Recently in Sheets Category

Cuddledown has a new bedding introduction: Villa d' Este a beautiful print inspired by Tivoli, Italy's famous Villa d' Este estate. You can learn more about the villa in Italy here.



The print is on a 350 thread count Italian (of course!) percale.  The rich red is on an ivory ground.  It is available in flat sheets, fitted sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers and pillow shams.  Prices range from $49 to $249.

I love prints like this!  They look best in rooms that are pretty plain however (think white or off-white walls and dark woods perhaps), rooms without too much other visual "noise" going on, or else it could look gaudy.  These sheets are a statement on their own, so you want to maximize the elegant look by making them the focal point of the room.

I was so excited when I was browsing through the Restoration Hardware catalog and ran across their new Italian 50-Year-Wash Vintage Bedding.  They should call it "vintage-style" really, because they're not old... But anyway the reason I was so excited is that when I was little, I had a set of old sheets that I used on my twin bed that had come from one of my grandmothers.  They were percale and so soft and perfect.  I adored those sheets!

These are "reproduced to feel as if it's been lovingly washed for 50 years" and hand-tailored by Italian artisans. They are stone-washed and naturally distressed and will become softer and more inviting with time.

They are available in both sheets and duvet covers/shams.  A queen sheet set is $219. A full/queen duvet cover is also $219 and sham are sold open stock, for example, a euro sham is $79.  They are available in dune, ivory, mist, shore and white.

I don't know about you, but I love bamboo!  I love the look of the wood and I love it as a fabric (aka "rayon from bamboo"), so wouldn't it be fun to have an all bamboo bed?

Here's a platform bed from Crate & Barrel that's made with solid bamboo, 'Bento Bed', $1599 for a queen.

Company Store has some great bamboo/cotton sheets.  They are 300 thread count and sold open stock.  A queen set adds up to $127.

This blanket is 100% bamboo, Bamboo Dreams Woven Blanket, a queen is $175.

Lots of people like to sleep on percale sheets during the Summer because of their crisp feeling, which also makes you feel more cool (there is no fuzziness on the sheets).

Garnet Hill has a great option: Signature Hemstitch Percale.  It's 250 thread count and made with Egyptian cotton.  It's available in nine colors and you can even have it monogrammed.


It's sold open stock: pillowcases $38 - $42, flat sheets $25 - $65 and fitted sheets $19 - $65.

Here is what a few reviewers from Garnet Hill have to say about it:

"These sheets do indeed remind me of sheets of my childhood. I love the crispness. They wash beautifully, going from dryer to bed with little to no wrinkles. Easily fit our 18" mattress. I will definitely be buying another set. The hard part will be selecting the color - the all look so beautiful."

"Love percale and this is crisp and pleasing. The finish could be a bit softer on the skin, but overall as good as I've been able to find (now that everyone makes those soft floppy sateen-finish linens!)"

"I read where others, mostly younger folks, rated these sheets poorly. Mostly because they weren't "soft enough", etc..... Obviously these "kids" don't know what crisp sheets are. The Percale Sheets are NOT supposed to be soft cotton. THAT'S THE POINT! They are supposed to be CRISP and firm, just like the sheets were when I was a kid. I have been married for 24 years and my wife and I have searched our entire marriage looking for the old fashioned CRISP sheets and finally found them! These are the BEST! "

The bad reviews generally say that they're not soft enough... which make sense because percale is not for the "soft" customer!

I know hardly any of us like to iron sheets or have time to for that matter.  For me, I like to have a perfect looking bed so I usually iron the pillowcases and the top of the flat sheet so when you fold it down it looks nice.  Sometimes though, I just don't have time, and to heck with it, I just have to put un-ironed sheets on the bed. 

So here's a solution, the Company Store's Wrinkle-Free 550-Thread Count Supima Sheets. They are 100% Supima cotton and come in a quite nice color palette.

A queen sheet set is $159.99.  Extra standard pillowcases are $34.99. 

I LOVE sleeping on pure linen sheets, what a treat.  They're so expensive though and hard to find.  So good news - - Restoration Hardware has come out with a fabulous line of linen bedding that is reasonably priced and comes in great colors (typically places offer it only in white and ivory).
 

Williams Sonoma Home is having a great offer right now on their Chambers Heritage Italian-made Hotel Collection sheets - 30% off!  They offer White Hotel Bedding and Ivory Hotel Bedding. White has six different options for the double line embroidery: tone on tone, sand, blue, chocolate, black and brick. For ivory there are four options: tone on tone, olive, sand and chocolate.  The fabric is 300 thread count Egyptian cotton percale.  This is such a classic look, you can never go wrong with it.


And, if you're a monogram loving person, you can add your monogram!  The items are sold open stock.  A queen sheet set adds up to $275.80.  A queen duvet cover with two standard shams adds up to $387.80.  (monogram and plain are actually the same price, and they're offering free shipping too!)

When I see certain bedding, it makes me think:  oh! I so want that for my country house, or beach house... except that I don't have a country house or a beach house!  I absolutely LOVE bedding and interior design in all different styles, but when you only have one place to live, it limits your options.... you don't want to have a big muddled mess of all different styles after all!

When I saw these cute Tommy Hilfiger Lobster sheets, I really loved them and would like them for my (imaginary) beach house!  I'd cover them with a white coverlet to keep things simple and to tone done the bit of silliness of having lobster sheets (when you're an adult).

They come in sizes twin - queen. You can get them at Bon Ton. A queen set is $64.99. They are 200 thread count. The stripe is a print, not a yarn dye.  Okay, so even if you don't have your own beach house, these would be fun sheets to bring out to a Hamptons or NJ Shore share house!

Frette is having a pre-holiday sale with up to 60% off select items.  You can get an extra 10% off online orders with the code PH09 at checkout (valid through 12/24).

For example the Triplo Bourdon Queen Sheet Set below is on sale for $507, down from $845.  With the extra 10% off it would be $456.30.  They have a bunch of different bedding styles on sale!

I remember loving flannel sheets when I was little... especially new one (before the flannel gets all matted down).  Now I can't say I'm much of a fan.  Flannels are usually some of the cheapest sheets in the marketplace and often feature silly/seasonal prints.

If you did want to get flannel for the winter season perhaps, I'd suggest a high quality German flannel like Cuddledown's. It's 6 ounce weight and certified eco-friendly... of course it's also more expensive than the typical flannel.  But it's worth it unless you plan on throwing it away after a season (which is pretty wasteful).  It's sold open stock, a queen set (flat, fitted, cases) adds up to $147.

Bedding Chic hasn't checked in with Frette for a while... so I thought I'd write about them today.  Among their new collections, in the Frette Essentials category they have a wonderful new style called Bicolore.  It's available in sheet sets and duvet covers/shams.  It features cotton sateen with contrst color insets.  It's quite striking especially with the gorgeous shade of blue they've used below.  It's also available in chocolate brown, sand and ivory.

A queen sheet set is $1,045 and a queen duvet cover is $945.

I do find it rather hysterical that they give next to no information about the style.  They just say 100% cotton and made in Italy (and the item sizes).  Why kind of cotton?  Does the fitted sheet have elastic all the way around? What thread count? We all know that thread count is over-rated, but still, when spending over $1000 for a sheet set, shouldn't you get to know what it is?

I'm sure it's amazing and their core customers know that, but it seems a bit smug perhaps?

Linenplace.com has the cutest feature up on their site right now with a panda that explains thread count along with a "Truth About Thread Count" article.  He explains how thread count is really not that important and people shouldn't be so focused on it.  It's SO CUTE.

He's the same panda that's on their home page now too.

Linenplace has some good deals right now in the bedding department.  One of the best deals is 100% organic cotton bedding on sale... a queen sheet set is only $74.  Organics can be so expensive, so that's a really good deal.  Also, 600 thread count Egyptian cotton in either a solid sateen or a stripe are $89 for a queen sheet set.  That's their everyday price too, also a very good deal.

I love owls!  So it was a nice surprise to see that Garnet Hill is doing owl print sheets, Night Owl Sateen, open stock prices from $32 to $98.

They're done in 330 thread count, 100% cotton.  It's nice that they're not flannel... it seems that most companies do their novelty prints in flannel.  I'm not a flannel fan because it doesn't wear well, it's so soft at first but it gets bunched up and pilled pretty quickly.

This is such a cute design, I wish that they had left off the hats etc. which makes these sheets more of a seasonal item, and not for year-round use.  I mean, really, you can't have your owls wearing hats in the summer!

I always love fun prints like this but I would never put them on my own bed, I like to keep that pretty classic looking... but I think these are great for a guest bed or kid's bedroom.

For some reason I've always been fond of Asian motifs. (one of my great treasures for example is an antique Hiroshige wood block print that I found at a shop in New Hampshire) Cuddledown has a wonderful Asian print that they're calling Tea Time Toile, although to me it's not really a toile at all.

It's done in a mercerized 600 thread count sateen. Queen flat and fitted are $99 each, standard cases are $49 (pair).  The queen duvet cover is $169. If something like this would be too busy for you, but you still love it - - it's good to use it as an accent to your other bedding.  Like bedskirt and euro shams for example would be a nice way to mix it in.

I love the shabby-chic look of a frayed edge.  West Elm has an Organic Cotton Frayed Edge Sheet Set. A queen set is $99... pretty reasonable for organic cotton.

They're only 230 tc, I prefer a little higher like 300.  But these look like a pretty good deal for basic sheets.

Inhabit has introduced some really cool looking bamboo/cotton blend duvet covers and sheets!  The fabric is 400 thread count Oeko-Tex certified 80% bamboo / 20% organic cotton.  (what the heck is Oeko-Tex? Read about it here)

The Duvet Cover is called Morning Glory in Silver, a queen set (cover and shams) is $320.

The sheets (Plus in Ivory and Silver) they're showing with it have a cool geometic design and are made with the same bamboo/organic cotton fabric. They're sold open stock: queen flat or fitted $122, standard cases $52.

The throw pillows are the Tall Grass (13x24 as shown, $68) and Wildflower (18x18 as shown, $60) patterns. Oh, and you can also see a Morning Glory pillow in back ($60 for 18x18).

What a fabulous look, I love this! 

Finding extra long twin sheets that aren't hideous or poor quality can be challenging.  Thankfully The Company Store has some great options, they're all high quality and in tasteful color palettes. I mean really, not all college kids like cheesy stuff with tacky logos, etc. (for example VS Pink, I don't know if they make bedding but if they do, that's something to avoid!)

These 350 Thread Count Supima Damask Stripe Sheets are a very good option.  Just $24 for the flat, $34 for the x-long fitted and $29 for a pair of standard cases. They also have matching duvet covers and shams.

The 400 Thread Count Wrinkle-Free Sateen is another good option. The plum and sable (dark brown) colors are fabulous!  The twin flat is $29, x-long fitted $39 and pair of standard cases $29. This style also has matching duvet covers.

So the tasteful young ones needn't suffer after all...

Williams Sonoma Home is having a big bedding sale right now, many items also with free shipping!  I love WS Home, you can always be assured of great design and high quality...

In duvet covers, I love their coral and greek key jacquards.

And in sheets, the Vine Floral and the Narrow Border Sateen.

 

Here's a super deal on Signoria Firenze Amalfi Hotel Sheets.  Although Signoria is not as popular as say, Frette, they are very high end.  The only place I've actually seen them in person is on the bedding floor at ABC Carpet & Home in Manhattan... and we all know they only carry the best stuff there...

The Queen Amalfit Hotel Sheet Set is on sale for $179.99!

What's really nice is that this look is often only available in a few colors, but it's available in: black, camelia, coffee, espresso, plum, white and wilton blue... woo hoo!  The sheets are made with 100% Egyptian cotton in a 300 tc single ply percale weave... and of course, they're made in Italy!

It's nice to make some changes to your bedroom for each season, beyond the obvious like taking your warm blankets and duvets off your bed.  Summer definely calls for a lighter look overall.

Here's a quick recipe for a Summer bed overhaul.

1. Put crisp white sheets on your bed.  Preferably percale.  If you need new ones, the 400 Supima Percale from the Company Store and Organic Percale from Pottery Barn are both good choices.

2. Top with a lightweight cover in white.  Matouk makes a wonderful light matelasse in a fine pinpoint, this beautiful fabric is made in Italy.... but still the coverlet is reasonably priced at $279 for a queen.

3. Add euro shams in white linen. I love mixing textures, and just having the linen shams is a heck of lot cheaper than going for the linen sheets too!  If you have a king bed you'll need 3 Euro pillows.  If you have full or queen, 2 is good.  I like Williams Sonoma Home's linen. The 100% linen shams are $55 each.

4. Finish with summery throw pillows.  A perfect option is Inhabit's Grass pillow from Linenplace. $60 each.

You could do just one, or two if you want.

Over the last decade or so the "thread count" number has become the top measure of quality for bed sheets.  It seems simple, right?  The higher, the better?  Well, no, sorry it's really not that simple.

1. Thread count is simply the number of warp and weft threads in one square in of fabric.  Over a certain level (say 300 thread count) it is really no measure of quality whatsoever. 

2. Fiber quality is more important than thread count in determining bedding quality.  What are those threads made of?  Egyptian cotton? (sweet!), poly cotton? (ugghh) 

3. Yarn size is also more important.  Yarn size is the measure of how fine the threads that make up the fabric are.  The higher the yarn size, the more fine. Finer threads facilitate higher thread counts because you can fit more of them into a square inch; they also produce lighter more supple fabrics.

4. The construction of a bedding fabric refers not only to its thread count but to the ply (2 ply, 3 ply) of thread used, and to the number of threads (picks) used in the weft.  After a certain point  (about 400 thread count), with a single ply, single weft construction it is impossible to achieve higher thread counts.  After that, the most common methods are using plied yarns or multiple threads in the weft.

5. There is, in practice, no industry agreement on the use of plied threads. Package labeling is not required to disclose the use of 2 ply of 3 ply threads.  (a 300 thread count that is made with 2 ply yarn may be labeled as 600 thread count)

6.  Trying to find the highest thread count for the lowest price is a fool's errand.

7.  Have you ever felt a 1200 thread count?  It is so heavy and feels as thick as a blanket.

8.  If you asked industry insiders what their preferred thread count was, it would be 300 - 400 thread count.

9. European companies generally do not quote thread count. (Pratesi, Frette, etc.)

10. You can buy 1000 thread count at Walmart for $100, enough said.

Perhaps you're getting ready for your Summer share (Hamptons or NJ Shore), or even luckier you have a place to yourself for the Summer...  Well, then it's the perfect time to think about sheets in prints!  I really like prints, even the silly ones, but I would never put them at my home because I prefer my room to have a certain "look".  But I would definitely have them at my Summer house.  Prints are great for shares too, because your sheets certainly won't get mixed up with anyone else's.  I think The Company Store and Garnet Hill have the best prints around.

Here are my picks from The Company Store:

Swimming Fish Percale, $16 - 99

Sienna Percale, $19 - 109  (hold the yucky green coverlet though)

Medallion Percale, $19 - 89

And from Garnet Hill:

Dots, $20 - 72 (sale)

Caribbean Fish Percale, $25 - 98

Shell Cove Percale, $25 - 98

I've always admired Bloomingdale's Hudson Park line. For a store label, they really do a great job, both with fashion bedding and basics.

Right now they're having a fabulous deal on Italian Percale bedding. It's sold open stock and is half off right now!  Wowzers, for a full size set it's 39.99 for each piece (flat, fitted and std cases) for a total of only $119.97.

That's a great deal for Italian sheets! 

It seems so rare these days, but sleeping on 100% linen sheets is a real treat.  I slept on linen at the Ritz in Paris a few years ago... (you have to request it, normally they make the beds with cotton sheets)

Linen sheets are very expensive which is probably one reason why they aren't very popular. Also, I think many people just don't think of it.  Too bad for them!  Washed linen is so soft and wonderful to sleep on - it's very breathable and is lint free.  Linen is a very strong fiber too, your sheets will last a long time.

A queen set at Cuddledown will run you $426.00. Expensive, but it's made in Italy so you know you're getting very high quality. Monogramming is extra.

At Williams Sonoma Home, a queen set is $325.  They also offer monogramming for $6. I have a pair of Euro shams from this line. They are super soft and I love to use them on an all white bed in the summer.  White linen is so Hamptons, I think.  These are cheaper in price, but are not made in Italy, they're made in China. 

Another good option is the Eileen Fisher line available at Garnet Hill.  A queen set is $365. I really like the raw edge detailing on the flat sheet and pillowcases.  That's a nice touch... sort of shabby chic. I'm not sure where they're made, it just says "imported", so they're probably made in China or India.

Dwell bedding has been around for several years. This year they're upgrading their signature collection to European production.  The entire adult bedding line is now being made in Portugal. Be careful though, if you want the European-made goods - - some of their old inventory is still in the market.  Certain styles will not release until later this year in the new stock.

The new fabric feels amazing! It has an extremely soft and silky hand.  The new stock is available now in Linen Edge, Sketch, Thicket, Hedgerow and new style Collage. The only bad news is that the price points have gone up.  They used to be $242 for a full/queen set and $275 for a king set and now they're $308 and $352. It's expensive, but it's well made and high quality.

Shown Here: Collage Duvet Cover with new Marguerite throw pillow in saffron

This is probably pretty silly, but I've just discovered Downy.  My mom always used dryer sheets growing up, so I never knew what "Downy soft" was.  Well, now I do.  I can't even believe it.... it works much better than dryer sheets.  Sheets and towels come out so much softer, it is quite amazing. I prefer the non-smelly type of Downy that has no dyes or fragrances.

And it's okay if you have an older washing machine because you can put the Downy in this ball thing that dispenses it at the right time.  The ball cost all of $1.42 at Target! 

I washed my favorite 600 Stripe Egyptian Cotton sheets with Downy... they were already great and some of my favorite, but they came out better than ever!