Thursday, December 15, 2022

When To Replace Your Bedding, Towels, and Other Household Linens

With the advent of the new year, many people take a look at their old sheets and towels and decide it's time for a refresh. If you're on the fence, you might be wondering how often you should be replacing your bedding, towels, and other household linens. Here's our guide for when to make the switch:



How Often To Replace Bed Sheets 

You sleep on your sheets every night and wash them regularly, so they get a lot of wear and tear over the years. You also really do get what you pay for - quality sheets last longer than less expensive sheets from big box stores. That's because the quality of the cotton or linen and the construction of the yarn tends to be better and more durable in the nicer bedding. 

Your everyday bedding made from quality cotton should be able to last you about three or four years if you take care of it correctly. 

Our Celeste percale sheets from Sferra are made from the world's finest Italian yarn.



Linen sheets last the longest at three to five years per set. 

Pine Cone Hill's Linen sheets are made from 100% Belgian Flax Linen. 



Of course, seasonal bedding that you switch out for summer, fall, or the holidays will last longer because you don't use it every day of the year. 

How to Care for Bed Sheets

  • Wash them regularly (at least once every two weeks - more if you have pets or it's hot outside) in warm water with mild detergent. 
  • Avoid fabric softeners - they coat the fibers and can affect the hand (the feel) of the fabric. 
  • Store in a cool, dry place like a linen closet. Don't store them in an open shelf in a sunny laundry room - too much sunlight can affect the fibers over time. 

How Often to Replace Pillows

Pillows capture the grossest stuff when we sleep - dead skin cells, sweat, etc. They also flatten out and lose "fluff" over time. You should replace your pillows about every 2 years, or when they start to feel no longer comfortable. 

These luxurious Pine Cone Hill pillows should last you for years. 


How to Care for Pillows

How Often to Replace Duvet Inserts and Comforters 

Duvet inserts are a big investment, so most people want to hang onto them as long as possible. The good news is that duvet inserts last for a long time - quality ones can last for 10-15 years or more! 

Our Pine Cone Hill Savasanna Duvet Insert is a high quality one that will last for many years. 



Comforters have less staying power than duvet inserts, since they have no protective covering on them. Replace your comforter when the color starts to fade or when filling starts to leak out. 

How to Care for Duvet Inserts and Comforters

  • Always use a duvet cover over your duvet insert - not only does it add some color to your home, but it protects the insert.
  • Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to wash your duvet insert or comforter. 

    How Often to Replace Bathroom Towels

    Bathroom towels tend to last about 2-3 years, longer if you've chosen ones with strong fibers and quality construction. Replace yours when they start to look ratty or worn. 

    Our Peacock Alley towel set is extra plush and made by Turkish artisans. 


    How to Care for Bathroom Towels

    • Wash your towels every 2-4 uses, and make sure to hang damp ones on a towel bar to avoid mildew.
    • Don't use fabric softener on your towels - it affects the absorption power. 
    • Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to wash your towels. 
    Our Pine Cone Hill white towels are a classic favorite. 


      How Often to Replace Bath Mats

      You should replace your bath mat whenever it starts to look worn. High-quality bath mats can last 5-7 years or longer. 

      How to Care for Bath Mats

      • Wash your bath mats every week or two. Hang them over the edge of your tub or on your shower handle bar to avoid them sitting around damp. 
      • Don't use fabric softener on your bath mats - it affects the absorption power. 
      • Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to wash your towels. 

        Thursday, November 24, 2022

        2022 Christmas Wish List: Best Coastal Gifts for the Holidays

         

        Looking for the best coastal gifts for the 2022 Holiday Season? You don't have to live at the beach to love a beautiful coastal-inspired gift - you can get these great finds for anyone. 



        CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Sferra Festa Pillows | Blue Pheasant Quinn Glassware | Sea Salt Hand Creme | The Sea Goddess Body Mist | Mangiacotti Ocean Hand Wash | Old Whaling Co Body Butter | Bateau Stripe Bitsy Bag | Sailing Tote



        Thursday, November 10, 2022

        4 Easy Ways to Spruce Up Your Guest Room for the Holidays

         The holiday season is upon us, and family and friends will be visiting. A good host always wants their guests to feel comfortable and at home - here are four easy ways to spruce up your guest room for the holidays.



        What to buy for a guest room

        If you're setting up your guest room for the first time, you'll want to have the items in your space for guests. These essentials can be used in any guest room, whether it has its own dedicated space or if you're setting up your spare office with a roll-away bed. 
        Shop the Pine Cone Hill Bauble Chenille throw here


        • A sign with the wifi code on it so they can easily log in 
        • A fresh set of towels - these waffle towels are great for guest rooms. 
        Shop the Pine Cone Hill Wonderful Waffle towel here


        • A basket with water bottles and snacks in it adds a special touch. 
        • A wastebasket in the bathroom or bedroom so they can throw away their snack wrappers. 
        • If you're setting up a mixed-use room as a guest bedroom (think office, basement), opt for the nicer inflatable mattresses on the stands so your guests don't have to sleep on the floor. 
        • Add fresh flowers or a pretty plant for your guests to enjoy. 

        How to decorate a guest bedroom for Christmas

        We love decorating for Christmas, and that also means the guest bedroom! You can go as holiday-crazy as you want, but these are four easy ways to decorate your guest room for the holidays.
        • Add a festive throw pillow, like our embroidered Pine Boughs pillow. This is the quickest, easiest way to spruce up your guest room for the holidays!
        Shop the Pine Cone Hill Pine Boughs pillow here 


        • Add a tartan quilt like our Aberdeen Quilt. You can fold it at the foot of the bed on top of a white duvet if you're a minimalist, or cover the whole bed in it if you want a cabin cozy look. 
        Shop the Taylor Linens Aberdeen Quilt here 


        • Put some festive soap in the guest bathroom. This is another super easy, quick, and cost effective way to decorate for the holidays. 
        • Add a Christmas-y throw to the foot of the bed or on an armchair. Your guests may get chilly and might enjoy cozying up. 

        How to go "extra" in your guest room over the holidays

        If you really want to be the hostess with the mostest, you can go as luxurious as you want in your guest room this holiday season.

        • Add garland on the door and window casings, a wreath on the door, and (electric) candles in the windows to make your guests feel super festive. 


        Sunday, October 30, 2022

        What's Your Christmas Decorating Style? An Interior Designer's Guide to Holiday Decorating for Every Style of Home

        How do you decorate for the holidays if red and green isn't your thing? Here's our guide to holiday decorating for every style of home


        How to Decorate in a Classic Christmas Style 


        Traditional Christmas decorating is all about reds, greens, and whites with classic motifs. We love to do themed holiday bedding, like the Pine Cone Hill Vintage Pine Boughs bedding collection. Add a velvet throw pillow like the Pine Cone Hill Gehry pillows

        For dining rooms, we like classic table linens with a festive twist. Mix in some holiday inspired tableware like the Medici Festivo line

        And of course, Seda France's Holiday Toile makes the perfect hostess gift or favor. 

        How to Decorate in a Winter White Christmas Style 


        Winter white is one of the easiest Christmas decor styles to transition into, especially if your home has a cottage or modern farmhouse style. Start with white blankets that work year-round, like our ultra-cozy Bamboni blankets. Top your bed with all-white bedding like Sferra's Pettine bedding, and layer in a velvet coverlet for winter like the Pine Cone Hill Parisienne

        Your white tableware fits right in - add plenty of pretty floral arrangements for a holiday touch. Paperwhites mixed with evergreen and natural garland is a perfect look. 




        To add holiday elements, try our velvet coasters or velvet stockings

        How to Decorate in a Bright, Modern Christmas Style 

        If you like more color in your holiday home, don't be afraid to mix things up! The easiest way to incorporate color into your holiday decor is by starting with pillows and throws. The Designers Guild Tasara throw is more traditional. The Isabel Multi Throw is a super gorgeous, colorful way to brighten up your home for the holidays. 

        For your holiday table, we love the Vietri Mistletoe Serving Bowl paired with our Aaron glassware

        Shop our entire line of holiday decor here! 












        Friday, October 28, 2022

        2022 Christmas Wish List: Best Self Care Gifts for 2022

         

        Best Luxury Self Care Gifts for 2022

        One of this year's biggest gift trends is self care gifts - for you or for your loved one. 

        What are Self Care Gifts? 

        Self Care gifts are little luxuries - soft robes, beautiful lotions, and spa-like essentials that help you take a moment to relax. You can check out our Gifts of Self Care curated gift guide here. 


        CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: whispering willow lavender body oil | lavender eye pillow | Mangiacotti lemon lotion | hudson made morning shift body wash | hydra bloom lavender relax bath salt | spongelle body sponge | love flutter body butter | pine cone hill sheepy fleece robes

        How to Practice Self Care During the Holiday Season

        The holidays are a fun but busy and stressful time. Here are some ways to practice self care during the holiday season. 

        1. Set boundaries with your time - when the holidays feel like a marathon of nonstop work and running around, it's important to remember to enjoy this time, too. Don't feel like you have to say yes to every cookie swap, school holiday fair, or charity event.
        2. Decorate for comfort and joy - try to let holiday decorating be a source of joy and fun, not stress. If doing Clark Griswold-level outdoor lights is stressing you out, skip the big display and focus on something more manageable. 
        3. Give to yourself, too - treat yourself to a special gift or your favorite treat. 

        Top Self Care Gifts for 2022 

        Shop our curated gift guide for the top self care gifts of 2022, like bath salts, lotion, cozy robes, and bath and body essentials. 

        Tuesday, September 27, 2022

        Brands We Love: Designers Guild

        Designers Guild is one of the most-beloved lines we carry in the shop. Founded by Tricia Guild OBE in 1970, this luxury line of fabric, homegoods, and wallpaper is based in London - and you can tell, as their aesthetic is pure upscale British chic. 

         Designers Guild has designed collections in collaboration with the royal household, with Christian LaCroix, with Laduree macarons - basically with all of our favorites. 

        Designers Guild Design Inspiration

        Tricia Guild's version of British style is far from stuffy, but she designs her wares in a way that allows you to incorporate them in to any space. Designers Guild's pillows, wallpapers, and fabrics can feel exuberantly colorful, sophisticated with an edge, or deliciously luxe and sexy depending on how you style the rest of the space.  That's why interior designers like us at Lavender & Company love their products so much. 








        Does Designers Guild make curtains?

        Designers Guild sells fabric that you can have made into made-to-measure curtains for your space. You can also find their luxuriously gorgeous shower curtains for your bathroom.

        Order John Derian Tuberose Flower Fabric Sample here



        Shop the Designers Guild Flower Birch shower curtain here


        Shop the Designers Guild Peonia Grande Shower Curtain here



        Our Favorite Designers Guild Pillows and Throws

        Take it from Tricia Guild herself - throws and pillows are the best way to change up a space. 

        There’s nothing like a new throw and cushions to refresh and recharge your living space. I love to have different sets of accessories that I change regularly. Some I have had for ages, while others are new and it’s exciting to mix them up for a different feeling. - Tricia Guild 

         

        Shop the Porcelain De Chine Designers Guild Pillow here 



        Shop the Designers Guild Mirrored Butterflies Throw Here



        Shop the Designers Guild Widdale Brick Throw here


        Our Favorite Designers Guild Wallpaper

        Designers Guild wallpaper is bold, colorful, and stylish. We love it above the wainscotting in a dining room, on the walls of a beautiful library/sitting room, or covering a tiny jewel box powder room. 

        Shop the Designers Guild Porcelaine de Chine wallpaper here 


        Shop the Designers Guild Amrapali Peony wallpaper here


        Where to Buy Designers Guild Fabric

        Designers Guild fabric is sold to the trade only, meaning only interior designers, architects, and people in the industry can purchase it directly - if you're not, you'll have to buy it through them. 

        You can get in touch with Lavender & Company for interior design services or to purchase your favorite yardage of Designers Guild fabric. 



        Our Favorite Designers Guild Bedding


        Designers Guild makes the most beautiful, luxurious bedding we've ever seen. To layer your bed in these beautiful silks and soft cottons is to truly sleep like a queen. As designers, we love how versatile the collections are to play around with and mix-and-match. 

        Shop Designers Guild Pahari Cameo






        Shop Designers Guild Chenevard Blossom


        Shop Designers Guild Astor Shams