I walk by Linens & Such quite often. It is a tiny shop full of fabrics that practically burst out of the door.
I am intrigued by the garden that is being created on this corner. I admire the owner’s attempts to “bloom where she is planted”. Pots of geraniums appear and trellis placed over the window. A small wooden bench tucks into the plantings.
One day I see the owner, Meredith Crowell, watering her garden and stop to chat. Her landlord objected to her water use, so the resourceful Meredith saves rainwater in a water barrel at her home and transports it to work in all sorts of water bottles.
Her garden responds to this TLC by blooming like crazy.
Cheerful blue and white stripped cushions appear on the bench and a folding chair joins the bench.
More trellis-work goes up to support the Bougainville and climbing geranium.
Red Nicotiana.
Pink geranium
And orange nasturtium
Spice up the succulents’ cool green.
Wow, a small jungle emerges in several years.
Meredith adds her name to the Linens & Such sign.
And designs a logo of a comfy looking bed.
I love to read the various signs she places in her window. One reads :
“Usually closed Tuesday, sometimes Wednesday and Sunday.”
Sometimes they announce that she is in San Francisco and will be back when the traffic allows.
The latest one lists her priorities.
The shop is often closed when I wander by early in the morning, so I window shop
One sunny day the door is open
I squeeze in past colorful fabric
And shelves .
Although most of her work is as an Interior Designer, Meredith carries a few items to appeal to the tourist who just steps in for a moment.
I must buy several pairs of these colorful socks for my grandsons. They love socks- one of them likes to wear them mismatched.
She also carries lovely robes
Such as this
The fabrics are luscious.
Her forte is helping customers with special orders, custom orders and bespoke orders. I am not familiar with the term bespoke and she explains that this means changing base fabric color of an embroidered pattern which is not shown in the manufacturer’s catalog and /or changing thread colors or scale of a pattern ,even asking the manufacturer to use one’s own design.
She also requires the manufacturer to pre wash the fabric before it is embroidered – thus preventing that pesky pucker after it is washed for the first time at home.
This is a new product – a carry on bag for a laptop.
She is a fount of information after her 38 years of interior design experience and 15 years of retail business and makes house calls.
Check out her website
She carries Hamburg House and Home Treasures – both do bespoke work for her as well as providing ready-made lines.
Meredith Design Company
Meredith Crowell, Owner & Professional Interior Designer
Bedding Custom & Ready-made, Towels, bath curtains, Table-top linens, Lighting, Window coverings
Phone:(831) 624-7557
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Once upon a time..Tales from Carmel by the Sea 
First, a thank you for your ever fascinating blog about Carmel. Because you had piqued my interest so much over the past year, I arranged a four day reunion there in August with a college friend. She came from Palo Alto and I came from Michigan, and we had a wonderful visit full of shopping, dining, and beach visits. While there, I was so much taken by the charm of the business district. Each shop seemed more inviting than the next, and the flowers and plantings added so much to the experience of strolling and shopping. Meredith’s Linens was one of my favorites. I love your photos and descriptions of her shop, and I am so glad to know that she has a website. Now I can return to this favorite store online.
I remember the shop. It is so fun because there is so much to see and it is so cozy! Karen
As a resident I enjoy your sharing our local people and your walks through Carmel. I enjoy this little shop its a nice place to visit. How inventive of her to bring her own water and create such beauty as is found in Carmel. The landlord sounds like a jerk who does not live here or understand that Carmel is about beauty of flowers and plants
Linda, thank you for another great post! I always enjoy your adventures. Carmel is dear to my heart. We drive over from Fresno several times a year, sometimes a spur of the moment day trip. It is especially fun when we want a little inspiration, art or the smell of the sea.
A definite stop on my next trip to Carmel IN NOVEMBER! (so excited) Thanks, Linda. I have a whole list of your suggestions to visit!
I just found your blog today! I LOVE it! Delightful and inspiring. Would you mind if I mentioned you and your site on my blog?
I love fabrics and these kind of stores. Each time I see a store like this one I have to go inside and look around. They always have so many interesting fabrics with beautiful pattern.
Have a nice day Linda !
Dear Linda, Thank you so much for the delightful photos and honest comments about Linens & Such. It has been my pleasure to decorate the outside of my business for the eye-candy you captured. I love reading the comments to your blog by those near and far from Carmel-by-the-Sea. In August 2012 I added sewing notions captured from a wonderful store “FINDINGS” which sadly closed due to an auto accident. So now, besides ordering custom and bespoke, I can aid the thrifty or creatively bent homeowner with embellishments they can tack onto pre-manufactured goods, saving themselves a bit of cash. For instance today 10-17, I suggested how a customer could use the one lace curtain sample on sale to cover two doors. You know often two heads are better than one. Again, thank you so much for the wonderful mention of Linens & Such.
wonderful store with beautiful lay out!
Thrilled to read to the blog about Linens and Such! Meredith is my sister, and she really does pay special attention to her customers.
Linda thank you so much for your blog. I’m on vacation in Carmel for the better part of a month thanks in large part to your blog. I savor every posting like a very fine piece of chocolate, letting it slowly melt on my tongue. I popped in to meet Meredith today and found her so delightful! I purchased some lovely things for myself as well as a gift for a friend. Thank you so much for highlighting her shop and for allowing me to feel like a bit of a local while we are in town.
She’s an expert alright. Your blog made me want to visit her shop. She definitely knows how to take care of her shop. That window awning provided shade for her store as well as a recognizable sign that a store is there. It reminded me of awnings perth back home where we look for them to find cafes, general stores and restaurants.
This is my sister’s store…please stop by and tell her I love Her…
Reblogged this on Crisis or Success.
I don’t know what prompted you to showcase this lovely shoppe, “Linens & Such”, however, you have done such a beautiful job enlightening the viewing audience to one of Carmel’s special places. Your work is inviting, informative and gorgeous. Thank you.