Can a solid colored fabric have ‘story’? Well, of course it can! Even a solid color without texture has story because colors evoke feelings and memories, and those are two elements that are critical for story. Color is intimately connected to imagery.
Color is also one aspect of how we define ourselves. It is part of our identity. Ask any man, woman, or child their favorite color and they will have an answer. No one ever says, “I don’t know”. Everyone has a favorite color.
Mine is aquamarine. I have a built in homing signal for that color. Whenever I see anything in that color, I’m immediately drawn to it. Consequently, my bedroom is decorated in that color, the walls in my living room are painted that color, even my first car was that color. Come to think of it, I just bought a vase from a little shop in Paris and it was in that color.
Because color is so personal, it’s also the first décor element a bride thinks about when she starts planning her wedding. What colors will the flowers be? What colors will the bridesmaid dresses be? And of course, what colors will the linens be?
Color says so much about a person that I can tell if they’re adventurous, romantic, traditional, daring, fun, or unconventional, just by the colors they select for their linens.
Now add a bit of texture to color, and maybe a little bit of sparkle and you have a fabric that has great story. We called it ‘Hamptons’. This fabric conjures up images of sophistication, just because of its simplicity. It’s a natural organic weave with tiny threads of silver woven through it. It’s for the bride who is totally confident in ‘less is more’. Quiet and understated, yet totally memorable.
It’s the season for glittering gold and white wedding inspiration, as yesterday’s sparkling metallic inspiration can attest! Today we have a gorgeous real wedding to inspire, with some of the most talented wedding professionals in the Bay Area. There’s nothing quite like seeing an event come seamlessly together, from the location, the floral design, and, of course, the linens! The fabulous Simple Little Details pulled double duty as the Event Planner and Designer for Tamara and Dan’s glamorous Gatsby inspired wedding. She worked with the amazing floral team at Asiel Design to create a look that captured the glamour and romance of the 1920’s blended with the couple’s elegant modern style.
The Mediterranean inspired villa at Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery was the perfect location for their reception – guests were greeted in the grand entrance hall by tables draped in our sparkling Paris Gold linens and covered in luxurious feather quills with their table numbers. Cocktail hour took place in the Sun Garden, while Tamara and Dan took portraits in the surrounding vineyards with Jake and Necia Photography. Champagne hued Lamour Cashmere linens on the cocktail tables picked up the delicate neutral tones in Tamara’s bridesmaids’ gowns and their bouquets, while hinting at the drama and glamour inside.
We could not have been more excited for this wedding, since Tamara and designer Taleen were the first to use our floor-length Cleo Gold overlays on all the guest tables! The intricate gold overlays added gorgeous sparkle to the white house linens, topped with elegant gilded glassware, Lamour Cashmere napkins tied with pearls, and elaborate white and cream centerpieces by Asiel Design. The long head table, draped in sparkling Paris Gold sequin linens, was bordered with Asiel’s signature manzanita and orchid arrangements to make a gorgeous statement in the Great Hall. The glamorous ivory and gold wedding cake by Jen’s Cakes, alternating brushed metallic tiers with ivory fondant adorned with gumpaste pearls and orchids, sat nearby on a tall table set with more Paris Gold and flickering candles!
The holidays are the perfect time to celebrate with sparkling metallic decor, but we love seeing these gorgeous hues all year round! When it comes to creating the perfect canvas for eye-catching table decor, it’s hard to go wrong with gold and silver. Add in a little sparkle and shine, and you’re all set! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite metallic weddings, from sequin-adorned wedding cake tables, glittering Sweetheart Tables, or matte metallics for the guests!
Gold
When it comes to picking just the right metallic, gold is king! We love seeing sparkling or matte gold linens paired with bright white or ivory flowers for an elegantly classic wedding, or with pops of bright color and black and white stripes for a fun, modern take!
The crisp sparkle of silver is an ideal fit for winter, but we love seeing the subtle glam of this shade any time of year. Warm colors make a lovely contrast against the sparkle of silver – pastels keep things sweet, while more vibrant hues in lush flowers or a satin napkin make a grand statement!
Rose gold has been all the rage, and we are still seeing the love for our glittering blush linens! Soft flowers in ivory and tone-on-tone pink create a romantic effect, while bright pops of coral, burgundy, or red offer a gorgeous contrast!
It surprises a lot of people that Napa Valley Linens is located in Emeryville and not in Napa. To be frank, that was never the plan.
In 2009, my husband and I were looking for a piece of property that would be an anchor for us, our children, as well as their children. We were both rootless and we needed a place that would nurture us. Our house in Lafayette, although lovely, was missing that critical element.
After countless trips to wine country, our real estate agent told us to pick the neighborhood where we wanted to live. So we did. We drove him to our ideal street. Our agent promised to write everyone on the street and ask if anyone wanted to sell. Months went by and we heard nothing. Then one day our agent called and told us he’d received a letter from an older couple who’d lived on the street for fifty-three years. Were we interested in taking a look? You bet we were! I instructed my husband on the drive over not to act excited if this was really “the one”. I didn’t want to diminish our negotiating position. He just shook his head and rolled his eyes.
When we arrived at the property, I was crestfallen. It was not what I hoped for or imagined. There sat a little 1950’s ranch house that had been expanded over the years with nothing more than a bit of ingenuity and some trips to Home Depot. I couldn’t see the back of the property for old equipment and broken down cars. But as I walked through the grassy field, a quarter horse approached me and nuzzled the back of my neck. At that very moment, I knew I was home. “This is it”, I said, in front of my husband and the real estate agent. So much for playing it cool.
The plan was to sell the house in Lafayette, and launch our business from Napa. But first we had to scrape all the shacks off the Sonoma property and bring the house up to modern standards. We cleared the property of debris, gutted the interior of the little ranch house, and by the time we finished, the housing market had collapsed and we had two properties and a growing business.
Like many entrepreneurs, I started my business from home and within a year of stuffing linens in every imaginable space, I needed a warehouse. So Napa Valley Linens became Napa Valley Linens of Concord and then it became Napa Valley Linens of Emeryville. Emeryville ended up being the perfect location for us because of its strategic location in the Bay area.
Over the years, we have debated whether to change our name, but by now we have morphed into our name. It’s who we are. It’s synonymous with our relaxed and elegant style. Our linens are not fussy, but they are beautiful, just like wine country.
And our house, well, it’s not fancy, just a tiny little fifties ranch house that sits on eight acres of pure heaven. It’s a blessing. A place that has the ability to restore you, revitalize you, calm you down, heal your hurts, and fix whatever’s broken in you. That part of the plan worked out perfectly.
Participating in an ISES showcase event is always a pleasure – it gives us a change to spend time with some of the wedding and special event industry’s most talented and dedicated professionals! Wedding and event pros are some of the most social, talented, and innovative folks that we have had the pleasure of meeting, and something new and unique is always the result when we get together. Today’s ISES Napa-Sonoma Showcase is no exception! Many thanks to Gina Petersen Photography for sharing these photos with us!
These events are always incredibly collaborative, and give us a chance to try fresh ideas that we’d love to share with our clients. Encore Events Rentals was behind the styling for this event, inspired by the rustic industrial vibe of a new wine country venue, The Barlow in Sebastopol. The vaulted ceilings, concrete floor, and wooden interiors didn’t call for anything fussy or traditionally feminine, and we loved the look that Encore put together with wooden farm tables, metal chairs, and some of our bold, patterned linens! The combination of Ankara Metal, Niya Black and Ivory, and Houndstooth Runners looked perfect in the modern, industrial space, complemented by black goblets and pierced metal candle holders for dramatic tabletop decor. Aimee Lomeli Designs created low floral arrangements in soft yellow and dusty green – coxcomb and fiddlehead ferns added modern elements to the floral design that tied them in beautifully with the table decor! In the courtyard outside, cocktail tables set with Faux de Soie Citron linens held rustic metal lanterns and succulent arrangements, perfect for guests enjoying the food truck and local wineries!
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