Jan Showers Designer Bed at Peacock Alley Design Studio in Dallas

During the month of September, our stores are celebrating la dolce vita at our first ever Villa Italia Pop Up shop. We interviewed world renowned interior designer, Jan Showers, known for her glamorous approach to design, as well as Peacock Alley founder, Mary Ella Gabler. Learn more about their love of Italian design in our Taste Makers series. 

About Jan Showers: Dallas-based designer Jan Showers came to her signature style from diverse and unexpected inspirations, including movies and novels, contemporary and vintage fashion, art, architecture, fine antiques, and vintage pieces.   Jan’s furniture and lighting collection—first created almost 20 years ago—is available at showrooms throughout the US. Her magazine credits place her in the highest echelon of designers. They include Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Veranda, where she appeared in their “Best of the Best” issue, House Beautiful, InStyle, InStyle Home, Traditional Home, British Home and Garden, Harper’s Bazaar, and Luxe, which included her on their “Gold List”.

Q: You work with mills in Italy to create your signature lamps and lighting. What do you love most about working with Italian artisans?

JS: They are able to produce the most amazing wonderful textiles and glass, and they are truly artists.

Q: What Italian design elements can make a room feel classically Italian?

JS: I particularly like to use Murano glass accessories, mirrors and lamps. I don’t know what my look is to make a room look Italian, although I do like the “undecorated” European manner of putting a room together.

Q: What are some Italian experiences that have inspired a design moment in your work?

JS: Just spending time in Venice and on Lake Como is incredibly inspiring to me –the Italians love the most fabulous colors and are very creative. When I visit the factories in Murano, I always find some piece or technique that may open up to an entire new world or collection.

Bedding detail of Celso, a limited edition Italian yarn-dyed jacquard only at Peacock Alley and Angelina in Pearl.

Q: What staples to do you try to include when designing bedrooms?

JS: Of course, the most important thing is that the bedding be uber comfortable-what good does it do to have a gorgeous room and a bed that is not? I love to use soothing and comforting colors for walls and the bed linens.

Q: What Italian city do you most love to visit?

JS: Venice

Celso shams, Virtuoso Sheets and Angelina Pearl shams

Q: What are your best tips for refreshing your bed linens?

JS: Laundering them in a special wash that keeps them clean but is not harsh. Also, I love freshly and carefully ironed sheets.

About Mary Ella Gabler:  Long before “start up” became everyday parlance, Peacock Alley founder Mary Ella Gabler was on her way to establishing the luxury linen market in the US. Peacock Alley makes and sells bedding and bath linens that are simple, beautiful, and impeccably crafted. In 2013, she released her autobiography, which chronicles her rise to prominence from shattering the glass ceiling in the male-dominated halls of Wall Street to establishing the luxury linen market in the US. And thanks to her business savvy and trademark sophistication, she has also become a sought-after speaker. True to form, Gabler weaves one interesting story after another.

Q: What do you love most about working with Italian mills for Peacock Alley bedding?

MG: We’ve worked with our mills in Italy for such a long time and they are similar to Peacock Alley, in that they are small family-run businesses. The Italians tend to make a more specialized product and, like we do, take extreme pride in their craftsmanship.

Q: Is there something about bedding design that you believe Italians do better than anyone?

MG: Italians are masters of the finishing or what we call the “confectioning” of our products; the fine tuned details of what it takes to assemble a product.

Q: What Italian city do you most love to visit?

MG: That’s hard for me to say – I’m torn between Milan and Torino. Milan for the fashion and the culture. It is simply a fabulous city! Torino probably because of how I feel when I am there. We have such long-standing relationships with mills in the surrounding towns and so I especially love my visits there.

Biagio in Linen

Q: What is your favorite Italian yard-dyed jacquard that has been in the Peacock Alley line? What makes it so special?

MG: Biagio in Linen without a doubt. I am drawn to its clean lines and versatility – it can be mixed with so many hues of color and different patterns. It never disappoints!

Mary Ella Gabler’s and Jan Shower’s books are available to purchase at the following links: Uncommon Thread & Glamorous Rooms. Visit the Peacock Alley Design Studio to see this look and more during our Villa Italia event launching Thursday September, 15th-Saturday September 24th. at 1403 Slocum Street, Dallas Texas.

Follow these three tips to make the perfect bedding additions to match your current decor:

Tranquil and Relaxed:

Lizbeth seersucker duvet cover

Your bed doesn’t have to be the centerpiece of color, instead curate a relaxing and tranquil experience with an all-white bed. Monochromatic color schemes are a classic look, and investing in high-quality, durable linens will ensure a timeless, upscale feel that will endure through countless washes.

Texture and Dimension:

Braga blanket in Linen

Building texture with different knits, blankets, and shams will create an inviting, warm feel that can pull elements from the rest of the room for inspiration.  Take a look at new patterns and textures in the Peacock Alley Blankets  and our Coverlets page for more inspiration in adding depth to your design.

Various coverlets in White, Ivory and Linen colors

Color Play:

Use throws and pillows to match art and accessories in your decor for pops of color. By adding small details on a monochrome bed, your most treasured pieces will flow directly to the center of the room, providing a curated look of stunning, thoughtful design. Browse some of the decorative pillows at Peacock Alley for inspiration for color-matching.

Oliver Decorative Pillows

Majorca Pillow in Red

Mohair Throws in Gray, Spice and Navy

All Peacock Alley bath towels are loomed for performance and available in our six signature Peacock Alley Neutrals. A towel for every personality.

Chelsea Bath Towels

Chelsea
Good for the Modern Family. Everyone loves to swaddle in softness and the NEW Chelsea collection is fluffy, thick, and super-soft. New technology keeps its long loops from twisting, giving Chelsea its hefty hand that’s light as a feather and fast-drying.

Fanfare
A Hotel at Home. Experience the luxurious perks of a hotel bath and spa in 5-Star Style. Our Fanfare Towel Collection is designed with clean lines and a deep dobby border; the Terry loops of 100% long-staple cotton keep this extra-absorbent towel looking great after every wash.

Fanfare Bath Towel

Jubilee
You may be no-nonsense, but you still like refinement. Meet Jubilee, our signature towel that is anything but basic. It’s granite weave with a rich, striped border is thoroughly modern in its simplicity. It is ever-absorbent with a touch of “scruff” to smooth your skin, leaving you feeling more clean and refreshed.

Overture
Southern Charm and Hospitality is your defining characteristics. Enjoy modern-day performance, wrapped in old-school comfort and classic details. silky and soft, the Overture Collection has a velour front, backed with low-pile terry, Hemstitch detail accents and a deep-scalloped dobby.  This Southern classic also monograms like none other, making it uniquely you.

Jubilee Towels

Overture Hand Towels monogram impeccably!

Bamboo
If your zen of space is filled with creature comforts, Bamboo is the towel for you. Designed with the minimalist in mind, the Bamboo is plush, lush, and perfectly balanced. It’s terry loop construction is 60% rayon from bamboo, 40% cotton, and finished with a corded dobby border for high-performance absorbency.

Park Avenue
You love modern elegance that embraces the past. Park Avenue defines Urban and Chic, suitable for an pied a terre, boasting a retro damask pattern in a sculpted velour, reversing to terry. The ever-so-soft Park Avenue Collection is 100% staple cotton and finished with a handsome ribbed dobby, fulfilling your upscale, elegant taste and performance expectations.

Park Avenue Bath Towels

Uncle Joe’s Old Fashioned

• 2 to 3 teaspoons simple syrup
• 2 dashes bitters
• 2 slices of lemon
• 1 orange slice, quartered
• 2 maraschino cherries (one reserved for garnish)
• 2 ounces blended Canadian Whisky (Uncle Joe liked Seagrams V.O.)
• Splash of club soda

Combine simple syrup, bitters, lemon and orange slices, and one cherry. Muddle well. Fill glass with ice cubes. Add whisky and stir. Top with a splash of club soda and garnish with remaining cherry. Enjoy!

–Mary Ella Gabler | Uncommon Thread

This event is incredibly important to us as a portion of the proceeds goes directly to Dwell with Dignity –a nonprofit agency dedicated to creating soothing, inspiring homes for families struggling with homelessness and poverty.  

This Spring night was filled with terrific music, food and friends.. We are proud to be a company of individuals who give back to the community. Thank you so much to everyone who came, we hope to see you all out again next year!

This past September, Better Homes & Gardens featured their renovated Mid-Century modern home located in the Park Cities area of Dallas. The article features details of their home, clean, modern looks with layers of treasures picked up during travel and generations of family photos. Meredith refers to her personal style as “gypsy chic” . View images and the full article below.

Used with permission from Better Homes and Gardens® magazine. ©2015 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

Leslie, Linda and Manuel

What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received?

Linda: “Welcome the task that makes you go beyond yourself”

Manuel: Shortly after I joined Peacock Alley, Mary Ella said to me: You will make mistakes… learn from them and move on

Leslie: It’s never wrong to do the right thing.

Lizbeth Duvet Cover and Shams pictured with the Amelia Blanket and Ava Sheeting

What has been the most rewarding part of creating this collection?

Linda: Seeing this come to life through collaborative efforts – from the first mention of an idea that included the word “heirloom” to the development, marketing and ultimately the positive reaction in the marketplace.

Manuel: Seeing it evolve from just a concept in our minds to a full collection that is becoming very important to our brand and represents well what Peacock Alley is all about: classic luxury

Leslie: This was a true team effort, as is all of our development. Seeing this collection come to life and seeing peoples’ reactions has been very rewarding for everyone. The product traits that Peacock Alley is known for really come to life in this collection…when someone looks at the collection, they can’t help but touch it.

Ava Sheeting pictured with the Lizbeth Sham and Amelia Blanket

What and/or who inspires you right now?

Linda: I am inspired by people and it could be anyone who “Never give up.” From famous to everyday people, there are countless stories that amaze me, remind me to be grateful and allow me to believe that I can do anything I set my mind to.

Manuel: For me, ideas and inspiration come from everywhere. I believe a creative mind will always notice things that other people may never do

Leslie: I’m inspired by Indie designers—so much heart and soul goes into their designs. The result is a story that gives meaning to their creation and that much more value to their craft

Where do you go to get new ideas and inspiration?

Linda: For me, ideas and inspiration are intangible and part of an ongoing process. They can come from something you experience, sparks from another idea or inspiration or out of necessity. They are catalysts for further study and collaboration…it’s a good day when they are put into action and ultimately evolve to a new product.

Manuel: From magazines, internet, trade shows to observing world events and how they affect the way we live

Leslie: I’m a tactile person and like to experience things in the 3-D world. My go-tos are: high end fashion and small brand clothing lines, flea markets, open houses, new or off-the-beaten path retail concepts, movie sets and restaurant designs, trade shows—and, when I can, NY/LONDON/PARIS.

Caroline Night Shirt

What is your favorite product from this collection and why?

Linda: Lizbeth duvet covers and shams. It is highly textural but lightweight. It is also great layering piece that mixes well with classic, contemporary and modern designs.

Manuel: Cadence sheets and fashion. Classic design that appeals to classic and traditional lifestyles as well as eclectic design style

Leslie: The Lizbeth duvet and shams because of style versatility, texture, and weight. We call it an ‘updated seersucker’ because it has that freshness and textural punch. It’s a classic that can go modern or traditional, it can layer with ‘casual’ or ‘well dressed.’

Mirabelle Pillow and Throw

Is there an inspiration or idea behind the names of the various products in this collection?

Linda: Classic girl names that are relevant today.

Manuel: Vintage names that are still current

Leslie: Naming is a focus for all categories…sheets are named after musical terms, matelasses and coverlets from proper names of people or places, primarily from countries of origin (PT, IT, US). For Modern Heirloom, we use southern names inspired by the past that are still used today AND convey the personality of the product.

Camille Night Dress

How would you define the Modern Heirloom style?

Linda: Timeless – updated heritage pieces.

Manuel: Old world designs inspiration updated as a collectible for the future

Leslie: The style itself is modern southern vintage; the design and quality is heirloom worthy. Inspired by the Peacock Alley heritage of the all-white bed and Mary Ella’s collection of antique linens, the designs are characterized by simple beauty, texture, and artisan detail.

Leslie, Manuel and Linda

Discover the Modern Heirloom collection. Shop here.

Pictured here: Calypso Sheet, All Seasons Blanket, Olivia Matelassé Coverlet, Penelope Duvet & Shams

If you’re bearing the chilly winter nights and even chillier early mornings, the best way to layer your bed to keep you toasty is:

• Start with a fitted and flat sheet.
• Add a matelassé (coverlet) or blanket or both!
• Last, but definitely the best part – add your duvet. For a classic and elegant look, take a peek at our Penelope duvet cover inspired by our founder, Mary Ella.

Pictured Here: Penelope Duvet & Shams

Pictured here: Lyric Sheets & Shams, Juliet Matelassé Coverlet, Marco Throw

For those enjoying the ever-changing temperatures -one day is 35 degrees and the next day is 78 degrees (Texan’s?), this is the perfect way to layer your bed to keep you warm and cool:

• Start with a fitted and flat sheet.
• Layer with a coverlet.
• Fold blanket at the foot of the bed – for some cozy blankets that will match any style, check out our Marco Throws. This throw is an over-sized cable knit reminiscent of a men’s sweater. It has a timeless design and a lofty weight.

Pictured Here: Lyric Pillow Cases, Juliet Matelassé Shams, Braga Blanket

If you’re feeling the hot summer rays during the day and night (and can’t imagine adding another layer on to your bed), here is the perfect way to keep cool in two steps:

• Start with a fitted and flat sheet -one of our favorites is the  Lyric Sheeting Collection, get it now
• Layer with a light blanket.
• In the below picture we have show the casual elegance of Braga, pulled up over the light blanket to complete the look. This can easily be pulled down at night if you don’t prefer to sleep with the added warmth.

An important consideration when purchasing high-quality linens is their longevity. Our customers ask us the same question: How long should a set of sheets last before they should be replaced?

There are many considerations when estimating the life of sheets. Generally the better the quality the longer they should last. In most cases, with normal usage, sheets can last between 3 months and 5 years, depending on the material and construction quality. At Peacock Alley, our sheets generally last 3-5 years with normal usage. When trying to determine the life of sheets, keep these things in mind:

Proper Linen Care
Caring for your sheets when washing and drying them will increase the lifespan of your sheets. Now that you’ve purchased luxury linens, they should be cared for like a luxury-garment. Refrain from using harsh detergents and drying linens on high heat, which deteriorate the fibers more quickly, and compromise the elasticity of the fitted sheet.

We recommend LeBlanc Linen Wash and Linen Water.  Once the sheets are on the bed, lightly spray them with linen water for an added crisp fragrance.

Sheet Fabric
Cotton sheets, much like clothing, will wear more quickly. Sheets with polyester blends or different fibers will have a longer life.

Type of Sheet
The usage of a sheet will also determine its lifespan. Fitted sheets will wear faster than flat sheets. When you move in your sleep it gets more friction and wear.

Sheet Cycling
If you’re using the same set of sheets night after night, they will wear faster than if you’re rotating sets. We recommend rotating 2-3 sets between the bed, the linen closet, and the laundry, so your sheets will have a break from use. You’ll also always have freshly laundered sheets.

If you have any questions about the care of your linens, see our care instructions on peacockalley.com

A Cotton Tale

Peacock Alley has perfected the ancient process of making bed and bath linens from pure cotton into an art form.

Written by David Masello/ Images Courtesy of Peacock Alley

How we sleep depends on what we grow. What begins as puffs of raw white cotton growing on shrubs can be transformed into the luxurious sheets and blankets, soft towels, and plush pillows that bring us daily comfort. When Josh Needleman, who heads Peacock Alley, along with his brother, Jason, visits the textile mills his company operates in his hometown of Dallas, as well as in Portugal, and Italy, he understands the complex process of turning those cotton bulbs into finished goods. “At every step, there has to be a close inspection,” Needleman insists, “for this is critical to maintain quality.”

The moment newly picked cotton arrives in a facility, the material is carefully scrutinized for irregularities in the bulbs, for knots, for shards of seeds and stems. After carding, a process in which the knotted raw fibers of cotton are smoothed, the cotton is sent to the “blow room,” where a thorough final cleaning occurs before the intermingling of different types of fibers, such as cotton and linen, can begin. Huge bales are weighed and apportioned for the goods to be fashion from them. From there, the cotton is palletized, or spun into spools, so that it can be more easily transported and fed into looms. Eventually, during a confectioning process, rolled yardage is cut and sewn to spec for a specific products.

Read more below.