The Linen Doctor

Yesterday Mikhael Romain, a design editor from the magazine California Home + Design, came to the store to interview me on what’s new in table linens for Fall 2008. She wanted to see the newest, latest thing and I explained that fashions in table settings don’t change quite as quickly as clothing styles do. Fewer people set a fancy table these days or even use fabric table linens for every meal. When people do shop for table linens, it is most often for a holiday occasion or for an evening of entertaining.

Twenty or twenty-five years ago, customers would buy sets of coordinating print mats and napkins for the breakfast table and white linen damask or embroidered tablecloths for formal dinners. But lifestyles have changed. Now we sell a lot of hard mats (textured vinyl that resembles leather or straw cloth) in solid colors that can be dressed up or down depending on the choice of napkin.

Combine a hard mat with a striped cotton napkin and it works for casual meals. Dress it up with a linen napkin or a silk like synthetic and a beaded napkin ring, and it will serve for all but the most formal occasions.

That said, what’s new in table linens? Spice tones are always popular for fall and we have hard mats, napkins and cotton damask tablecloths in colors like pumpkin, paprika and topaz. Subtle metallic shades, such as pewter, bronze and antique gold are featured in table linens for the holidays.

Choosing table settings to complement your china or to coordinate with the dining room, rather than following the latest fashion color, is still our recommendation. Stop in the store anytime to see what’s new, and don’t forget to measure your table before you come. Maybe with the growth of the “Slow Food” movement, we will start gathering around the dining table again, instead of eating on the run.

Shelley Rideout
Buyer

The annual New York International Gift Show, held August 16-19, is so much bigger and grander than the comparable show recently held in San Francisco. Not only were the vendor booths in the At Home section held at Pier 94 and the Javits Convention Center much larger in size and more spectacular in presentation, but our main bedding vendors showed here (but not in San Francisco): Sferra, Matouk, Anali, Hamburg House, just to name a few. Many of our vendors, such as Yves Delorme and Home Source, showed in their permanent showrooms at 230 Fifth Ave.

Mai Tai

It was wonderful to be able to sit down with the owners of all of these companies, e.g., Nancy Koltes at Nancy Koltes and Paul Hooker at Sferra, and catch up on both our personal and business lives. Everyone agreed that the last year had been especially challenging and we brainstormed about what would be happening in the coming year, whether it is new display ideas or new merchandising programs.

Visiting other retail stores to see how they were displaying bedding is always interesting. Beds were made with coverlets with folded duvets with duvet covers at the end of the bed. We have always shown our duvet covers completely spread out so the customer can really see what they will look like. I wondered if that was a New York style since duvet covers aren’t really needed there in the warmer summer months.

Palatiane

I specifically went looking for organic sheets and came home with two samples, one from Sferra and another from a new company called Goldie Home, which is based here in San Francisco. We will now do some testing by actually using these samples and seeing how they feel and look after a few washings.

My favorite new bedding prints were Mai Tai from the 1891 Collection by Sferra and Palatiane by Yves Delorme. My favorite high end bedding line was Alanya, a jacquard duvet cover by Sferra, which we will stock shortly. In the home accessory category, I was quite impressed by a number of silk flower lines from Diane James Designs, Immortalis Botanicals, and New Growth Designs. They make such great accents anywhere in the home and look very real.

Alanya

Stumped for gift ideas for the hard to buy for name on your list? Don’t know what to buy your Aunt, boss, child’s teacher, mother-in-law? Scheuer Linens carries a wide range of gifts perfect for those people that are a challenge to buy gifts for.  

Here are some of our most popular Christmas gifts, each less than $35.

1. Christmas guest towels, 14”x22”, $10 each.

These cute 50% ramie linen/50% cotton guest towels are offered in 15 different embroidery patterns, all on white. Guaranteed to bring a smile to the recipient’s face (and yours as well).

2. Wine Towels, 12”x28”, $12 each. 

This is one of our most popular gifts, especially for anyone who likes wine (and who doesn’t like wine).  Available with one of the three sayings shown. 100% cotton, white pique with black printing.

3. Carpetbagger Purse Accessories, $9-$29.

A variety of accessories for the purse, all based on Turkish carpet designs. Coin purse 4”x4”, $9. Glasses case 3”x6”, $11. Jewelry rolls 7”x10”, $19. Wallet 7.5”x4.25”, $29. Mix and match the patterns for a fun, colorful gift that is also very practical and always appreciated. 

4. Lafco Soaps, Box of 3, $28.

These are the soaps that were recently featured on Oprah. Available in 14 different scents. Not only are these Portuguese soaps really great, but the packaging is very colorful and very gifty looking.
 

5. Vintage Door Knob Wine Stoppers, $31.

15 different knobs in stock. All one-of-a-kind in a variety of finishes and colors, including glass and distressed metal. This is really a great gift to give with a bottle of wine.

If you are interested in any of these items, just give us a call toll free at: 

1-800-762-3050.

We offer free gift wrapping and free shipping in the continental United States on any of these items through Christmas.

And don’t hesitate to call us if you are looking for something In particular. One of our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff will check our stock and if we don’t have it, we’ll call and try to get it for you.

In the tradition of my grandfather, the entire team at our San Francisco store takes pride in providing exceptional service. Sometimes you wonder if anyone notices, and then you get a letter like this — and it makes it all worth while.

October 22, 2007

Dear Mark,

It’s about time I sent you a letter expressing my profound gratitude to you for creating and running such a wonderful store. I’ve been a customer since 1978 (back when you were on Stockton right off the square.) Scheuer Linens is a gem of high quality goods; gorgeous merchandizing; and a beautiful, warm, aesthetic space - and the best service I have received anywhere. Your warm, gracious staff - most have been with you for years and years,  have always taken care of me which such care and knowledge (of your products) and down-to-earthiness, but without ever being obsequious (have you ever stayed at a Ritz-Carlton? Extremely attentive service but with a bit of a robotic vibe - which your staff thankfully doesn’t have!) Louis has especially been of great help to me over the years. I look forward to coming in and seeing him and buying from him. He has been such a great help to me, especially when I have bought a bed or expensive sheet sets - when the purchase has been an important one for me. (I’ve bought two beds from you.)

I so appreciate that you have persevered in running this very special store of yours for all these years. Things spin in and out too fast in this old world these days, and I’m grateful Scheurer hasn’t. Your store is a sort of touchstone for me. Thank you.

Very sincerely,

K. Carlson

If you are visiting our beautiful city of San Francisco, please stop in and say “hi”. We’d love to meet you and share our love of linens in person. We’re located near Union Square, 340 Sutter Street.