Oh, bed! Oh, bed! Delicious bed! That heaven upon earth to the weary head. -Thomas Hood
A luxurious present to yourself that will provide sweet dreams night after night, and delight your eyes day after day, are exquisite, bespoke bed linens!
From the moment I first walked past the eye-catching windows of the two Lori Jayne stores on S. County Road in Palm Beach ten years ago, I was smitten. Lori Bernstein has created a charming paradise for anyone who appreciates beautiful linens… and sooo much more! You will discover not only elegant linens, but also extremely attractive gifts, which can be personalized, custom made, monogrammed, engraved, designed, and are always “presented” elegantly. Lori Jayne is where you go when you want to get EXACTLY what you want. Timeless, tailored, and oh, so much FUN!
Hearing that Lori created a new line of linens with custom embroidery designs named after the charming streets of Palm Beach (the top left photo is the Primavera Way design), I decided to focus on her bed linens. I met with Lori to discuss and learn more… two hours flew by! Here is a condensed version of what I gleaned from her expertise, which I am excited to pass on to you.
~Basically, there are two kinds of decorative embroidery embellishments for bed linens: applique or embroidery. Applique is an ‘accent fabric’ that is embroidered (stitched) on the edges and applied to the linen as the design, whereas embroidery is solely the thread design stitched on to the linen.
~Any color combination of embroidery is possible for any design that you want. If you like one of her stunning pattern designs, then you may choose from endless colors and customize the pattern for your room, or create a unique design to complement the vintage fabric curtains you adore, or the artwork featured in your room, or replicate a discontinued pattern, or even consider adding the name or rendering of your house, or or or… endless options! A strike-off can be made for you to see, feel, and approve.
Lori’s chic model, her dog, lovingly poses on Lori’s “appliqué” bed linens.
~The placement of the embroidery or applique design is usually placed on the top of the bed in a “U” shape design (going down both sides and across the foot of the bed). You may also add it again along the flange so the design will be in two places– both on top and around the edge of the coverlet or duvet (the cover used for your comforter) as seen below.
~Recently I have become an advocate of the European fashion of bed making. A top sheet is not used, and instead, only a fitted sheet and a duvet are used to make the bed. It is one less sheet to buy, one less sheet to launder, and for children, it is one less step for them to make their bed… no excuses!
~Pique, a textured cotton fabric, is a splendid material for duvets. Embroidery looks stunning on it, and pique launders well, and usually doesn’t require ironing. Lori has brilliantly created a duvet option with pique on the top, and a sateen sheet as the bottom side of the duvet, so that it is soft and cozy to the skin. Note to self: my next duvet will be this combination!
~There are two kinds of comforters to choose to insert into the duvet. Traditionally, a comforter is filled with soft goose down, but an alternative is a pure mulberry silk insert. After feeling it, I will now refer to it simply as “sleeping on clouds.” It is light and heavenly!
~The difference between sateen and percale bed linens: sateen is soft and cozy, whereas percale tends to be crisp and cooler. I adore the feel of sateen, and usually, it is forgiving about not ironing. When I asked about the importance of thread counts, Lori’s response was that thread counts don’t really count! High thread counts can also create a heavier sheet. What truly matters is what it feels like to you when you touch the fabric. Only then will you know what texture appeals to you.
~Sham versus pillowcase? Lori prefers shams because the pillow is completely encased, unlike a pillowcase which has one open end for the pillow and looks a tad messy. A sham can have a few options, but traditionally either a knife-edge or a flange-edge. The flange extends out like a frame or flap around the actual pillow edge, which I prefer. Below, the Sweet Dreams pillow has a flange-edge, while the pillow with the scattered flowers has a knife-edge.
~When monogramming a king-size duvet, do not skimp on the size of the monogram or it will look lost and disproportionate. This monogram was just created as a gift to a bride by her mum. This monogram is 19.5” wide, which looks appropriately sized for a king bed. Lori is capable of doing monograms up to 20” on-site in her showroom. Look how the embroidery design of the monogram picks up on the darling color and pattern nuances on the floral pillow. What a lucky bride!
Lori and I always have such fun together! Her clever creativity and business savvy are so admirable. I featured her lovely Georgian home, which I labeled “The Lucky House,” in my Palm Beach book. Make a pilgrimage to her two stores; it is a “world is your oyster” experience. Quintessentially, this is where you go to create a custom gift for yourself or your lucky recipient. Her website is just a blink away from being launched, and perfect for those who can not travel to Palm Beach! In the meantime, you can phone the shop at 561-855-4290 or take a peek at Instagram here.
Grandmillennial Tips:
Try not to over-dry your bed linens, nor over-stuff the washing machine. Your linens will thank you over time.
Lori recommends using Le Blanc Linen Wash, a specialty liquid soap that is triple-concentrated to handle tough jobs, but gentle enough for your fine linens.
Consider giving a crib size custom designed duvet and comforter as a baby gift or for a small child. Once they outgrow it, you can use it as a throw for your bedroom as a sweet memory. It reminds me of Victor Hugo’s words, “A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.”