New Towels

My order of new towels just arrived from Gattle's [(513) 871-4050]. They are made by Matouk; the style is "Milagro". The pile is very thick but not particularly long, because this sort of ornate monogram is better on a shorter pile. I like the simple, narrow selvage edge; when the towel shrinks it is less likely to distort the shape.

I always order bath sheets - I much prefer them to the smaller bath towel . And I order an equal number of hand towels, also monogrammed. Washcloths I order plain. 

New towels need to be laundered before use or they'll leave bits of lint on you as you dry off. The tags say no bleach; no fabric softener; use warm water.

For as long as I remember I have had white, monogrammed towels, but this is the first time I have had a three color monogram! I love it! They are SO very traditional; I am enjoying swimming against the trend tide on this one. I had a simple block-style monogram on a set not long ago and I got bored quickly.

Usually I ask Grace or Beth to help me at Gattle's; they are experts on all things linen. 

Ellen's Entrance Hall

 The new trellis wallpaper and a butterfly painted on the woodwork.

 The stair carpet has a serged edge. Notice the small frog.

 A leaf and a lady bug on the newel post.

This is the third time I have decorated Ellen's front hall. The first version had a simple rose and cream paper selected to coordinate with her existing beige carpet. The second round got a black background Stark carpet with pink, yellow and blue flowers. We then changed the wallpaper to a yellow on yellow stripe, and we added a black tole light fixture.
This time around we decided to ditch that black carpet and replace it with a really beefy sisal runner up the stairs, and NO CARPET at all on the hall floor. And we  had a talented artist paint scattered flowers, bugs and a few dog biscuits  in a pile (she has three annoying pipsqueak animals). There are butterflies painted on the casings and lady bugs mixed in the design. The wallpaper has been replaced with large scale green on cream trellis pattern. We are going to put the black tole fixture over the poker table downstairs, and move the crystal light from the dining room into the hall.
There is a beautiful tall case clock against one wall, and a round Queen Anne table in a corner. Altogether it's a traditional entry in a lovely country home. And now it is lighter, fresher, and more playful.