The Jacquard Francais story is one of generations of people with a passion for their work. Since 1888 they have created a collection of table linens without equal. Weavers, warp beamers, knotters and other specialists work in harmony to perfect the weaves and colors of all of their table linens.

Traditional techniques and state-of-the-art technology combine to create timeless tablecloths, napkins, placemats and table runners that will beautify your tables for many years.

Le Jacquard Francais coated tablecloths are made of 100% cotton weave with long fibers. They are waterproof and stain-resistant thanks to a patented and exclusive acrylic coating that withstands washing.

Practical and easy to use, these tablecloths will stand up to frequent use for numerous occasions: in the lounge, kitchen or patio.

See all of our Le Jacquard Francais table linens.

We love a clean home, and we want to keep the earth clean, too. But we were disappointed with the quality of natural cleaners. That is, until we found The Laundress! Their naturally-derived cleaning products work great and they are safe for the environment.

The Laundress was started by owners Lindsey Wieber Boyd and Gwen Whiting. Like us, they were dissatisfied with the eco-friendly cleaning products on the market. As they put it, “Tired of buying inferior natural cleaning products or toxic cleaners that were not effective we decided it was time to make our own.”

Lindsey and Gwen were both educated in Fiber Science, Textile and Apparel Management and Design at Cornell University. The used their knowledge of fibers to create fabric-specific detergents that are gentle on clothes, but tough on dirt and stains. They have special detergents for denim, workout clothes, and delicates, among others.

The Laundress detergents are formulated from plant-based ingredients, and do not contain chlorine, petroleum products, or artificial color. They are triple-concentrated which means less packaging waste. You also use less product, which is better for your clothes and the environment, and ultimately saves you money.

We love their Signature Detergent for regular laundry, their Stain Solution for tough stains, and Wool & Cashmere Shampoo for our sweaters. (Yes, you can actually wash cashmere – and it comes out softer than from the dry cleaners!)

Their dusters, brushes, and cleaning cloths are made from natural materials – no plastic or petroleum products.

We are always looking for the best tools to make our necessary domestic chores more luxurious and above all – easier! This ostrich feather duster is what Redecker refers to as the “king of feather dusters”! It is so luxurious, we actually look forward to cleaning now.

Well, almost.

Click here to see our entire collection of The Laundress cleaning products. And get ready to love cleaning…or at least, dislike it a little less.

What is about those Italian guys, always so smooth, suave, and charming?

It might have something to do with the shave: Italian men take shaving very seriously.  The Romans were cleanly shaven and regarded everybody else barbarians — literally, someone with a beard.  During the Middle Ages, barbers in Italy were trusted confidants and advisers, like the barber in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia.  Today, shaving is truly an advanced art form in Italy, and it shows.  Just look at what a great shave these famous Italians have:

Silvio Berlusconi from DealBreaker.com

The traditional Italian shave is a complicated ritual involving, of all things, olive oil.  Fortunately, Proraso has made this into a simple system for the rest of us.  Here’s how the modern Italian shave works.

First, you dampen your face and apply the Pre-Shave Cream, which softens the beard and helps the razor to slide smoothly over the skin.  Let it rest for a bit and really sink in.  The distinctively refreshing Menthol tingle that Proraso is known for ought to make the little time-out quiet pleasant:

Then, apply your choice of  Shave Cream …

 

… Shave Foam –  this is a smooth and rich foam with just the right consistency, and with it my Gillette Mach 3 is giving me a much closer shave than I’ve ever had before.  Plus, after shaving, it doesn’t leave a thick residue in my razor like my old shaving gel did:

or Shave Soap.

For a truly Italian shave, we recommend the Shave soap, which must be applied with this simple little brush:

Next, wash your face and apply the After Shave, but doesn’t “Lozione Dopobarba” make it sound better?

Proraso also makes specialized products for those of us with sensitive skin

Or who have a beard, “Barba Dura” — masculine yet refined in that Italian way:

Try it, and let us know if your face says “Grazie!”

What’s your favorite holiday jingle?

Ours is I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, because it makes us laugh every time we hear it.  In the song, 10-year-old Gayla Peevey sweetly asks for a hippopotamus for Christmas, promising she’ll take good care of it in her parents’ two-car garage.  Who could say no?  Not her listeners: The local station that played the song in 1953 raised enough money to present her with a real baby hippo named Matilda.  Peevey then wisely donated it to the city zoo, where her hippo lived to a grand old age of nearly 50.  The song was such a big hit, it was even on the Ed Sullivan show:

If a real baby hippo (weight: 500 lbs) is too much on Christmas morning, here are a couple of stylish alternatives for you to have and enjoy:

Jonathan Adler’s Brass Hippopotamus Sculpture makes the normally rotund creature look graceful, almost aerodynamic.  Perched on a marble base, he should fit in nicely with the rest of your chic family.

Daum’s crystal Hippopotamus Paperweight, on the other hand, is proud of his heft–and for good reason too.  He has the all-important job of guarding your secret papers, and his mighty jaw opens wide to scare away those bills from your inbox.

Chic or fearsome, we hope you’ll experience of the joy of seeing a hippo this Christmas morning!

With a foreword by Sir Elton John, this book evokes luxury from the very beginning. With a knack for beautiful spaces that don’t sacrifice comfort, Lawrence Bullard-who stars in the Bravo television show Million Dollar Decorators-reveals how he creates a sensational home. The designs featured here balance the contemporary with the traditional, the occidental with the ethnic.

View more Interior Design Books at GraciousStyle.com.

When it comes to holiday gingerbread houses, the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel really takes the cake.  Every year the pastry chefs there show off with a sugary holiday landscape.  Some years it’s the North Pole.  Other years it’s a little village.

This year, though, they outdid even themselves with a seascape that includes Godzilla, pirate ships, sea monsters, Smurfs, taco trucks, and Santa sunning at the beach.  It’ll be on view until after the Holidays, but if you can’t make it to there, here are some pictures:

Sir Elton John’s love of interior design and gardens is legendary, so it’s no surprise that the luxury candles he has created with NEST Fragrances founder Laura Slatkin are extraordinarily scented and gorgeously packaged.

 

Featuring a festive blend of evergreen evergreen and balsam fir needles combined with rich woods and sparkling citrus, the Sir Elton John Holiday candle is decorated with an etching of a coat of arms belonging to a noble family that lived in Luxembourg during the 1800s. After modifying the design to include gold, red, and green seasonal holiday foliage, calligrapher Bernard Maisner blended in handwritten lettering in a Gothic style from the medieval era and an italic script from the Renaissance period.  For warmth and color, Sir Elton added a deep aubergine color to the glass.

 

 

For a lighter feel, the Woodside Garden candle features a sophisticated and arrangement of notes inspired by flowers from Sir Elton’s floral gardens at Woodside in Old Windsor, England, including hyacinth, freesia, rose, and jasmine.  Housed in a brilliant translucent chartreuse glass container stamped with a regal gold crown, Woodside Garden’s packaging includes lavender roses and green foliage drawn into the artwork.

 

And as an added bonus, a portion of the proceeds from their  sales of these candles will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

See our entire collection of NEST Fragrances.

We were delighted recently when a customer shared with us her beautiful table setting using our chic black Festival table linens. Here’s what she had to say:

My guests thought the table looked lovely; I agreed with them. I greatly appreciate all your help with shipping it to me quickly. The quality of the linen is fantastic. I can’t wait to see how the fabric improves with age. Also, it was sewn on the grain; not all table linens are. It lays so straight and square in line with the table. My husband and I are delighted with it.

But don’t take our word for it; see for yourself:

Thanks for the kind words, Peggy. We think your table looks very lovely as well!

How have you made Gracious Style products your own? We’d love to see how you put your own stylish spin on things. Drop us a line on our website or post to our Facebook page.

We recently traveled to New York, and we really appreciated how the city keeps getting nicer everywhere you look.  Here are a few pictures from our trip:

We both loved this courtyard in front of the Mondrian SoHo hotel:

Nestled between two lofts (one of which was a Vespa dealership), it looked so calm, relaxed, and … not-New-York-City.

A little uptown, this new building going up in front of L’Ecole and the French Culinary Institute is a great example of how to mix modern with traditional:

It’s unabashedly modern, yet echoes the older building across the street with its streamlined look.

Of course, we couldn’t resist a sign which said “Chocolatier,” so we had to sneak into the Mariebelle Chocolate on Broome Street.  Once inside, it reminded us of Laduree in Paris:

They have a very deep space, and they’ve used mirrors to make it look both larger and brighter.

In general this a good tip to remember: mirrors are a great way to bring in light and make spaces seem larger.

Up in Midtown, this cluster of buildings from different periods and styles look perfectly at home together, just like the people on the streets below — fashionistas next to suits and socialites:

The Plaza Food Hall is now one of our favorite destinations in Midtown.  It’s strategically located across the street from Bergdorf and offers several hip but casual eateries, including a Todd English restaurant.  Even one  Payard Patisserie has made a come back here:

Hooray!

Join us for a Gracious Style sale! Items from some of our favorite tabletop, bath, and bedding collections have just been added to our sale section. Incredible prices on Fresco Towels, Linen Way, Garnier-Thiebaut, and Couzon!

View our complete sale section at GraciousStyle.com