A Little History

Laguiole knives are aptly named after the small town of Laguiole, which is located in Southern France. These exceptional knives have been made in Laguiole since the early 1800s, and are made with special care and methods passed down from generation to generation. This quality of craftsmanship continues to assure buyers the value they expect when purchasing a set of Laguiole knives, or any of their other cutlery pieces. In fact, depending on the item being made, there can be up to 216 intricate, steps for producing just one tool.

Most Popular Knife Choices

Sets of Laguiole steak knives are very popular, especially for giving a gift that is as unique as the knives themselves. One of their more exquisite offerings is the set of Polished Horn Handle Steak Knives that come in a set of six. What sets this set apart from other collections are the recycled, highly polished Horn handles. They are available in striking black colors, or stunning blondes. Special care must be taken to maintain the integrity of Laguiole knives. Never immerse the knives in water. Wipe the handle down with a dry cloth, and use a soft, wet cloth to clean the stainless steel blade. We at The Picket Fence recommend getting your Laguiole pieces sharpened by professionals to ensure the sharpest blade.

Authenticity

Due to the fact that the Laguiole name has never been patented, there are some companies who will make a knife which will look like a Laguiole, complete with the name and the French Fly emblem. In order to be sure that you are indeed purchasing a true Laguiole knife, look for the following key features that will help you determine its authenticity.

• Be sure the knife has been made in France. The country of origin must be engraved on the blade!
• Check with the company selling the knives to assure the absolute best steel is being used to make the blades. The Laguiole knife collections we carry are all made with 440 stainless steel. The knife should feel heavy because of the superior quality of the steel.
• Lastly, a bee, or horsefly depending on who you’re talking to, is often found on the top of the blade spring. The famous bee symbol is generally a part of the overall design on a piece of Laguiole cutlery. Some say the bee represents the reign of Napolean. Those on the side of the horse fly insist the Laguiole knife was originally the farmer’s knife. The little bug can also be copied, so make sure everything else is in order. You should also see the infamous Shepherd’s Cross on the actual handle of the blade.

Placemats can be described as pieces of cloth or ‘pads’ that are often used to protect the surface of a tabletop from possible scratches, spills, stains, burns, etc. that could easily happen while eating a meal. Although some households enjoy their visual appeal and leave them out for display 24/7, the majority of people who use placemats tend to wipe them clean and put them away until needed again. For those who feel placemats are part of their dining table decor, it is typical to own 2 – 4 sets of these great table accessories. If you’re like me and bust them out for special occasions, 1 – 2 sets is a good number.

Variety – Choices, Choices, Choices!
There is quite a large variety of placemats on the market, making it so that there are a lot of choices to be made when getting ready to buy them. These days, placemats are made out of almost anything – leather, vinyl, paper, regular cloth, plastic, hand-beaded, hand-woven, wood, cork, bamboo, and so much more. They also come in all kinds of shapes and sizes to fit any shape and size of dining table. Rectangular placemats are the most popular shape, but there are also round, square, oval, and octagonal options out there. Sizes are typically range from about 8″ to upwards of 16″ in length and diameter.

Although the main purpose of a placement is to protect the table from scratches and spills, many times they are used because they add a lot of style and beauty to a dinner table. This calls for whole other set of rules, making luxury placemats and designer placemats a must.

Luxury Placemats

Luxury placemats are often used for special occasions. They are quite stylish, making those who have one under their plate feel like they are receiving the royal treatment.

Designer Placemats

Designer placemats can be used for any occasion, and range from the very fancy to the very colorful. You’re sure to get lots of compliments when using the large variety of this type of trendy and fashionable placemat!

Is This the Occasion to Use A Placement?

Some people use placemats everyday while others tend to use them only on special occasions, like holiday’s or during dinner parties. If you are thinking about using them on an everyday basis, you might want to look into getting some that are made from fabrics that are easy to clean, such as vinyl or non-toxic silicone. On the more elegant side, fancier placemats are sometimes made from fabrics that require washing and ironing. When used only for specific events, that kind of care isn’t too time consuming. When you’re going for a completely ‘WOW’ look, I suggest something really flashy with sequins, metallic beads and stones.

Although most people put the placemat directly on the table, the option to put the placemats over a tablecloth that is already on the table is quite acceptable, as both the table and the tablecloth itself are now protected. On the table, or on a tablecloth, you can’t go wrong. Besides, tablecloths tend to add a touch of elegance to a table, and when placemats are set on them, you’ll end up having a table that looks absolutely smashing!

Simon Pearce glassware includes an extensive selection of glass lamps, barware, glass bowls, tea lights, candlesticks and hurricanes, stemware, glass vases, pitchers and carafes, desk accessories among others. These Simon Pearce glass pieces come in various beautiful designs – an answer to one’s requirement with great satisfaction.

For those looking for dinnerware or glassware as a gift – Valentine’s Day (just around the corner!), weddings, anniversaries, housewarming or for any occasion or holiday you can name (even for corporate gifts) – we offer some of their bestsellers. Simon Pearce also offers a wide collection of themes for their glass products.

For an even more personalized gift for a loved one, or the perfect client, Simon Pearce allows designers and architects to work directly with their master glass blowers in the design and production of customized pieces. Simon Pearce is even able to do personal monogramming in a number of beautiful styles.

These products are made by Simon Pearce, a company that was originally a glassblowing workshop in Kilkenny, Ireland that started in 1971 but now has production facilities in Maryland and Vermont, USA. The company’s headquarters, a 32,000 square foot glass manufacturing facility, is located in Windsor, Vermont.

From the very start, Simon Pearce always worked with clear glass to create designs using raw glass materials from a lead-free mixture of pot ash, barium, silica and lime. Simon Pearce glass is made of premium quality materials, and with time-honored techniques.

In the advent of technology, the traditional glass making process was replaced with assembly line production, but Simon Pearce chose to carry on the tradition of hand craftsmanship for optimum quality and magnificence. And for quality, you can be assured that each piece is inspected thoroughly and that any piece in production found to have a structural flaw is discarded. A Simon Pearce glass piece carries with it a “pontil mark” which is formed at the base of each piece as it was severed from the “pontil iron” after the glass piece is shaped. This is preserved to serve as the Simon Piece trademark.

At Simon Pearce, glassblowers create one piece at a time. These master artisans hand blow and hand finish each piece giving each product its own distinct character. When buying Simon Pearce glass, you are already buying a masterpiece.

What isn’t to love about John Robshaw’s entire line? The bedding is some of the softest cotton percale I’ve ever felt, and the Indian-inspired prints are such a beautiful way to enhance any bedroom. Don’t get me started on his accessory and decorative pillow line either! The entire line was absolutely stunning, and the icing on the cake was – wait for it – meeting the man himself. That’s right, at the end of the day, while we were exhausted and cross-eyed, we decided to stop back by the showroom and lo and behold, John was there in person. He was so charming, and we’re so excited to bring them back to our little home town. Who’s ready for some bright colors and bold prints? We are!

Market isn’t just for buying. We also go for new ideas, creative motivation and all around visual stimulation. Here are some funny and beautiful things we saw while wandering.

Our creative juices are officially flowing! While we can’t wait to get back home to implement some of the ideas we came up with, we have bit of a stopover in Paris, France for Maison d’Objet, where we’ll be sure to see some fantastic new products, and out of this world design ideas. What would be you expect to see in Paris? Share your thoughts and ideas with us!

Day 1 in Atlanta was amazing! Market was jam packed with buyers from all over the world, and the showrooms were filled with beautiful furniture, inspiring accessories and stunning lighting. Here are some of my favorite items so far to whet your design appetite.

Start browsing today and start taking advantage of the sale tomorrow!
http://www.thepicketfence.com/designers/bedding-designers/scandia-home.html

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, give us a call at 1-866-944-5511 and we’ll do our best to take care of your needs.

We’re open this New Year’s Day for the first tie ever! Ease in to 2012 with a memorable shopping experience at The Picket Fence.

The holidays may be over but the deals are just heating up! We’ve put all of our festive decorations on sale.

Save up to 50%.

Offer valid in store only. Yet another excuse to come visit Sun Valley, Idaho!

Monica Rich Kosann‘s passion lies within the integration of people memories and cherished possessions. Her style and perspective has not gone unnotice. Magazines such as Vogue and Bizzarre have praised her for the meaningful craftsmanship put in to each necklace, bracelet and frame.

Glynis Palazuelos draws her inspiration from the intricate yet simplistic designs found throughout the natural world. Utlizing 99.9% rated silver with a matte finish, Glynis is able to create elegant, wearable art that touches the soul.

Join us for a week to remember. It’s the perfect time to grab those last minute Christmas gifts for everyone, including yourself.

The Picket Fence          1.866.944.5511         barbara@thepicketfence.com