We stopped into D. Porthault to look at linens for a client and fell in love. All of their prints are beautiful making it impossible to choose just one. They remind me of my grandmother’s beach house in the summertime. Classic and elegant- you can’t go wrong.
The Start of Something Good:
At the turn of the 20th century, Daniel Porthault opens a small lingerie boutique in Paris. In the Roaring Twenties, his wife Madeleine convinces him to expand into the undiscovered world of home couture. At a time when France and the world were sleeping on traditional white and ivory linen, Madeleine and Daniel introduce a new style of bedding ~ printed sheets. Inspired by her love of Impressionist art and the gardens at Giverny, and by her association with the fashion designer Maggie Rouff, Madeleine Porthault’s colorful sheets, adorned with dressmaker details, are an instant success… and D. Porthault is still here today with a countless number of chic fans ( Charles de Gaulle, Sir Winston Churchill, President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, the Duchess of Windsor – to name a few).
Photos from their shop at 470 Park Avenue:
Above: A selection of bed linens:
Top Left: Hand Embroidered Dahlia
Bottom Left: Tresse in Grey and Blue
Middle: Tigre Turquoise Sham and Rubans bolster
Above: The Demoiselle bed linens in white cotton sateen are one of my favorites. All the flowers are hand embroidered in cornflower, navy, pink, and cherry red.
Above: A selection of hand-printed cotton terry towels.
Bottom Left: Bath Towel- Jete De Fleurs Blue
Bottom Right: Parrot Beach Towel
A few more bath towels- I couldn’t resist:
Top Left: Etoiles
Bottom Left: Demoiselle
Center: Red Confettis
Top Right: Poise de Senteur
Bottom Right: Demoiselle pattern mixed with solid blue towels
Above: Contemporary table linens in confetti pattern ( shown in blue and turquoise) on white linen.
Above: This centerpiece must be seen to be believed. A safari right in the middle of your dining table! Made by Patrick Mavros, a man whose story is as unique as his work. He has not only created some of the most extraordinary silver sculptures in Africa, he has created around them an environment just as extraordinary, in which he lives and works. The workshops, the family homestead, the wildlife sanctuary, the offices and reception, together with his wonderful sales studio, are all built so as to form a small village on his estate in the wild hills outside Harare in Zimbabwe.
Visit his website to purchase your very own: http://www.patrickmavros.com/
A few of my favorite rooms with D. Porthault linens:
A Todd Romano designed room in blue- so much fun. This little room with a funny ceiling suddenly feels like the most special room in the house. As long as you ground the room with a solid bring in as many patterns as you like.
Rita Konig’s room in Domino- all soft and lovely with a soft punch in pink and orange on her D. Porthault euro shams
Howard Slatkin turns up the volume of his room with D. Porthault linens in blue. I love the mix of patterns in here.
Charlotte Moss used D. Porthault linens in her bedroom at the Kips Bay 2009 showhouse.
Visit the store or their new and improved website and get your fix today!
D. Porthault: http://www.dporthaultparis.com/www/
xo,
S