If you are in the New York area, stop by our newly renovated space in Bloomingdale's on 59th Street. Enjoy the photos of our gorgeous new home.

We chatted some time ago with Kelley Carter, Senior Market Editor at Real Simple magazine about de-cluttering your home, from the office to the bedroom. Today, we return to the topic of de-cluttering one room in particular: the bathroom, where a plethora of beauty products and heaps of towels can overwhelm what should be a calm, clean space.

Gone are the days when Christmas meant red and green. Everyone’s doing their own thing when it comes to holiday decorating, from candy-colored Christmas trees to pared down tableaus more contemplative in nature than rabble-rousing. We talked to bloggers and designers to see how they decorate their homes for the holidays.

In a previous Thread post, we spoke with interior designer Allison Hennessy about creating a gracious guest room. This time around, we checked in with two of our favorite designers, Anne Maxwell Foster and Suysel dePedro Cunningham of Manhattan-based design firm Tilton Fenwick. This very stylish duo is known for rooms layered with rich texture and pattern. Their aesthetic is colorful, comfortable, and overall just fabulous—perfect for welcoming guests into the fold.

It’s true that elegant, classic Thanksgiving tables, replete with bone china, cut crystal, and heirloom linens will always be in style, especially in more formal situations. However, with one glance at Pinterest (especially our “Setting the Table” board) it’s evident that more rustic style tables, replete with natural materials and earthy textures, are garnering all sorts of attention. Similarly to the tableaus we featured in our “Talking Tablecloths for Summer Weddings” post, the best Thanksgiving tablescapes incorporate a cornucopia of elements from the outdoors, literally. Here, we see how event designers and entertaining bloggers are creating rustic Thanksgiving tablescapes for fall.

There’s only one hard and fast rule for setting a Thanksgiving table: Have fun with it! Risa Mehl, owner of Lagoon Linens in Cedarhurst, New York says, “It’s essential that guests feel as comfortable as possible. You don’t want them to be upset if they spill gravy.”

We are honored to receive the Innovation Award at the 1st Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus Award Ceremony.

Matouk was recognized for its leadership in business and the community, providing ESOL training.

Matouk loves prints; we like mixing different prints together,mixing them with other patterns and textures, and certainly love what they do to enliven and bring interest to classic solids. We offer consistent color palettes in many of our prints and solids, which makes bringing them together seamless and easy. By sticking to a specific color scheme, you can easily create a curated bed by then choosing your favorite pieces, be they floral, geometric, abstract or solid. Here, Lulu DK for Matouk’s best-selling floral print, “Charlotte,” is paired with “Delilah,” her signature geometric print featuring an all over pattern of diamonds. Now who wouldn't want to spend the night covered in diamonds and alliums? To bring in even more of the beautiful lavender colorway, “Liana,” with it’s gorgeous embroidery, and “Gemma,” the quintessential quilt, will play nicely with your diamonds and flowers.

Perfecting your bed with the world’s finest linens has been our purpose at Matouk since 1929. Our new Down Collection extends this passion and expertise to the pillows and comforters that lie at the core of your ultimate night’s sleep. We created this collection with an unparalleled dedication to luxury and comfort; every piece is crafted with the core values of excellent quality that guide everything we make.

If you’re looking for cozy this winter...we’ve got you covered. Matouk has always considered the blanket one of the most important, and delightful, layers to consider when creating your dream bed.

In the old world tradition of luxury linens, the choices for colors was white, white or ...white. If looking for an adventure, ivory was a risqué substitute. The world has expanded, and those looking for choices in luxury bed linens will find an endless array of colors and patterns. And yet. With all of these colorful choices, the majority of people feel that sheets and towels should be white; they are by far our best sellers. Maybe tradition is actually the new modern.

A well-dressed bed means different things to different people: it can be as simple as fine quality sheets topped with a fluffy duvet and duvet cover, or composed of various layers, such as a flat sheet, blanket, quilt, and a throw. Or perhaps it’s all hidden under a bedspread. There are lots of combinations, and there is certainly no right or wrong for how one builds the perfect bed.

There are many ways to display one’s towels in the bathroom—rolled in a basket, draped over the side of a sink, stacked on a shelf, layered on a towel bar. It’s fun to experiment, and you can look at our Towel Play board on Pinterest for ideas. Above, our comprehensive towel display chart, complete with sizes and monogramming measurements, provides a fail-safe guide.

We collaborated with the New York School of Interior Design to help students outfit this bedroom in a historic Natucket home – the oldest on the island. As part of Nantucket by Design, a fundraiser for the Nantucket Historical Association, the project challenged the budding designers to achieve a balance between contemporary touches and historic character. Cheers to them on a job well done!

The dog days of summer conjure the warm, relaxed feeling that late August brings – a time when we revel in those last vestiges of vacation, fancy cocktails, fun, and family. And if your relatives are anything like ours, that means your pets are treated like full-fledged family members, wrapped in the lap of luxury.

With the Rio Olympics in full swing, medal fever is sweeping the nation. But while the athletes sweat it out, you can enjoy all of the drama from the comfort and luxury of your own bed. To really get in the spirit, we've rounded up some of our favorite bedding and bath collections offered in silver and golden-tinged hues.

Artist, textile designer, and trendsetter Lulu de Kwiatkowski is the creative force behind our Lulu DK for Matouk bedding and bath lines. We caught up recently with this globetrotting mother of three to take a tour of her home in Southampton, New York and find out what she loves most about summer.

Baking in the sun may not be good for you and me, but here′s one thing that should hang out in the sun all day: your sheets and various other fine linens. Here we offer 10 helpful tips for line-drying your fine linens, because summertime is the right time to seize laundry day.

Is there anything more delightful than the sight of beach towels hanging by a gate? Slightly damp or a little sandy, they’re a visual cue that summer is in full swing. Beach towels denote sun and fun, but they also do much more.

Newport, Rhode Island, also known as America’s First Resort, has pretty much everything a visitor could hope for — diverse history, stunning architecture, and a charming downtown district replete with distinctive shops and restaurants. And Newport′s seemingly endless a coastline of wide-open beaches and rocky shores also meets waters favored by the world’s yachting elite. Overlooking it all is Castle Hill Inn, a gracious 1874 shingle-style mansion that sits atop the western-most tip of the city on a private 40-acre peninsula that overlooks Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

A few weeks ago we brought you the stories of three Matouk products inspired by amazing travel destinations: Harbour Island (shown above) takes its name and flavor from the exotic Bahamian destination known for the bohemian spirit and gorgeous beach life; Portofino from the charming Italian fishing village still steeped in the traditions of the old world; and Auberge, its bold and modern elegance reminiscent of a five-star hotel spa experience many years ago in Hong Kong.

With Independence Day around the corner, we thought we’d look at a designer favorite—the red, white, and blue room. While we're always game for a slice of Americana, the great thing about a red, white, and blue color scheme is that it is as versatile as it is patriotic. You can easily add and subtract the blue or the red to pare things down or punch them up. Let’s have a look at four bedrooms that use the hues to perfection, in very different ways.

With summer comes that inevitable wistful desire to throw caution to the wind, check responsibilities at the door, and commit to a reprieve from real life filled with relaxation, new adventures, and meaningful time with loved ones. In short, to chuck the electronics and live the vagabond life. (Wait, is that just us? We didn’t think so.) Summer is that magical season where time and commitments just don’t seem to matter quite so much, and the possibility for new experiences feels attainable.

For three generations, fathers have passed along their knowledge of manufacturing and industry know-how here at Matouk. But business acumen isn’t the only wisdom that’s been paid forward. Passion and dedication to quality, and family, are the heirloom attributes that have driven Matouk into the modern era. From founder John Matouk to his son George to current president and CEO George Jr., Matouk’s commitment to excellence has become its heritage.

Do you remember the nighttime stories your parents told you all those years ago, as they desperately tried to persuade you to stop chattering and fall asleep? Or maybe ominous myths from your mischievous older brother are what lurk in the back of your mind. Turns out some of them are a little more dark and mysterious than your little brain ever imagined. Many of these stories are even rooted in true-life tales that would have you and your little ones alike too scared to turn out the lights. They aren’t all bad though; some are as magical and lovely as you would ever hope to populate your sweetest dreams.

Of all the questions we get asked, there is one that we know we can expect: how to keep your bed linens as white as the day you bought them. Body oils, sweat, makeup and body products can find their way into the nooks and crannies of those pristine white threads, sticking to them and lending a yellow tone. And that's before the pets and children lend their special patina.

This is an edited version of a post that originally appeared on May 6, 2014.

When she was a little girl, Anita Jabbour's "job" at her family's linens boutique on 59th Street and 5th Avenue was to dust the zippered garment bags containing the housecoats available for sale to the ladies of Park Avenue. “The fashion at the time was to wear these dress-like robes whenever a caller came to the door,” she says.

Ms. Jabbour's father, who ran R. Jabbour & Sons, a luxury linens store founded by her grandfather in 1931, was close friends with our own George Matouk Sr., who was also running the business his own father had begun years before. "They would eat their lunch out of plastic bags together in the showroom,” Ms. Jabbour recalls. “My father would go pick up samples from George Sr. and they would eat their peanut butter and jelly together and then take the bags home. They helped each other out in the beginning—helped each other get rolling."

In 1989, the Jabbours moved the store from midtown Manhattan to Locust Valley, NY, near where Anita Jabbour’s family—including her seven children, the youngest of whom was five-years-old—lived. Learning the business took a few years, she says, but, "If it's in your blood to sell textiles and be very tactile and like those aesthetics, it comes very easily."

Over the last 24 years, Ms. Jabbour, who owns and runs the business, has earned a reputation not only as a skilled retailer, but also as an expert in linen care. She fields questions both from customers who've purchased from them directly, and from those who've inherited fine linens worthy of heirloom status and want to keep them looking fresh and beautiful.

Anita Jabbour, right, with a customer modeling the housecoat Here, Ms. Jabbour offers her advice on how to keep your own linens fit for future generations.

We're here to talk about caring for your bed linens. But before we even get to that, tell us--what should we be looking for while we’re shopping for them in the first place?
You need to learn to purchase well before you even got home to the washing machine. Look for Egyptian cotton, which is what Matouk uses. Those Egyptian cotton fibers are hearty, with a long fiber that is pounded a certain number of times. The cotton is from the Nile River Valley, which is the best place for it to grow. Whether you buy 200, 300, 400, 500, or 600 thread count, it's all good because the cotton they are producing is good.

Ok, so we've brought home a new set of linens. What's the first thing we should do?
Make sure you bought the right size, especially the fitted sheet. Most people have no idea what the depth of their mattress is. That's the first question I always ask. Matouk stocks up to 17 inches for fitted sheets, but many mattresses are only 10 inches. Look at the back of the package before opening it, so you know what you just bought.

Now it's time to wash your linens. What are the rules of thumb?
Put the sheets into the machine and be sure not to overload it. Give them a lot of space. Cotton needs to be able to swish around. Use warm water; not hot. Hot water will shrink the sheets and destroy the fibers. Use detergent without excess chemicals and with no bleach.

Bleach will lighten the embroidery colors and leave spots on the bedding, whether it's white or ivory. Don't overdo it on the detergent, either. It's not necessary! When you're done, take the sheets out gently so as not to rip the hemstitch.

How about drying? What's the secret to fluffy sheets?
Once again, don't overload the machine. And only do bedding with bedding—no towels, lingerie, blankets… Nothing else of a different weight because it takes away the ability of the bedding to absorb the water.

If you like to use a dryer sheet, that's up to you. The tendency is to put everything on hot because it's faster and it somehow feels "cleaner"—but it's just the opposite. If you put the dryer on hot, the edges of your sheets will curl up over time. A monogram will curl onto itself. Put the setting on warm-plus and let it breathe. That will prevent damage and increase longevity. Your sheets will come out fluffy and fabulous.

What's the first thing you remember when you walk into a hotel room? 
The bed! The first thing you do, you plop down. They wash their linens a lot.

If you put your sheets in the dryer for one cycle and they don't come out dry, what should you do?
In my family, we would take our sheets out and hang them over the bed and the arms of the chairs. They're a little damp, so you can let them air dry. Or hang them outside. If you can't do that, put them in the dryer again, loose, on warm fluff. You have to be patient. Finish the cycle and take them out of the dryer immediately so you have fewer wrinkles.

You wouldn't leave the dog in the cage. Don't leave your investments in the dryer! They will be wrinkled and it's your own fault. As soon as the dryer stops, you feel that heat on your face and it's yummy. Get it out right away and fold it up right away. Sheets should have a crisp fresh, feeling to them

What about ironing?
If you feel it's necessary, you can iron your sheets damp or iron the edges of cases because that's the part that you see when the pillows are piled on top of one another. If your bedding is made up with the effect of your top sheet going over the duvet or blanket, then you iron the width of the sheet—the part that is folding over. Iron your foldovers and iron the edge of your cases, or your whole case if you like to.

Traditionally, what was on the bed was decorative. That's how a coverlet or blanket cover became what it is today. People in the '20s were reading the Wall Street Journal in bed, which had never been done before. A coverlet became popular for when you were reading in bed.

Never put the iron on top of an embroidered design. Flip it and do the ironing on the inside. That's how you save that beautiful, costly embroidery.

Any tricks of the trade for folding, especially those pesky fitted sheets?
Take the sheet and turn it upside down so the top you would lay on is down. Pat down the corners and lay it flat. Make a little pocket with it and start folding. You have to lay it down to do it.

What should you do if you get a stain?
My recommendation is to get a white washcloth or some sort of cotton. Dab your finger into warm water and white soap and manipulate the fabric. Get out what you can on the top and the reverse side. Then stick the sheet back in the washing machine for a gentle wash and see what happens. If it doesn't come out, ask your dry cleaner what they recommend.

What's the best way to store your linens?
In the linen closet. Let it breathe. Have a plan. Put sets together and then put the rooms together. Label, label, label. We used to just put a colored magic marker on the label. Or P-touch the outside of your shelf. Everybody has systems in their life. There’s no reason not to do that in your linen closet. Once it's done, it's done. Having a good linen closet makes you feel organized and clean.

And you don't need to cover your bedding or put it in plastic. If you must, put it in a cardboard box in a cool place. Use acid-free tissue. I don't advise using a trunk; they often smell and are dark and damp.

Any last words?
Your bedding should last a lifetime. I see bedding passed down from generation to generation. That's the kind of business we have. If it's cared for right, it will last. But it's an education. It starts with knowing what you bought and taking care of it.

Donna Osif, owner of the preeminent Louisville, Kentucky linen boutique Bedded Bliss, was originally lured to Derby City by two great motivators: love, and the opportunity to pursue her dream job. She married the guy, and in 1997 opened up her acclaimed boutique in Chenoweth Square. For most of the 19 years since, Donna has been a beloved and respected partner of Matouk. We are thrilled to share with you her thoughts and reflections on business and life in Louisville, and, of course, some entertaining Derby stories to enjoy as you sip your mint juleps.

Tori Mellott is legendary in the design world for her pitch perfect taste. The Senior Design & Market Editor at Traditional Home got her start in shelter magazines at now-defunct HomeStyle magazine and worked as an assistant to renowned designer Elizabeth Mayhew. But she really made a name for herself as Decoration Editor at Domino, where images of her own apartments zoomed virally through the blogosphere long before the days of Pinterest.

We were extremely honored when American Express reached out to us to write a piece on Matouk for their Open Forum. The resulting article, and the accompanying photographs, left us feeling pretty proud of the work that we are a part of in Fall River, MA.

No longer does the bachelor stereotype stand. At least in terms of design. Chrome and glass coffee tables, puffy leather sofas and unsightly entertainment centers have been banished in place of rich woods, custom built-ins, and luxury bedding. Designers are creating tailored rooms layered with texture, from tone-on-tone woven wools to sisals and linens, sprinkled with antiques and few well-placed accessories, for men who like to live well, regardless of their relationship status. Our “He’s the Man” Pinterest board is replete with masculine-feeling rooms, from the luxuriously layered to the more spare, contemporary styles.

India Hicks leads a charmed life that is informed by design. Her story, and impressive lineage, has been told enough times that you probably know it by heart: daughter of interior designer David Hicks lives a childhood full of privilege, beauty and serious British royalty; travels to a Caribbean island paradise and falls in love; leaves the British high-life behind to live out the bohemian dream on Harbour Island. India went from being a bridesmaid at Charles and Diana’s wedding to living on the remote island with her love and partner, where they then proceeded to renovate their home, guest home, and a hotel; all while raising five children, three dogs, two cats, five lovebirds, and a tortoise. That is some serious street cred.

In the beginning of the New Year, we have a tradition of talking to interior designers about the looks they’re loving. As we introduce our new products and colors for Spring 2016, we wanted to take a quick look back at the decor trends our five tastemakers predicted would be most popular for 2016. It's hard to predict the future, and we aren't so big on trends anyway, but we think several of our new introductions fit naturally into their predictions.

Every spring season, we see a proliferation of floral prints throughout the home, from stylized floral wallpapers and rugs, to brightly colored chintzes on upholstery. Of course, Matouk has long since embraced the floral, specifically in regards to our collection designed by Lulu DK.

They say that one of the keys to being a successful entrepreneur is to find a need in the market and then serve it. That’s just what Jenny Taubel and Cam Reynolds did back in 2008 when they realized that one their hometown of Atlanta was seriously lacking a shop that offered custom linens, with a contemporary vibe. That’s when the two interior design experts joined forces to open Gramercy, a Buckhead area shop serving locals with southern roots and sophisticated tastes.

Orange is one of those colors people either love or hate (or love to hate). We definitely fall on the side of love. In fact, you could say we have a serious crush on it, especially this time of year. One of the great things about orange is that a little goes a long way. It’s perfect as a border on a crisp white duvet with matching shams, or used in a room further accented with orange lacquer side tables and lamps. We also love it as a bold statement in a neutral room, as seen with the Matouk Nocturne duvet above. We spoke with three designers who mix orange with other colors, and get it just right.

Continuing our New Year’s tradition of talking to interior designers about the looks they’re loving, we tapped five tastemakers to see what decor trends they predict will be most popular for 2016.

For fortunate folks planning a ski trip this season, there’s nothing better than the American West. Between the crisp dry air, the stunning vistas, and the charming towns sprinkled throughout the region, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better part of the world for spending your well-earned winter vacation.

As 2015 draws to a close, we want to thank you for spending your time with Matouk. With 2016 at our doorstep, we wish you a year full of family, friends, and sweet dreams.

Who needs Martha when you have Mrs. Lilien, a delightfully over-the-top site devoted to all of the elements that make the good life great. From cocktails to cooking, lounging to lipstick, Mrs. Lilien does it all with sass and class. Which is why we’re so thrilled to have her share 10 holiday essentials with us.

Interior designer Ashley Whittaker’s elegant rooms seem designed for the holiday season. Infusing traditional style with a modern sensibility, Ashley creates warm and vibrant spaces perfect for welcoming guests, hosting dinners, and unwrapping presents by the fire.

A decade ago, fellow shopgals Claire Lindley Reeve and Courtland Smith Stevens noticed an opportunity—and a need—for a custom linens shop in Savannah, GA where they were working together at a local boutique. Their answer: Number Four Eleven. Now a Design District stalwart, their shop offers a thoughtfully chosen selection of bed, bath, and table linens, including an impressive array of Matouk products. They also have feature gifts and accessories, and have become a go-to source for monogrammed pieces.

Interior designer Grant K. Gibson is known for a crisp, masculine style that doesn’t sacrifice on warmth. Though he’s based in San Francisco, Grant’s work takes him to Palm Beach, New York, and Los Angeles. And while each project is unique, there are a few signature touches: a hit of black; a dose geometric prints; and a test drive from Wesley, Grant’s adorable (and highly photogenic) Westie, who has become a bit of an Instagram star.

In the throes of autumn when some are taking advantage of the pre-holiday lull with long walks in the woods, others are scurrying to prepare for upcoming entertaining extravaganzas. Successfully hosting holiday dinners and overnight guests take finesse, stocking guest rooms with sheets and towels, polishing the silver, and perhaps even decorating with boughs of holly. Those with second homes in the mountains are opening them up, eagerly anticipating ski season. Dust bunnies are cleared out while sheepskin rugs, firewood, and cozy blankets are ushered in. Our Ski Chic Pinterest board is one of our favorites.

There’s only one hard and fast rule for setting a Thanksgiving table: Have fun with it! Risa Mehl, owner of Lagoon Linens in Cedarhurst, New York says, “It’s essential that guests feel as comfortable as possible. You don’t want them to be upset if they spill gravy.

“We love blankets for the tactile, textural and decorative feelings they bring to the bedroom,” said Matouk CEO George Matouk Jr. “We see many blankets in the market as we visit our suppliers, shop in exciting stores, and stay in great hotels. But a Matouk blanket has to be unique and bring something special to our customers. And it also has to be made in an environment where we can trust both the manufacturing process and the harvesting process of the basic materials. Our product development team works patiently and perpetually to find the rare opportunities where these values intersect. This year, we are so excited to have found quite a number of them.”

Today, luxury bed linens come in an endless array of colors and patterns, though traditionally bed sheets were White. Not surprisingly, tradition prevails. Matouk designer, Annie Graham, says, “The majority of people feel that sheets and towels should be White; they are by far our best sellers.” Matouk showroom manager Melanie Angeles-Dizon agrees, saying, “Most of my customers use White sheeting as a base because it goes with a lot of different prints and colors. And, they like the crispness of White sheets.” She adds, “I often hear them say, ‘White is safer.’”

At first glance, solid-colored sheeting may not seem as thrilling as a bold new print. But think of the possibilities! Now that our Luca 500-thread count percale sheeting is available in five vibrant colors (in addition to white, ivory and champagne), we’ve opened up a whole new range of options for coordinating solid sheets with printed, embroidered, or appliqued styles.

Diane Elson Bankoff knows a thing or two about rugs. In 1997 she founded the San Francisco Elson & Company with the idea of turning out the finest hand-knotted Tibetan carpets in the most fashionable, sophisticated designs. In addition to rugs designed by Lulu DK, who also designs extensively for Matouk, the Elson & Company library includes styles by interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland, fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, and artist Rex Ray.

The coming year in design is marking a turn away from neutrals and all white interiors in favor of saturated color, moody kitchens, a mix of metallics, and an appreciation for art. Let’s take a look at six trends we’re loving right now.

They say that one of the keys to being a successful entrepreneur is to find a need in the market and then serve it. That’s just what Jenny Taubel and Cam Reynolds did back in 2008 when they realized that one thing their hometown of Atlanta was seriously lacking was a custom linens shop with a contemporary vibe. That’s when the two interior design experts joined forces to open Gramercy, a Buckhead area shop serving locals with sophisticated tastes and southern roots.

For the homemaker in all of us, there’s little more satisfying than a new set of towels. Whether stacked up in a linen closet or hung on a towel bar, they’re practically sparkling with their plush newness. But underlying the thrill of these beauties is the disappointment they often invite in the form of frayed edges, makeup stains, and muted color. There must be a way to keep those towels as fresh as the day you bought them! Indeed, there is.

Last month, we made Veronica Miele Beard, one half of the duo behind chic upscale sportswear line Veronica Beard, our Matouk Muse for the way she inspires us with her creativity, passion, and enviable style. This month we’re making a Muse out of her other (work) half. Also named Veronica (crazy, right?) Veronica Swanson Beard is VMB’s sister-in-law and business-partner-in-crime

French Quarter Linens, which began as a small boutique on the Eastside of Portland, Oregon in 1995 is now located in the Pearl District, a former warehouse district that’s now home to some of the city’s best restaurants, breweries, design and fashion boutiques, coffee shops, lofts, and luxury condos here too. The urban feel and walkable neighborhood make one of our favorite spots for selling Matouk linens. We spoke with the folks behind the shop for insight into what Portland natives love in bedding.

There are many ways to display one’s towels in the bathroom—rolled in a basket, draped over the side of a sink, stacked on a shelf, layered on a towel bar. It’s fun to experiment, and you can look at our Towel Play board on Pinterest for ideas. Above, our comprehensive towel display chart, complete with sizes and monogramming measurements, provides a fail-safe guide.

The Matouks, who describe themselves as a “train family,” see the romance in train travel—from the scenery to the family togetherness to rhythm of walking back and forth from the sleeping car to the dining car three times a day. This past July, George and Mindy Matouk, along with their daughters Virginia (11, who the family calls Chachi), Violet (10), and Margot (8), boarded Amtrak’s Empire Builder train in Chicago, spent two nights on the rails, and disembarked in Seattle. They then journeyed to Whistler and Vancouver, BC—and brought their Matouk along for the whole ride.

The Matouk Muse is a blog series featuring individuals who inspire us with their creativity, passion, and personal style. This month, we continue on our third muse in the series with Veronica Beard.

August is the time for idyllic escapes and no place better offers a respite from the hectic swing of the summer season like the Inn at Windmill Lane in Amagansett. This hideaway in the Hamptons, which uses Matouk linens in its rooms, is all about providing a peaceful environment where guests can clear their minds.

How you choose to outfit your bed is personal preference, but are you well schooled in distinguishing one layer from the next? What is the difference between a coverlet and a quilt? A bedspread and a blanket cover? And what the heck is a bed scarf?

Yes, there is a time and a place to line-dry your linens—the backyard may be better than the front, and for small-space dwellers, there are some great indoor options. Or else maybe you have some really understanding neighbors! Because the benefits to line-drying your linens are plentiful.

In addition to outfitting the finest homes, Matouk often provides bed linens and towels to commercial enterprises nationwide and abroad, from country B&Bs to big city arenas. We thought it would be fun to offer you a glimpse of three establishments that have recently incorporated Matouk products.

Almost two years ago, we announced the kickoff of our facilities expansion project—an ambitious endeavor that would not only almost double the size of our existing space in Fall River, MA, but would also serve as a physical manifestation of Matouk’s commitment to fostering a collaborative, creative, employee-focused culture.

The Matouk Muse is a blog series featuring individuals who inspire us with their creativity, passion, and personal style. In April, we featured Andrea Linett, founding Creative Director of Lucky magazine and blog I want to be her; we continue on our second muse in the series with renowned editor and media persona, Elizabeth Mayhew.

The Matouk factory expansion is featured in local Fall River Herald. George Matouk Jr., CEO explains the size, scope and vision that guided the $10M expansion of the company's headquarters.

As Nantucket designer Kristy Kay notes, “Outdoor showers have gone from a simple spigot stuck on the side of the house with hardly any privacy (followed by a towel-wrapped walk back into the house), to an extension of a home's interior comforts.” Indeed, similar to the increased popularity of outdoor rooms (Rugs! Sofas! Fireplaces!), outdoor bathrooms, like the one designed by Cape Cod architect Jill Neubauer pictured above, have become must-have luxuries in homes on the coast and in warm weather climes.

We invited Anne and Suysel to select Matouk bedding by trying out uMatouk. This new interactive digital tool enables users to visualize how different Matouk bedding styles and colors coordinate on a virtual bed. After some experimentation, the pair came up with a sophisticated combination that includes our Providence in White Pique with Navy trim (duvet cover, euro shams, and boudoir shams), our Butterfield in Cornsilk (sheeting and pillowcases), and our Diamond Pique in Azure (standard shams and coverlet). (See the full order below.)

One of our favorite new bedding patterns that we introduced this spring is Marsalis, a pretty floral designed by Lulu DK that’s perfect for summer. It works just about anywhere—in the guest room, a girl’s room, or your own bedroom.

Guest rooms may be “spares,” but we believe they should be treated like heirs. You may not be sleeping in the guest suite, but etiquette dictates that your guest is to be given the royal treatment. We’ll walk you through the ins and outs of what you can do to help make guests feel welcome, with tips on how create comfortable and perfectly outfitted guest rooms. You can also browse examples of our favorite guest rooms on Matouk’s Gracious Guest Rooms Pinterest board.

For a refreshing spritz of clean and colorful fashion, design, and fresh-from-the-farmers’-market food, look not further than Lemon Stripes. Blogger Julia Dzafic launched her site five years ago, and has since grown it into a powerhouse publication—a major source of inspiration (and influence!) for Millennials who, in an earlier time, would have sat on the front porch studying Town & Country with a glass of rosé in-hand. (Incidentally, Julia, who moved from Manhattan to Connecticut last year, just authored a guide to the area for the storied magazine.)

Linens shop Gattle’s is a Matouk favorite. Located in Petoskey, a coastal resort community on the northern tip of Michigan, Gattle’s caters to summer residents with lakeside retreats. With shelves stocked with the finest bedding, towels, and table linens (including plenty of Matouk, of course), the shop has been a fixture in the town since 1919.

Yes, summer is the season to refresh your stash of beach towels. The life of the linens party, they’re a fun opportunity for playing with color and texture in the linen closet. They’re also great eye candy displayed by the beach or pool.

When it comes to dining, entertaining, and interiors, Liz King is a triple threat. She owns The Linen Shop, a luxury bedding and gift shop in New Canaan, CT, known for its impeccable offerings. She’s the co-owner, with her husband, of Kings’ Carriage House, an Upper East Side dining treasure serving traditional aristocratic fare (think prime beef, lump crab cake, and roast leg of lamb) in a resplendent setting modeled after an English Manor house. And she also offers catering services for everything from cocktail parties to afternoon teas for those who want to bring the elegant spirit of Kings’ Carriage House to their own private events. In fact, King catered Matouk’s 85th anniversary party last year, for which she designed a one-of-a-kind cocktail named after our 1,000-thread-count Gatsby collection.

Every once in awhile, we come out with a new item that takes the definition of luxury linens to new heights. With the unveiling of Gatsby last fall, we could confidently say that we had produced the finest sheeting in the world—an exquisitely crafted 1,000 thread-count bedding collection made from the most superb yarn available. This spring, we introduce Lotus, Gatsby’s counterpart in the bath—and the most top-of-the-line, luxurious, sophisticated towel you’ll find anywhere.

Spring is, hands-down, our favorite time of year at Matouk. That’s because it’s when we introduce our new prints from our Lulu DK collection, our collaboration with artist and textile designer Lulu de Kwiatkowski, now in its eighth year.

Today we introduce Matouk Muse, a regular blog series featuring individuals who inspire us with their creativity, passion, and personal style. We can think of no one better to inaugurate the series than Andrea Linett. The founding Creative Director of Lucky magazine now blogs regularly at I Want to Be Her, a highly addictive read that serves as an encyclopedia of the wardrobes of Manhattan’s chicest women, along with Andrea’s own covetable shopping finds. She also works as a brand consultant, launched a capsule fashion and accessories collection called Jolie/laide (most flattering tees ever!), and just handed in a draft for yet another book (she’s already written several top sellers on shopping and style).

Flowers aren’t the only hallmark of spring. Bridal showers are major spring happenings, the precursor to all those June weddings. We spoke with eight creative professionals in the wedding industry—the photographers and event stylists responsible for bringing brides’ flights of fancy to life.

There is a long history of the use of text in art. Think of the illuminated manuscripts from medieval times in which the text is supplemented with painstaking decoration. Jumping way ahead to the 20th century, the use of text has been a defining characteristic of art in the modern era. Roy Lichtenstein and Jasper Johns are well-known, significant examples. In the ‘80s, Jenny Holzer created public, large-scale illuminated displays of text art. Today, text in art is everywhere, from affordable inspirational decoration to high concept pieces in the world’s most important museums.

New for spring, Matouk introduces Plumes by Lulu DK for Matouk, a large-scale feather print based on one of the best-selling patterns in Lulu’s fabric line. The offering brings us in a new direction, away from last year’s florals and the geometrics that came before.

Grey is extremely popular right now, and not because of that book. Over the last couple of years, every shade of grey, from pale mists to the moodiest charcoal have infiltrated homes as the new neutral, where once all manner of beige and taupe prevailed.

We trust any recommendation we get from Lulu DK, the artist and textile designer who creates fun prints for our Lulu DK for Matouk bedding line. Last summer we followed her to the Italian Riviera, she found inspiration for her newest designs. Today we head to the West Coast, where Lulu lives with her family, and she shares her favorite LA haunts. When you’re done, we are certain you will want more, so be sure to check out our California Dreaming board on Pinterest.

Towels, like bed linens, are highly personal. Yet while you know it when you feel it (especially at the end of a shower), most of us lack the terminology to break down our towel preferences. Below, a glossary of Matouk’s most common towel terms, along with a breakdown (and a handy chart) of our basic towel styles.

Applique and embroidery have been used throughout the ages across categories, including apparel, soft goods, linens, and tabletop. Both have starring roles at Matouk, though as with everything we do, ours is a contemporary approach to these time-honored techniques.

Continuing our Setting the Table series, today’s post showcases tablescapes in tones of red, pink, and white, with some gold and wood tone accents. All of these creative tablescapes can be appropriated perfectly for Valentine’s Day, whether you’re entertaining just one, a group of friends, or even a smattering of kids. We talked to four designers and event planners on finding inspiration for setting a table for Valentine’s Day. And, for even more inspiration, you can peruse our Setting the Table board on Pinterest.

This 223’ Lurssen Motor Yacht is an example of the kind serviced by Pioneer Linens. (Image courtesy Moran Yachts.) “I provide linens for the largest boats, the largest homes, and the means to get in between,” says Alan Murphy, who in 2006 launched the white-glove service Yacht Linen division for Pioneer Linens, his family’s 102-year-old linens boutique in Palm Beach.

In the past, our Dream Modal blanket has been available in subtle, easy-to-match shades like Champagne and Charcoal. But when the technology became available that would allow us to digitally print a colorful pattern right onto the Modal fabric, we knew it was time to make the Dream Modal blanket the star of the show.

Earlier this month, we called out the top décor trends for 2015 as predicted by five of our favorite interior designers—Katie Lydon, Ali Levin and Lindsay Bowswell of LABL Studio, Celia Walker, Jamie Meares, and Mona Ross Berman. Today we check in with another design powerhouse, Chicago-based Julia Buckingham of Buckingham Interiors + Design. Like her well-heeled comrades, Buckingham calls out top trends that include geometric shapes, shiny surfaces, and statement lighting. Let’s have a look at her full report.

Matouk recently unveiled its first 1,000 thread count sheet, called Gatsby, and we can confidently say that it is the most luxurious sheet in the world. But it’s not simply sky-high thread count that earns Gatsby accolades. What makes Gatsby special is the superb yarn used and exquisite craftsmanship with which it’s woven. We spoke with Matouk's Product Development & Design Manager, textile designer Annie Graham, about the myths behind thread count and why Gatsby is so great.

New year, new trends. We talked to five interior design firms to see what decor trends they predict will be most popular this year. Touching on overarching ideas like shape, color and pattern, as well as specifics like hardware, tile and lighting, some are looks you’ve likely been noticing too, and others are just beginning to emerge. Let’s have a look.

Our favorite part of the original Lucky magazine was always the Letter from the Editor. Rife with wit, grit, humor and smarts, founding editor in chief Kim France’s one-of-a-kind voice set the tone for the magazine we most looked forward to reading every month… for 10 years straight. So when Kim founded her blog—Girls of a Certain Age—in 2011, we (and countless others) leapt at the chance to read her daily. From fashion to beauty to art to must-reads on the web, she consistently turned up just the thing we (didn’t even know we) needed. And she’s been doing it ever since.

A love letter to the American South of hunting, skeet shooting, farm to table food, craftsmanship, the Blues, Bourbon and bowties, Garden & Gun has become a must-read for culture-lovers of every region. Since its founding in 2007, the beautifully produced publication has skyrocketed. And that’s thanks in no small part to Haskell Harris, the enviably chic Style Director whose aesthetic has come to define modern Southern style.

No visit to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to Sue Fisher King, the gorgeously curated Pacific Heights home boutique whose charming and savvy proprietor has been called “a treasure in her own right.”

Rising star Sara Gilbane has been named one of the top 20 “next wave” interior designers by House Beautiful and one of TradHome’s top 20 “new traditional” designers. She just released Gypsette, a fabric and wallpaper collaboration with Peter Fasano. And her furniture line, done in collaboration with The New Traditionalists, will be coming out this winter.

Today’s purely aesthetic post highlights paintings, photographs, and illustrations by artists who have depicted autumnal landscapes, Thanksgiving time bounty, and little slices of Americana.

It’s true that elegant, classic Thanksgiving tables, replete with bone china, cut crystal, and heirloom linens will always be in style, especially in more formal situations. However, with one glance at Pinterest (especially our “Setting the Table” board) it’s evident that more rustic style tables, replete with natural materials and earthy textures, are garnering all sorts of attention. Similarly to the tableaus we featured in our “Talking Tablecloths for Summer Weddings” post, the best Thanksgiving tablescapes incorporate a cornucopia of elements from the outdoors, literally. Here, we see how event designers and entertaining bloggers are creating rustic Thanksgiving tablescapes for fall.

The 2014 Rhode Island Gift of Hope Celebration hosted by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares to benefit Crossroads Rhode Island will be held on November 19 at the Providence Art Club. George Matouk will be honored at the event for all that he does for Crossroads, the largest homeless services organization in Rhode Island. Crossroads programs help find solutions to both immediate and long-term needs of the homeless in an effort to allow individuals and families to, once again, become independent.

Matouk was announced Silver winner in the 11th Annual MassEcon Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards. Companies from across the Commonwealth will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Massachusetts economy. The winning companies were selected after site visits and a presentation by senior executives to highlight the company’s attributes in the categories of job growth, facility expansion, investment, and community involvement since January 1, 2013. Finalists competed on a regional basis, defined as West, Central, Southeast, Northeast, and Greater Boston.

So… what do you do when you get Gary McBournie to give you a few minutes of his time on one of his stops in New York? Ask him to fold napkins, of course!

Meet uMatouk, our proprietary digital tool that allows you to put together a suite of Matouk products and see them brought to life on a virtual bed. No longer will you have to imagine how your selection of Matouk styles and colors will coordinate. Now you can visualize the look, and edit and add according to your tastes and preferences.

Folding a fitted sheet can be exasperating. Indeed, if find you try your mightiest to get the corners to line up just so, but then end up stuffing the whole thing into a ball and shoving it towards the back of a shelf, you are not alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In the following videos, Armanda Souza, a seven-year veteran of the Matouk folding department, demonstrates a proper folding technique. (Yes, she makes it look almost too easy; but we promise it’s very straightforward once you’ve practiced a few times.) We’ve also provided a super-handy diagram that we recommend you tape to the inside of your linen closet door—or at least pin to Pinterest so it’s always handy.

Last week in Fall Reading List, we brought you the titles our favorite interior designers are reading this fall. In a décor companion piece, we’ve reached out to architects and designers for the lowdown on how they create spaces conducive to curling up with a book. From a hallway transformed into a casual library to a hideaway in a young girl’s bedroom, we look at a handful of reading-friendly rooms. For more of the same, peruse our Niches + Nooks board on Pinterest.

We are, without a doubt, always up for a summer beach read. But there’s something about cozying up with a book in the fall that really gets our inner bibliophile going.

Today we introduce a new series in which we focus on different key items for the bedroom— beds, linens, carpets, art, furniture, and more. Our first installment offers insight on how designers choose a bed and dress it.

Eighty-five years ago, John Matouk founded his company with the goal of making the world’s most beautiful, highest-quality linens available to American consumers. In order to stay true to this original mission, we are continuously in search not only of the best materials and designs, but also of the best techniques for producing our luxury bed and bath linens. Sometimes that means reaching into the future to identify emerging technologies that enable us to make exquisite products we couldn’t have dreamed of in the past.

Matouk is proud to be recognized for its reputation for creating luxurious linens and for its craftsmanship... Robb Report Home & Style highlights Matouk on the story Sleeping Beauties on their recently released September/October issue.

As television profiles shrink, more people are experimenting with hanging televisions on the wall, often in plain view. While this can work in a den, especially when tucked into built in bookshelves, or in a bedroom where guests aren’t privy to the setup, an oversize television is not necessarily a desirable décor element in a more formal or public room. This is particularly true when the layout leaves the slot above the fireplace as the only one that makes viewing sense. But a television as the focal point just isn’t ideal.

With our new showroom nearing completion in New York, we’re finally having a moment to sit back and appreciate the new space. Sure, we love the Reclaimed Elm Plank Table from Club, and our new Atelier, but what we adore most about the décor of the new space is what’s beneath our feet. Perhaps that’s because these carpets are not only lovely to behold and a pleasure to walk on, but also because they were provided by Merida, our neighbor and friend in Fall River, MA.

Now that the kids are back in school, undoubtedly well-prepared with a plethora of supplies, t’s time to give a little lift to your home office. Whether you have an antique roll top in a wood paneled library, a glass and chrome table in front of expansive windows, or a simple slab atop a pair of filing cabinets, a few shiny or color-drenched pieces can make a difference. Pretty notebooks can encourage to-do lists, a box of notecards nearby means you’ll be less likely to put off writing thank you’s, and a piggy bank gives you someplace to stash loose coins. Making your workspace inviting will surely raise efficiency. Here are fifteen of our favorite accessories to dress up your desk.

Matouk may be most often associated with crisp, modern classic linens. Clean lines atop white sheets may come to mind. So might artful prints. But ask a Matouk insider to name her favorite all-time product, and chances are, she’ll point you to this.

For nearly 30 years, Massachusetts has been an integral part of Matouk’s heritage. In 1985, George Matouk Sr. relocated the luxury linens company his father founded from New York City to New Bedford, MA. In 2005, son George Matouk Jr., then (and now) serving as the company’s CEO, moved our corporate headquarters and factory to Fall River, where they remain to this day.

With summer comes plenty of outdoor entertaining, from casual dinner parties on the porch to vintage-inspired bridal showers, to barn-style birthday parties. Such occasions don’t call for fussy, formal place settings. Let’s have a look at how to set an informal table, along with some perfectly designed example.

Recently, we shared three end-of-summer cocktail recipes from a few of our favorite experts. Below we offer up three more—including an original created just for us—to round out your repertoire.

2014 is a milestone year for Matouk—our 85th anniversary celebration! In 1929, John Matouk, the son of a fine jeweler, moved to the United States from Italy with a singular goal: to make the world’s most beautiful, highest-quality linens available to American consumers. Though tastes and lifestyles have changed over the decades (after all, few people use Nylon Satin Sheets), the company has simultaneously flourished and remained true to John Matouk’s original mission. Now in its third generation of family stewardship, Matouk maintains its commitment quality to and its passion for luxury.

The sultry days of August may feel like the thick of summer. But there’s a feeling in the air that season is fleeting. Soon the September chill will arrive, and the opportunity to enjoy one of our favorites summer traditions—outdoor cocktails, of course!—will be over.

For most of us, when it comes to entertaining outdoors, our days our numbered for the season. Not so for Los Angeles-based Susan Feldman, who gets to entertain al fresco practically all year long.

Kennebunkport, perhaps best known as the resort home of President George Bush Sr., is an idyllic coastal getaway just 90-minutes north of Boston. For a small community (year round population is just 3,500), Kennebunkport boasts an impressive number of boutique properties, inns, and B&Bs that range from elegant historic homes to funky coastal lodges, to luxurious wooded camps. We chose four of our favorites, each with a very distinctive design.

Table linens are transformative. They can turn an everyday meal into a memorable affair (just try our Savannah Gardens for your next Sunday pancake breakfast, or our new Casual Couture collection on burger night). Or they can make a special occasion dinner party into a truly elegant affair. Not purely decorative, tablecloths will also protect your table from spills and scratches; fabric napkins will protect your clothing from a dropped morsel or splash of red wine.

Tori Mellott is legendary in the design world for her pitch perfect taste. The Senior Design & Market Editor at Traditional Home got her start in shelter magazines at now-defunct HomeStyle magazine and worked as an assistant to renowned designer Elizabeth Mayhew. But she really made a name for herself as Decoration Editor at Domino, where images of her own apartments zoomed virally through the blogosphere long before the days of Pinterest.

Riviera by Lulu DK for Matouk is inspired by the Italian Riviera, where Lulu and her family rent a house every summer. (Marrying an Italian-born man has major perks!) We spoke with Lulu before she took off on her European vacation about the new bedding collection, her artwork, and of course, the region that inspired it all.

Marisa Marcantonio marches to an impeccably stylish beat. The veteran magazine editor, who has held senior positions at House Beautiful and Oprah Home, is the voice of Stylebeat, a savvy design blog through which she demonstrates her keen eye for emerging design trends (flamingos, anyone?), her classic yet contemporary sensibility, and her vast knowledge of design world news.

Laundry rooms have come a long way since those dank, dark days in the basement. Today’s machines have moved up, literally and figuratively. While some set up their washers and dryers on the second floor amidst the bedrooms, which is where most of a family’s laundry originates, others do a multipurpose mudroom/laundry room (some even include a dog bath), while others carve out an expansive space to serve as a craft room too.

For the homemaker in all of us, there’s little more satisfying than a new set of towels. Whether stacked up in a linen closet or hung on a towel bar, they’re practically sparkling with their plush newness. But underlying the thrill of these beauties is the disappointment they often invite in the form of frayed edges, makeup stains, and muted color. There must be a way to keep those towels as fresh as the day you bought them! Indeed, there is.

We called Christine Altieri and Jana Gimenez, partners in Boston-based AE Events, to talk wedding linens. They walk us through the design considerations surrounding the choice of tablecloths and napkins for weddings or other social events, hitting on current trends in tablecloths and rules for sizing and such.

No longer does the bachelor stereotype stand. At least in terms of design. Chrome and glass coffee tables, puffy leather sofas and unsightly entertainment centers have been banished in place of rich woods, custom built-ins, and luxury bedding. Designers are creating tailored rooms layered with texture, from tone-on-tone woven wools to sisals and linens, sprinkled with antiques and few well-placed accessories, for men who like to live well, regardless of their relationship status. Our “He’s the Man” Pinterest board is replete with masculine style rooms, from the luxuriously layered to more spare, contemporary styles.

Achieving a pulled together bedroom begins with the bed. After all, it’s the focal point of the space. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to add five hundred frill throw pillows to it. Even if you’re a swish-the-duvet-and-be-done-with-it type, with five more seconds spent stacking your sleeping pillows, you can create a clean bedding scheme.

Memorial Day weekend is, of course, the official start of the summer. For many people, a stop at Matouk’s Fall River Factory Store while en route to the Cape, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, or Newport, is an annual tradition as important as that first lobster bake of the season. For some, it’s a chance to add a finishing touch or find a replacement for a bedroom or bathroom in a summer home before the onslaught of guests begins; for lucky guests-to-be, it’s an opportunity to pick up a gift for a hostess; and for the rest, it’s a time to stock up on whatever’s needed back at home.

When she was a little girl, Anita Jabbour's "job" at her family's linens boutique on 59th Street and 5th Avenue was to dust the zippered garment bags containing the housecoats available for sale to the ladies of Park Avenue. “The fashion at the time was to wear these dress-like robes whenever a caller came to the door,” she says.

When you bring Matouk sheets, towels and table linens into your home, you are getting the results of decades of dedication to producing the finest textiles in the world. We spend countless hours sourcing the highest quality fabrics from Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal and more, and crafting them into beautiful textiles we hope our customers will enjoy for a long time.

While some label Mother’s Day the ultimate Hallmark holiday, it has regardless become a day for families to gather, no pricey presents needed. Enjoying a meal with loved ones on a beautiful spring day is always welcome, be it breakfast in bed, an elegant dinner, or afternoon garden party.

This season we’re seeing a proliferation of floral prints throughout the home, from stylized floral wallpapers and rugs, to brightly colored chintzes on upholstery. Of course, Matouk has long since embraced the floral, specifically in regards to our collection designed by Lulu DK. This spring, we’re introducing new florals by Lulu DK for Matouk, inspired by her experiences in the gardens of Italy. Here, we get a sneak peek of two of those new prints, as well as some insight from other designers use of floral patterning. As L.A.-based designer Jenn Feldman told us, “Floral prints are timeless, youthful and effortless.” We certainly agree.

As of March 28, retailers, designers, and other visitors to our New York office will find us in a brand new space. Designed by our very own Mindy Matouk (interior designer and owner of lifestyle brand Butterfield Providence, as well as author of “Ask Mindy” our online advice resource) our new showroom/office will be a visual representation of the Matouk lifestyle—an opportunity for us to showcase how our brand can come to life in the homes of our customers.

All white rooms are fresh, clean, simple, and even be interesting. We spoke with four designers who know how to do white right, in the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bedroom.

George Matouk Jr. receiving the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award at the Chamber's Annual Meeting at White's of Westport, Massachusetts on February 19, 2014.

When it comes to textile printing, techniques run the gamut from Old World to ultra-modern. Last week, we spoke to Annie Graham, Product Development & Design Manager at Matouk, about screen printing, a centuries-old stenciling process that, while now automated, remains fundamentally true to its original form. This week, we shift to the opposite extreme, with a look—also provided by Annie—at how Matouk utilizes much newer digital printing technologies.

In 2007, Matouk debuted its first line of printed bed linens. Called Lulu DK for Matouk, it was a collaboration with artist and designer Lulu de Kwiatkowski, who brought her painterly, whimsical, often nature-inspired patterns to Matouk, a then 73-year old brand steeped in the art of fine linens, but with no printed designs in its roster. In the ensuing years, the partnership has flourished, with Lulu DK offering Matouk an exciting outlet for exploring the art of printing on textiles—which, until just last year, was done exclusively via the centuries-old technique of screen printing.

Pastels are a major trend in fashion right now, even in this Arctic weather; perhaps in spite of it. After all, black and navy hardly transition into spring with the ease of blush tones. Wearing a rose overcoat by Celine well into March is no hardship. Like many trends born on the runway, this almost candy heart-slash-Easter egg palette has crossed over into home decor. Pink upholstered sofas, lavender dining chairs, and mint green Smeg refrigerators have become common elements in aptly styled rooms beyond those meant for young ladies. We encourage a peek at this pervasive prettiness on our “Pastel Sweethearts” Pinterest board.

Valentine’s Day is mere days away! We asked a few of our favorite retailers—who last week shared the most romantic spots in their towns—to also tell us about the most romantic gifts available in their stores (not including their favorite items from Matouk, as those will be listed in a future post—though some still couldn’t resist!). If you happen to be local to any of these spots, check out these ideas below for great last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts.

With Valentine’s Day just over a week away, we asked a few of our top retailers to fill us in on the most romantic spots in their towns.

For fortunate folks planning a ski trip this season, there’s nothing better than the American West. Between the crisp dry air, the stunning vistas, and the charming towns sprinkled throughout the region, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better part of the world for spending your well-earned winter vacation.

Winter definitely has its downsides: frigid temperatures, blustery winds, super-short days, not to mention that puffer coat you can barely stand to look at anymore (and it’s only January). But the season also has its benefits. Chief among them, skiing. And if you’re lucky enough to hit the slopes out West this year, we recommend a stop into one of our favorite retail partners: The Picket Fence.

“We feel like herringbone is of the moment, but also very classic and European; it’s the best of both worlds in terms of pattern,” says Annie Graham, Product Development & Design Manager at Matouk.

Last week we chatted with Kelley Carter, Senior Market Editor at Real Simple magazine about de-cluttering your home, from the office to the bedroom. Today, we hone in on the bathroom, where a plethora of beauty products and heaps of towels can overwhelm what should be a calm, clean space.

Along with losing weight, exercising more, and managing stress, getting organized consistently makes the list for most popular New Year’s resolutions. No surprise there. The chance for a clean slate (literal and figurative) in the New Year, combined with the post-holiday detritus (the decorations! the wrapping! the food! the presents!) can make for a strong desire to get your house in order.

Whether it’s going gliding in a one-horse sleigh, roasting chestnuts on an open fire, decking the halls with boughs of holly, or caroling out in the snow, the holidays are replete with traditions both cultural and personal.

If you're planning a Christmas party, New Year's Eve dinner, or a quiet celebration à deux, a cocktail concocted especially for the holidays heightens the spirit, so to speak...

It’s mid-December . . . how did that happen? Are you still stumped as to what to buy? We asked five of our favorite designers and design shop owners what they’re purchasing for friends and family, as well as what they’re hoping to receive. You can also check out our “Perfect Presents” board on Pinterest for inspiration.

Moving forward, meeting demands and constantly adapting, Matouk wins Business Excellence Award.

Matouk makes an array of products that are great to give, from soap and candles as hostess gifts, to cozy throws and plush robes for family and close friends. We've assembled our favorite Matouk items worth giving this season. And, for ideas beyond Matouk, be sure to check out our roundup of Perfect Presents on Pinterest .

Gone are the days when Christmas meant red and green. Everyone’s doing their own thing when it comes to holiday decorating, from candy-colored Christmas trees to pared down tableaus more contemplative in nature than rabble-rousing. We talked to bloggers and designers to see how they decorate their homes for the holidays.

Back in May we spoke with interior designer Allison Hennessy about creating a gracious guest room. As the holidays approach, it's time to once again spruce up extra rooms, prepping them with crisp sheets and fluffy pillows, as well as vacuuming up any dust bunnies.

This week, interior designer Bunny Williams, who worked for over 20 years with the venerable decorating firm, Parish-Hadley, shares tips for setting a Thanksgiving table, complete with images from her own home, and picks from her shop, Treillage. For more inspiration, be sure to check out the 300+ images on our "Table Settings” board on Pinterest.

These days, everything from luxury handbags to designer ballet flats to running shoes to Manolos can be customized with just a few clicks. But throughout most of style history, the monogram has been the pinnacle of personalization.

Lulu finds that incorporating even a little black into a room can be wonderful. She says, “I once stayed in a black and cream room done by the great designer Thomas Britt. It was over the top in a fantastic way.

Orange is one of those colors people either love or hate (or love to hate). We feel differently. In fact, you could say we have a crush on it, especially this time of year. On of the great things about orange, is that a little goes a long way. It’s perfect as a border on a crisp white duvet with matching shams, used in a room further accented with orange lacquer side tables or lamps. We also love it as a bold statement in a neutral room, as seen with the Matouk Nocturne duvet above. We spoke with three designers mix orange with other colors, and get it just right.

The holiday season is practically around the corner (Thanksgiving is just six weeks away!), and if you’re anything like us, your thoughts turn to décor long before you begin planning out the menu. Our new Casual Couture Collection for the table makes a beautiful choice for a festive, memorable, yet not-too-formal meal.

When we moved into our current Fall River, MA headquarters and factory in 2005, little did we know that less than a decade later, we would have outgrown it. This past summer, after several years of planning and in cooperation with the city and state, we broke ground on a major facilities expansion that will nearly double the size of our existing 47,000-square-foot facility. The plan calls for adding 45 new jobs, on top of the 90 existing staff, and increasing space for manufacturing, distribution, and offices. It’s an exciting time for Matouk, with new developments in the works for employees, retailers, and consumers alike.

Fall is undoubtedly here. And with it come falling leaves, crisp air, shorter days, and the excuse for snuggling up in bed with a good book. While summer brings buzzy beach reads, autumn is the season for more complex works. And this season is no exception, with tomes from Malcolm Gladwell, Donna Tartt, Amy Tan, Dave Eggers and Thomas Pynchon topping many lists of notable new releases. Check out the fall book previews from The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, New York magazine, and Publishers Weekly. Then read below to learn what some of Matouk’s favorite retailers are immersed in, eagerly anticipating, and recommending this season.

The Greek key design, unsurprisingly, can be traced back to ancient Greece. The simple, geometric pattern was used in architecture and on pottery. Today, the decorative motif, which represents eternity and unity, is a mainstay in interior design. Matouk's new bespoke bedding pattern, "Adelphi," is a fresh reinterpretation of the traditional Greek key motif, while the "Acadia" incorporate a more traditional treatment. The pattern can be found all over the house, on everything from moldings and curtain trim to furniture and and wallpaper.

It seems only natural that a brand known for producing the most luxurious, finest quality bedding would have an interest in creating the beds to pair with its linens. After all, a pristine set of sheets, shams, a duvet—the works!—feels somehow wasted if not lovingly tucked into a bed of equal esteem.

As the family gets back into the swing of things with the start of the school year, we're guessing you’ve been tempted to touch up the décor. In addition to organizing the playroom and study space, it’s nice to freshen up the kids’ bedrooms too. A fun bedside lamp could encourage reading, or a colorful pillow could make bedtime more attractive. (Hey, you never know.) Perhaps you’re putting together a nursery for the first time, or transitioning your toddler to a big boy bed. We spoke with six interior designers across the country, plus one prolific kids blogger, for design tips. Many of the rooms pictured belong to their own kids.

Add glamping to the contemporary lexicon alongside terms like lolz, man cave, gastropub, sexting, bucket list, and ridic—all of which were officially included in major dictionaries over the last couple of years. Glamping (aka glamorous camping) offers the charm of sleeping under the stars without sacrificing creature comforts like, say, hot showers and cozy quarters. (Think of it as roasting your marshmallows and eating them too—then having someone else stoke the campfire, while you snuggle up in your four-walled yurt or heated teepee.)

With children back in school, apples and pumpkins beginning to make appearances at the farmers’ market alongside the last of the strawberries and figs, and an undeniable crispness in the air, it seems that summer is essentially—if not officially—behind us. But before we say goodbye, we take one final look at how members of the Matouk staff spent that most wonderful of summer traditions—vacation!

Matouk loves to mix prints, and makes it easy thanks to its consistent color palettes. By sticking to a specific color scheme, then choosing a floral, a geometric, and an abstract, you can easily create a curated bed. Here, Lulu DK for Matouk’s best-selling floral print, “Charlotte,” is paired with “Madison,” a bamboo lattice pattern. You can also try mixing in “Ripple,” a painterly stripe, or “Tulah” a small scale geometric. Today we talk to four women, interior designer Tobi Fairley, Miggy Mason and Roisin Giese of home furnishings boutique Twelve Chairs, and designer blogger Emily Hart of Recently, to learn the secrets of incorporating a multitude of color and pattern in a single space.

Nothing says summer like seashells and coral in blues and whites, perfectly embodied in the Lulu by the Sea collection. The restrained color scheme, especially when mixed with neutrals, like a grasscloth headboard and a sisal rug, has a tailored but not too serious look that works in coastal homes were easy living is the point. For tips on pulling together beach-worthy rooms, we spoke with a few interior designers and bloggers who specialize in just this look. You can also find inspiration on the Matouk Pinterest boards, particularly, our collection of New England Living images.

Over the past few weeks, our favorite local retailers have been sharing their favorite haunts throughout some of New England’s most popular summer destinations. After hearing from Midsummer Nights in Cape Cod and Tracker Home in Martha’s Vineyard, we now turn to Nantucket, where Bill Kearney, Home & Merchandise Manager at Marine Home Center, the island’s legendary home improvement center, shares his inside scoop.

Be the first to see the Casual Couture Collection and all our new introductions at our NEW LOCATION, Javits Booth 1620 at NY NOW (formerly NYIGF)

Three of New England’s most popular summer destinations are right in the backyard of our Fall River, MA headquarters—Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Curious about the must-see spots in each of these picturesque coastal towns, we turned to local Matouk retailers and asked them to provide us with an insiders’ to-do list...

Between beach time, ice cream, rosé, summer Fridays, and flip-flops, summer is, without a doubt, a time to indulge. A few weeks ago, we turned to a few of our favorite editors, interior designers, and bloggers and asked them how they spoil themselves during the summer season. Here, we share what a whole new batch of creative types has to say on the subject.

Is there anything better than a New England summer? Rugged, sandy beaches and serene swimming holes; lighthouse-dotted landscapes; clambakes, lobster rolls, and local brews; bike rides and hiking trails; not to mention some of the best shopping on the Eastern seaboard. While there’s lots to love all over the area, for us, it’s always a toss-up between Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod, that legendary trio just a short trip from Matouk’s Fall River, MA headquarters. All three represent the definition of an idyllic coastal summer, while each one possesses its own unmistakable charm.

We can imagine no greater indulgence than sleeping outdoors on a warm summer evening. Not in a sleeping bag and tent (though camping certainly has its place, especially when s’mores are involved). We’re talking about shoving the bed right onto the porch and falling asleep under the glow of stars and fireflies. It’s a whimsical, romantic, only-in-summer idea… And it made us think about all of the other things we relish during the season, like building beach bonfires, walking barefoot on the boardwalk, and ordering triple-scoop sundaes from the local ice cream joint.

“So much about having a pool is about having an abundance of things,” says interior designer Julie Goldman of J. Latter Design in Los Angeles. She points out that people are very indulgent when lounging poolside, saying, “Appetites are large (even though we're in swimsuits).” She reminds us that it’s important to have plenty of everything. “You don't need to have a wide variety of items, but have backup.”

Outdoor dining… Is wonderful. The days are longer, the air at night is the perfect temperature, and everyone wants to end the day enjoying sips of summer. It almost feels like the food tastes better and the conversations are best when you get enjoy a meal and company outside of the traditional four-walled space of a home or restaurant!

With Independence Day around the corner, we thought we’d look at a designer favorite—the red, white, and blue room. While we're always game for a slice of Americana, the great thing about a red, white, and blue color scheme is that it is as versatile as it is patriotic. You can easily add and subtract the blue or the red to pare things down or punch them up. Let’s have a look at four bedrooms that use the hues to perfection, in very different ways.

Designer Lulu deKwiatkowski, known as Lulu DK creates original patterns for Matouk bedding, table linens, and now Abstractions beach towels. The lushi, colorful towels won “Best in Show” at the New York Gift Show earlier this year.

"The most important thing I learned from my father is that your reputation is your most important asset," says George F. Matouk, who, at only 29-years-old, became CEO of Matouk in 1966 when his father unexpectedly passed away.

Father’s Day may not rank quite as high as that May day for moms, when flowers and brunch are de rigeur, but that’s no reason to settle for soap on a rope when it comes to gifting the first man in your life. At Matouk, dad’s are pretty important, as the company has been passed down through the Matouk men for three generations, and George has three of his own little ones that my someday take the helm.

The arrival of Memorial Day means summer is finally—officially—here. For those of us at Matouk, that means breaking out our Hadley and Block Island linens—both seersucker styles that, according to Director of Marketing Meg Woodhouse, “are Matouk favorites for the same reason that seersucker is and has been so popular in many manifestations in fashion since the ‘20s: it's cool in summer and the puckering means it doesn't need ironing.” Hooray for less time doing housework and more time at the beach!

With Memorial Day just a jump ahead on the calendar, it’s time to air out the guest room, especially if you’re lucky enough to own a summer home.

While pink done right is pretty, especially when paired with another hue, little girls may be immune to the mantra that there can be too much of a good thing. This week we look at girls’ rooms that do pink properly, as well as a few in (gasp) alternative colors. When you’re finished here, you’ll find more inspiration on our “Bedrooms for Girls” Pinterest board.

Q: I love the idea of embracing the tradition of using table linens for every day—starched white tablecloth, monogrammed napkins… the works. Is this realistic for a family with three kids and a dog?

Springtime may be slow to come in Massachusetts, where Matouk is headquartered, but inside the factory and on shelves across America, our bedding is in full bloom. Many spring seasons see bursts of flowers infiltrate the style scene; this spring is no exception. Flowers are free and easy, a little painterly, and boldly beautiful. We pinned plenty of the real thing on our “Fantastic, Fabulous Florals” Pinterest board, along with fabrics, fashions, and artwork. Before you get lost in it, stop and smell the roses in the rooms and on the runways below.

A Mother's Day gift should be useful, yes. But it should also be pretty. (Just ask anyone who has ever learned the hard way by giving his or her mother a toaster, no matter how lavishly it was wrapped.) From a festive necklace to a monogrammed bathrobe to groovy sunglasses, our top 10 Mother's Day gift picks are guaranteed to fall seamlessly--and stylishly--into her regular rotation.

1 Matouk Waffle Robe

2 Fresh Sake Bath

3 Andy Warhol Icons Note Cards

4 J. Crew Fan Fringe Necklace


5 Lulu DK for Matouk Love Pillow

6 MICHAEL Michael Kors Sunglasses

7 iittala Aalto Vase

8 Tiffany Infinity Bracelet

9 Kate Spade Chelsea Market Straw Bag

10 Marimekko Päärynä Coffee Cup

So much for enjoying the outdoors. With so many projects to conquer, so much potential, so much space, I was overwhelmed. Honestly, I just wanted to go inside and hide under the covers and never look at a blade of grass again. Which leads me to the beauty of the powder room. Ahhhhh….the powder room.

Interior designers are practically unanimous in their enthusiasm for the powder room as one of the most enjoyable spaces to conceive of for a home. “The powder room is often among the first things that guests see upon arriving into one's home, so it is a great place to make a statement,” says Julia Edelmann of Buckingham Interiors & Design in Chicago, echoing the sentiments of many of her peers. “Because powder rooms are typically small, you can get away with design elements that may not work in other parts of the home.”

A bar area, no matter how minor, has become a must-have in stylish homes. One needn’t maintain a full on liquor cabinet, or even a trendy bar cart; trays set on a bookshelf or console with a couple of glasses and bottles of your favorite libations are just as effective. What you do need, however is panache. This could mean a stack of colorful cocktail napkins, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, a potted orchid, or incredible artwork. Manhattan-based designer Ashley Whittaker tells us that now more than ever, clients are requesting fabulous home bars. She says, “It’s a decorative moment with sparkly glasses, silver trays, and fun bar tools. A definite opportunity to be chic!”

Matouk Olivia bedding. A map of Paris hung behind the bed is a chic nod to one of the world’s most romantic cities. 

clockwise from top left: Shakespeare & Company bookstore via Girls’ Guide to Paris, Chez Prune restaurant, The Jardin du Luxembourg via Parisien Salon, Ze Kitchen Galerie restaurant, Lunch on the Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honore via French Essence.

“I love Paris in the springtime,” wrote Cole Porter, in a 1953 song made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and other crooners in the ensuing years. And what’s not to love about the ultra-romantic City of Light, blossoming with flowers and enjoying the kind of sunshine made for walking along the Seine, exploring the Tuileries, and sharing a bottle of wine at one of the city’s countless outdoor cafés?

For tips on visiting Paris during this picture perfect season, we turned to a few of our favorite Paris-based bloggers and asked them for their top picks. For more inspiration and insider ideas, be sure to check out their blogs via the links below.

There’s nothing better than wandering around the Marais or window shopping on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.” — Vicki Archer, French Essence.

“Founded over 60 years ago by American George Whitman and now run by his daughter, Shakespeare & Company might just be the most eclectic, kitschy-cool bookstore left on the planet. They still, to this day, let writers stay there overnight, so be sure to go upstairs and notice the small beds squished in here and there. I love the quote they have posted at the top of the stairs: ‘Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise.’” — Doni Belau, Girls’ Guide to Paris.

Come printemps [springtime], the Jardin du Luxembourg bursts back into life in full technicolor. All kinds of flowers are in bloom, young children frolic around the fountain while sailing their wooden boats, and the grownups recline in green iron chairs, snacking on baguettes, reading their books, or engaging in deep conversation. This is Paris life at its most vibrant. — Linda Donahue, Parisien Salon.

“Jeanne B is a new dining spot that's all about roasted meats and seasonal produce. They have a lovely 19-euro lunch that includes a starter (such as a whole artichoke with vinaigrette) and a main dish (such as a veal shank with roasted vegetables). The main dining room faces south and gets a ton of light, and if you can score one of the handful of sidewalk tables, you can enjoy a really gorgeous, sunny meal out on Rue Lepic.” — Clotilde Dusoulier, Chocolate & Zucchini.

“Les Arènes de Lutèce, tucked on a small street in the 5th arrondissement, are the ruins of a Roman arena that was constructed in Paris during the 1st century AD. The amphitheater had been built over, was rediscovered in the 1860s, and opened to the public at the end of that century. What is wonderful is that the large space has not become commercialized. It remains a place for old men to play pétanque, young kids to play soccer, and everyone else to have a quiet lunch or read a book.” — Laurie Pike, TheParisBlog.com.

“A favorite spot in Paris to visit in the springtime is an outside table at Chez Prune on the canal St. Martin. They make a fantastic brunch, and it is the best place to people-watch on a sunny afternoon.”—Genevieve Sandifer, The HIP Paris Blog.

“Spring for me is eating lunch at Ze Kitchen Galerie. Everything is market-fresh-tasting and your plate looks like a newly painted avant-garde canvas—a total surprise for the eyes and the taste buds. The food is delicate and leger [light].” — Carol Gillott,Paris Breakfast.

Like the bedroom we think a master bath should be a serene space where you can escape, relax, and primp in peace.

Q: I just renovated my bathroom, and I do love it. It's got a neutral palette, which is the look we wanted, but it feels a bit too cold and sleek. I'd like to lend it some warmth. Any ideas?

Do you feel like you never have enough of the right towel when you need it? Maybe your linen closets are overflowing with a mishmash of sizes and styles? We asked Boston-based interior designer Kathie Chrisicos of Chrisicos Interiors how many of each a well-stocked home should have.

Providing order and discipline to those private, only-seen-by-the-family spaces like closets, pantries and storage areas (or as the great designer Bunny Williams calls them, the “underneath” of the house) will give you a peace of mind that allows you to be more creative and freewheeling elsewhere.

Lulu deKwiatkowski is the founder and designer of Lulu DK Fabrics, which she launched in 1998 after interior designers urged her to translate the florals and geometrics she used in her trompe l’oeil work onto textiles. In addition to fabrics, wallpaper, tableware, and rugs, Lulu creates original patterns for Matouk bedding and table linens.

From the corporate offices in Fall River, Massachusetts, one can hear the humming of Singer sewing machines and state of the art machinery in the adjacent space. Venturing out onto the factory floor, women trim, and embroider, while men hoist rolls of brightly colored fabric off high up shelves.

There’s no more storied destination for a glamorous end-of-winter getaway than Palm Beach, the well-heeled Florida resort town where the East Coast glitterati escapes from December through March.

We are about to move into a new house, and it's very different from the house we live in now. Before I buy new pieces or think about hiring an interior designer, I want to get a sense of how to accommodate the items we already own and love. Help—the movers are on their way!

QUESTION: Between gadgets, exercise equipment, clothing, kids and clutter, our bedroom often feels like the control center of the house as opposed to a place for romance and relaxation. How do I reestablish it as a refuge?

The common thread running through Mindy Matouk’s personal narrative is her penchant for bringing beautiful experiences to life.

This week’s "Ask Mindy" detailed the ten essential ingredients needed to turn your bedroom into a functional, but peaceful haven.

In the past decade, George Jr., who lives by the adage that time is our most precious resource, has dedicated his own time to fulfilling his grandfather’s goal of making the world’s most beautiful, highest-quality linens available to American consumers.