Reader Question: where do you find table linens?

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The most popular reader question I have received lately is where are you moving?!  

I'm going with another question for now: where do you get all your pretty tablecloths?

The truth is that I just keep my eyes open at every store.  You never know, you just might find something amazing at Safeway if you are looking.  I also do a lot of antique shopping and I love to peruse garage sales.  The older the house, the better linens you will find.  If you are on a tight budget (aren't we all?!), then I would definitely recommend just checking here and there to see what you can find.  But it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with beautiful linens so you know what to look for.  Here are some of my favorite designers for colorful table linens:

April Cornell is amazing - a little pricey, but if you are looking for good quality and beautiful colors she has it.

Cath Kidston I know I have mentioned her before, but she is a really great designer.  She has beautiful tablecloths, as well as pretty fabric that you can use to make your own.

Danica Imports is a wholesaler to keep your eyes open for.  They do have a list of sellers on their webpage.

If you want to make your own table linens, you can find some fun fabric at Heather Bailey or Amy Butler.  Etsy has some already made tablecloths from Amy Butler fabric.

Another brand to keep on your list is Xochi.  I believe the local Moscow TriState and the Coop sell Xochi brand.

And, of course, if you have kids, check out Oilcloth.  They come in beautiful, fun colors that you can wipe off and you never have to iron!

Meg

While I was pretty disappointed with the outcome of the latest Design Star season, I do love Meg's style.  We have a lot in common when it comes to color aesthetic.  Look at the kitchen she just redid.

Before:

 After:

I'll take two for my kitchen, please!

Ever since I saw this pendant I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.  It's the perfect balance of pretty and heavy.  The bubbled glass gives off a beautiful, sparkly light that isn't too sharp.  If you're looking for the right light to hang over a kitchen island, this would be a beautiful choice.  I would pair it with a cool palette that has a slightly nautical inspiration.

Kitchen Idea

This is a great kitchen combo - it has the perfect balance of modern, traditional, and country. I would probably have gone with a little stronger color on the wall since there is so much light. But I do love the subway tile paired with the stainless appliances, white cabinets, wood floors, and pale granite counter tops. I also love how the window is right over the sink - it's a pain to clean, but it makes washing dishes much more pleasant. I have a similar set up in my kitchen and I do basically all my work right next to the sink. I'm convinced that the more windows I have in my kitchen, the better my food will taste. :)

Open Shelves

This is such a cheap and easy way to renovate your kitchen. Open shelving is very modern, but you can add some cute brackets to change up the style. It's great for a small space, especially if you have cute dishes.

I'm knob shopping

I think the second ones are my favorites, although they do make quite a statement, I need something to tie together all my kitchen colors.

Backsplash

I could really go for a back splash like this - perhaps a little more glassy. I love the contrast of the intricate tile with the exposed beams and the industrial stainless steel.

Some sort of kitchen craziness

Is this a space ship or a kitchen? Are those alien or pendant lights? As crazy as it is, I think I love this kitchen. It might have something to do with the palm tree out of that huge window over the sink....but I also love the green glass counter on the island, the super shiny back splash, and the light fixtures. I'm not too crazy about the cabinets, and the floor looks like it would be a headache to keep clean. But whether or not you love this kitchen, I think we have to agree that the designer made a great decision in the wood finish on the island. The intensity of the other colors is toned down by the natural element.

Kitchen Inspiration

How is it possible that I have spent the last 3 days looking at pictures of kitchens and this is the only one I have found that I would put into my house? I'm such a pick about kitchens! I like alot of shine, but not too industrial. I like the colors of country kitchens, but I hate anything that looks like it might possibly have old dirt on it. I love beautiful backsplashes, but hate it when there is too much going on with other colors and textures - I like to be able to see the food in the kitchen. I love white cabinets, but they can be boring sometimes. I guess I'll just have to go and design my own kitchen instead of copying someone else's design...duh.

Of course, I wouldn't mind seeing this little cute thing in the corner of my kitchen...

The Kitchen Sink

We have a huge window over our new kitchen sink - I mean huge! Our entire family could crawl out half of it at the same time and still have plenty of room. If anyone ever wants to see me doing dishes, just drive by. I spend a lot of time there. I love having the window, but it definitely draws attention to my duddy faucet. I'm dreaming of the day when I can install a gorgeous apron sink like this one, and a new faucet - something similar to this shape but a different color and I'm not a big fan of the double knob in the kitchen.

Turquoise and Red

When I was engaged, I chose red and turquoise as my colors. I thought it was so clever and original, and I love to combine warm and cool colors for a cheerful palette. But the January issue of Martha Stewart (the month I got married) featured everything in turquoise and red. I recently ran across this kitchen, renovated by a young couple who bought a 100-year-old house in Ohio. The cabinets are actually original to the house, and the walls are painted "Aquatint" from Sherwin Williams. The colors are definitely intense, but if you love turquoise and red, you will love this kitchen.

Kitchen Inspirations

My favorite kitchen

This has been my all time favorite kitchen for years. I think the thing that I love most about it is the color palette - light greens and turquoise with accents of red. It has inspired much of the decor in my own kitchen. It is so bright and clean. I love using cool backdrops for a room but adding a pop of warm color.