3 Gorgeous Bedding & Linen Collections for Holiday Gifting

Zicci  Bea is a relatively new entry to the linen and bedding market, but their arrival has been spectacular. Zicci Bea’s Allison luxury bedding collection (pictured above) is an elegant stunner, and even more stunning is that this quality, luxe linen comes with a price tag that won’t break the bank. A queen set (includes duvet cover, two pillow covers, one sham, and a fitted sheet) retails for $249. 

I saw the de Medici’s Leonora bedding collection  while at High Point this Fall, and I was just smitten. The textiles are sumptuous, the design is an ethereal, timeless classic which works in contemporary and traditional settings, and the tailoring reflects a delicate feminine styling. Oh, and did I mention the monogramming-attention to detail-so much to love?  Retailer locations.

Paisley patterned Amethyst Amore Bedspread from Le Attiser. Love that Le Attiser linens are steeped in artisan tradition. Their textiles are printed individually by hand using cut wooden blocks – a tradition hailing from the Thar Desert of Rajasthan in India. The queen size version of this bedspread retails for under $70.

Palladio Bedding Collection by Anichini

The Anichini Palladio bedding collection is a 200 Thread count percale fabric with a very, nice tailored, crisp white with black trim ensemble that coordinates perfectly with modern, minimalist interiors.

Images copyright of respective companies.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: Anichini

70 Park Avenue Hotel New York

{ Series: Inspired by Hotel Design }

Lobby of 70 Park Avenue Hotel is inviting in a relaxed, elegant and understated glamorous fashion.

Intriguing wall sculpture graces the lobby of the 70 Park Avenue Hotel.

Lobby sitting area captures the graceful, sophisticated and glamorous style essence of 70 Park Avenue Hotel.

A stylish chandelier reminiscent of an haute couture confection gives the 70 Park Avenue Hotel a welcoming glow .

Comfortable, chic styled guest room dressed in an elegant combination of freshly, updated 1930s glamor decor with just a touch of contemporary designed furnishings.

Beautiful design symmetry can be noted in the headboard, side tables, lamps and mirrors.

Love, love, love the light turquoise table lamp and the side table/night stand – simply elegant and beautiful evoking an aura of sophisticated, yet effortless, glamour.

The warm neutrals and soft textures of this occasional chair beckons hotel guests to grab a fabulous novel and a delicious cup of coffee and curl up for an enviable evening of reading and relaxing.

A welcome design surprise: Sliding mirrored door replaces the typical hinged door one expects.

DESIGN BACKGROUND: 70 Park Avenue Hotel guest rooms and lobby were designed by renowned interior designer, Jeffrey Bilhuber of Bilhuber & Associates (clients include Anna Wintour, Iman and David Bowie, Mariska Hargitay, and Paul Wilmot).

My accommodations at 70 Park Avenue Hotel were provided courtesy of Brizo.

White Gold Tile Flooring from Trend Aureo Collection

We LOVE Trend tiles and will be featuring several of their breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL tile flooring and walls tiles at The Decorating Diva.com. Trend captures the very essence of luxury living as illustrated in the above image. This gorgeous room located in the17th century Villa alle Scalette (Trend headquarters) in Vicenza, Italy features luxurious floor and wall tiles from Trend’s Aureo Collection.

The Aureo Collection tiles for floor (F) and walls (W) are hand-cut , glass mosaics hand-crafted from delicate 24 karat gold leaf (shown above in white gold).

The glass tile product names are listed below:

• aureo 004/F
• aureo 003/W
• aureo Gray
• Strass Swarovski Cristal

Photo Credits: photos by Trend.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: Trend USA Ltd. (Trend  also has a showroom near the famous Design District in  Miami, Florida)

Lapiz Ceramic Wall Tiles by Artisan Natalie Blake

Natalie Blake is an artistic genius and we fell in love with her incredible, beautiful and moving sculptural ceramic tile artwork displayed at the Ann Sacks booth (for Kohler ) at the recent Kitchen & Bath Industry Show.

We’ve selected a few of our favorites (it was hard to narrow them down – so many beautiful tiles to choose from)  from Natalie’s unique and inspiring ceramic sculptural wall tile collections to feature on The Decorating Diva.com over the next few weeks. We hope you enjoy her creations as much as we do.

Our first pick – Natalie Blake sculptural ceramic wall tile featured above: Lapiz.

Photo courtesy of Natalie Blake Studios.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: Natalie Blake Studios

Tema Home Scatola Armonica Sideboard by Miquel Vieira Baptista

We’re huge fans of Tema Home and are always delighted with each magnificent design piece they bring to market.   The Scatola Armonica sideboard, designed by Miquel Vieira Baptista, was inspired by a musical instrument box.  The beautiful laser-cut designs on the Scatola Armonica sideboard doors are based on the paper fold and cut technique. The Scatola Armonica is part of Tema Home’s Lisbon Collection.

Images copyright of respective companies.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: Tema Home

$1 Million Dollar Diamond Studded LuxTouch Tiles by Pietra Firma

We think even Lady Liz Taylor would be slightly green with envy at the above wall dressed in stunning diamond encrusted wall tiles by Pietra Firma.

LuxTouch wall, flooring and ceiling tiles are hand crafted with each individual black marble tile:

“ …inlaid with 95 brilliant cut diamonds, mother of pearl and abalone. The centre of the tile consists of a pitch-black agate circle inlaid with 19 diamonds and a mother of pearl flower petal pattern radiates outwards from the centre. Each of the petals is a single piece of mother of pearl inlaid with a large precious cut diamond and the black agate pieces between the petals are also inlaid with diamonds. The tile’s four corners are inlaid with mother of pearl and abalone shell, achieving a visually stunning counter balance with the radiating flower petals.

When inlaid, the diamonds sit slightly raised above the tile, which results in the maximum tactile and visual effect. Walking barefoot on a LuxTouch floor can only be described as a truly sensual experience. ”

The $1,000,000 price tag gets you one square meter of the LuxTouch tiles – calculated by number of gems and precious and semi-precious stones:  “over 1000 diamonds, 2400 pieces of mother of pearl, 400 pieces of abalone shell and 500 pieces of black onyx”. Take a look at the Pietra LuxTouch tile details shown in the image below:

At a million dollars per square meter the diamond inlaid tiles aren’t for everyone but Pietra Firma wants to redefine true luxury:

“In the 21st century world of brand extension, inbuilt obsolescence and mass market dilution, the word “luxury” has been diluted and overused. 

TRUE LUXURY is not affordable, democratic, mass market, universal, brand extension or mass produced and machine made.

TRUE LUXURY is highly skilled craftsmanship utilizing rare and precious materials, a complete attention to detail, unique, personal, passionate, indulgent, exquisitely sensual, beautiful and artistic. This unique approach to luxury will satisfy the needs of customers who have a deep appreciation of the true essence of luxury.”

Images copyright of respective companies.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: Pietra Firma

Barcelona Sculptural Ceramic Wall Tile by Natalie Blake Studios

Natalie Blake Studios creates wall art that captivates the imagination and the Barcelona ceramic tile collection proves it.

The Barcelona sculptural ceramic wall tiles are elegant, beautifully textured and are richly colored with awe-inspiring hues of red, orange, blue and green.

Photo courtesy of Natalie Blake Studios.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: Natalie Blake Studios

Luxury Linen Care – Washing Fine Linens and Bedding

When you purchased your luxury linens you made an investment in quality materials. To protect your investment we recommend that you use the following laundering guidelines for washing your fine linens and bedding.

Before You Start
Always wash your luxury linens and bedding separate from all other items of clothing. If there is embroidery or other finery on your linens, place those linens in a lingerie bag, before washing them.

Water Temperature & Detergent
Use cold or warm water in the gentle cycle. Do not use bleach ,even on your white linens. An oxygen cleaner would be appropriate. Bleach will “eat” the fibers of your fine linens and luxury bedding. Bleach also can “burn” yellow stains into your lovely linens.

Drying your Linens & Bedding
Do not use the high setting on your dryer. Use the low and fluff setting. It will take longer to dry but it is the best for your fine linens. Too much heat will dry out the fibers and cause breakage over time. I recommend taking the linens out 5 to 10 minutes before the dry cycle is completed. This helps reduce wrinkles and minimizes the chances of “over drying”.

The Finishing Touches
You may iron your fine linens, so that they are fresh and new every time you slide into bed. My favorite treat is to launder my fine linens with the Good Home Company Lavender Detergent and Lavender Laundry Fragrance and then following up with the Good Home Co. Lavender Ironing Spray during ironing. To finish, I spritz Lavender Sheet Spray, also from the Good Home Company. It feels great against my skin and helps me sleep peacefully. (TIP: Lavender, helps relax and induce sleep!)

5 Tips for Buying Luxury Linens & Bedding

1. Thread Count is typically listed on the packaging. Thread count is determined by the number of threads per square inch of fabric. The higher the count the softer and more silk-like the material. It is important to note that as the thread count climbs, so does the thinness of each individual fiber packed into that square inch of material. Therefore it is imperative that high-thread count fine linens be laundered with care.

2. It Takes Three – it’s a good idea to purchase three sets of linens (sheets: flat and fitted), six pillow cases and at a minimum two duvet covers, coverlets, or comforters. Having three sets of linens will ensure that your bed is never bare. You can have one set on the bed, one set being laundered and another set in the linen closet as a backup. Those of us who have children and/or pets understand the necessity of having backup linens at the ready.

3. Size Really Does Matter - Unless you like to spend your free time standing in the returns/refunds line than you should measure twice and write it down (memory is such a fickle thing). Measure the length, width and depth (which is very important for pillow top mattresses). A fitted sheet should tuck under the corner not ride the middle of the mattress which I have seen many times because 14″ pocket fitted sheets were purchased for an 18″ pillow top.

4. Get Your Fiber - linens are produced from various fibers and materials (both synthetic and natural), with cotton being the most popular. The three cotton varieties are:

1. Egyptian Cotton - this cotton is grown in the Nile Valley and is well known for it silky luxurious feel. Egyptian cotton can be blended with inexpensive fibers resulting in a less silky blend. The best advice is to seek out 100% Egyptian Cotton. This cotton can be expensive.
2. Pima Cotton – is primarily grown in the Southwest United States. It has a nice smooth texture, is durable and is reasonably priced. Pima cotton is also grown all over the world, including Peru, Israel, and Australia (thanks to Jay Gunter).
   
3. Standard Cotton produces decent quality linens however they lack the luxurious tactile hand of either the Egyptian or Pima cotton. This cotton is also the least expensive.

5. Get Touchy – Shop at a “bricks” store first and if you want you can buy online later. Why? We are human and we like to touch. We want to know how those 1000 thread count sheets feel as our hand glides across its smooth surface. As much as I love the internet – it does not allow you to experience before you buy therefore I don’t recommend online shopping until you have made your final decision. NOTE: Some online shops do provide small fabric samples but I still hold firm on linen shopping off-line first, find the bedding you absolutely love and then if you want proceed online for the transaction.