Cuddledown has a new bedding introduction: Villa d' Este a beautiful print inspired by Tivoli, Italy's famous Villa d' Este estate. You can learn more about the villa in Italy here.



The print is on a 350 thread count Italian (of course!) percale.  The rich red is on an ivory ground.  It is available in flat sheets, fitted sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers and pillow shams.  Prices range from $49 to $249.

I love prints like this!  They look best in rooms that are pretty plain however (think white or off-white walls and dark woods perhaps), rooms without too much other visual "noise" going on, or else it could look gaudy.  These sheets are a statement on their own, so you want to maximize the elegant look by making them the focal point of the room.

I was so excited when I was browsing through the Restoration Hardware catalog and ran across their new Italian 50-Year-Wash Vintage Bedding.  They should call it "vintage-style" really, because they're not old... But anyway the reason I was so excited is that when I was little, I had a set of old sheets that I used on my twin bed that had come from one of my grandmothers.  They were percale and so soft and perfect.  I adored those sheets!

These are "reproduced to feel as if it's been lovingly washed for 50 years" and hand-tailored by Italian artisans. They are stone-washed and naturally distressed and will become softer and more inviting with time.

They are available in both sheets and duvet covers/shams.  A queen sheet set is $219. A full/queen duvet cover is also $219 and sham are sold open stock, for example, a euro sham is $79.  They are available in dune, ivory, mist, shore and white.

I don't know about you, but I love bamboo!  I love the look of the wood and I love it as a fabric (aka "rayon from bamboo"), so wouldn't it be fun to have an all bamboo bed?

Here's a platform bed from Crate & Barrel that's made with solid bamboo, 'Bento Bed', $1599 for a queen.

Company Store has some great bamboo/cotton sheets.  They are 300 thread count and sold open stock.  A queen set adds up to $127.

This blanket is 100% bamboo, Bamboo Dreams Woven Blanket, a queen is $175.

I've always been a sucker for Chinoiserie and Japonisme... so I was pleased to see this new pattern at Williams Sonoma Home: Watercolor Pagoda Duvet Covers & Shams.  It's a beautiful print in neutral tones on a 55% linen, 45% cotton blend fabric.

Echelon Home has a new print called "Interlock".  I love that it looks modern and clean, but is not too weird or garishly colored like some modern prints can be.  And, the super low prices are pretty compelling too!  A full/queen duvet cover set that includes pillow shams is just $79.  The print is done on 300 thread count Egyptian cotton sateen.

Echelon Interlock Egyptian Cotton Duvet Cover Set, in navy.

Dwell Studio has long been a favorite of mine.  They make some great prints and do quality detailing like adding linen trim...  So great news - they're having a sample sale!



If you're not in NYC, you can shop on their website.  It's not clear what will be included in the sample sale, but hopefully they'll have a few of their current line items like this really unique peacock print.  Normally, a full/queen duvet set is a rather pricey $280, so hopefully it will be on sale!

It can be a dilemma in the Summer to decide what to cover your bed with; with the heat, you really don't want anything heavy at all - but just having sheets leaves your bed looking kind of naked!  So here's a good option in one of my favorite materials - - Linen!

Bella Notte Quilted Linen Coverlet, $427 for full/queen size.  Yes, it is pricey but linen lasts forever, and it is linen on both the front and back sides, and it's made in the USA.

Lots of people like to sleep on percale sheets during the Summer because of their crisp feeling, which also makes you feel more cool (there is no fuzziness on the sheets).

Garnet Hill has a great option: Signature Hemstitch Percale.  It's 250 thread count and made with Egyptian cotton.  It's available in nine colors and you can even have it monogrammed.


It's sold open stock: pillowcases $38 - $42, flat sheets $25 - $65 and fitted sheets $19 - $65.

Here is what a few reviewers from Garnet Hill have to say about it:

"These sheets do indeed remind me of sheets of my childhood. I love the crispness. They wash beautifully, going from dryer to bed with little to no wrinkles. Easily fit our 18" mattress. I will definitely be buying another set. The hard part will be selecting the color - the all look so beautiful."

"Love percale and this is crisp and pleasing. The finish could be a bit softer on the skin, but overall as good as I've been able to find (now that everyone makes those soft floppy sateen-finish linens!)"

"I read where others, mostly younger folks, rated these sheets poorly. Mostly because they weren't "soft enough", etc..... Obviously these "kids" don't know what crisp sheets are. The Percale Sheets are NOT supposed to be soft cotton. THAT'S THE POINT! They are supposed to be CRISP and firm, just like the sheets were when I was a kid. I have been married for 24 years and my wife and I have searched our entire marriage looking for the old fashioned CRISP sheets and finally found them! These are the BEST! "

The bad reviews generally say that they're not soft enough... which make sense because percale is not for the "soft" customer!

About this time of year I like to dream about setting up my (non-existent) Summer house in the Hamptons. I'd have it beachy casual but well done... slipcovers in linen, Hermes beach towels, pale woods...

For bedding, I'd defintely have this beautiful Pottery Barn watercolor shell print in one of the rooms.

Seashore Organic Cotton Duvet Cover and Shams (open stock $39 - $169)


I actually like duvet covers in the Summer because you don't have to put a duvet inside! I use them without and it makes a nice, light coverlet.

Look at the detail:

The pattern was created by an in-house artist at Pottery Barn.

So, I just need to keep working on getting Summer house... maybe next year! 

Mohair is normally a very expensive fiber.  It is a silk-like fiber from the Angora goat. It is durable, warm, light and has very high luster and sheen.

Right now Linenplace has a crazy deal - mohair blankets, all sizes $99.  Yes, that is blanket, not throw, so this is really a very good deal.  The twin blanket is normally $228, queen $288 and king $348.  It comes in a nice palette of color options: champagne (similiar to ivory), blue, tea rose or flax (pictured below).


Here is the link for more information.