I don’t remember which magazine it was in, but I can still vividly recall the spread. It was an article about antique quilts from Provence, featuring a woman who had been collecting them for decades. She had stacks neatly folded in an old armoire and used throughout her home. I read and reread that article and pored over the pictures several times. I probably still have the magazine somewhere in the basement, in a bin of favorites I just couldn’t bring myself to recycle.
I loved the patterns, the muted colors, the simple quilted designs. They were lovely.
It was a similar magazine article that introduced me to ironstone over 25 years ago, but I didn’t have the same luck building a collection of Provence quilts. I don’t recall ever seeing one “in the wild” to even weigh purchasing it.
Photo via Textile Trunk on Instagram
Well, someone at Garnet Hill must’ve felt the same way about these French textiles as I did, and they designed reversible Provence-inspired quilts that will fit modern bed sizes and can be used, machine-washed, and tumble-dried.
Thank you to whoever did that!
I used to rearrange furniture regularly, but I have settled down in that department. I’ve moved on to changing out something that’s a little easier on the back – our bedding. I have come to really enjoy changing out the quilts and sheets as the seasons change, and I think this quilt is my new favorite. Let me walk you through the pieces…
I have a bunch of linen sheet sets for our bed, so I decided to get some cotton sheets this time. While linen is my favorite, I like switching out to cotton when it’s really hot, and I want a crisp, smooth sleeping surface. Linen is cooling, too, but it has a texture that feels similar to flannel when it’s softened by washing and wear. It’s nice to change it up now and then.
I went with striped sheets because my mom pointed out that striped sheets make it very easy to make the bed. Duh! I am always putting on sheets the “wrong way”, and we have to rotate them to get it right. With stripes, I get it right the first time. Also, I like adding a subtle pattern. THESE are the sheets I got.
Because the quilt is on the lighter side, I like to layer a feather duvet between the sheets and the quilt for added warmth. I am using THIS one.
I might be alone on this, but I also love the crunchy sound a good feather duvet makes. There is something very comforting about it to me.
Lastly, I added the quilt and shams. The little ruffle along the edges of both is such a sweet detail. HERE is the link to the quilt & shams.
Doesn’t the bedding look so sweet? There is snow on the ground, and it’s been frigid in my neck of the woods, but I look all ready for spring in here.
I made the blog print European shams a few years ago. The green velvet lumbar pillow is from HERE.
I tried the quilt both ways, but my favorite is the light green side.
Here’s a GIF showing the swap from one look to the other…
I’ll give you an update once we’ve used everything for a while. The sheets, quilt, and shams all did well through their initial washing.
Oh, and this quilt is available in several colorways if green/blue isn’t the palette in your room.
Disclosure: I partnered with Garnet Hill for an Instagram campaign and received the bedding as a part of that, but this blog post is not a part of that sponsorship. I just wanted to share it here for my non-Instagram readers.