At 59, my laundry basket was the one thing in my home I hid when the doorbell rang. This is a letter about the first one I leave out
Six things this hand-quilted basket gets right that a plain plastic one never did, from a woman who had not given her laundry basket a second thought in years.
Julie Henderson · Wrenley Family customer · 5 min read
I am 59, and I want to start with an admission. For years, my laundry basket was the one thing in my home I never wanted anyone to see. A plain plastic tub that lived behind the bathroom door and got pushed a little further back whenever someone came over.
The basket I am writing about is one of the hand-quilted laundry baskets from The Wrenley Family, a small family-owned boutique that has been around since 1996. Each one is sewn by hand, with a picture that wraps all the way around it: bees and daisies, tulips, a forest river, a moose under the stars.
Here is what all those years with the plastic one taught me. A laundry basket lives in one of two places. Hidden away when anyone is coming over, or out in the open by accident, looking exactly like what it is. Neither one ever felt like my home.
Almost everything in my home was chosen with care. The one thing I use every single day, I never chose at all.
This is the first laundry basket I have ever picked out on purpose, and I can tell you it comes down to six things.
It stands up on its own, even empty
The quilted sides hold their shape, so the basket stays upright whether it is full of towels or holding nothing at all. No slumping into a heap in the corner. Empty, it stands there looking like it was meant to be there, and you can drop things in with one hand.
“Such a lovely shopping experience. The clothing is beautiful and I really appreciate the attention to detail. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on their new collections!”
Lovely Shopping Experience · Wrenley Family customerThe picture goes all the way around
The artwork wraps seamlessly around the whole basket, so there is no back side to turn to the wall. Wherever you set it down, it is facing the right way. And because every basket is sewn by hand, no two are exactly alike.
The Silvia at the foot of the bed. There is no wrong side to face the room.
“I love finding clothing that feels both comfortable and elegant. The Wrenley Family has such a lovely selection of timeless pieces.”
Beautiful Styles · Wrenley Family customerThe handles are made to carry a full load
Two sturdy canvas handles, securely stitched, so you can carry a full load from the bedroom to the laundry room without a hard plastic rim digging into your fingers on the stairs.
The Honey by the washing machine. Two stitched handles, kind to your hands.
“Really happy with my purchase! Everything looks lovely and the whole shopping experience felt simple and easy. Thank you!”
So Happy With My Purchase · Wrenley Family customerSoft and quilted, but it wipes clean
The quilted cotton-poly blend is soft to the touch, with nothing to crack or split. It resists light messes, wipes clean easily, and can be washed when it needs it. Pretty things are usually precious. This one is practical enough to live next to the tub.
The Liliana next to the tub, full of rolled towels.
“I'm so glad I came across this store. It's refreshing to find beautiful styles that suit women of all ages. Such a lovely collection.”
A Wonderful Little Find · Wrenley Family customerIt folds away when you need the space
It is lightweight and folds down to store away neatly when you don't need it, under the bed or in the linen closet. When the house is full for the holidays and every corner counts, it simply gets out of the way.
“Exactly the kind of clothing I love wearing. Comfortable, flattering and easy to style. Just what I was looking for!”
Comfortable And Stylish · Wrenley Family customerThree sizes, and 37 designs
A Small (14 × 18 in) for the bathroom, a Medium (16 × 22 in) for the bedroom, a Large (20 × 28 in) for the family laundry. And there are 37 designs: bees and daisies, tulips, forest rivers, a moose under the stars, cats, hummingbirds, dogs and more. Each one has its own name, which is how these things start.
Honey
Liliana
Silvia
ViolaFrom $59.95 · half price for the 30th anniversary
This basket, against the one behind the door
Nobody sets out to buy an ugly laundry basket. One just arrives, and stays for years. Here is the difference, laid out plainly.
A hard rim that digs into your hands
Pushed out of sight when anyone comes over
Rigid, or slumps over when it's empty
Looks the same from every side: plain
Never chosen, just kept
Sturdy stitched handles, kind on the stairs
Pretty enough to leave out
Stands up straight, even empty
A picture that wraps all the way around
Chosen on purpose, at last
About the price
The Small is $59.95 at the moment, from $119.90. The Medium is from $64.95, and the Large, the family-laundry one, is $69.95, from $139.90.
I will pass on what the boutique told me. The Wrenley Family has been family-owned since 1996, and for its 30th anniversary it has cut the baskets to half the regular price. Buy 2 and you get an extra 10% off, 3 for 15%, 4 for 20%, so a second one for another room is an easy decision.
Every order ships with tracking and comes with a 30-day return window, so you can see it in your own home and decide for yourself. Orders are processed in 1–3 business days and arrive in 5–15 business days. If it is a Christmas gift, order by November 30 for the best chance of it arriving before December 24.
If your laundry basket also just turned up one day and stayed, hidden behind a door, this is the one I would put in your hands myself.
— Julie
The Hand-Quilted Laundry Baskets
30th Anniversary Sale · Save 50%- Stands upright on its own, even empty
- A picture that wraps all the way around
- Sewn by hand, so no two are exactly alike
- Sturdy, securely stitched canvas handles
- Wipes clean, washes when needed, folds away
- Three sizes, from $59.95 · 37 designs
- Tracked delivery · 30-day returns
Buy 2 for an extra 10% off · 3 for 15% · 4 for 20%
About the writer. Julie Henderson is 59 and a Wrenley Family customer. She is not an interior designer, and she was not paid to write this letter.
This is a personal account from a Wrenley Family customer. Julie was not paid to write it. · This page is an advertisement for The Wrenley Family. · 3 sizes · Tracked delivery · 30-day returns.