FAQs

I am thinking of ordering a tablecloth with an umbrella hole. Do you have a picture of one of your tablecloths with an umbrella hole?

We now offer three options, a hole finished with a plastic ring, a hole finished with fabric and a hole finished with fabric and a zipper to open the tablecloth for easy removal. To find out more, please go to our page on umbrella holes.

What is the difference between acrylic and Teflon coating for tablecloths?

Acrylic and Teflon both repel liquids from soaking into fabric. Acrylic forms a thicker layer on the fabric surface so you can wipe it down with a sponge--kind of similar to old-fashioned oilcloth, but with much better drape and appearance (the fabric is less thick than oilcloth and the coating is not noticeable to the eye). An acrylic coating makes fabric suitable for using outside. If you have kids, you will love an acrylic-coated tablecloth. It is incredibly easy to maintain--just wipe any spill with a sponge, even it had time to dry (if you spill oil or red wine, you should wipe it off immediately or it might leave a slight mark).

Teflon is another fabric treatment that makes liquids bead up before they soak into the cloth. It is similar to Scotchgard™. It does not form a thick layer on the fabric--in fact, you cannot feel it at all. The only way to tell if fabric was treated with Teflon is to drop water on it and watch it bead! (Teflon is a registered trademark of Dupont.) No worries if someone spills a drink. Just blot it with a napkin.

How do I launder my coated tablecloth or placemats?

If it's acrylic coated, you can machine wash and line dry. You don't have to launder these very often, though, because they wipe down so easily. It is OK to iron them on the reverse side, but in our experience, you won't have to. The coating makes wrinkles and creases fall out on their own.

Teflon-coated tablecloths can be machine washed and line dried, and ironed as any other untreated tablecloth.

None of our tablecloths should be machine dried.

What is the difference between printed, damask and jacquard tablecloths?

A printed tablecloth has the design printed on top of the fabric. The underside of the cloth will be plain. Printed designs range from traditional Provencal motifs in bright colors to hand-blockprinted vintage designs.

In a damask and jacquard tablecloth, the design is woven into the fabric. The threads (or yarns) are dyed before being woven, and the weaving is what makes the design appear. If you turn over a damask tablecloth, you will see the same design in reverse. These tablecloths cost more because they use more time, energy, and labor to produce. They also have a silky hand, and tend to hold up very well and last a very long time. Damask designs are traditional and formal and are usually solid color. Jacquard typically use many vivid colors. 

What does "placé mean?

Placé (placed in English) refers to tablecloths that have the pattern printed in the same shape as the tablecloth. The most common placés are the 68" or 70" round tablecloths on which the design is printed in a circle. Refer to the picture below for a side by side 68" placé and 60" linear pattern of the "Lisa blue" design.

What does the term "Allover" mean?

Allover fabric is a fabric that is coordinated to a Provencal or French country style fabric and has only a small design repeated all over. See picture below. The allover fabric is typically used for napkins, back of placemats or any coordinated accents.

The tag on my fabric item has symbols for washing instructions. What do they mean?

Those symbols are used internationally so we don't have to depend on verbal translations. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission publishes a guide for those symbols:
http://www.textileaffairs.com/docs/acsguide-050608.pdf

What size tablecloth do I need?

Add 10 to 24 inches to the length and width (diameter for a round table) of your table. This will give you a drop of 5 to 12 inches on each side. Then choose the closest size from our selection. For a rectangular tablecloth, it is recommended to have a similar drop in the length and width. For example, a typical 3x5 ft table (36x60") works great with a 58x84" tablecloth, giving you 12 inches of drop in the length and 11 inches of drop in the width. (If you have an antique, European, or other hard-to-fit table, our Le Cluny French Country Collection tablecloths can be ordered in custom dimensions. Contact us to inquire.) Please note that all tablecloths shrink a small amount the first time they are washed. Expect about  2% shrinkage. You may want to take this into consideration when selecting the perfect size.

I have a really long dining table. Do you carry oversize tablecloths?

Yes we do! This subject is a little too involved to answer here, so we made a special page: Oversized tablecloths

Why such big differences in price for similar size tablecloths?
We carry tablecloths of different origins, materials and methods of printing. Here is a quick overview of what we currently carry:
- Polyester tablecloths: The least expensive option, these tablecloths are machine printed in China.
- Hand printed cotton tablecloths: These tablecloths are printed by hand using blocks of wood to apply the ink. We carry three brands. CLM is the least expensive, these tablecloths are made in Pakistan. Couleur Nature are designed by French designer Bruno Lamy and made in India. Petal Pushing are also made in India and are usually coated with a stain resistant treatment.
- French printed tablecloths: These are 100% cotton, machine printed in France. We mostly carry them with an acrylic coating. The 'Le Cluny' brand are finished (cut and sewn) in the US.
- Damask tablecloths: These are a cotton/polyester blend, made in France and finished in the US. The designs are woven in the fabric with a single color.
- Jacquard tablecloths: The most expensive option, these tablecloths are made in France (some are finished in the US) of 100% cotton fabric. The designs are woven in the fabric using multiple colors. They are treated with Teflon.

Do I have to create an account to place an order?

You do not need to create an account to place an order with us. However, creating an account will allow you to log in to your account and check the status of an order. 
If you do want an account, just check the box labeled "Click here to create an account for faster checkout" at the bottom of the checkout page. After you complete the order, you will receive an email with instructions to create the account.

How quickly will my order be shipped?

We do our best to ship every order the same or next business day. Orders with Standard Shipping received over the weekend typically are shipped on Monday or Tuesday.  If there are any questions about your order, we will try to contact you first by email then by phone if we do not get an answer by email. Standard orders typically reach their destination in the US within a week unless the items are backordered or on special order. Expedited orders are normally shipped same day if time allows (Monday through Friday.) If you have a deadline, please give us a call or send us an email before placing your order to make sure we can ship on time.

What are your shipping rates?

Please go to our customer service page for details for domestic shipping. For international shipping, please use our shipping rates calculator at the bottom of the cart page.

Do you accept returns?

Yes, please go to our customer service page for details.

Do you have retail stores?

We do not have retail stores. However, you are welcome to visit our warehouse in Orange County California. We can show you any product currently in stock and you can purchase them at the time. Please call ahead to make sure somebody will be present to assist you. We have also partnered with Best of St Tropez in Palm Springs, California. There you can browse a wide selection of French linens and accessories. 

How do I refill my ceramic herb mill?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video must be worth a million! This video should answer your question:

I have a retail store and would like to carry your products, do you have a wholesale program?

We are mostly a retail (direct to consumer) company, but we do have a selection of products that we do sell at wholesale. For information, please send us an email at bonjour@idreamoffrance.com