Sweet(est) Dreams are Made of These

In a recent SML post, we strolled together down the road of hosting during the holidays. I shared with you my theory that a great guest room and bath are all about relaxation, anticipating needs, and a bit of spoiling. I happily confessed my obsession with beautiful guest bath towels, and profiled four different brands that I've thoroughly tested for 100% gleeful responses. (see 'Company's Coming,' posted 10/2/10)

I believe an affection for hosting to be a most handy, and, I do declare - winsome excuse for anyone to also become a Stalker of Superior Sheets and Such.

Really soft, beautiful bedding is the big "ahhhhh" of a guest room. After all, the bed is where your guests will spend most of their time. Tucked into your thoughtful thread count, they'll find sweet REM sleep after hours of travel. Make sure your friends and family are comfy!

If you're interested in reinventing your guest bed with linens that are completely wonderful and readily available, then read on, Heavenly Host!

Should you find yourself on the fence about whether or not your guest bed needs a re-do, remember: the bed takes up the most real estate in a guest room. A style and quality tune-up for your bedding achieves more design points and user benefit than buckets of messy paint and pricey new carpet. Think about it - has a hotel stay ever really inspired you to re-paint a bedroom of your home, or lay down a new rug? Probably not. If you slept like a baby and checked out of that place feeling hip-happy, you most likely were interested in replicating that sumptuous BED.

Witness: The Ritz-Carlton, Westin and W Hotels all now make their bedding set-ups (from mattresses to everything required to dress them), available for sale to their guests. Folks really do want to sleep like a baby in linens worth dreaming about.

I have suggestions for you in bedding at three price-points. And I've tested each one:

"Deal of the Century"

Vintage Modern Collection at Target. Yes, I said Target. And I LOVE luxury. So what's up?

Target has courted another yet super designer to unleash stylish, well-made goodness at a great price. And this time, it's amazing interior designer Thomas O'Brien, and in the bedding department. EVERYTHING in his Vintage Modern line for Target is greatness (hellooo, his coffee mugs are in my cabinet!) but when I saw his bedding on aisle 35, I about passed out. This stuff is greatness.

I loaded my guest bed with Vintage Modern. Gorgeous. Soft. Washes perfectly. And folks think I spent a bajillion dollars. It's the first time I've been asked about my linens...as in, "Where did you find these luscious things? I want some!" You will, too. Especially at these fab prices!

Note: The photos available online at Target.com just don't do justice to this bedding line. See it in person if it's geographically convenient, or just trust me and order online - you're gonna love Vintage Modern!

"Super Price for What You're Getting"

Macy's Hotel Collection - This has been my go-to bedding for several years now. I have never, ever bought something from this line that wasn't soft, beautifully designed and made for the long haul! Their styles do lean contemporary (think W Hotel-style), so if you're prefer a more traditional look, the full gamut of Hotel Collection may not be your cup of tea. Stick with the sheets, perhaps. Simple, well-made, fabulous. If you crave modern design, however, knock yourself out! Note: Mixing and matching their styles/patterns is a kick, and pretty much goof-proof from my experience, so have fun!

I checked online and found the following Macy's sales/deals:

- 10% off on bedding and bath purchases over $200, and 15% off purchases over $300.

Note: no discount code needed - discounts are automatically calculated at check-out. Discount applies to clearance and sale items, as well as full-priced merchandise! Note: expires TODAY 10/15!

- Use code "SAVEON75" for free shipping on orders over $75 (when big boxes of poofy wonderful bedding arrive at your doorstep, free shipping will have saved you quite a penny, love!).

"Only Buy These On Sale...Unless You are Soothing a Broken Heart with a Fat Wallet"

Sferra.

Just say the word out loud. It's inherently smooth and me-owwww. Sferra sheets are sexy in their softness and luxurious to the hilt. And you can pass them down to your children, if you decide against using them to line your coffin when you are 100. These linens last near forever.

Available in the Dallas area at fabulous stores like The Linen Gallery and Peacock Alley, or online at Sferra's site or Horchow. I love that Horchow's site provides a great Q&A with Sferra's CEO, bedding care tips and a super selection of Sferra goods.

Tip: To get a Sferra fix on a budget, check your local Tuesday Morning store - I've had great luck in sourcing Sferra there, and at wonderfully ouch-less prices!

In the coming days of autumn, we'll discuss other essential items for hosting at home with light-hearted love, comfort and a healthy dose of ooomph in the style department.

Readers: please fill me in on your favorite lines of home scents - from candles to diffusers and sprays, let me know what products make your home smell wonderful and welcoming.

I.e., "My favorite candle line/company is ____ and the particular candle fragrance they make that I'm crazy about is called ____."

Just use the "comment" section below this post to share your thoughts with me, or email me directly: melinda.jones@me.com.

Thanks ever so much!

Love,

Melinda

P.S. Please take a moment and click on one or two of the kind advertisers' ads to the right and below this post, and have a look-see at what they are eager to share with you. : )

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