All About Linens

By Teri Brown

What do you think of when you hear the word linen? Crisp white sheets blowing in the wind? The scent of summer and understated elegance? Linens can make a world of difference in your home, changing a guest room from "ho hum" to stylishly hospitable and lending your home an elegant grace.

Marilyn Matthews from Little Rock, Ark., grew up in a home that loved linens and made having a wide assortment available for all occasions a priority.

"Textiles have always been revered in my family," Matthews says. "My mother handmade my first baby quilt, which I still have, along with quilts made by my grandmothers and various aunts. I grew up with crocheted pillow cases and sheets lovingly done by these same aunts and grandmothers."

As a young adult, Matthews frequented flea markets and estate sales and found herself drawn to lovely embroidered, crocheted, cutwork or tatted pieces. She believes one of the reasons she enjoys linens is because of the love she has always associated with them, but on a broader level, Matthews believes linens are the refinements of a house well appointed.

"Fine linens, especially one-of-a-kind linens, are the personalization of home decor that cannot be purchased in the mainstream," Matthews says. "It adds the level of softness and comfort, even luxury, that makes visitors feel that their comfort and senses are of utmost importance."

Chris Madden, celebrity decorator and author of 16 books, including Haven: Finding the Keys to Your Personal Decorating Style (Clarkson Potter, 2004), believes that linens are an important part to creating a home that is a warm and welcoming sanctuary, a place apart from the rest of the world.

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