Yahoo News Beautiful linen for a cosy home
I have a thing for tablecloths and napkins: floaty, flowery, tie-dye or vintage. There is a cupboard in my (notably small) kitchen that groans with linen, and every time I wrestle another fold of cloth in there, I vow to stop. But I just can’t. There is something about creating a tablescape that I find addictive. Like dressing a stage before the play begins, it creates a wonderful feeling of anticipation, and once the napkins are on and the cutlery has been counted, there is a real sense of joy and achievement. The scene is set and the table is ready for the magic to begin.
Here, I’ve shared some of my favourite places to pick up table linens to create your own ideal dinner-party setting…
The Linen Works: my go-to for classic linen, this is a very good starting-point if you want to invest in beautiful and long-lasting tablecloths and napkins. The brand has recently started selling wonderful reusable bowl covers, too.
Dille & Kamille: whenever I visit my family in Amsterdam, this is one of the first places I visit, for its range of colourful tablecloths and napkins, which are moderately priced and wash well. The brand ships its products internationally and also makes lovely kitchenware – I have a weakness for its aprons and coloured candles.
The Summer House Collection: this brand makes fabulously vibrant linens and pretty embroidered napkins. I have the Ophelia tablecloth in pink and it brings such joy to the table.
Monique Lucas: Monique’s marine-themed collection of linens, inspired by coastal walks on the Isle of Wight, hold a soft spot for me (a Norfolk girl myself, I can’t resist a lobster print). Her napkins in particular make great gifts.
Bertioli by Thyme: designed by Caryn Hibbert, the founder of the Cotswolds-based lifestyle brand Thyme these elegant pieces are made from sustainably sourced French linen, before being digitally printed with Hibbert’s hand-painted ‘patterns of nature’. They are relatively costly but, as works of art in their own right, they’re worth the investment.
Now What Napkins: set up during the Covid-19 lockdown as a welcome distraction throughout 13 weeks of shielding (the founder, Pippa, had a double lung transplant in 2017), this brand makes gorgeous tie-dye napkins. Best of all, 10 per cent of every sale is donated to the charity Mind.
Enrich & Endure: the brother-and-sister duo Sarah and Lorcan Quinn set up this company seven years ago with a vision of reviving their local Irish linen industry. Their designs are flawless, featuring napkins, tea towels and aprons all in a unique palette.
Once Milano: I discovered this brand on a brief work trip to Milan from which I returned with a suitcase bursting with dusty pink and inky blue linen napkins. Once Milano (which also ships to the UK) uses 100 per cent Italian linen for its remarkably soft yet sturdy designs. I have washed these napkins at least 50 times and they are still as beautiful as they day I bought them.
Sophie Conran: I have been a fan of Sophie Conran’s graceful crockery designs for years and but only recently discovered her table linens. You can find a mix of simple and more eclectic designs, but I love her scallop-edged napkins.
Summerill and Bishop: Known for quality and style, Summerill and Bishop creates some of the finest tablecloths on the market, all in limited collections, and has previously collaborated with Skye Gyngell, Shrimps and Carolina Bucci.
Alternatively, I’ve had great success sourcing beautiful linens at antique warehouses, second-hand shops and markets. Ardingly Market is super for Dutch and French linens, and you can find some stunning vintage lacework in the antique shops of Petworth. Another one of my favourites is East London’s Woolcrest Textiles, a true Aladdin’s cave that sells superb fabric by the metre, some hemmed and others left with their natural fray – ideal for a relaxed dinner with friends.
