Written by Brooke on February 11th, 2010
There’s no rule that says your nightstand has to be an actual nightstand. For those who might not be able to afford “real” furniture, or maybe just those who like to get creative, you can fashion a nighstand from things you might have around the house. The classic example would be a stack of thick, hardcovered books – not just functional but a conversation starter as well. Chairs make excellent and eye catching nightstands that also serve a utilitarian purpose – extra seating in a pinch. Even something as simple as an upturned waste basket, a kitchen stool, or even a cardboard box (with or without a fabric cover) can be transformed into nightstands. Scoping out thrift stores or yard sales can also yield interesting, purposeful items, such as plant stands (this is a handy DIY tutorial), old luggage, or construction materials such as glass blocks. When you think about it, the sky’s the limit – all a nighstand really is, is a surface, and there are untold objects that could serve as such.
Have you encountered any unique items masquerading as nightstands?
Posted in DIY, Decorating | No Responses »
Tags: bedroom, furniture, nighstands
Written by Brooke on February 8th, 2010
If you’re female and feeling sleep deprived, you’re in good company. There have been a few articles written of late discussing this topic as well as some suggestions as to how to combat it: The Huffington Post’s Sleep Challenge 2010; Naomi Wolf’s “Sleep is a Feminist Issue;” Lisa Belkin’s “Why Woman Don’t Get Enough Sleep;” and this Times Online article, written by Professor Jim Horne, that explains how women need 20 more minutes of sleep than men, but aren’t getting it. What are your thoughts? Is society demanding that we give up our zz’s? Or are women doing this to themselves?
Posted in Sleep | No Responses »
Written by Georgia on January 22nd, 2010
Our CEO and fellow Bedding Snob heard this poem by Pat Schneider on NPR recently. The moral? A soft and scrumptious luxury pillow is one of life’s greatest comforts and simplest pleasures. Here, here!
I Was Mean to You Today
by Pat Schneider
Things were difficult
and I was impatient.
You were trying to explain
why I must reorganize the files
on my computer, why
they all have to have project numbers,
why I can’t put them
where they’ve always been,
what the tax consultant said,
what you need for your report
to the Board of Directors,
and it boiled down to my files
have to be re-filed, and they
have to have titles with no more
than twelve letters to leave room
for project numbers,
and I said, Well, dammit.
And you said, Don’t talk like that.
You sounded pained
and I was mean to you.
I was bored and tired
and mad, and you were
trying hard. Later,
I went out in the rain.
I went to the mall
and bought us both really
expensive pillows. Down
pillows with 100 per cent
cotton covers, 400 thread count.
I have lusted after them for years,
ever since Mama told me
that she asked Grandma,
who was 86 and dying,
“If you could have anything
in the world, what would it be?”
and Grandma answered,
“A down pillow” and Mama
didn’t have enough money.
I bought two down pillows for us all,
to say I’m sorry.
Posted in Pillows | No Responses »
Written by Georgia on January 13th, 2010
The premiere international home textiles trade show, Heimtex, is now underway in Germany, and our experts are there on the front lines to bring new trends and technologies home to us Snobs! Let’s check in with Nancy B., our resident Thread Count Diva, on what’s tickling her fancy:
“What I LOVE about this show is the chance to meet new vendors we haven’t worked with before–it means seeing new designs, new fabrications, and new manufacturing and design capabilities. I’m really excited to check out new color trends, and I also can’t wait to see the artwork this year. We design a lot of our exclusive bedding from original art we buy at Heimtex, like our A Walk in the Park collection. There’s just so much inspiration in one place—it’s great!”
Posted in behind the scenes | No Responses »
Written by Georgia on January 8th, 2010
Heimtex is the premiere international trade show for home textiles. Our fabulous Product Development team joins other industry leaders from around the world to decide what the next best thing in home decor and bedding will be. Let’s see what Product Manager Heather K. is most excited about as she packs for the trip to Germany…
“For a fabric geek, Heimtex is heaven! We find amazing fabrics like very artful jacquards. Something i’m very interested in this year is the new technology we’ll see for temperature regulating comforters and other products–we meet directly with the people who develop and engineer premiere temperature regulating technology, so we’re really bringing first-hand knowledge home to our customers.”
Can’t wait!
Posted in behind the scenes | No Responses »
Written by Georgia on December 31st, 2009
In a recent post on ModernSerenity.com about ridding your bed of harmful chemicals, Cuddledown is praised for our line of safe and healthy eco-friendly products. Thank you to blogger and presumed fellow bedding snob Nick Andre for the recognition! Delivering the highest quality eco-friendly bedding and apparel to our customers is an important focus for us, and we set our standards high. When you see a Certified Eco-Friendly icon in our catalog or on our website, you can trust that product is Oeko-Tex certified to be free from harmful chemicals and dyes. All products submitted for Oeko-Tex review are tested exclusively in Oeko-Tex member institutes in Europe and Japan to maintain a consistent, high level of testing. If it doesn’t meet the Oeko-Tex environmental standards, it doesn’t meet ours—it’s that simple. And we make the same commitment to certified organic products—everything organic we carry meets the Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS), which guarantees it’s made from at least 95% organic material and creates a minimal impact on the environment. One of my favorite new bedding collections this season is our Embroidered Dog Sheet Sets—they’re Oeko-Tex and GOTS certified, and are oh so soft and playful. Not to mention that you won’t find this design anywhere else.
Go Green!
Georgia
Posted in Bedding | No Responses »
Written by Georgia on December 24th, 2009
Happy Holidays, Snobs!
After weeks of planning and celebrating the holidays, we’re surely all going to feel ready for a long winter’s nap. So, with a little inspiration from a Cuddledown customer looking to re-create the dreamy bed she slept in at the Four Seasons, I thought I’d share with you some tips on making your bed the envy of, well, everyone.
First things first—choose your mattress protector—it extends the life of your mattress, and serves as a foundation for all the plush goodness to come. Your thickest (and often considered the most heavenly!) layer is your featherbed. There are many options, from simple goose feather and down blends to layered, deluxe featherbeds with Fill Power. A good old Original Featherbed is just what I need for an extra layer of support and comfort. Now come the sheets, and as we snobs know, sheets can make all the difference. Sateen, percale, linen, voile, jersey, silk—the possibilities are endless. Crawl into 500 thread count Italian percale sheets (or under the matching duvet cover!) and you’ll never want to come out. After you tuck in your fitted and flat sheets, you might enjoy a nice blanket for added softness (and in winter, added warmth.) My favorite is the lightweight Cotton/Bamboo Medallion Blanket in lemon, which coordinates with absolutely everything. Top it all off with a handcrafted 800 Fill Power German Batiste Down Comforter—the world’s lightest, most luxurious comforter—and you’ll give a whole new meaning to Beauty Sleep.
Cheers!
Georgia
Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »
Written by Georgia on December 16th, 2009
Just in time for the holidays–free shipping on online orders for all our bedding snobs, now through the UPS cutoff date, December 17, 2009. Brought to you by all of us at Cuddledown (and of course, Cuddledown’s magic little elves!)
Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »
Written by Georgia on December 7th, 2009
Good Morning, Snobs!
Because we have fabulous taste, gift giving is our forte! Let’s get creative this year, and turn what some see as a generic add-on into one of the most thoughtful and personal gift touches—monogramming. Here are five fun, unique ways to make monogramming memorable.
- Finish off the shams or pillowcases for your guest room with inspirations and holiday sentiments: mix and match words like Peace, Love, Cheer and Laugh for a feel-good collection of pillows.
- Get festive with color! For the college student on your list, or even the die-hard sports fan, create a customized towel in the school or team colors, and monogram it with either their name, the school or team name, or maybe even a favorite player’s name.
- If you’re shopping for someone with a hobby (I, for one, have about 7 golfers on my list!) try a set of hand towels with a cute hobby-related message. For my golfers, perhaps “Hole in One” or “Eagle.” There are endless options for an infinite number of pastimes!
- For the mom who does it all, transform a plush robe into a luxurious five-star hotel experience. Choose the one-letter monogramming option for elegance, and make her feel like the most special person in the room every time she puts it on.
- Monogram a blanket or throw for the perfect finish to a cozy couch. I love using words like “Snooze,” “Daydream” or “Relax” on a living room blanket everyone loves to nap with, like our super soft German flannel blanket.
Share your monogramming ideas with your fellow Bedding Snobs! And be sure and place your monogramming orders in time for holiday delivery—December 11th for standard shipping, December 16th for expedited shipping. For more details, visit our Monogram Guide.
Cheers!
Georgia
Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »
Written by Brooke on December 3rd, 2009
“Like ornaments, thoughts of special people brighten the season and warm our hearts.”
-C.J. Larkin
The season is all about giving, especially to friends & family. Since we consider all of you friends & family, what better way to say thank you for your continued support throughout the year, than with some super savings? From now until midnight PST on December 6th, we’re giving our extended family of shoppers 30% off everything at Cuddledown.com. So if you missed our Black Friday Blow Out, haven’t yet finished all of your shopping, or maybe just want to get yourself a special something, now’s your chance. And please, in the spirit of the season, pass the link along to YOUR favorite shoppers.
Posted in Miscellanea | No Responses »
Tags: cuddledown, deals!, happy holidays!
