With the biggest entertaining season underway, we have added many new tabletop essentials to our sale section! Quantities are limited, so don’t wait!

View our complete sale section at GraciousStyle.com

Holiday season is just beginning, and picking the right table linens is an essential step for all hosts. To help you make the perfect choice, we’ve broken down the five basic questions to ask before making your decision:

1. What material should I choose?

Because they are strong and absorbent, we recommend natural materials like cotton and linen.   But if you are short on time, there are great easy-care table linen collections available which are either stain-resistant or wrinkle resistant.

2. What size tablecloth should I buy?

For formal settings, we recommend that tablecloths should hang down 10″ to 12″ evenly around the table. In contrast, casual events call for cloths that have 6″ – 8″ drops.

To calculate the size of tablecloth you need, measure the length and width of your table and add twice the desired drop to each dimension. For example, if your table measures 48″ wide and 84″ long, and you would like a 12″ drop on each side, your tablecloth should be:
48″ + 12″ + 12″ = 72″ wide
84″ + 12″ + 12″ = 92″ long

For round tables, measure the diameter of your table and add twice the desired drop. Following the example above, 48″ round tables would require 70″ round tablecloths.

3. What shape should my tablecloth be?

On square and rectangular tables, we suggest using the same shape tablecloth. On round tables, either rounds or squares may be used, while on oval tables, either oval or rectangular tablecloths may be used. If you have several tables that you use often and your budget is limited, a nice alternative is to use placemats and napkins, which will work in any situation.

4. What should I consider in choosing linens for a special event?

There are several important factors to take into account when choosing table linens for a special event:

– Location: Choose colors to complement the existing décor of your dining room. For outdoor events, let the setting be your guide. Generally, bright colors look better in sunny locations, while pastels are wonderful in garden settings.

– Season: Spring and summer colors tend to be lighter, while bolder colors are more appropriate during the colder fall and winter months.

– Theme: Colorful linens are one of the most effective ways to set the mood you want to create. Vibrant colors add drama, while soft colors evoke a more refined atmosphere.

5. Do I need a table liner?

Although designed to last a lifetime, fine table surfaces are often exposed to excessive wear and tear. To help protect your tables, thick felt table liners are designed to reduce noise and protect your tabletop against heat and scratches. Unlike ordinary liners, these are plush and generously sized (approximately 5″ larger than your table) to extend over the edge of your table in order to create a softer drape underneath your fine linens.  To read more, see Protecting Your Table with Felt Liners.

For more information on Choosing Table Linens, click here!

The leaves are turning, a brisk wind is blowing, and the magic of the fall season has just begun! Create an inviting retreat for yourself this season by adding some fall spirit to your bedroom. Here are a few key pieces to get you started:

– Roll out a warm wool rug on hardwood floors, or layer on top of carpet to welcome your toes out of bed in the morning.

– Keep soft throws at your fingertips to grab on a cold night.

– Embrace the season’s hues in rust, chocolate and crimson. Try a new throw pillow, or get some soft new sheets in these timeless colors.

Delight your senses with the warm glow of candlelight.

Always have a plush robe ready to go. Whether you use one post-shower, or just for lounging, this will always make you feel pampered.

Join us for our biggest sale ever!  We’ve just taken reductions on many of our favorite collections, so now’s the time to treat yourself.  Quantities are limited, so hurry!

View our complete sale section at GraciousStyle.com

With the crisp autumn air reminding us that winter is on the way, now is the perfect time to prep for this chilly season. Using one of nature’s best insulators, down comforters and pillows are some of the warmest and most luxurious ways to snuggle up and stay warm all winter long. Here are the essentials every bed should have:

– Start with a mattress pad or featherbed; this will help keep you both warm and comfortable.

– Every bed should have a down comforter. Whether you live in the brisk northeast, or the sunny California shores, there are different weights for down comforters, so you’ll be sure to find a perfect one.

– Down blankets are the perfect way to keep cozy, and have a lighter weight than comforters. Fold one at the foot of your guest bed for extra warmth, or keep one in the living room for late nights by the fireplace.

– No bed would be complete without the perfect pillows. In a variety of sizes, and three levels of firmness, the right pillow will feel like a custom purchase, and will last you for years to come.

For more information on choosing the perfect down items for you, read our Down Guide here!

When preparing for Halloween, most people think to costumes first. But don’t forget about your decor! Whether you’re hosting a spooky soiree, or just getting in the spirit of the holiday, adding a few tricks and treats to your home is as much fun as dressing up.

Nothing says Halloween like a classic skull. Choose one with crystals for a glamorous touch that will still be a conversation piece long after the season has ended.

For small children, keep things creepy but cute with Herend’s delicate tarantula figurines.

Mix and match real pumpkins with elegant glass ones to create a unique, textured look.

Enchant your guests with hauntingly beautiful barware in shades of smoke, midnight and jet black.

Add a punch of orange to your bed or bath to keep yourself in the spirit of the season.

Founded by interior designer and arts enthusiast Karen Pulaski, Tribute Goods pays homage to great artists and pays it forward with a 10% donation of all profits to the arts, education and AIDS research.

This fresh, Texas-based brand showcases beautiful prints and patterns, produced on the finest Italian linens.  Sea Glass was inspired by an original watercolor:

“Strength and Beauty” was an idea from my daughter Emma. She thought that I should create a floral line and the English rose is her favorite. – Karen Pulaski

I began to dream of images and over a period of years developed my first collection based on the Elements- Earth, Air, Water and Fire. I loved the sentiment and fundamental connection that these themes had. – Karen Pulaski

I began to search for artist(s) who have a subtle touch in their watercolor technique but with a contemporary edge. – Karen Pulaski

I wanted to create a floral motif that was masculine as well. A tension needed to be created that emphasized both the fluid floral aspect and a more rigid geometric pattern while maintaining harmony. Like a good marriage! – Karen Pulaski

Love Karen Pulaski’s free-spirited, give-back style? See more Tribute Goods here!

Marrying the magic of summer with the anticipation of Holiday merriment, Fall is the perfect time for a truly enchanting wedding. And who better to keep us on trend than Occasions Magazine? Here, we give a peek at their Fall 2014 issue, where they feature our Vietri Fantasia Dinnerware and Waterford Lismore Crimson Champagne Flutes in their delightful Sunflower and Scarlet motifs.

These harvest hues can instantly bring the charm of the season to your festivities and your home. Take a look at some of our favorite ways to use them every day:

Try a ruby red runner for a splash of spice that lets your tabletop shine through underneath.

Give your boudoir some spunk with a cheery gold quilt and shams.

Ground any space with a bold stripe crimson rug.

Show your kitchen some sunshine with festive kitchen towels.

Add instant elegance to your desk or credenza with a lustrous deep red accessories box.

A retail bookstore in the age of Amazon and ebooks?  That’s exactly what Assouline does, and here’s how they’ve done it in their ten “libraries” around the world:

1) Red makes everything look richer.

2.  Display books with interesting objects from around the world (like this Bambou bookrest from L’Objet):

3) Treat your books like art and display them accordingly.

4) Bring in a bit of history and tradition.

5) Some days you celebrate the fast life …

6) … while on other days you just unwind.

7) Well-loved books go with well-worn floors.

8) An alphabet and numbers rug – what a genius idea for a library!

9) Picture lights are essential for illuminating important pieces.

10) The writing on the wall says it all.

Don’t have time to run out to a store?  Come visit our online selection of Assouline books here.

(All images courtesy Assouline).

Whether throwing him a huge birthday party, or just looking for a reason to show him you care, there are so many ways to celebrate the guy in your life. From glasses and decanters right down to the napkin rings, we have all the details that will make your get-together one to remember.

To create a table with sophisticated masculinity, try using a plaid or striped tablecloths. We love Libeco Home‘s refined rustic style.

For a rugged, eclectic feel, try mixing a variety of textures and materials for a look that feels special and unique. Use antler accents and leather finishes to off set fine cut glass and glistening metallics.

Like what you see? Check out more party ideas here.