So, every night about this time of year, I am lulled off to sleep by the gentle dance of the leafy trees, the breeze tickling my eyelashes and the hypnotic dance of crickets and cicadas. I rock gently in my porch bed, dreaming of, well sleeping in a porch bed.
Some day I will make my sleeping porch a reality, but until then I thought some real life dreamy bedding would satiate my need for romance under the stars.
They say that if you do one thing every morning, it should be to make your bed. It sets the tone for the day and welcomes you back from a hard days work.
Start with a great mattress. Do your research and buy the best that money can afford. You spend a third of your life sleeping, so you owe it to yourself to do so in comfort. Test drive as many as you can. Many mattresses come with a 30 day sleep on it guarantee, and if you are making a big switch say from traditional coil to a bamboo latex, you really will need that time for your body to adjust.
Layering for the seasons is essential. Finding a collection that works for all the seasons can be tricky, but try to find a style that speaks to you and then buy the accessories that support it.
Start with great sheets that feel right for you. It might be jersey, or silk, cotton or even bamboo. Looking for a material that has a good finish is important. Some sheets will be treated with chemicals to keep them from wrinkling. My philosophy on sheets is the same as my body. I've earned these wrinkles and the more I have the more fun I've had too!
Now, here's where we bust a myth. Thread count isn't all it's cracked up to be....
Shannon Maher, Assistant Professor at FIT, in an interview with the Huffington Post, set us straight.
Thread count refers to the number of yarns per square inch, but what you are really after is the length of the yarn, not the number. The length gives it strength, such as in Egyptian Cotton. Also look for Pima or Supima or one of my all time favorites, Bamboo.
After you've pick a set of sheets that will make it hard get out of bed, layer your lair with a collection of lounge around lovelies that make you wish every day was Sunday.
It will come as no surprise to most of you that I sort of have a thing for faux fur. As I respect all life no matter how small, I could never come anywhere near the real thing, but I am a sucker for a great pretender.
As is my pup!
I love using coverlets, down (or Primaloft if have a sensitivity to down) comforters, throws, quilts, and even scarves to add layers of color, warmth, and texture. When you coordinate the look, it's easy to drape it on or toss it off.
And make sure not to forget those pillows, although know thyself. If you are the kind of person who hates making the bed in the morning, limit all the extras unless you love pillow fights!
Some of my favorite textile designers combine the sense of exotic with tactile comfort...
And don't forget the guests. Sometimes it's a simple as a fresh clean palette and down slippers
Actually, that might be the answer to most everything
If you need a little more inspiration, pop on over to our pinterest board and tuck yourself in.
Sweet Dreams!
Best,
Renee
Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!
Renee is an absolutely wonderful designer. Very talented and easy to work with! She will transform your room or outdoor space into exactly what you want, only better!
Talented, creative, dedicated, great communicator. Renee is such a special person.
We have worked with Renee Carman at this company for almost 2 years. Renee is professional, personable, and a pleasure to know. She is very helpful and will go the extra mile to please her clients. Renee has excellent expertise and knowledge of interior design. We have a beautiful home and highly recommend her.
Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!
Renee was a pleasure to work with and has great vision. We were doing a total rehab of a recently purchased property and she was able to look at a gutted out '50s cottage and turn it into a beautiful mid-century modern home. She understood our budget and timeline and was good about narrowing all our options down to just a few choices. This expedited the process, made it less difficult and more enjoyable. Once the rehab is done, we look forward to working with her again and finish the rest of the rooms.
Renee at Mandeville Canyon Interior Design was simply wonderful to work with. She was able to understand what we were looking for in terms of color, function and design from the moment we first spoke. She's easy to work with, goes above and beyond and delivers an outstanding design.
I highly recommend Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design. I don't think I will attempt to decorate another room in my house without the help of Renee!
Love working with Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design ! I had the opportunity to collaborate on a large scale design project recently and the results were fantastic! Creative, resourceful and one of kind design ideas made this design opportunity with Renee "one of a kind" Have a large or small project? You won't be disappointed!!
Renee not only has an amazingly creative eye, she also directed a massive renovation for us this past year that included the challenges of operating during the pandemic. She put together a team that had an incredible work ethic and brought the project in on-time and on-budget. She's a great listener. When we threw ideas at her, she was never dismissive; quite the contrary, she made them better. Her patience, attention to detail combined with her whacky sense of humor meant we were all able to smile while producing a home that we love. A great talent and a great lady.
Rene is amazing! Great customer care and wonderful attention to detail.