Colorful & Bold Patterned Blue, Green & White Bed Set - Barclay Butera Palm Beach

Consisting of a blend of sea blues, lime greens and whites, the Barclay Butera Palm Beach collection brings a bold and colorful style to your bedroom.  Available as a complete ensemble or individual pieces, this wonderful bedding collection is made in the USA.  Available as either a comforter or duvet cover, the stylish main pattern mixes well with the stripe euro shams.

Barclay Butera Palm Beach

Elegant Red Floral Bedding Sets - Barclay Butera Marseille Collection

This elegant red floral bedding set is from Barclay Butera and Eastern Accents.  Available as either a comforter or duvet cover, the rustic and romantic floral pattern in blue and gold blends beautifully with the red background.  Coordinating pillows and bed shams are available, so you can order this bedding as a complete set or as individual items.

Barclay Butera Marseille Bedding Collection

Romantic bed combining velvet, linen and cotton bedding in a rustic setting

This beautiful blend of velvet, linen and cotton bedding makes this rustic space look romantic and cozy.  The texture and ruffles on the linen bedding are wonderful, then its combined with the straight edge look on the soft and washable diamond pattern velvet bedding and finally finished off with the lovely ruffled and stripe trimmed cotton duvet cover and shams. 

Romantic Bed in Rustic Setting

Glacier Blue Velvet Bedding from Pine Cone Hill

This elegant glacier blue velvet bedding is from Pine Cone Hill.  Soft and luxurious, the Full/Queen and King size coverlets are washable and made of a blend of bamboo viscose and cotton that features a lovely textural pattern that can fit with contemporary, traditional or romantic styles.  The fabric is available as standard and king size shams.

Glacier Blue Velvet Bedding

Soft, Washable Red Velvet Quilted Bedding

This beautiful red velvet bedding is from Pine Cone Hill.  The soft quilted texture of the coverlet and shams will add a delightful touch of romance to your boudoir and can be used in a variety of decors.  The quilted velvet fabric is woven of a soft blend of 60% viscose and 40% cotton and is machine washable.  Available as Full/Queen Coverlets, King Coverlets and Standard and European shams.  This wonderful velvet coverlet is sure to please.

Pine Cone Hill Red Velvet Bedding

How to Keep Luxury Linens From Fading

Q: How do you keep luxury linens from fading?

 

A: It is important to understand just what causes linens to fade. Most likely, fading is due to a combination of factors, including cleaning techniques, exposure to weather/sunlight, and normal wear and tear. Some of these factors are out of your control. However, in order to minimize fading, it is essential to take special care to control those factors you can.

 

It is a best practice to read and understand the fabric care instructions label and adopt its laundering recommendations. Before washing, sort your laundry into like colors. Always use a mild detergent, with no Chlorine. Never use a fabric softener. Think cool! Washing in hot water and drying on high temperatures will not only damage the fabric, but it may also cause fading. If you line-dry your linens, avoid direct sunlight, as the ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause colors to fade.

 

Here’s something to keep in mind: if you have matching linens (a set of sheets and pillowcases, a tablecloth and matching napkins, etc.) each piece should be cared for equally regardless of whether or not it is soiled, or even used. Wash them all together. The idea is to give each piece the same frequency of trips through the laundering process to help maintain color consistency. This practice will not necessarily help avoid fading, but it will make any fading that does occur much less noticeable.

 

Listening to the concerns of our customers, SFERRA developed the Bello towels with greater loop fixation for enhanced softness and superior absorbency, and used a special dyeing technique that maximizes color fastness to light, weather, washing and chlorine. In fact, some of SFERRA’s hospitality customers purchase Bello to use as pool towels because they can select a shade that coordinates with their property’s colors and not be concerned with the fading caused by excess exposure to the sun or contact with the chlorinated pool water.

Below is an image of Bello's beautiful palette of 31 fade-resistant colors.

This information is courtesy of SFERRA

Delightful Contemporary Black & White Duvet Covers and Sheet - Peacock Alley Soprano Cuff

This beautiful black and white bed is contemporary with a hint of old Hollywood glamour.  Created from 100% Egyptian cotton sateen, Peacock Alley Soprano Cuff duvet covers, shams and sheets are a soft 420 thread count sheeting material with a hemstitch trim detail.  Besides black and white, Soprano Cuff is also available in white with Linen, Gold or Platinum colors to delight and inspire your new bedroom.

Black and White Duvet Cover, Sheets and Shams

Beautiful Tapestry Print Bedding in Red and Gold - Peacock Alley Baroque Gold

The new Baroque Gold bedding from Peacock Alley is a wonderful blend of rusty reds and gold colors performed in a an old-world inspired tapestry print.  Created from a blend of linen and rayon, the bedding will be durable and washable, allowing for pets and children to play upon and then not have any fear of washing.  The pieces are made in the USA and are available as Queen or King duvet covers as well as matching standard, king or euro shams.  A delightful new collection from Peacock Alley.

Peacock Alley Baroque Gold

Bronze Color Faux Leather Bath, Office and Home goods - Mike & Ally Barcelona Bronze

Stylish, functional and affordable, the Mike & Alley Barcelona Bronze collection consists of a variety of pieces of well made products in a durable bronze color faux leather that allows for easy cleaning. 

The Barcelona Bronze collection consists of a pump dispenser, boutique tissue box cover, wastabasket with removeable plastic liner, a guest towel holder, a rectangle vanity tray, a bath tissue container to hold an extra roll of toilet tissue, and a round hamper to hold clothes.  Use these items in your bathroom, office, kitchen or wherever you might need an upscale look to your decor.

The items are made with a sturdy wood core, then further enhanced with a soft fine felt on the interior and of course the beautiful bronze color faux leather for the exterior.  If you want a little extra bling you can also get the Mike & Alley Barcelona Studs collection in Bronze (or White, Silver and Gold) which adds crystals and metal studs.

Mike & Ally Barcelona Bronze

Mike & Alley Barcelona Studs Bronze

Elegant Black & White Fleur de Lis Embroidered Linen Hand or Guest Towels

These elegant linen hand towels feature an embroidered fleur de lis pattern and come in black and white.  Made of 100% linen, they are machine washable and measure approximately 14x21", so they could also be used as a kitchen towel or guest towel.

Black & White Fleur de Lis Linen Hand Towels

Bright Red and White Damask Print Sheets & Duvet Covers

Printed on crisp 100% Egyptian cotton percale fabric, this wonderful collection of damask bedding is woven in Italy and available as duvet covers, shams, sheets and pillowcases in Twin, Queen, King and California King sizes.  This sorbet red color will add a pop of color to your bedroom.

Sorbet Red Damask Bedding & Sheets

Beautiful Textured Ivory Floral Quilts with Scalloped Edge - Pine Cone Hill Rousseau

The Rousseau ivory quilt from Pine Cone Hill features a beautiful floral design sculpted into the pattern, along with scalloped trim to create a wonderful and romantic presentation for your boudoir.  Made of 100% cotton, the Rousseau quilt and matching shams is ideal for a shabby chic with class bedroom.  Available as quilts in Twin, Full/Queen and King sizes, and standard and euro shams.

Pine Cone Hill Rousseau Ivory Quilt

White Cotton Pique Bedding with color trim - Peacock Alley Pique

This fun and functional white cotton pique bedding is available as either a scalloped edge trim or with a tailored look.  The pique fabric is white and the trim is available in Aqua blue, Black, Coral, Flint grey, Green, Lilac, Moss green, Petal pink, Sunshine yellow and White.  Peacock Alley Pique is available as coverlets, shams, decorative pillows and bed skirts.

White and Pink Bedding

What are compact yarns and how do they improve Sferra sateen sheets?

This information is courtesy of Sferra, a producer of high quality sheets and bedding.  View their products at the following link:  Sferra sheets & bedding.

Q: What are compact yarns?

A: Compact yarns differ from conventional ring-spun yarns. Compact spinning is a process that offers superior quality, reducing the “hairiness” of the yarns by controlling the fibers that protrude from the thread. The process actually compacts the outside fibers toward the center of the yarn as it is spun. This is accomplished by using a condensing zone to collect and condense the fibers. The result is a yarn that is considerably stronger and smoother.

There are several advantages to using compact yarns:

• Improved uniformity – less imperfections and higher evenness.
• Lower “hairiness” – finer and smoother yarn.
• Greater strength and elongation – smaller diameter and better tensile properties.
• Enhanced dyeing – more brilliant and uniform color.
• Better pilling behaviors – reduced stray fibers and increased abrasion resistance.

A sateen weave (as compared to a percale weave) has a higher tendency to “pill” and, for that reason, it is recommended that only compact yarns be used when weaving a high quality cotton sateen sheet. Compact yarns are more expensive, so few vendors choose to use them. SFERRA uses only the very finest compact Egyptian cotton yarns in the production of its luxury Italian-woven bedding products.  It’s part of the “secret sauce” that makes a SFERRA product, well, a SFERRA product.  View SFERRA products here

Soft cotton matelasse coverlets and shams - Peacock Alley Othello

We love Peacock Alley's Othello matelasse coverlets and shams.  Available in White, Linen and Driftwood Brown, these 100% Egyptian cotton coverlets are woven in Portugal and create a soft, washable foundation for your beautiful bed.

Peacock Alley Othello coverlets and shams

Patterned white and blue duvet cover and shams - Matouk Mirasol

This beautiful blue and white bedding features Matouk Mirasol duvet cover and shams in Pacific Blue and White.  Woven in Italy of 100% Egyptian cotton percale percale and then accented with a striking colored pattern of Matouk Nocturne sateen cotton, the Mirasol collection will create a bold statement.  Available in 6 colors and as duvet covers, bed shams, sheets, pillowcases and shower curtains.

Matouk Mirasol in Pacific Blue

Soft, washable cotton matelasse bedding with pattern - Matouk Pearl

Matouk's Pearl is a soft, washable matelasse with a beautiful textured pattern.  Woven in Italy of 100% Egyptian cotton and crafted into coverlets, bed shams, shower curtains and bed skirts in the USA, Matouk Pearl creates a beautiful foundation for your bed.  Available in 9 colors.

Matouk Pearl in Pacific

Turquoise Blue and Tangerine Orange Floral Bedding Sets

This beautiful new floral bedding set from Barclay Butera will add a wonderful splash of color to your bedroom.  Featuring a primarily turquoise blue and tangerine orange floral pattern, the main portion of the bedding also had hints of blue, gold and teal creating a stunning effect.  Available in complete bedding sets or as individual duvet covers, comforters, shams an pillows.

Barclay Butera Provence Bedding Collection

Colorful Striped Bedding with Southwest Flair - Pine Cone Hill Whitney

Colorfully striped duvet cover and shams in a blend of colors including gold, brown, blue, red, rust, the Pine Cone Hill Whitney duvet covers, shams and bolster pillows will add that rustic or southwestern feel to your home or cabin.  Made of durable 100% yarn dyed cotton.

Romantic Blue & White Linen Bedding

Beautiful in White and Blue, this simple and romantic linen bedding is from Pine Cone Hill.  The ruffled bedspread and shams is made of white linen, while the light blue duvet cover and pillow are also made of 100% linen.  A simple and elegant way to dress your bed.

Striped Grey Linen Duvet Cover by Pine Cone Hill

Fresh from Pine Cone Hill, the Painted Stripes Linen duvet cover and shams is a contemporary striped linen bedding in tones of grey and ivory.  A beautiful neutral striped bedding option for a man or woman.

Soft, durable cotton terry towels - Sferra Bello

It is such a treat to use a high quality bath towel, and we have really been impressed with the Sferra Bello towels we have been using recently.  The Sferra Bello towels are made in Belgium using state-of-the-art dyeing technology which helps preserve color by using dyes with maximum resistance to light, weather and washing so the towels look great for years to come.  In our experience with these bath towels we have found them to wash really well and continue to stay soft even in the harder water in our area, a feature that not a lot of luxury towels we have used can claim.  The Sferra Bello towels are also very absorbent and also feature dobby stabilization that minimizes curling after washing.

Sferra Bello towels are available as Washcloths, Hand Towels, Bath Towels and Bath Sheets in a large selection of colors, including Almond, Aqua blue, Aubergine, Avocado green, Black, Blue, Brown, Butter yellow, Canary yellow, Celadon green, Copper, Forest green, Grey, Ice blue, Iron grey, Ivory, Leaf green, Midnight blue, Navy blue, Pink, Poppy red, Sand, Silver Sage, Sky blue, Stone brown, Tangerine orange, Teal blue, White, Willow green, Wisteria purple and Yellow.

If you are in the market for a really nice high quality luxury bath towel that holds color and is very soft and built to stay that way we think you owe it to yourself to try the Sferra Bello towels for yourself.

Sferra Bello Luxury Bath Towels

Grey Area Rugs from Dash and Albert

Grey color rugs provide a wonderful neutral and modern look to your room.  Whether you call it slate, platinum, ash or smoke grey, we just call it shades of wonderful.  Dash & Albert makes a variety of patterns of grey area rugs, from striped to ikat pattern.  Cotton area rugs, indoor outdoor rugs, or wool rugs are all creative options to make your home a standout.  Dash & Albert rugs are available in a variety of sizes depending on style, including 2x3', 3x5', 4x6', 5x8', 8x10', 10x14', and 2.5x8'

Dash and Albert Grey Area Rugs

Difference Between Knitting & Weaving

Q: What is the difference between knitting and weaving?

A: Knitting is a method of fabric production using threads or yarns and consists of consecutive rows of loops, called stitches. With each new row, a new loop is pulled through an existing loop. A needle holds the existing loop in place until the new loop can be passed through. Using different types of yarns and needles results in a wide array of knitted fabric styles in various colors, textures, and weights.

Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two separate and distinct sets of threads or yarns are interlaced at right angles. The vertical threads running the length of the fabric are called the warp and the horizontal threads are called the weft. While the warp threads are held taut and parallel to each other, the weft threads are passed through, either over or under, the warp threads. Woven cloth can be plain or contain intricate, decorative designs.

A typical example of weaving is SFERRA’s Celine throw, shown here in the new colors for Spring 2013 but available in 17 colors overall

An example of knitting is seen in SFERRA’s Orazio throw:

About Polka Dots - SFERRA Bolero Polka Dot Napkins, Placemats and Table Runners

Q: Where does polka dot get its name?

A: A polka dot pattern consists of an array of filled circles, generally sized equally and spaced relatively close together. Polka dots come in a wide variety of color combinations and sizes. The pattern is definitely less formal and is usually intended to be more playful in nature.

Polka dots first became common on clothing in the late 1900s in the United Kingdom. Even though, polka dots are not closely related, it is thought that the pattern is named for the polka, a Central European dance that was all the rage at the time. Many other products and fashions of that era also adopted the polka name. But only the polka dot pattern remained popular, and the name has been left intact over the years.

Below is an image of SFERRA’s Bolero table linens (inspired by English artist, Damien Hirst), which feature polka dots in two color combinations – Spring Garden primary and Sea Glass pastel. Bolero is available in cocktail napkins, dinner napkins, placemats and runners, and it coordinates perfectly with SFERRA’s Festival, Filetto, Ascot, and Piccadilly table linens:

Article courtesy of Sferra

Sferra Bolero

Contemporary Graphic Print Duvet Cover - Sferra Barrington

Contemporary and clean in navy blue or chartreuse green, Sferra Barrington is a great new graphic pattern in duvet covers and bed shams.  With percale fabric woven in Italy of 100% Egyptian cotton, then printed by  expert Italian craftsmen, this collection will be sure to please.  Mix and match with other Sferra products, including Sferra Grande Hotel and Sferra Orlo.

Sferra Barrington in Navy Blue

Sferra Barrington Shams in Navy Blue and Chartreuse Green

Bedding and Towels Monogramming Formats - Sferra Bedding

This article about proper formats for monogramming is from SFERRA, creators of fine luxury bedding and sheets:

Q: What is the proper format for a monogram?

A: A monogram is an ornate design formed by the combination of letters, usually the initials of an individual or couple, used to decorate or identify an object. Many of SFERRA’s customers opt to monogram their bed, bath, and table linens, as well as throws and other gift items.

A traditional three-letter monogram for an individual has the initial of the individual's surname (or last name) set larger in the center, with the individual’s first name initial to the left of it and the middle name initial the right of it. For example, the monogram for John Paul Smith would read:

JSP

Modern convention calls for a married couple to create a three-letter monogram using the initial of their shared surname set larger in the center, with the wife’s first name initial to the left of it and the husband’s first name initial the right of it. For example, if Mary Brown married John Smith, their monogram would read:

MSJ

Some references say that for married couples, the husband's first name initial comes first. It is really a matter of personal preference, so the easiest thing to do is to leave it up to the customer. 

Old school custom, as espoused by Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Book of Etiquette, would have the linens “marked with the married initials of the mistress of the house.” This three-letter monogram has the initial of the woman's married surname set larger in the center, with her first name initial to the left of it and her maiden name initial to the right of it. For example, if Mary Brown married John Smith, their monogram would read:

MSB

There is an option to have all the initials the same size (the center initial is not larger.) These monograms do not follow the format described above for location of the surname initial.  If all initials are the same size, then they are simply listed in order with the surname initial placed at the end. For example, John Paul Smith would read “JPS,” and Mary and John Smith would read “MJS.”

SFERRA offers custom monogramming utilizing a variety of styles. Below are some examples.

Grass Green and White Damask Print Bedding & Sheets

This lovely green and white bedding is available as duvet covers, bed shams and sheets and is created on 100% Egyptian cotton percale fabric from Italy and crafted as a finished product in the USA.  A creative and delightful way to add a splash of color to your bedroom.

de Medici Green & White Bedding

Saffron Yellow and White Damask Print Bedding & Sheets

Woven in Italy of 100% Egyptian cotton and available as duvet covers, pillowcases, bed shams and sheets, this bold saffron yellow bedding collection will brighten up your bed. Machine washable.

Saffron Yellow Bedding & Sheets

Yellow Damask Print Fabric

Colorful Cotton Matelasse Bedding in Coral, Aqua, Gold, Green or White

This beautiful 100% cotton matelasse bedding is woven in Portugal and is available as coverlets, bed skirts, shams and accent pillows in the colors of Aqua Blue, Coral, Grass Green, Sunshine Gold and White.

de Medici Mea Cotton Matelasse Bedding

Beautiful Blue & White Damask Print Bedding & Sheets

This wonderful blue damask bedding is printed on 100% Egyptian cotton white percale sheeting fabric from Italy.  Available as duvet covers, shams, decorative pillows and white sheets with colored trim, this wonderful damask pattern will liven up your home with pattern and color. More info

De Medici Blue Damask Bedding & Sheets

Blue Damask Fabric

Beautiful Brown, Navy Blue and White Damask Print Sheets & Bedding

Woven it Italy of 100% Egyptian cotton percale and then printed with a beautiful damask print in navy blue, topaz brown and light blue, this bedding collection consists of coordinating duvet covers, shams, sheets and pillowcases.  De Medici Brigatta.

De Medici Brigatta Bedding

Match Pewter - Handmade Italian Pewter for the Home

Match Pewter creates a variety of beautiful pewter accessories for the home.  From pewter dishes and pewter silverware to pewter & crystal glasses for all occasions, Match Pewter has elegant and functional hand crafted products for all rooms in the home.  Match Pewter is crafted in Italy by groups of artisans in the north of Italy.  Each pewter dish, vase, item of silverware, etc is stamped with the hallmark of the pewter smith family who created the piece.

Pewter has been used for many centuries (since about 3000 bc) to create wonderful and timeless tools of beauty and functionality.  High quality pewter is durable and easy to clean, and is a much less expensive alternative to silver and also much easier to care for.  Match Pewter is created with a lead-free alloy of tin, copper and antimony that is FDA approved and food safe, so you don't need to worry about toxic chemicals leaking into your food.  To truly be called pewter, the alloy must contain at least 92% tin.  Match Italian Pewter contains 95% of the highest quality tin, therefore they are stamped with "95" in each Match Italian Pewter creation.

Match Pewter Pump Dispenser

Match Pewter Vase

Match Pewter & Crystal Wine Glass