Our linen room, filled with both fine and everyday table linens, is truly a thing to experience. But if you can’t make it in person, our online selection is pretty great, too! Shop online by color or search by vendor, hurrah! We hope to see you soon either online or in the store. We’re located near the Bellevue Square Mall, on Bellevue Way NE just south of NE 12th Street.

Our question today comes from Janice in Bellevue. She wanted to know the best way to clean her Scandia down comforters. Scandia provides full-service cleaning and care for products. Contact them directly for services or give us a ring and we’ll help you connect with them!

Cleaning
As a rule of thumb, Scandia™ items only need cleaning every 2 to 4 years, depending upon the habits of the household. Duvet covers and pillow protectors should always be used and cleaned as often as necessary.

When it comes time for professional cleaning, our Scandia™ in-house experts will inspect the item for wear and then clean it in our facility built exclusively for this type of care. All down products will be washed, except where indicated. Silk will be dry-cleaned.

To read more about restoration and limits to their service offerings, see the full article on the Scandia website: http://www.scandiadown.com/cleaning.asp.

We here at Table Top and Home hope your day is filled with the hope Dr. King spoke about: “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

Scandia Down, our featured vendor this month, is also on sale. Stock up on pillows, down and down alternative comforters in every weight and size available.

It’s our only white sale of the year, and the perfect time to special order everything you need to carry you through the next twelve months.This discount cannot be used with other sale or promotional items, or items that are currently on special order.

We’re offering a special deal on remaining stock: get two bath, two hand and two washcloths for $39.90, while supplies last. Call the store for availability and to order: 425.454.7322.

Michael Aram scented candle with pine cone lid (many toppers available, call for details if you don’t see what you like)

Arte Italica’s butter or cheese plate with pewter lid and Match’s Luisa plates.

Match clock (round or square)  and “Tutto Possible” small box  (also available in “Carpe Diem“)

Match hourglass and frames

Arte Italica mini oval casserole dishes and butter dish, topped with farm animals (we love these!), Match clock and frames.

We’re also offering Christy Elegance Towels at 30% off. These towels are made of a high-grade cotton blended with fibers derived from the eucalyptus plant which gives these towels a unique light reflecting quality, a wonderfully soft feel and excellent absorbency. Stock is varied, so give us a ring to see if we have the colors and sizes you need: 425.454.7322.

I find list-making and bullet-points so calming and helpful, sometimes I will ADD something to the list that I’ve already done, just so I can check it off. Welcome to my world.

In honor of the season ramping up and this Monday being particularly busy: let’s make a list, shall we?

• The store is fairly bursting with new shipments of holiday and seasonal items. We even have a table set up entirely for hostess gifts. Whether you know what you want or you need a little inspiration, we’ve got you covered for your gift-giving needs. Seriously, people: our staff picks for gift-giving are amazing.
• This month is metal month at TT&H. And as we celebrate, we’ll be drawing your attention to our favorite metal vendors: Match, Vagabond House, Arte Italica, Michael Aram, Mariposa and Mary Jurek Design. Their stuff is stunning, timeless and even eco-friendly!
• We’ve got a winner on for our table top challenge. Check out Facebook on Tuesday for the results!
• We’re still accepting gift-giving challenges for our sales staff. Have someone who’s hard to please? Tell us about it and we’ll offer suggestions. If we profile you on the site, you’ll win a prize. How easy is THAT?
• When a vendor we work with decides to discontinue a product we carry, we love to be able to offer it at a reduced rate. Stay tuned later today for an announcement on Facebook about some amazing discounts on a few luxury tableware designs from Le Jacquard Francais and Christy Elegance Towels. These will go quickly, so be ready to shop online!
  

If you don’t already like us on facebook, you should today! That’s where we’ll announce our winners and sale items.

Ta-ta for now!

Oh, we had adventures: torrential rain, traffic, near misses and even a few mechanical issues. (And that was just the backseat!) It was quite a journey and by the time we arrived, the familiar smells, sounds and hugs were the antidote to my foul mood. It was all worth it. Completely.

I haven’t had a Thanksgiving with my side of the family in twelve years, a full year before my first child was born. My three girls have only ever known my husband’s side of the family; we are so lucky to have them, they are wonderful people. Despite the love and tradition on his side, I’ve always longed for my children to know my side of the family – quirks and all. A relocation this past year meant my family was within driving distance. I’ve been waiting a long time for this Thanksgiving to arrive.

When the table was set and the food presented, I helped myself to a fair portion of sentimental reflection. Our memories are tied to senses and mine reveled in the tastes, sights and sounds of my youth. Everything, from the way the food was cooked to my grandmother’s china, spoke to me of home.

As we enjoyed the feast, we played the “What are You Thankful For” game. But first we set a ground rule: the Big Three (health, family and friends) were off the table (too easy).

The predictable litany of work, kindness of strangers, food, etc. followed. When my aunt spoke, she described her love and gratitude for the new house and the ability to shut off entire portions of it through  the multitude of pocket doors she discovered after purchasing it last spring. And by “noises,” she meant grandma’s television. There’s only so much Judge Judy a person can stand. Who knew the elderly were so into sensational justice? “To pocket doors!” my aunt exclaimed as she thrust her glass into the air.

Grandma’s turn came and she was happy for the move, for family (we let her break the Big Three, she’s almost eighty) and to be able to use her favorite china.

Me: Grandma, I love these plates. What’s their story?
Grandma: Oh, these were Mimi’s. And I had to fight like hell to get them back.
Me: Mimi? She was grandpa’s mom, right?
Grandma: Yes, and she was a thief! A downright thief!
Me: Come on, grandma. Really?
Grandma: She wanted to borrow them but then she wouldn’t give them back. She stole them!
Me: Maybe she didn’t remember…
Grandma: Oh, she knew. (pause) Well, I showed her I guess.
Me: Yeah, I guess you did, Grandma. (slight pause) She’s dead and you got the plates!
Grandma: You’re damn right I did.

And without any rehearsal, everyone raised their glasses, “To Mimi!”

Isn’t family just grand?

Don’t forget: there’s still time to send us your holiday table images. Check out our facebook page and upload your table setting. We can’t wait to see what you came up with: fancy, artful, bohemian – we love them all!

And because we love you even more: we’re running our Cyber Monday special for all your luxury tableware, fine linen and holiday accessory needs. Enter the code “FunMon” at checkout on our website at TableTopandHome.com for a 20% discount!

If you’re like me, you’re well into holiday cooking prep. Today I made morning-after Thanksgiving cinnamon rolls, a pecan pie, a lovely corn casserole and ordered some herb and butter dinner rolls. And I’m not even cooking the main meal!

In the midst of the lead-in to Thursday, know that we’ve got you covered. There’s still time to pick up your fine holiday linens, serving ware, candles and napkin rings. And if you’re not hosting the celebration, don’t forget the all-important hostess gift! You absolutely can’t arrive without one!

Don’t forget to snap some pictures of your holiday table. We’re holiding a fun table top contest with reader-submitted images Friday – Tuesday next week. Our favorite table will get a prize. See our facebook page or this post for more details!

Come on down! Our store is located near Bellevue Square Mall,
on Bellevue Way NE just south of NE 12th Street. Regular store hours are:  Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm,  Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm (PST). (We’ll be closed for the holiday as we enjoy Turkey day with our families!)