"In our own work, we are constantly looking for ways to honor history and craftsmanship while creating homes that feel fresh, relevant, and personal."
- Gary & Bill
As we continue celebrating Leontine Linen’s 30th anniversary, we thought there was no better way to mark the occasion than by hearing from the friends and collaborators whose talent we admire, taste we trust, and support we cherish.
We sat down with esteemed designers Gary McBournie and Bill Richards of the Boston-based residential interior design firm McBournie Richards. Bill serves as Co-Chair of Nantucket by Design, the island's acclaimed annual design event, where he and Gary also host one of the week's most anticipated dinners.
Read on for an intimate look into Gary and Bill’s relationship with Leontine Linens, their take on gracious entertaining, and the simple but often overlooked elements of what makes a home inviting.
As a top client of Leontine, what keeps you returning for your discerning clientele?
Gary & Bill: Our relationship with Leontine spans many years, and what keeps us returning is the combination of extraordinary craftsmanship and deeply personal service. Every piece feels considered, bespoke, and made to last. Our clients appreciate that their bedding isn’t simply beautiful—it reflects their personality and the way they live.
We also admire what Jane Scott has built. By preserving and thoughtfully evolving a generations-old company, she has demonstrated that tradition and innovation are not mutually exclusive. That philosophy resonates deeply with us. In our own work, we are constantly looking for ways to honor history and craftsmanship while creating homes that feel fresh, relevant, and personal.
The quality is extraordinary, but it is the combination of heritage, artistry, and genuine human connection that keeps us returning to Leontine year after year.
Jane Scott loved co-hosting the three Nantucket by Design dinners at your home. What was your experience planning and working with her on these events?
Gary & Bill: Jane Scott brings warmth, enthusiasm, and an infectious sense of hospitality to everything she does. Planning the Nantucket by Design dinners together felt effortless because we share a belief that gatherings should be beautiful, welcoming, and personal. She understands that entertaining is about creating meaningful experiences, not just setting a beautiful table, and those evenings reflected that spirit.
What remains consistent with Leontine Linens?
Gary & Bill: What remains consistent is the feeling that every piece is made for a particular person and a particular home. In a world where so much has become standardized, Leontine continues to celebrate individuality, craftsmanship, and the art of making a house feel personal. Just as important, the relationships remain at the center of the experience. Thirty years later, that commitment to both quality and connection feels as relevant as ever.
What is your personal Leontine story?
Gary & Bill: Our relationship with Leontine began with a shared appreciation for beautiful homes, craftsmanship, and gracious living, but over the years it evolved into something much more personal. We developed lasting friendships with the Leontine team, especially Jane Scott, whose warmth, creativity, and enthusiasm make every collaboration a pleasure.
One of the highlights has been partnering with Jane on three Nantucket by Design dinners at our home. Together, we created evenings that were not only beautiful but truly memorable—bringing together design, hospitality, and community in a way that reflects everything we value. Those experiences perfectly capture what Leontine means to us: exceptional quality paired with genuine relationships.
What’s a feature of your home that guests always notice?
Gary & Bill: At this point in our lives, our homes are really a reflection of our experiences, travels, and love of collecting. Guests often comment on how layered and personal they feel. Every room contains pieces that have been gathered over time, each with its own story and meaning. Nothing was acquired all at once; our homes have evolved over the years, much like a collection of memories.
Just as importantly, every sofa and chair invites you to sit down, relax, and take it all in. We want our homes to be lived in and enjoyed, not simply admired. There are always books within reach—on art, architecture, design, entertaining, and travel—which often spark conversations and shared interests among guests.
More than any particular object, we hope people notice a sense of comfort, curiosity, and welcome.
Who taught you how to entertain?
Gary & Bill: We would both cite our grandmothers. Some of our favorite memories—visual, taste, and smell—harken back to Sunday dinners and holiday gatherings when extended families would come together around a large dining table for a special meal. There would be dishes prepared by our grandmothers, mothers, and aunts, tables set with the family’s best china, silver, and glassware, lively conversations that lasted for hours, and cousins racing through the house while the adults lingered at the table.
Looking back, those gatherings taught us that entertaining is about much more than beautiful surroundings or a well-set table. It’s about bringing people together, making them feel welcome, and creating memories that endure long after the meal is over.
In many ways, those family gatherings continue to inspire how we entertain today. While the details may be different, we are still striving to create the same sense of warmth, connection, and belonging that made those occasions so memorable.
What’s the most meaningful heirloom you own? What’s the story behind it?
Gary & Bill: For us, the most meaningful heirlooms are not necessarily the most valuable. Gary wears an onyx ring every day that was given to his father by his mother before his parents were married, and he has worn it for years. It serves as a daily connection to his family and the generations that came before him.
For Bill, it is a collection of family photographs, documents, and records that tell the story of his family’s journey in America. Together, they preserve memories, milestones, and family history that might otherwise have been lost.
Both are reminders that our greatest inheritance is not what we own, but the stories we are entrusted to preserve.
Do you have a signature design element or hosting ritual that you always incorporate into entertaining?
Gary & Bill: Fresh flowers are always part of the equation, often cut from our own garden when the season allows. We also love candlelight—whether it’s tapers, votives, or a combination of both. Warm lighting instantly changes the mood of a room and encourages people to relax and linger.
One ritual that has become a hallmark of our gatherings is handwritten place cards. Thoughtfully seating guests and curating conversations between old friends and new acquaintances is one of the most rewarding aspects of entertaining. We enjoy creating opportunities for connections that might not otherwise happen.
Music is equally important, and we choose it thoughtfully to suit the occasion. Because we travel so much, we particularly appreciate opportunities to gather with family and friends. The lingering conversations around the table often become the most memorable part of the evening, so we try to create an atmosphere that encourages people to stay, connect, and enjoy one another’s company.
When hosting overnight guests, what special touch(es) do you include that makes it feel like home?
Gary & Bill: Beautiful bedding is always the starting point. Fresh flowers, bottled water, and a selection of books on art, architecture, design, entertaining, and travel are touches we often include. We want guests to feel less like visitors and more like they are staying in the home of old friends.
What is one entertaining “rule” you happily ignore?
Gary & Bill: We happily ignore the idea that entertaining should be formal or flawless. Some of our favorite evenings have been the least scripted. If the conversation is lively and guests are still gathered around the table long after dinner, we’ve achieved exactly what we hoped for.
Some of our most memorable evenings are the ones where the conversation lingers until the candles have burned low and nobody is paying attention to the hour. Those are the moments that define true hospitality.
What do you hope people feel when they walk into your home?
Gary & Bill: We hope people immediately feel welcomed and at ease. While our homes contain things we love and have collected over many years, we never want them to feel precious. The greatest compliment is when someone settles into a chair, picks up a book, and feels completely comfortable staying awhile.
What are your favorite pieces of your bedding collection?
Gary & Bill: What we love most are the custom embroidered details we have created with Jane over the years. Those personal touches make each bed feel unique and reflective of the home it belongs to. Whether subtle or more decorative, the embroidery brings character, individuality, and a sense of craftsmanship that is increasingly rare.
We also love the extraordinary softness of the sheets. Beautiful design may draw you in, but comfort is what you experience every day. The combination of thoughtful customization and exceptional quality is what makes Leontine so special.
How many pillows do you have on your bed?
Gary & Bill: Luxurious bedding with an abundance of down-filled pillows has always been a signature of McBournie Richards interiors. We typically start with four sleeping pillows, layered with two or three Euro shams to create a sense of comfort and generosity.
If space and scale allow, we’ll often add a bolster or a few decorative pillows for color, pattern, and personality. The goal is never simply to add pillows for the sake of it, but to create a bed that feels inviting, comfortable, and unmistakably luxurious.
"We never want [our homes] to feel precious. The greatest compliment is when someone settles into a chair, picks up a book, and feels completely comfortable staying awhile."
- Gary & Bill
