Confession time: absolutely none of my bedding matches. My linen closet houses a mish-mash of sample sale finds, one-off designs by yours truly that never made it to production, or pieces where I couldn’t find the full set. I like to think that it’s all part of some well considered master plan, but really it’s all about comfort and juxtaposition. I tend to pair one-color printed sheets with a quirky statement pillowcase and then layer on ethnic-inspired printed quilts, ever-so-soft matelasses, and a home-made crocheted throw. It’s … eclectic.
Lately, romantic and text-heavy pillowcases have been tugging at my heartstrings. Simple, yet funny, a statement sham gives your bed a sense of humor and might just send you off to sleep with a smile on your face! These two from Elsie Green are the perfect blend of 350-threadcount organic cotton and lovey-dovey sentiment for my inner romantic spirit.
Xenotees initially captured my attention with their cat shams, but these suggestive pillowcases might be just want you need to spice things up.
Of course, leave it to Urban Outfitters to take pillowcases to a bold, typographic place. These are especially lovely as an inspirational—and aspirational—statement. I imagine waking up to these sentiments would lead to the most productive day of my life!
Lastly, Salvation Jane’s sentimental and romantic sham pair will have you engaging in some pillow talk in no time.
I think it’s safe to admit that the norm is for guests to peek in the hostess’ medicine cabinet. However, what catches my nosy eye are the towels. Maybe it’s the textile designer in me, but I tend to judge a home by its towels. Step aside looped terry cloth towels with corny sayings, there’s a more sophisticated option in town: woven hand towels. Often found in a neutral color palette, woven hand towels absorb water, dry quickly, and feel soft on the skin. The Turkish towels from Coyuchi are among my favorites. Woven using the traditional khadi methods, these organic cotton towels are slightly textural, lightweight, and oh-so soft.
If airy, preppy stripes are more your speed, these hand towels from West Elm are a bold alternative. Just a bit summery, wide stripes offer the perfect canvas for monogramming. After all, it is your house!
Lastly, if you’re more of a traditionalist, these Turkish towels from Harabu House are made using traditional weaving techniques and boiled in olive oil soap. Edged in the most darling hand-knotted fringe, they make for a versatile and sumptuous addition to any bathroom.
Prone to simple silhouettes and clean lines in my home, I often have a tough time mixing in print and color. Kitchen textiles seem like a good place to experiment—perhaps because they can serve both aesthetic and practical purposes. I absolutely love the casualness of these screen-printed textiles from Hong Kong-based Ferse Verse, especially how easily the different patterns can be paired together. I’m not normally one to mix and match, but I could see myself setting the table with the five napkins above!
Made of 100 percent cotton feed sack, I love the thick weave of the fabric. I bet these tea towels feel heavenly, but are also very absorbent—perfect for all of my cooking mishaps.
And how darling is this half-apron? Not only is it useful, it is in one of my all-time favorite color combinations of pink and red!
{Images via Ferse Verse}
To say I love Rebecca Atwood’s new pillow collection is an understatement. Ever since we showcased her sketchbooks, I’ve been waiting for her shop to open. Rebecca launched last week with the Blauvelt Collection which is inspired by her heritage and personal history. Full of casual yet sophisticated fabrics—such as chambray, linen, and canvas—this collection mixes Rebecca’s love of geometrics with one-of-a-kind traditional Japanese shibori.
Excuse me while I wax poetic, but her color palette is equally exquisite. Blues range from soft, whispery shades to bold, saturated cobalts. Butterscotch is the perfect punch of mid-century modernity, while deep charcoal and pale grey provide a neutral moment. Each pillow is unique, but also casual enough to live with every day.
Rebecca’s signature exposed brass zipper is one of my favorite details. It’s that perfect wink that takes these pillows to an incredibly sophisticated level.
This Grid Shibori pillow is an example of Rebecca’s modified Japanese shibori technique. The cotton canvas fabric is folded into triangles, bound with string, and then dyed, thus creating this incredible and gridded pattern. This process makes for a wide variation in pattern and color saturation, meaning that each pillow is unique.
Cotton canvas, linen, and chambray are pieced together to create the front of the Cold Storage Patchwork pillow.
Each of Rebecca’s pillows are reversible. This is the back of the Cold Storage Patchwork pillow, which uses a mix of shibori dyed canvas and chambray.
I saved the best for last—the Spots pillow is my personal favorite! This limited-edition pillow is screenprinted cotton canvas that incorporates Rebecca’s sweet, yet modern speckled spots print. While I absolutely adore the printed front of this pillow, what really excites me is the incredible shade of ochre on the reverse. For me, this pillow truly encapsulates what I love most about Rebecca’s work: a quiet sophistication, a strong respect for her craft, and the perfect balance of detail.
{All images via Rebecca Atwood}
I was a picky eater as a kid. I remember one time my mom wouldn’t let me leave the table until I had eaten my entire grilled cheese sandwich and I was being such a brat because she didn’t use my preferred type of cheese. I thought the best thing to do was to hide the un-eaten bits in my napkin, declare myself finished, and flee the table. Little did I know that an inquisitive cat would reveal my secret. These napkins from Printing Grounds all too vividly remind me of that story and the resulting grounding I faced.
Printed on soft cotton, each napkin is a not-so-subtle reminder of who’s in charge and to eat your vegetables. Feeling especially bossy? You can also purchase a mixed set of sayings.
{Images via Printing Grounds}
