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All About Linens
By Teri Brown
"I believe in turning home into haven, creating a beautiful, comfortable, personable and welcoming environment in every room of the house," Madden says. "We do this by making each room appeal to each of the five senses. Rooms should smell good, be texturally rich, visually interesting, stimulating or, conversely, calming and serene. There should be audible pleasures music, a fountain, the whirr of a fan and they should feel good to the touch. That's where fine linens come in."
Madden loves linens because she feels they help make up the ultimate comfort zone, your bed. She believes that beds should be as plush and luxurious as you can afford, comprised of texturally interesting linens: smooth sheets, textured quilts or blankets and soft down.
Maddencollaborated with JCPenney to launch a collection called "Turning Home into Haven," which features a complete line of home furnishings, including furniture, window treatments, rugs, lamps, decorative accessories and, you guessed it, linens for both the bed and bath.
"I have collected antique linens for over 20 years, from flea markets in Italy and Paris shopping with my sister, to the Manchester Antique Fair in the summer," Madden says. "I love the softness of oft-washed linens and embroidery, the purity of an all-white bed. I wanted to get that feel, that sense of softness (combined with easy care) in my JCPenney sheet collection."
"A shopper should always be on the lookout for the highest thread count they can afford," Madden says.