I clicked to find out what was available in California, and only three options were listed, but of those, the Mount Calvary Retreat House, a Benedictine monastery looking over Santa Barbara, Calif., seemed most interesting, with a daily suggested donation of $70 covering room, linens and meals.
In the dining room, white linen draped the tables and steak was served on china.
That said, in the dimly lit formal dining room, where linen napkins are still fussily laid in guests' laps, I endured a bizarre soundtrack of orchestral pop covers.
Within 15 minutes a table is rolled into my room, the linen table cloth straightened, the hand-hammered silver flatware placed just so.
In one room, hanging linen drums cast an illumination soft and diffuse but not dim — perfect for having a conversation about, say, a Sotheby's auction or the kids' tuition.
In one room, hanging linen drums cast an illumination soft and diffuse but not dim perfect for having a conversation about, say, a Sotheby's auction or the kids' tuition.
Tells about his troubles finding room for linens, blankets, and other things already on hand.
The lobby has a concierge and a fireplace, and opens onto a dining room with linen-covered tables.
Ms. Osborne tells us that the Scottish home Idina helped design for herself and her first husband, Euan, had five wings and 65 rooms on the ground and first floors alone, with dozens of nursery bedrooms and servants' rooms — to help accommodate the needs of their houseguests — and extravagant extras like linen rooms, a plate room, a silver safe and flower room.
