Mothers Day and Custom Bedding
“There isn’t a woman on the planet who doesn’t want custom bedding.” That was a quote from Veronique, one of our designers on staff. She repeated it, and yet again, putting more emphasis on the key words. It was a good thing, too, because we were kicking around ideas for our upcoming May e-newsletter and up until somebody smart remembered Mothers Day we were planning to focus on masculine things like “man caves” and the new model ships that just arrived (which are going to be perfect for Fathers Day, by the way).
In dealing with a married couple, we like to assume that the man sleeps in the bed too (sometimes? Hopefully?), and try to create a balance between what a woman wants and keeping it handsome. Women usually love lots of decorative pillows, men do not. They are neither practical nor functional, yet essential and fulfilling, therefore making a perfect talking point when reading the Mars Venus book.
A master bedroom should envelop you as you enter it. It should be special. It’s your sanctuary.
So let’s talk about a few things to help you with your project. First, the fabrics should feel really good. Texture is important. Silk bedding is beautiful, but not practical in the typical suburban home that has kids and pets. There are faux silks that can be spot cleaned, however, if you really want that look. Repeating or marrying fabrics throughout the bedset is key for a completed image. A reversible duvet can have a dominant pattern on one side and a neutral on the other. A little fold-over in the duvet allows the neutral to peek which will give you the look of a five star hotel. Take that same neutral and use it for the skirt fabric and use the primary fabric on the Euro sham. For fun, try an animal print on the bolster!
Not sure about the difference between a bedspread, duvet, and a coverlet? Bedspreads are not made as often as they are large and potentially heavy, demanding more effort to make the bed. A duvet, which is basically a large flat pillow, can literally be tossed onto the bed, as can a coverlet. The difference between the last two is that a duvet is soft, fluffy and a little heavier than a coverlet. A coverlet has the filling stitched in and the stitching pattern is part of the overall appearance. It is thinner, lighter, and a little more tailored. The weight of a coverlet makes it a great choice for petites and seniors.
Having your duvet custom made will allow it to be perfectly matched to your mattress and bedframe. Using ‘bedding in a bag’ from a department store might present the same issues as buying a suit off the rack without tailoring. When measuring for a duvet, we like to have it hang a couple of inches below the point where the mattress meets the boxsprings.
Back to pillows. Many designers can overdo the pillows. (Why not? They look great!) On a King bed, five or six decorative pillows will give you a complete and luxurious look that even most men can appreciate. Two King shams, one Eurosham (square pillow), two smaller accents, and one bolster will give you the proper layers and depth.
The pricing for quality custom bedding usually starts around $1500. Most of our clients tend to work in the $2,500-3,500 range, but it is important for you to tell your designer what you want to spend and they will select fabrics and design to your budget.
Happy Mothers Day!