The Washington Post - 01.08.2019

7

MD

the washington post

.

thursday, august

1

,

2019

Jane Scott

Hodges, found-

er and owner

of Leontine

Linens, joined

staff writer

Jura Koncius

last week for

our Home

Front online

chat. Here is

an edited excerpt.

Q: What size napkins do you

traditionally use? And do you

change the size based on the

event or time of day?

A: I mostly use 22-by-22-inch

napkins — no matter the event or

time of day. For a while, oversized

“lapkins” were all the rage, but

they can make place settings too

crowded. It’s easier to work with

a traditional size.

Q: I am interested in buying my

first set of table linens. Where

should I start?

A: Start with cocktail napkins.

There is less pressure to decide.

They don’t need to match your

china or dining room. Have fun

with color and do a few sets.

These are the perfect

conversation starter when you

deliver your guest a drink.

Q: I see so many stunning table

settings, some with place mats,

some with tablecloths, some with

both. What’s your preference?

A: I love to use a hand-block-

print tablecloth paired with

monogram napkins for a great

juxtaposition of high and low. I

wouldn’t use place mats on top of

a tablecloth — I find a tablecloth

better suits a buffet dinner,

whereas place mats work best for

a seated dinner.

For place mats, I love a 15-by-

15-inch-square mat. Square place

mats are such a wonderful piece

for any table setting; they frame

round plates beautifully and

allow you to fit more people

around the table.

Q: Design magazines show some

overloaded beds. Is there a

formula?

A: So many clients say their

partners get furious about the

“pillow removal ritual” nightly.

We recommend what’s best for

your lifestyle, but maybe a fun

rule of thumb is two Euros on a

queen bed with sleeping pillows

behind them if you don’t have a

short headboard; if you do, go

with standard sham size. Add a

boudoir pillow with your

monogram or a neck roll with

your monogram.

Q: For table linens that work with

all different seasons and china

patterns, which colors would

work best?

A: Go classic. An ivory

hemstitched napkin with a gold

monogram is the little black

dress of the tabletop. It gives

warmth to the table and is not as

stark as white on white.

Q: I always use my nice china and

silver and monogrammed napkins

for a formal dinner, but sometimes

I like to bring a little boho in with

the fancy. What’s your advice for

how to mix it up a little?

A: I totally agree with bringing the

tone down but still showing your

guests that extra care was taken to

make them feel welcome. I really

like the idea of colored table linens

(rather than white hemstitch) to

achieve this. Think about dressing

your table as you dress yourself.

The fun is in the mix!

Q: How long should a quality

sheet set last? I assume sheets

outlast towels. And even good-

quality towels wear out after a

few years.

A: I think they last longer if you

rotate the sets. You can’t expect

sheets laundered weekly to last

forever. So either expect them to

wear out in three years or invest

in several sets to rotate. Please

launder sheets alone and towels

alone.

Q: Which pieces should I start

with to redo my bedding?

A: To get the most bang for your

buck, update the top of your bed.

This means a blanket cover and

shams.

Q: I love to give people

monogrammed linens as wedding

gifts, but a sheet set or full set of

napkins is often out of my price

range. Any recommendations for a

great linens gift within a normal

price range?

A: Brides are really into the idea

of heirloom linens; many call the

shop about registering. A

beautiful set of linen hand towels

with a monogram or cocktail

napkins makes a thoughtful gift.

Q: What tips do you have for

properly washing fine-linen

napkins? Do you have a

recommended detergent?

A: Try not to panic when you see

your guests spill red wine on your

napkins or wipe off lamb au jus

across their chin. Linen has been

around forever and is best

washed gently in cold water.

After guests leave, rinse it

through and maybe add salt to

the wash cycle — please, no

bleach. I like Tide Free and

Gentle or any simple and

unscented products. There are

specialty washes from brands

such as Le Blanc or the

Laundress, too.

Q: What linens are on your bed?

Do you rotate them?

A: My bed has as many

ensembles as I do in my closet. I

love having the option to change

things up and mix and match sets

and colors. Right now, I’m

favoring a lavender set, with an

embroidery monogram and

appliqué border. I love the mix of

the two design elements — the

monogram for a finer detail and

the border for a bolder statement.

Q: I like the look of a table runner

instead of a tablecloth. But our

dining table is made of soft wood,

and I worry that if it’s not fully

protected, we’ll get nicks or water

rings on the tabletop. Is there a

compromise that’s pretty but

safe?

A: I always recommend a felt

liner for both table runners and

place mats. A felt liner protects

the table.

Q: Do you prefer a buffet or food

served at the table “Downton

Abbey” style for a sit-down

dinner? Can I do place settings

and place cards and still do a

buffet?

A: I prefer what the occasion

calls for! If “Downton Abbey”

works in your home, by all means

do that. But serve fried chicken.

Guests always love a surprise. Let

them know you don’t take

yourself so seriously. I like a

buffet. It works for so many

reasons: People can come and go,

a no-show is not a fiasco, and —

my favorite — you don’t have to

sit by the same person all night!

Q: I love nice sheets and bedding,

and visiting someone with a

luxurious guest room or a fine

inn with a delicious bed is a real

treat. Can you go through the

layers they would have?

A: I recommend starting with a

nice set of sheets; percale or

sateen are my favorites. Percale

has a nice crispness and sateen

more of a silky finish. After the

sheets, I use a thin down blanket

— it is a nice weight for year-

round use and not bulky like a

traditional down duvet insert.

For the top of bed I always use a

blanket cover. If you prefer a

more traditional inn-style bed, I

would do an over-the-pillow-

length coverlet to hide the

sleeping pillows and one or two

accent pillows in the front. For a

guest bedroom, I tend to go with

a more simple approach, making

it easy on the guest.

Q: Some sheet/bed linen start-

ups advertise 800-thread-count

sheets. Does it really mean a

higher-quality sheet? And for

someone who buys good-quality

sheets but likes a crisp rather

than satin finish, is there a high-

thread-count percale sheet?

A: Thread count is no longer a

reliable indicator. Your sheets

and pillowcases are the elements

of your bed that you have the

most contact with, so the touch

and feel of the fabrics are of the

utmost importance. Focus on the

type of fabric and weave. Cotton

percale is cool and crisp, while

cotton sateen is soft and smooth.

Pure linen is starchy but will

soften with age and use, while

silk has a luxurious look and feel.

Q: When you entertain, what is

your process for designing a

table?

A: The fun part for me is thinking

about how to use the items I have

collected along the way.

Sometimes a container or object

purchased on a trip reminds you

of the travel.

I start by pulling out the china

I want to use, then the linens.

Next, I go to my “prop closet”

(a.k.a. my pantry) and see what

works. I believe if you think of it

as dressing yourself, you open up

to different looks.

[email protected]

 Also at washingtonpost.com

Read the rest of this transcript and

submit questions to the next chat,

Thursday at 11 a.m., at

live.washingtonpost.com.

LIVE Q&A

Linen guru Jane Scott Hodges on dressing your bed and table

Jane Scott

Hodges

JOSH BRASTEAD

Hodges likes to use square place

mats for seated dinners.

Home

MAIL AZIMA

If you want to redo your bedding and get the most bang for your buck, update the top of your bed.