Category: How To Guides
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How do Italian Men Shave?
What is about those Italian guys, always so smooth, suave, and charming? It might have something to do with the shave: Italian men take shaving very seriously. The Romans were cleanly shaven and regarded everybody else barbarians — literally, someone with a beard. During the Middle Ages, barbers in Italy were trusted confidants and advisers, like…
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What is Cashmere?
You hear a lot about luxurious cashmere blankets, scarves, sweaters and more. But what exactly is cashmere, and what makes it so luxurious? The experts at Sferra explain: Cashmere is wool from the Cashmere goat. The majority of the world’s Cashmere today comes from China and Mongolia, with the finest found in the Gobi Desert…
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The Inside Scoop on Merino Wool
Many of our wool products are made with merino wool. We’re often asked what it is, and if it’s better than regular wool. What is special about merino wool? We asked the experts at Sferra, and this is what we learned: Merino sheep have some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep. Merino…
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Easy Care Decorating Solutions with Dash & Albert Rugs
Massachusetts based company Dash & Albert makes rugs in every style and pattern you can dream up. Their cotton rugs, like the Garden Stripe Woven Cotton Rug, are so versatile they look great in a sunny beach cottage, a traditional home, or a modern apartment. Their wool rugs, like the Gypsy Rose Wool Hooked Rug,…
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Why Should I Use a Mattress Pad?
You can certainly get a good night’s sleep without one, but having a mattress pad adds a little extra luxury to your bed. And isn’t that something we could all use? Sferra recently gave us the lowdown on mattress pads: It offers extra cushioning, enhancing the overall comfort of the mattress. You experience the added…
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The Secret Behind Sferra’s Easy-Care Tablecloths
Some of our most popular table linens are the easy-care Orchard and Juliet collections from Sferra, and for good reason. They feel so soft they are often mistaken for pure cotton and they don’t require ironing – perfect for the busy hostess. We’re often asked about how they work. What’s so special about them that makes…
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Engineering for Happiness: Why Design Matters
Most designers tell you they learned to appreciate design at an early age. I did not. I learned to appreciate the value of design on the job — specifically, the job sites where Carolina and I renovated or built five different houses over a ten year period. When we’re planning a house, we’re often trying…
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Design for the Analytically Minded
I am not a designer. But I’ve learned a lot about design, and I’ve grown to love it. I’m probably your poster child left-brainer. I went to Wharton and worked as a fund manager, managing investments for pension funds, central banks, foundations, and hedge funds. I’ve also been writing software since I was eleven, and…
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What is Pique?
Our Marco bedspread from Sferra has a small diamond pique pattern that is simply classic. What is pique, you ask? Sferra explains: Piqué (pronounced “pee-kay”) fabric is characterized by raised designs – cords, waffles, or patterns. Technically, piqué fabric is known as a double-cloth, with the unique texture achieved by weaving two layers of fabric,…
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What is a Hemstitch?
Hemstitching is a very elegant addition to many types of linens, from bedding to tablecloths. Sferra explains the technique: A hemstitch is a decorative drawn threadwork technique. A section of parallel threads are removed from the fabric and the remaining perpendicular threads are grouped together with additional thread to make small ornate holes. Despite its…