layers of texture, from the sea grass rug to the zebra covered Victoria Falls Louis XVI chair, help set the African scene. Also shown here is the Cannes Trestle Dining Table. Ralph Lauren is a brilliant merchandiser. His personal touches help shoppers to visualize using his products in their own homes. I really like the woven cane covered cushions of the New Safari Modern Club Chair; it along with the New Safari Rattan Cocktail Table would work well in a tropical setting. The leather topped New Safari Campaign Desk has Old World charm while offering modern office necessities such as functional file storage and a keyboard drawer. Shown with New Safari Library Chair. I honestly thought this New Safari Camp Chair was over 100 years old. The leather has a beautifully worn patina. The New Safari Bar is mobile and covered in faux crocodile. Mosquito netting and delicate white bed lines add romance to the Dutch Colonial style Victoria Falls Bed. View the rest of the the Spring 2011 collection and more from Ralph Lauren Home at http://www.ralphlaurenhome.com/.

In a unique setting on the shores of Lake Kariba, one of the world’s largest man-made lakes, on the edge of the Matusadona National Park, sits Changa Safari Camp, peaceful and serene.