LAVISH
LINENS AND BEDDING
Jan Kepler
Photos by Chris Leschinsky
January/February 2007
The
dramatic Jan Barboglio iron bed
is ideal for a spicy combination
of shimmering Foglio d’Oro
citrine sheets and curry Giova
duvet topped with the rich paprika
Tibet matelasse coverlet and
citrine wool throw. Amazon green
and walnut taffeta shot shams
and throw, Suzeni burn-out velvet
knotted bolster, and silk and
velvet decorative pillows provide
all of the accents to finish
this exotic ensemble.
Luxury bedding has gone from being the province of the very rich to a necessity
among many Americans. After all, we spend a third of our lives happily ensconced
between the sheets, so why not make the experience more soothing and sensual
with the finest and most beautiful textiles available?
From simple, soft, and luminous white Egyptian cotton sateen bedding with a
600 thread count to hand-loomed textiles by Italian artisans who are only able
to complete six or seven intricate inches of fabric per day, the term “fine
linens” encompasses many variations. Whether simple or sumptuous, the
focus is to use fine quality materials and enjoy them for decades.
The Anichini brand, featured here, represents the ultimate in craftsmanship
and opulence in linens for the bed, bath, and table. While the Anichini signature
collection is manufactured by Quagliotti, one of Italy’s premier textile
weavers, some of the Anichini line is manufactured in quaint, converted 19th
and early 20th century farm houses in Tunbridge, Vermont. The founder and CEO,
Susan Dollenmaier, who is as serious about philanthropy, green design, and
social responsibility as she is about creating the finest linens on the market,
is a respected and admired Vermont employer and businesswoman. Her customers
include the very rich and famous, but her line is also broad enough to allow
mere mortals to snuggle under her offerings.
CHEAT
SHEET
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Most
of the fine linens today are made of cotton.
The important characteristics of cotton
are fiber, feel, finish, and thread count.
The finest cottons are made with the longest
fibers – known as staple. The longest
staple is the highest quality fiber, which
is carded and combed to remove short staples,
spun into a fine thread, woven, finished,
and dyed to create luxury bedding.
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While
a high number of threads woven into a square
inch of cloth is one criterion of quality
linens, sometimes the “hand” or
feel of a well-made, 300 thread count sheet
is softer and more comfortable than a stiffer
1,000 thread count sheet. The difference
can be the quality of the yarn, the weave,
or, in some cases, the inflated thread
counts by manufacturers of so-called luxury
linens.
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For
fine sheeting, the most common weaves are
percale and sateen. Percale is crisp and
closely woven with a fine texture and flat
finish. Sateens are smooth and lustrous.
The finishing process, which removes the
treatments used in weaving, enhances the
strength, luster, and sheen of the fabric
and makes it more receptive to dyes.
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Of
course, a well-made bed does not end with
the sheeting. When it comes to the rest
of the bed, the trends are anything from
all-white hotel style to Palace-at-Versailles
opulence.
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TEN TIPS
TO DRESS YOUR BED LUXURIOUSLY
Luxury
does not mean excess;
rather it is fine quality
materials used well.
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1
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Textures
and Finishes:
Combining textures and finishes gives bedding visual interest. Mix a
shimmering satin throw, silky soft Egyptian cotton sateen, and elegant
tapestry coverlet. For the traditional bed, a judicious layering of handmade
French or Italian lace or embroidered sheets, brocade duvet, and silk
shams might be just right. Be wary of creating chaos with too many disproportionate
patterns and colors.
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2
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Proportioned
Pillows:
Scale pillow choices to the size of the bed. You can make the bed sumptuous
without overwhelming it with mountains of pillows.
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3
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Outside
the Box:
Dress the outside of the box spring with a decorative cover if you do
not use a dust skirt. Gathered dust ruffles are being left off altogether
in many bedrooms or replaced by a tailored dust skirt for a light, clean
look.
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4
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Tone
on tone:
Patterned sheets, solid matelasse coverlet, cashmere throw, and assorted
pillows all in the same color gives the room a peaceful, cohesive feeling
that invites a good night’s sleep.
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| 5 |
Pleasing
Palettes :
Palettes of neutrals, greens, or blues will give the room a restful feel.
The spa-white look is still strong, but the real hot looks are high-energy
citrus, turquoise, and fuchsia. Whatever palette you choose, it is always
good to consider the 60-30-10 proportion guideline. Your duvet or coverlet
will be the largest canvas (60 percent), the shams and throws should
take up 30 percent, and the accent pillows fill the final ten percent.
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| 6 |
The
Scoop on Down:
Choose duvet/down comforters with the greatest fill power from the soft,
white undercoating of the goose to create “loft” and better
insulation. Higher thread count Egyptian cotton casings contain the feathers
so they do not poke through. Baffle box construction evenly distributes
the down while allowing it room to “loft.”
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| 7 |
Supersized
sheeting:
Notice that luxury bedding is generously oversized. No more visits to
the chiropractor from forcing that too small fitted sheet over the mattress.
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| 8 |
Common
Scents:
Top off your luxurious creation with a spray of Santa Maria Novella Rose
Water or Orange Blossom Water for a clean, refreshing fragrance. Beware
that using skin care products that can damage fine linens.
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| 9 |
A
New Wrinkle:
Harsh detergents and overdrying create wrinkles and damage fibers. Remove
fine linens when not quite dry. Put sheets on the bed and let them air
dry before adding the rest of the bedding.
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| 10 |
Soften
Up:
Using dryer sheets and fabric softeners when laundering fine bedding
and towels will damage the fabric with a buildup of the softening agents.
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| For
a closer look at the wide variety of Anichini linen
and bedding options, stop by : |
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Fortini
Home Garden Design:
3021 So. Higuera Street
San Luis Obispo
(805) 542-0500
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Other
five-star bedding manufacturers include
three Italian companies – Frette,
Pratesi, and Sferra – the
venerable French textile manufacturer Yves
Delorme, and Bonjour of
Switzerland, which can be found
at these and many more locations.
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Sferra
www.sferralinens.com
Room With A View
2420 Lillie Avenue, Summerland
(805) 565-0515
Lino Bella
1165 East Champlain Drive, Fresno
(559) 433-3401
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Pratesi
www.pratesi.com
Pratesi
Linens Inc. of California
9024 Burton Way, Beverly Hills
(310) 274-7661
Pratesi / Wilkes Bashford
375 Sutter Street, San Francisco
(415) 291-9480
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Frette
www.frette.com
124 Geary Street, San Francisco
(415) 981-9504
459 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
(310) 273-8540
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Yves
Delorme
www.yvesdelorme.com
120 South Hope Avenue, La Cumbre Plaza, Santa Barbara
(805) 682-0894
Ocean & Mission, Carmel
(831) 625-5311
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Bonjour
of Switzerland
www.bonswit.com
Bella
Home Furnishings
2173 Ortega Hill Rd., Summerland
(805) 695-0009
Brinton’s
546 Carmel Rancho Shopping Center, Carmel
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