IN BED WITH Jeffery Alan Marks

This week you can visit the SFERRA website to learn more about Jeffery Allan Marks. Find out which SFERRA linens he awards the 'Best Dressed' status and why.

IN BED WITH Brad Ford

This week you can visit the SFERRA website to learn more about Brad Ford. Learn which SFERRA linens he looks forward to sleeping on each night, why he prefers sateen and his truthful answer to the question of ironing linens.

IN BED WITH Kendall Wilkinson

This week you can visit the SFERRA website to learn more about Kendall Wilkinson, her preferred SFERRA linens and her thoughts on everything from bedroom 'must haves' to setting the perfect bed.

IN BED WITH Tammy Connor

This week you can visit the SFERRA website to learn more about Tammy Connor, her preferred SFERRA linens and her thoughts on everything from bedroom 'must haves' to the perfect breakfast in bed.

IN BED WITH Malcolm James Kutner

This week you can visit the SFERRA website to learn more about Malcolm James Kutner. Learn what SFERRA linens he fantasizes having made into pajamas and his get his thoughts on setting the perfect bed.

IN BED WITH Amanda Nisbet

This week you can visit the SFERRA website to learn more about Amanda Nisbet, her preferred SFERRA linens and her thoughts on everything from bedroom 'must haves' to seasonal essentials.

IN BED WITH Campion Platt

This week you can visit the SFERRA website to learn more about Campion Platt, his preferred SFERRA linens and his thoughts on everything from bedroom 'must haves' to the perfect breakfast in bed.

IN BED WITH Darryl Carter

For the past few months I have been working on a very exciting project with SFERRA called IN BED WITH...

Each week you can visit the SFERRA website to learn more about your favorite designers and their preferred SFERRA linens. They will be sharing their thoughts on everything from bedroom 'must haves' to how to set the perfect bed.

In the coming weeks and months you will hear from Barry Dixon, Hutton Wilkinson, Amanda Nisbet, Campion Platt, Malcolm James Kutner, Tammy Connor, Brad Ford, Jan Showers, Eric Cohler, Amy Lau and Robert Passal...stay tuned!

Ralph Lauren + SFERRA

Ralph Lauren Home announced last night that it has signed on with luxury linen company SFERRA. This new licensing agreement with SFERRA will take Ralph Lauren into the hotel, resort and spa market. The Ralph Lauren line will also be available to the company's own home stores, specialty store and high-end department stores.

SFERRA, a 120-year-old company, has expanded under president and principle Paul Hooker. "The opportunity to work with such a world renowned leader of fashion and exceptional taste is a natural for SFERRA," said Hooker in announcing the deal.


"We are thrilled to partner with SFERRA," said Frank Guzzetta, president of Ralph Lauren Home, "a world class company that has a genuine understanding of our brand and the luxury market."
 - Text from Home Textiles Today.

As the Brand Ambassador for SFERRA I could not be more delighted to see two fabulous companies coming together!

Image Ralph Lauren Home

Thank You Timothy Paul

A HUGE thank you to Mia and Timothy Worrell for hosting our most recent SFERRA Lose Count party. Their Washington, D.C., shop has a growing legion of fans, and for good reason—they both have an eye for the best. Timothy specializes in carpets, while Mia focuses her efforts on textiles, exclusive lighting and furnishings from the United States, Canada, and France. Their store really is the perfect backdrop for a party and SFERRA linens.

I also want to thank everyone who attended (despite a rainy start to the day) and my friend Malcolm for taking the train down from NYC at the last minute. It was especially fun to meet fellow bloggers and Terri Sapienza of the Washington Post.

We will be hosting additional parties in San Francisco and New Orleans in the spring. To learn more about Lose Count and great bedding tips click here.

Mia and Timothy Worrell, owners of Timothy Paul

Paul Hooker, SFERRA President; Ronda Carman; Aaron Stewart, Creative Director

Malcolm James Kutner and Aaron Stewart

Timothy Worrell, Meaghan Burdick, Marika Meyer

Paul Sherril and Jana Abel

Michele Ginnerty, Nester Santacruz, Barbara Franceski

Mary Early, Kathy Campanella, Amy Zantzinger

Ankie Barnes, Barry Dixon, Aaron Stewart

Joseph Ireland, Barbara Franceski and Malcolm James Kutner

Lindsey Nye and Katherine Boyle

Raji Radhakrishnan, Barry Dixon, Ronda Carman, Murali Narasimhan

Darrel Rippeteau, Kerry Putnam, Maegan Sweeney

Jeremiah Stapleton and Veronica Revilla

A Visit to DC and Elway Hall

The past few days have been a wonderful whirlwind! I flew to DC earlier this week to host a SFERRA party with Timothy and Mia Worrell at their beautiful bedding store Timothy Paul (photos to come). I was kindly invited by Mary Douglas Drysdale to stay at her home during my visit. It was such a treat to be a guest at the home of a designer whose work I have admired for more than 20 years.

Following the SFERRA party, Paul Hooker (President of SFERRA), Aaron Stewart (Creative Director), Malcolm James Kutner, (interior designer and my travel partner in crime) and I followed Barry Dixon to his home, Elway Hall, in Fauquier County for a late night supper and overnight stay.

Hands down Barry Dixon and his partner Michael Schmidt are two of the most gracious hosts that I have ever encountered. The 20,000-square-foot Elway Hall, which Dixon bought with his partner Michael in 1991, is a sprawl of rooms, libraries and bedrooms. There are no less than 17 fireplaces and 10 bedrooms . However, despite the size, Michael and Barry have created a a warm and welcoming family home.

The house was built in 1907 by West Virginia senator Johnson Newlon Camden, who partnered with John D. Rockefeller to start Standard Oil. The house was built for his only daughter, Annie Thompson Camden, and her husband, Gen. Baldwin Day Spilman.

In addition to being guardians of a magical historic home, Barry and Michael raise chickens, goats, llamas and a turkey. Before departing yesterday morning we went on an ATV ride to explore their 400 hundred acres of rolling hills. I will take interior photos on the next visit. In the meantime you can visit Barbara Sallick's beautiful blog for more photos.

Dallas in Review

Even though I grew up in Texas, I have spent very little time in Dallas. Perhaps it was the ‘pretend’ Houston versus Dallas rivalry, but in truth the geographical distance (240 miles) is the most likely reason.

Making up for lost time I spent a wonderful four days in Dallas last month. Although my main reason for going to the Big D was to host a SFEERA event at Michelle Nussbaumer’s wonderful store Ceylon et Cie, several Dallasites pulled out all the stops—thank you!

On our first night in Dallas Jan Showers arranged for dinner at Fearing’s at The Ritz-Carlton. Named “Restaurant of the Year” and “Table of the Year” by Esquire Magazine in 2007 and number one in Hotel Dining in the U.S. by Zagat in 2009, Fearing’s has received accolades from The New York Times, Newsweek, Food and Wine, Texas Monthly, and Modern Luxury. Long known as the “Father of Southwestern Cuisine” iconic chef Dean Fearing did not disappoint! Dean’s tortilla soup is sublime.


Fearing's is a short walk from The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton; a new luxury high-rise designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects. Before dinner, Jan unveiled a 2,490-square-foot masterpiece that she designed for The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton (in her ‘traditional with a glamorous edge’ style). I will have photos tomorrow, plus a tour of her store and a profile later this week.

The next evening was our SFEERA party hosted by Michelle Nussbaumer. Michelle’s 10,000-square-foot antiques emporium Ceylon et Cie, brims with one-of-a-kind vintage finds. Truly, I would spy something new every time I turned around—my kind of place! The day before our party Michelle was in Houston speaking at the Decorative Center. In true Michelle fashion, she convinced Carolyn Englefield (Veranda Editor At Large) to come back to Dallas for the festivities.


The next afternoon Jennifer Pickens, author of Christmas at the White House, hosted a tea at her beautiful University Park home. Jennifer is a most gracious hostess and I loved hearing her stories about conversations with Letitia Baldrige. Jennifer is now working on another book—pets and the White House. I can’t wait for this one.

A huge thank you to everyone who came to Ceylon et Cie for the SFEERA event and to all who played host—you are all the best. You can see more photos from the event here.














Photos by Jason Wynn