Lulu DK for Matouk The Tiger Lily Bedding Collection

Can’t get enough of gorgeous Orange this year? Neither can we – we’re loving Orange with a passion at The Decorating Diva.com. 

Brighten your bedroom with touches of vibrant Tiger Lily orange and milk whites.  Lulu DK is a bedding collection collaboration between mega style designer Lulu de Kwiatkowski and premier luxury fine linens purveyor Matouk.

Images copyright of respective companies.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: Lulu DK Matouk

Modern Upholstered Bed from B & B Italia by Antonio Citterio

This modern bed with upholstered headboard by Antonio Citterio for B & B Italia 2009 Collection (Febo Apta Maxalto) has an elegant upholstered headboard and the added comfort of two backrest cushions. The modern styled bed is dressed in the 2009 hot color family: purple (deep rich plum and a full-bodied red wine ). This  Antonio Citterio  designed bed is elegantly modern, sexy, and very feminine. He has been able to skillfully interpret classic design styles with contemporary flair.

We like this bed in modern styled homes as well as homes or bedrooms looking for an updated Hollywood regency style.

Images copyright of respective companies.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: B&B Italia

Palladio Bedding Collection by Anichini

The Anichini Palladio bedding collection is a 200 Thread count percale fabric with a very, nice tailored, crisp white with black trim ensemble that coordinates perfectly with modern, minimalist interiors.

Images copyright of respective companies.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: Anichini

Yves Delorme Colibri Bedding Collection

Colibri by Yves Delorme (another name synonymous with luxury linens) skillfully marries the clean lines of modern design with the traditional art of embroidery, creating a unique and artful modern rendering of romantic style. Retail prices from $145 to $725.

Images copyright of respective companies.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: For retail locations see yvesdelorme.com.

Cuddledown Organic Bedding: Seashell Sheets & Estrella Comforter Cover

Cuddledown known for it’s eco friendly, organic bedding and healthy, hypoallergenic linens easily pleases those seeking a healthy home and a healthy planet.

The 300 thread count Seashell Organic Bedding Collection is an organic cotton percale created from low-impact dyes and 100% certified organic combed cotton.

Images copyright of respective companies.

Home Decor Buyer Resource:  Cuddledown

Amy Butler

Amy Butler is a creative designer known for her sophisticated, yet relaxed modern approach to printed fabrics and products for home, fashion, and craft. Through her books, website, and patterns for sewing, Amy has helped to inspire a new generation of young women to “find their own style.”

Her uniquely fresh print-on-print design approach is apparent in all of the products under her brand, and a personal commitment to quality, creativity, and sustainability keep her international business blooming!

Amy works from her studio in Central Ohio with her husband, cats, and a small staff of amazing friends.

Tell us about your business, Amy Butler Designs.

I have a design business with my husband David, we work from our home studio in Central Ohio. I create textile designs for sewing and home decor fabrics, and I have a full collection of fun sewing patterns focused on fashion and accessories for you and your home.

Over the past four years I have slowly expanded my product mix to include wall art, organic bedding and towels, hand made rugs, stationery, craft and how-to books, home office and fashion bags. It’s been a journey, learning and growing through all of the changes in the business and I am so thankful I get to work alongside my amazing studio mates, without them, this would not be possible. One of the best parts about our business is watching everyone grow, it’s incredible, I’m so blessed.

What inspired you to pursue this business?

I’ve always been creative, I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be an artist. I learned a lot from my mom and grandmother and I have always received support from family and friends. After I met my husband, David, at design school we knew that we wanted to make our love for art and design into our livelihood. I am so grateful that I have had all of the opportunities that have come my way. Now with a full fledged business the thrill to create something new, and by hand that will touch people’s lives is very exciting.

We’re not motivated by money, it’s a hunger to stay innovative and keep making and creating. My personal creative time and business creative time are one in the same. There is a wonderful overlap in how I feel fulfilled, all of my personal interests feed into my creativity in the studio and vice a versa. I never live the same day twice so I feel fresh and alive every time I approach a new project. I know that makes a big difference and explains why I feel so satisfied with what I’m making.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

My inspirations continue to evolve; it’s interesting to see what excites me next. I’m fortunate to live with another artist who shares similar passions. I love working on my home and garden and antiquing and hunting for special finds always lights a creative fire for me. I fill my wardrobe with odd bits of clothing from vintage to affordable designer… I love looking at fashion and experimenting with my own pieces.

Nature is my never-ending resource for color and design inspiration. I love spending time in my garden in every season. I’m a plant collector and I love the intricate designs in flowers and foliage as well as the amazing color combinations.

Travel also jump starts a lot of ideas for me. I have traveled all over the world in the past few years, to many places that have been Mecca locations for me such as India and Indonesia. I’ve always been inspired by ethnic textiles, culture and colors and to actually visit places I’ve researched and dreamed about has completely enriched my life.

Tell us about a favorite decorating or remodeling project.

Ahhhh, my new kitchen! We just finished it ( well almost, we still have to add tile to the back splash ) but for the most part it’s been up and running for eight months now. The kitchen is the most important room in my house, especially now since we opened up the space so everyone can hang out with me while I’m cooking.

David designed the entire project so the room is extra special. He created gorgeous natural wood finishes and warm stone surfaces and loads of space to spread out, and put my friends to work at the cutting boards. He thought of all the little extras and used every inch of space for storage and ease of use. He also had to accommodate my ever growing dish collection.A girl can’t control her love for entertaining with fun dishes right? He’s sweet, he lets me get away with it as long as I keep cooking for him.

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

Casual, warm, eclectic and vintage modern. It’s evolved and has also stayed the same. My heart of heart passions and visual loves never change, but the places I’ve lived, people I meet and places I’ve travelled have all influenced my creative eye and tastes.

Describe your dream room.

I’m ready to do this tomorrow! Really most homes and spaces you’d find in Australian Vogue or British Elle Decor magazine where folks combine vintage modern pieces with eclectic textiles and antiques. I totally relate to the lifestyle in Australia ( and England ); I love their perspective and wanton use of color, print and texture.. all in a very warm and sophisticated way. Right now I’m in between deep cozy violet or navy blue and or tropical greens. I’ve got a thing for Kelly green these days…. orange and hot pink too but I don’t think I can talk David into it.

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-”what was I thinking” – do you have one?

Oh, many. Who doesn’t ? Ya know, most of these purchases tend to happen at IKEA. I think I get hypnotized by the fun Danish names and find myself bringing home something because it’s cute. We tend to “repurpose” these items as quickly as possible.

What’s your favorite color or paint swatch?

That changes daily! I love color and obsess about it constantly. Currently, my favorite wall color ( or one I’m toying with painting in my family room ) is a luscious deep navy-esque blue by Ralph Lauren; number: RL IB96 called “Arcadia Blue”.  It reminds me of the background color in my “Midnight Water Bouquet” fabric.

What are your five favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

Ooooh, fun question.

1. My new Artaissance Wall art (Art That Fits).  I had the artwork placed all over my house for a photo shoot, and I love living with it.
2. My Room and Board couches. I just recently placed them in our family room the ” tree house room ” and they are the perfect conversational couches. Great for hanging out with friends, watching TV and the cats love napping on them. Everyone wins.
3. My Eames rocking chair. I’ve always loved rocking chairs since I was a little kid. This rocker is comfy and smooth. I love turning out all the lights at night, putting on my headphones and mellowing out to music with my IPod. I usually fall asleep in the rocker, so that means it’s working…
4. My two new IKEA wicker rocking chairs. Because when it comes to rockers more is more. These rockers are a design masterpiece, and at $138 each you can’t believe the price and value. They are gorgeous. We have them placed at our big picture window wall in our tree house room where we are currently staring at wild birds and our pretty Christmas tree. We call this area the “time waster” or  “procrastination alley” It’s dangerous, I find myself there every morning wanting to sip away cup after cup of coffee. It’s beautiful.
5. Our nature collection. Dave and I have a huge collection of bits and bobs from nature. Pretty shells, stones and feathers from vacations or our backyard. We circulate them throughout the house and change them out constantly in our feature vignettes.

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

It’s the room at that time with the most people and cats.  I love my house. It’s my home for life. It’s just perfect for Dave and me, and the way we live. With an open floor plan, the entire top floor feels connected and that’s where we spend most of our time. All the key living spaces are here; the kitchen, tree house room and living room with entry.

Who’s your favorite designer?

David Butler of Art of the Midwest. He also happens to be an incredible songwriter,singer, and drummer in his rock band the Black Owls. Of course, he designs all the cool band logos and graphics!  Check them out at Black Owls on MySpace. You’ll be smitten too!

Do you have a decorating design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with thedecoratingdiva.com readers?

Yes. I have to tell you about my best friend Kevin Reiner who is an incredible designer. Oh my,  you have to check out his website, Firmly Planted, it’s gorgeous! He’s such a massive talent, I’m so proud to know him. I’ve witnessed Kevin renovate and lovingly design homes for himself and clients.

The biggest tip I can offer up is one of Kevin’s. He’s so smart and organized. When he is preparing to renovate and demolish or deconstruct a home or room,he packs everything. I mean everything up and stores all of the art,home decor, kitchen and bath items in clear plastic tubs and places them in storage until the renovation is complete.

He only keeps the necessities on hand and moves out all of “life’s clutter” to both protect it and keep your living space sane while all of the construction is going on. This way you’re not on top of all your belongings that you don’t need right away and it helps you manage the dirt and stress that’s involved in this process.

The other beautiful thing that happens is that in the end, you realize you don’t need so much stuff, and you end up not missing all of the pieces and moving them on to someone else who needs them or will love them. Dave and I are saving money to finish the renovation on our home. We want to complete our bathrooms, bedroom and guest room. Our goal is to use the “Kevin technique” and make our transition a sane one.

What are your favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites- and why?

• Design Sponge – Incredible design for life can be found here, from great interiors to amazing recipes.
• Decor8 – Holly is a creative fire and I love her point of view and resources for craft and home.
• SFgirlbybay – I love Victoria’s style and beautiful photographs, plus personally, she has great taste in music.
• Ecosalon – great style with sustainability in mind.
• Enjoyco.net – An amazing new web site and blog created by my very talented friend Monique Keegan. Monique also has a beautiful shop just down the street from my house ( dangerous! ) her style is vintage. natural, earthy, modern and sophisticated… she has gorgeous taste and a personality plus to boot!

What are your favorite books?

There are too many! Here’s a few.

• Isle Crawford’s Sensual Home
• Bohemian Modern / Living in Silver Lake
• The Greater Perfection, the story of the Gardens at Les Quatre Vents
• Garden & Cosmos, The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur
• India in Words & Image

Contact Information

• Website: Amy Butler Design
• Shop Amy Butler Art: Art That Fits

All images copyright of respective owners.

The Decorating Diva LLC would like to thank Amy Butler for sharing her inspirational, joyful, creative nature, her richly patterned and beautifully colored designs from textiles to printed artwork, and her wonderful design recommendations and decorating tips.

Ann Gish Bedding Collection Mariana

Ann Gish, known for her exquisite eye for detail ( and as the bedding designer (Ready-to-Bed line) for SATC’s Charlotte’s bed upholstery – a little, fun interior design trivia for "Sex and the City" fans), brings us exotic details in her poppy and ivory silk charmeuse bedding collection, the Mariana. Available at fine linen stores and Neiman Marcus. Retail prices from $200 to $810.

Images copyright of respective companies.

How to Buy the Best Mattress: 5 Tips to Guide You to a Good Night’s Sleep

Studies show that we sleep approximately two-thirds of our life (eight hours out of 24 hours daily), so it makes perfect sense to approach the purchase of a mattress from a well-researched position.  It’s also reasonable to understand the fear some of us have when shopping for a mattress. First, there’s the cost – buying a mattress is not cheap (at least not a good one; they carry hefty price tags). Then there’s the very real fear of buying the wrong mattress.

The wrong mattress can be the wrong size,  too hard, too soft, too tall, or too short. Whatever may be wrong with the mattress usually results in a bad nights sleep. And study after study has shown that not getting enough of “good” sleep will affect other aspects of our lives negatively. So choosing the best mattress really is a major decision. We’ve prepared a quick guide to mattress buying that will help you make the best decision when you’re shopping for a mattress.

1.   Get the Right Size: If you have an existing bed, then measure your current mattress (assuming you got the right size to fit your bed originally) and take those measurements along when shopping for your new mattress. For a new bed, also measure the bed for the box springs as well as the mattress, as you will most likely be buying a mattress set (mattress and box springs).   Measure for depth as some mattresses are very deep (plush pillow tops) and may not fit your bed well. Another thing to keep in mind if you have an existing mattress set – is to consider whether you will be replacing the box springs in addition to the mattress.

2.  Take the Mattress for a Test Sleep: Don’t bother wasting your time at bedding or mattress stores that do not offer generous “test” periods. There is absolutely no way, really no way, in which you can tell if a particular mattress is meant for you by testing it for five minutes or so. Just not going to happen. The  store environment makes it impossible for you to relax enough to let your inhibitions rest as you contort your body into your natural sleep configurations (and in some case you may not even be aware that you flip or switch sides during the night). 

Ask for a 30 to 90 day test period with full refund if you should decide the bed is not for you– if they don’t give it to you, leave and find another mattress store that will. 

3.  Not all Mattresses are the Same: Let me bust the myth that all mattresses are equal and buying the cheapest one is just as good. No. No. No. We get hundreds of email questions on mattress buying and one of the the running themes is “I read that you can buy a $200 mattress that feels like a $1000 mattress – is that true?”. The answer always is, “perhaps”. There’s mattress clearance sales in which old or discontinued mattress models need to be liquidated to make room for new mattresses. Then there’s the possibility that a mattress store is going out of business and needs to sell all products at clearance prices.

However, the above scenarios depict quality mattresses being sold below value for a variety of reasons . but it is extremely rare to pickup a truly cheap mattress, not a $1000 mattress on sale, (say in the $200 to $400 range) that in anyway, shape or form meets with the quality of a $1000 mattress.

Having said that, I also believe that you can be happy with a less expensive mattress because in the end it’s not simply about the price tag or prestige associated with the mattress that matters. Comfort is king, and if a $200 mattress fits your needs than why spend $1000?

4.  State Your Mission: Don’t let a mattress salesperson pin you down to a price range – let them know that all you care about during the test period is comfort, warranty,and, of course, a store that offers a generous mattress testing period. 

5. Focus on the Important: Keep in mind that the mattress will be part of your home and life for a substantial part of your life. Buying a cheaply made, uncomfortable mattress is bad for your health in the long run. As with any household product that will last for several years, buy the very best you can afford now – otherwise you may find yourself shopping for a new mattress sooner than the “new one’s” end of life.

As was mentioned earlier, you can buy high quality, high end, even luxury, mattresses on sale at various times of the year. Once you know what you are looking for in a mattress then it becomes easier to take advantage of seasonal bedding sales, where you can get incredible deals and savings.

How many layers should a latex mattress have?

“Ask The Decorating Diva”

Dear The Decorating Diva,

I’m looking to buy a latex foam mattress and after reviewing all the available mattress choices I’m having a hard time figuring out if there is any benefit to buying a latex mattress that has one, two, three, or more layers. Is it worth the money? These mattresses are kind of steep price wise and I don’t want to spend money on a feature that isn’t necessary.

B. Steele in Austin, TX

B.,

Most eco-friendly bedding, including mattresses do tend to carry a much higher price tag than it’s less environmentally friendly siblings, so I can understand your desire to obtain some savings by carefully weighing your mattress buying options.

Typically latex foam mattresses are constructed from either two, three or four layers, with the softest layers on top of more firm layers beneath. In the two layer latex mattress you can expect to find a thin layer of foam laid atop a much thicker layer of latex foam. The three layer latex mattress follows the same layer recipe as the two layer – and then adds an even thicker layer at the bottom which will provide a nice and firm sleeping surface.

The best method to determine which layered latex mattress best suits your sleeping needs is to try them out.  A mattress is a major expenditure and many mattress and bedding companies allow “sleep trial” periods.

Best,
Carmen Natschke
Editor, The Decorating Diva LLC

Luxury Linen Care – Washing Fine Linens and Bedding

When you purchased your luxury linens you made an investment in quality materials. To protect your investment we recommend that you use the following laundering guidelines for washing your fine linens and bedding.

Before You Start
Always wash your luxury linens and bedding separate from all other items of clothing. If there is embroidery or other finery on your linens, place those linens in a lingerie bag, before washing them.

Water Temperature & Detergent
Use cold or warm water in the gentle cycle. Do not use bleach ,even on your white linens. An oxygen cleaner would be appropriate. Bleach will “eat” the fibers of your fine linens and luxury bedding. Bleach also can “burn” yellow stains into your lovely linens.

Drying your Linens & Bedding
Do not use the high setting on your dryer. Use the low and fluff setting. It will take longer to dry but it is the best for your fine linens. Too much heat will dry out the fibers and cause breakage over time. I recommend taking the linens out 5 to 10 minutes before the dry cycle is completed. This helps reduce wrinkles and minimizes the chances of “over drying”.

The Finishing Touches
You may iron your fine linens, so that they are fresh and new every time you slide into bed. My favorite treat is to launder my fine linens with the Good Home Company Lavender Detergent and Lavender Laundry Fragrance and then following up with the Good Home Co. Lavender Ironing Spray during ironing. To finish, I spritz Lavender Sheet Spray, also from the Good Home Company. It feels great against my skin and helps me sleep peacefully. (TIP: Lavender, helps relax and induce sleep!)