» » » » » When Your Own Initials Are . . .

Bottega Veneta is responsible for the phrase "When Your Own Initials Are Enough," and I thought initials - specifically monograms - would be a good topic for Mother's Day (Sunday, May 11). Some of us have been fortunate enough to receive or inherit monogrammed silver or linens from our mothers, grandmothers, mothers-in-law or grandmothers-in-law. Monograms, which are especially popular here in the South, offer a creative way to celebrate your family. You can feature your initials in so many styles and colors - in a large applique on a bed or as a discreet monogram sewn inside a coat. I recall staying at an in-law's house and opening the bathroom cabinet to find shelves and shelves of white towels - all bearing monograms embroidered in different thread colors. 

"Truly custom — every piece is cut and sewn to order. Delcambre Monogrammed Napkin in Ocean with embroidery in Wild Pink, 22" square, Leontine Linens."
Photography: Lara Robby/Studio D.
House Beautiful (May 2013).  

" 'Jane Scott Hodges, the founder of Leontine Linens, does the greatest monograms. Monogramming is an old-fashioned art, but one that ought to be kept alive forever.' " - Charlotte Moss.
Photography: Lara Robby/Studio D.
House Beautiful (March 2012).

"A warm invitation to dine with colorful linens, china, and flowers." 
Photography by Paul Costello from Linens: For Every Room by Jane Scott Hodges, founder of Leontine Linens. (Rizzoli).

"A batik tablecloth in warm jewel tones is accented with a turquoise version of Leontine's Addison monogram." 
Photography by Paul Costello from Linens: For Every Room by Jane Scott Hodges, founder of Leontine Linens. (Rizzoli).

 "Silver monogrammed flatware is from Christofle, which designed Penny and her husband’s monogram when they married. That design is also engraved on mint julep cups used for water, an idea she borrowed from her wedding in Paris.'We use that monogram on everything, from our linens to our stationery,' she says. As formal French table etiquette dictates, flatware faces downward. "
Manhattan apartment of designer Penny Drue Baird. 
Design by Penny Drue Baird.
Photography by John Bessler.
Written by Krissa Rossbund.
"Saint-Tropez-Inspired Dinner" produced by Erin Swift.

 "Vintage printed linens from Hermès enhance Royal Copenhagen’s hand-painted superstar pattern “Flora Danica.”  Penny discovered the pierced pottery chargers years ago in Provence and bought them in two colors."
Manhattan apartment of designer Penny Drue Baird. 
Design by Penny Drue Baird.
Photography by John Bessler.
Written by Krissa Rossbund.
"Saint-Tropez-Inspired Dinner" produced by Erin Swift.

"Bright flowers freshen the blue toile wall covering from Duralee. A porthole mirror hangs above."
1890s Capitol Hill (Washington, D.C.) row house of Karen and Winfield Sealander.
Architectural and interior design by Mary Douglas Drysdale.
Photography by Ron Blunt.
"Before and After: Capitol Hill Renovation" written and produced by Amy Elbert.
Traditional Home (March 2012). 

"Dainty details, like monogrammed chair backs, lend charm to the bedroom."
1930s house in Buckhead section of Atlanta.
Interior design by Will Huff and Heather Zarrett Dewberry, Huff-Dewberry, Inc. 
Photography by Emily Jenkins Followill.
Written by Amy Elbert.
"Pastel Palette in an Historic Home" produced by Lisa Mowry.

Leontine linens.
Photography by Erica George Dines from Linens: For Every Room by Jane Scott Hodges, founder of Leontine Linens. (Rizzoli).

 "In an upstairs bedroom, a chair is slipcovered in antique linen sheets that still bear the monograms of their original owners."
Conductor William Christie's restored estate in the French countryside.
Photography by Simon Watson.
"A 16th-Century French Countryside Estate" by Melissa Biggs Bradley.
House Beautiful (October 2013).

" 'The master bath is truly feminine,' [designer Christina] Murphy says, 'a serene and pretty oasis.' Glossy pale pink walls pick up on the pale pink accents in the marble tile from Complete Tile. Tub from Wetstyle's Cube collection. [The pink monograms on the white towels relate to the pink in the window treatment, as well.]"
 Interior design by Christina Murphy.
Photography by Jonny Valiant.
"A Colorful Park Avenue Apartment" by Emily Evans Eerdmans.

" 'Monograms can be as discreet as a subtle, single initial on the tucked corner of a handkerchief or as bold as a twelve-inch focal point in the center of the sham,' " says Jane Scott Hodges, founder of Leontine Linens, "of the embellishment she describes as 'particularly dear to her heart.' "
Photography by Paul Costello from Linens: For Every Room by Jane Scott Hodges, founder of Leontine Linens. (Rizzoli).



Leontine Linens on the bed: "A simple white percale French case with gorgeous Frances monogram in jewel-toned shades of blue and green."
Charlottesville, Virginia, home of Christy Ford, co-founder of The Scout Guide.
Photography by Patrick Cline.
Art direction by Michelle Adams.
"Calm, Cool and Collected" written by Robert Leleux.
Lonny (May 2012).

"In homage to the charming all-over floral rooms in many traditional Provencal hotels, the guest room's padded walls and headboard are covered in Le Manach's Balmoral with lampshades to match. A tiger pillow leans against bed linens by Leontine Linens."
Locust Valley, New York, home of Ellen Niven and her family.
Interior design by Ellen Niven.
Photography by Simon Watson.
Styled by Gregory Bissonnette.
Interview by Douglas Brenner.
"At Home at Every Age: Building a House" produced by Doretta Sperduto.
House Beautiful (May 2014).


"The master bedroom’s bed was custom made by Shaka Studios, the sheets and coverlet are by Badgley Mischka Home, and the monogrammed shams are by Leontine Linens."
Kentucky home of Mark Badgley and James Mischka.
Photography by Roger Davies.
"At Home With Badgley Mischka" by Julia Reed.
Elle Decor (September 2009).

 Regarding monograms - Kelli: "They add such a nice, personalized touch to the bedroom—a sense of old-world elegance and luxury. You can be conservative and stick with the color scheme of the room, which is always nice, but then you can also pick out a secondary accent color that's a bit more daring. The color palette in my bedroom—the white and the beige and the taupe—is obviously very neutral, so we thought it would be exciting to bring that shade of purple into the mix."
Kirsten: "Remember that you can also change out the colors with the seasons, so maybe you'd do a red or gold for the holidays and a bright yellow or green for the summer. You can change the complexion of the room by changing the colors of the monogram."
Interior design by Kirsten Fitzgibbons and Kelli Ford.
Photography by Max Kim-Bee.

"A restrained palette of gray, raspberry, and cream balances the grandly scaled silk ikat, Nirvana from Lee Jofa, on the master bedroom's walls."
Interior design by Christina Murphy.
Photography by Jonny Valiant.
"A Colorful Park Avenue Apartment" by Emily Evans Eerdmans.

"The combination of preppy and Southwestern seems so well suited to the room, which feels very personal, very real. I love the graphic quality of the monograms, but doing your entire bed in the motif can be overkill and deeply unsexy. Go for an interesting blanket instead of a duvet or coverlet."
Photography by Paul Costello.
"Make(over) Your Bed with Sara Ruffin Costello" produced by Sara Ruffin Costello and Ellie Somerville McNevin.

"The preppy monogram gets a salsa lesson from Nantucket Monogram, kicking up its spirited heels in bright colors. Casual bracelets Lulu found at a discount store serve  as napkin rings that guests can wear home."
Design by Lulu Powers.
Photography by Luca Trovato.
Written by Krissa Rossbund.

"A monogrammed napkin coordinates with an Hermes scarf cleverly used as a table topper."
Leontine Linens.
Photography by Paul Costello from Linens: For Every Room by Jane Scott Hodges, founder of Leontine Linens. (Rizzoli).

 "An eggplant placemat is appliqued with a border of coral and paired with Leontine's Chopstick monogram for an unforgettable table bathed in color."
Leontine Linens.
Photography by Paul Costello from Linens: For Every Room by Jane Scott Hodges, founder of Leontine Linens. (Rizzoli).
"Personalized place cards make guests feel special. Brass place-card holders by Jenny Kompolt through Maison au Naturel. Calligraphy and monogram artwork from Allison R. Banks Designs."
Party planners: Catherine Bailly Dunne and Tanis McGregor of Door Couture.
Photography by Mark Edward Harris.
"Mother's Day Luncheon" written by Krissa Rossbund.
07:35
, , ,

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
 
Top