Introducing Azzura & Bateau

We are excited to introduce two stunning new hues to our pure linen collection, bringing a vibrant, coastal sensibility to our signature palette while exuding the same timeless appeal as our existing colour range.  Flocca Linen Flat Sheet in Bateau, Flocca Linen Pillowcase in Azzura and Bateau To showcase our exquisite new hues, we could think of no better backdrop than Australia’s sparkling coastline, and when we discovered this stunning, architecturally designed home on Sydney's Northern Beaches, we knew it would be the perfect setting for our textural, layered bedscapes that marry timeless European luxury with relaxed Australian living. Northern Beaches Home by Studio Gorman Flocca Linen Flat Sheet in Bateau Bateau is a deep navy melange with a subtle teal undertone. Taking inspiration from the stunning coastline of northern France and its rich nautical heritage, this timeless hue features a subtle box weave melange that offers movement and depth. Bateau pairs well with light to mid-toned hues from our signature collection, anchoring a soft and breezy look with bold, classic colour.  Flocca Linen Flat Sheet in Azzura Azzura is a cool, mid-toned coastal blue melange, reminiscent of a summer escape to the sparkling, azure waters of the Mediterranean. A unique colour blend with a box weave melange, this textural hue plays with the light and beautifully enhances our Flocca finish.  This soothing hue pairs beautifully with Bateau for a nautical-inspired nod, or with our antique white Ayrton for a light and fresh sleep sanctuary.  Basix Linen Napkins in Bateau and Azzura Our two new hues are available in a wide range of products across our bedding, accessories and table collections.  Flocca Linen Pillowcase in Bateau and Azzura, Flocca Linen Flat Sheet in Azzura
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New Bath Linen Hues

New bath linen hues Our coveted Flocca bath linen collection has welcomed three new additions, with our luxurious pure linen towels now available in Rosa, Floss and Argent. These beautiful colourways feature as part of our signature range of timeless, understated hues, bringing classic style and textural interest to your bathroom.  Flocca Linen Bath Towels in Rosa, Floss and Argent   Our blush hues of light, dusty pink Floss and dense clay Rosa lend a soft, earthy sensibility to a warm interior palette, picking up tones of terracotta and sandy accents. Our much-loved Argent, a delicate sage green that is reminiscent of the lovable Lamb’s-ear perennial, introduces a gentle touch of colour that complements almost any interior scheme, whether sleek and contemporary or more traditional.  Flocca Linen Hand Towel in Rosa  Flocca Linen Face Towel in Argent These exquisite, adaptable hues are available in four generous sizes – face, hand, towel and sheet – designed to mix and match effortlessly with the rest of our bath linen range, and feature the rich textural appeal, superior absorbency and easy-care qualities that our Flocca bath linen range is renowned for. Visit our previous journal to read more about the benefits of our Flocca pure linen towels.  Flocca Linen Bath Towels in Sable Rosa, Russo, Armee, Floss, Ayrton, Argent, Tempest and Fog  
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Katherine Harris of Coombs Hill Barn

Katherine Harris of Coombs Hill Barn

Katherine Harris took a pared-back approach to styling her family property, an incredible 160-year-old barn in Victoria's High Country that won the title of Best Designed Stay at the 2022 Airbnb Host Awards, with thoughtfully chosen pieces that enhance its rustic beauty and echo the natural colours of the surrounding landscape. With a background in hotel and property management and her husband Wade's skills as a builder, Katherine has designed a luxurious and welcoming retreat that is both enjoyed by her family and shared with guests.   Was there a particular look you wanted to achieve at Coombs Hill Barn? Throughout the whole project, the most important thing was to keep the integrity of the historic timber. To us, the barn structure needed to be the star of the show. That meant that anything else we chose to add to the property needed to be almost understated and blend into the space so as to not outshine the barn wood post and beams. I don't know if we ever had a specific look or aesthetic we wanted to set out to achieve. As we chose items and pieces for the space, we just knew it all had to be tied back to the structure on show.  Basix Linen Quilt in Sable, Flocca Linen Duvet in Sable, Crush Linen Throw in Brun Did this approach differ when you considered the home as accommodation?   We never intended for Coombs Hill Barn to be an accommodation venue. It was a family property first and once completed we were overwhelmed with the kindness and support for the space from those who visited. We felt like this was a space we could share with others and hope they can also make life-long memories there. For this reason, everything that was chosen was actually chosen for the property because we love each item and it worked for our family. What are some of the key touches that helped achieve a balance of luxury and comfort? With so much timber, stone and concrete, I knew we needed to add softness into the space and keep a neutral palette so as to not compete with the barn wood post and beams. We chose light linen sofas and armchairs, plush throws and cushions, lots of lamps for soft lighting and a light paint colour to even out the space. Flocca Linen Duvet in Russo, Flocca Linen Blanket in Russo, Flocca Linen Pillowcase in Russo, Flocca Linen Cushion in Moro  What are your favourite features in the home?  My personal favourite feature would be the stone fireplace. All of the stone was quarried from the property itself and took 18 months to build by hand, I know the hard work and love that was spent on it and it has a very special place in my heart. Another favourite of mine are the steel-framed windows. These frame the valley and mountain views so perfectly and it's such a delight to sit with a cup of coffee and look out the windows to the mountain view with the morning sunrise. Flocca Linen Flat Sheet in Bere, Crush Linen Throw in Brun, Flocca Linen Blanket in Bere   How did the surrounding landscape inspire the design at Coombs Hill Barn?  The views from the property are second to none. The green valley and mountain views can be seen from almost all rooms in the barn. When deciding on the design and colour palette of the property it was obvious to us that we did not want to compete with the view nor take anything away from it. This is another reason we chose neutral colours and furnishings. We do have a forest green tiled splashback in the kitchen which I love, this actually ties in perfectly with the surrounding greenery and is a nice colour touch to an otherwise very pared-back colour palette. 
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Welcoming our new hue - Petra

We are pleased to release the final hue to our 2020 palette additions as we welcome Petra. Not a white nor a cream, Petra summons the delicate detail of a very pale stone. Petra makes its debut as a core colour way within our collection. The perfect hue when one does not want to fuss over keeping whites white.Petra is designed to create a soothing and grounded aesthetic. Partner it with our colour ways of Ayrton and Sable to imbue a sense of cool and calm. Alternatively bring to life a contemporary palette by combining with our new tones Rok and Kali. To elevate your interior bedroom style, incorporate timber finishes and whitewash walls. There are many different shades of white, and establishing a monochromatic or neutral interior style is not always easy. We recommend doing your research, trawl Pinterest for styling ideas and your favourite interiors magazine, such as Real Living for global trends. Petra - now available within our pure linen bedding, living accessories and table linen collection. Book your complementary design consultation with us. We will provide colour selection and styling advice for any space of the home.
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Our Top 9 Instagram Posts for 2019

Our most popular Instagram images for 2019, as loved by you. We've enjoyed bringing you our hand-selected curation of relaxed, sumptuous and luxurious linen images. Showcasing our earthy and natural palette, incomparable texture and quality and style, it's been a joy to inspire you and share with you our passion for pure European linen. Thank you for following us and allowing us to be a part of your world. We look forward to bringing you more inviting and inspiring images in 2020.
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Introducing our New Catalogue

The new Hale Mercantile Catalogue is finally here! The release of our 2019/2020 catalogue has included the official launch of several special and exciting items and colours to the HMco. collection. If you’re signed up to our newsletter you would’ve received updates on our stunning new range, if not – keep reading to learn about our latest product news and new catalogue highlights. Exquisite new hues This year we welcomed Armee and Moro to our pure linen palette. Armee, a deep green reminiscent of lush remote pastures, pairs seamlessly with Fog, Ayrton, and Brun to create a calming and earthy ensemble. Moro, a muted mulberry tone, brings warmth to any space. Mix it with our rustic Russo hue to imbue a delightfully rich palette or create all that is feminine with the addition of our earthy pinks in Floss and Rosa.     Our ever-popular pure linen stripe collection has also been extended! We are excited to introduce two new colour combinations: Ayrton/Russo – The freshness of white linen combined with a rich rust tone Brun/Sable – Muted and earthy, sand with a chocolate mélange   New layers in time for winter We are pleased to introduce two exclusive products to our collection, both of which are perfect for adding layers and comfort this winter: Our new Crush Merino Blanket and Alplin Throw. Our luscious Crush Merino blankets are produced entirely in Italy ensuring traditional craftsmanship and unrivalled quality. Light weight and super soft with generous proportions, our blankets are woven as a mélange using our signature Sable hue to blend with the warmth of Fysk, contrast of muted black in Nox and the rich and rustic tone of Russo to provide a choice of three colour ways to select from.     Our luxuriant Alplin throws are exclusively hand-woven. The elegant Alpaca and linen combination is constructed by sourcing the finest Peruvian Alpaca and blending it with our distinguished European linen yarn. A true hallmark of the finest craftsmanship, our throws are individually hand woven on traditional hand looms in Europe.   Don’t forget to stay up-to-date with the latest new from Hale Mercantile Co by signing up to our newsletter here.
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Top Tips Storing & Caring For Towels

Keeping your luxury linen towels in perfect condition is important to ensure your towels stay fresh for years to come. Here we provide some tips to ensure maximum softness, absorbency and longevity.     It’s important to wash and rotate your towels regularly to ensure build-up of oils and bacteria is minimised. For best results, we recommend washing your towels at 40 degrees on a regular machine wash. If you are regularly changing your towels, it is unlikely they will become very dirty and it’s important not to wash them at high temperatures. This can damage and shrink the fibres and also dull the colours over time. We recommend washing your towels together and avoid over filling the machine so they can move freely during the wash. Separating your towels from other items will also prevent them from catching on zips and other fasteners. Towels can become all bunched up in the washing machine, so it’s a good idea to shake them out before placing them in the dryer. This will help them stay fluffy over time. Our linen towels have been pre-washed to prevent further shrinkage and can be safely tumble dried on a low heat which will plump and soften your towel after washing. It is best not to use bleach or detergents with optical brighteners and a mild liquid detergent such as Wool Mix is perfect for your towels. It is best to hang your towels on a towel bar, but if you have hooks in your bathroom, it’s important never to hang more than one towel per hook. Moisture and debris can become trapped within the layers which promotes the growth of mould and bacteria. It’s ideal to have more than one towel per person and have several sets on rotation. This way, each set is only used approximately every other week. Less use and less washing means towels will last longer. Watch out for products like toothpaste and makeup! Some toothpastes contain bleach and this may leave those unexplained small white marks on your towels. Makeup can stain permanently and it’s best to use a separate face cloth instead.     Finally, remember to fold and store your towels for ease and convenience. This is a small detail and can make a difference whether it be for welcoming guests, restocking the linen cupboard or simply giving your bathroom that luxurious, hotel feel. Shop HMCo luxury linen towels  
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The Essential Bedding Care Guide

Linen is a natural fibre many times stronger than cotton. Its durability ensures products are made to last. Linen is an investment but unlike cotton, linen when cared for correctly has the potential to last much longer before needing to be replaced. This is often why linen sheets become heirloom pieces and is one of the few fibres that becomes better with age, becoming softer and more lustrous. Here we have created your definitive Bedding Care Guide to assist with your linen care and get the best from your luxury linen bedding.     1. WASHING Whilst we understand linen sheets can be a financial investment, it is important not to relate price to care. To get the most of your linen it must be cared for properly. Always follow the care instructions on the product label. Linen sheets should always be rotated and it is advisable to have at least two complete sheet sets for any one bed for change-over. Using the same set of linen sheets every day is not recommended and keeping multiple sets on hand will also ensure a fresh set is always ready to go on the bed. Over washing can be damaging to luxury linen and will break down even the highest-quality linen and should be avoided. A gentle warm machine wash is recommended with like colours. Wash your linen bedding separately from towels or clothing and avoid over-filling the machine so the product can move freely during the wash and circulate in the water; this also prevents damage caused by zippers and other fasteners. To maintain the colour of your linen, we advise not to use bleach or detergents with optical brighteners and avoid exposure to continual sunlight. We suggest using a mild liquid detergent such as Wool Mix on all of our linen products. Products such as linen fitted sheets are subject to more friction than any other item in our collection and as a result, they can deteriorate if over used and not cared for correctly.     2. DRYING We strongly recommend tumble drying our linen, at least partially. Linen will dry more quickly than other fabrics, so the sheets won't need a hot or long dryer setting. It can be tumble dried safely on low to medium heat to keep your linen soft and to maintain its textural appeal. As linen is a very loose weave, if it is subject to constant use and never tumble dried, it is not given the opportunity to return to its original woven state and the constant stretch caused over time will inevitably wear the item out. Our linen has been pre-washed at very high temperatures to ensure that with proper care no further shrinkage should occur. Please note our linen blankets should not be dried in a tumble dryer, but instead line dried out of direct sunlight. 3. STORING Natural Fibres need to breathe and it is optimal to keep your linen bedding folded flat in a dry, well ventilated environment away from direct sunlight. It is best not to store your linens in a plastic container as this can cause them to yellow over time and can trap moisture, encouraging the growth of mildew. Lining drawers and shelves with high-quality tissue paper and scented sachets helps to counteract moisture and keeps your linen smelling fresh.     With each wash and proper laundering, our linen becomes softer and more desirable, offering a unique sleeping experience and wonderfully tactile products for around the home. HMCo linens are pre-shrunk and pre-washed to ensure our products retain their original quality from the first wash. Our linen sheets and linen duvet covers are the perfect pieces for layering, ruching and draping on your bed, creating a sumptuous haven you won’t want to leave! 
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