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In
thinking about getting my bedroom ready for the perfect weekend
getaway, I sought out the expertise of Joanna Goodman, of "Au-Lit"
Fine Linens. Joanna has all the answers on how to turn a standard
bed into a fantastic one.
According
to Joanna, if you are starting from scratch you should begin with
the duvet and pillows. When purchasing a duvet, you want to look
for white goose down. If you're allergic there are synthetic products
available that can achieve a down-like quality. Good for children
and cottages, synthetics are washable and less expensive than
down. However, as Joanna points out if you're looking for the
best the white goose down duvet is the way to go. Seek out those
made using a box construction so that the down stays in each square.
The weight
of the duvet that you choose is important. There are three weights:
light, for summer; mid-weight for all four seasons; and a deluxe
weight for cottage country (or if you're the type of person who
is always freezing). According to Joanna, the mid-weight is the
most popular.
Similarly,
with respect to pillows white goose down is the ideal. However,
if you're allergic look for those products made from synthetic
materials. Again, there are different weights so if you like a
firm pillow get a thicker one and if you like a soft one, get
less down inside.
Once you've
got the duvet and pillows taken care of, the next thing to consider
are the sheets. A "percale" is any sheet with more than
a 200-thread count per square inch. This results in a heavy, crisp,
cotton shirt-like fabric. In comparison, the 400-thread count
is much finer. There is also cotton satin, a different sort of
weave which gives you sheen. Many people presume that the higher
the thread count, the better the fabric. However, Joanna herself
prefers sleeping in a 250 percale. The trick is to decide what's
best for you. Are you a satin doll, or do you like heavy, crisp
cotton? It's all about the feel and the texture, and it's a personal
thing.
Style is also
very important when putting together your bed. When choosing top
sheets, box-spring sheets and all the bells and whistles, try
to coordinate them with the colour scheme of your room. As well,
according to Joanna, high-end accessories such as monograms, are
currently very popular.
As far as
I'm concerned, I'd be totally prepared to start off with the sheets
and bedding and repaint everything based on that. However, the
choice really is up to you. After all, it is your dream bedroom.
The nice thing about being able to consult with an expert like
Joanna is that you can walk into her store, look at a huge selection
of items and allow her to help you decide what would make your
bed just perfect.
Special Thanks:
Joanna Goodman, Au Lit Fine Linens, Toronto, ON (416) 488-9662
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