Between the Sheets

Feb29

Sleep Recommendations for Douglas Coupland

Today on Twitter, Doug Coupland, one of my favourite Canadian writers - the man who defined my generation (X) - tweeted out the following plea for suggestions on getting-to-sleep-secrets: 


I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't put my two cents in here. After all, we do claim to change the way people sleep. Maybe we can change the way Mr. Coupland sleeps. 

Mr. Coupland, here are my top 6 tips for improving the quality of your sleep:

1. THE RIGHT PILLOW. If you've ever watched one of my videos, you know I am obsessed with pillows. Good pillows. A good pillow is a game changer. Unfortunately, so is a crappy one. If you don't have a good pillow (not too firm, not too soft, not too stiff and flat like a Maxi pad) then please go treat yourself to one. Try them in the store. Lie down on a bed and don't be shy. If it's right, it will feel like heaven. Invest in goose down and/or feather. You won't regret it.

2. A GOOSE DOWN DUVET. Like a good pillow, a light, airy goose down duvet will feel float above your body, adapt to your body temperature so there's no shivering or sweating, and feel like you're sleeping in a cloud. (All right, I confess I've never slept on a cloud so I can't really speak to that experience, but I imagine that's what it would feel like.)

3. AUTHENTIC QUALITY COTTON SHEETS. I say "authentic" because I am an advocate of real quality and not half-truths and buzz words that mask inferior quality. Authentic quality sheets are made of 100% Egyptian cotton, woven by masters (like the Italians) and have a thread count higher than 200 TC. (Read this for an in-depth conversation about what makes an authentic quality sheet) [handbook] You don't need 10 million thread count sheets to have a magnificent sleeping experience. You just need authentic quality raw materials, and then thread count is totally a personal preference. (I love 410TC the best.)

4. A FEATHERBED. This is just a little added luxury that will transform your bed, and your sleeping experience, from something ordinary into something extraordinary. Enough said.

5. FRESH AIR. I rarely talk about all the ways I've devoted my life to sleeping well. I tend to focus mostly on the components of the bed, but I also have a couple of rituals that not only enhance my sleep, they actually help me fall asleep when my thoughts are racing and ideas are popping around like kernels in my head. This is a pretty simple one: I open my window. A breeze, a rustling tree, the smell of outside air, city noises in the distance - all of it lulls me to sleep.

6. PITCH BLACKNESS. I am absolutely OCD about having a dark room. I cover every blinking light on our electronics, every digital number, and (to my husband's astonishment) I even put a piece of black electrical tape across a small neon dot of light on our DVD player. 

Mr. Coupland, I hope these tips find their way to you. I wish you an extraordinary sleep.

Sincerely,
Your humble fan,
Joanna

Side note: Here's a look inside Mr. Coupland's bedroom, very nice!


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Au Lit Fine Linens Tips
Feb21

March Issue of Style at Home

We're thrilled to see our Bella Notte Olivia lace pillow cases featured in the March issue of Style at Home. The 'Out of the Blue' article, features up-and-coming designer Stacey Cohen's new Toronto condo. We love how she created the illusion of a headboard with just some paint and a stencil. And if we may say so ourselves, the lace pillow cases are the perfect finishing touch to her ultra feminine bed. (Thank you to Ann Marie over at Style at Home for thinking of us!)

 





Bella Notte pillow cases, $163 each. Available in store.

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Au Lit Fine Linens Press
Feb16

Joanna and her Bed in the Globe & Mail

 

We wanted to share this picture of Joanna in her lovely (and newly redecorated) bedroom, which was featured in last Saturday's Globe and Mail. In the article, Joanna shares what she is currently reading and her favourite reading place: obviously, her bed! The article, 'For Whom the Bed Tolls,' is part of the Globe's 'My Books, My Place' series. 
"...it’s taking me a while to finish this one because, well, my bed is so cozy. If the novel I’m reading doesn’t have a compelling enough plot, I tend to drift off pretty quickly. A Moveable Feast, as delicious as it is, just can’t compete with the powerful lulling effect of my reading place."    - Joanna Goodman


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At Home Au Lit Fine Linens Press
Jan05

January Events: Wedding Co. & Interior Design Show

If you've been following our blog since the beginning, you know that our primary purpose is to change the way people sleep. We want everyone to experience the joy of sleeping in authentic quality bedding, so we're taking Au Lit on tour! We'll be exhibiting at the Wedding Co. Show from Jan 13-15th, and the Interior Design Show (IDS) from Jan 26-29th.

If you're newly engaged and haven't registered for your linens yet, drop by our booth at the Wedding Co. show! You'll get to see and feel our linens in person, preview our new collections and meet our Registry experts. We'd be thrilled to be a part of this special time in your life.

Later on in the month, Kimberley Seldon and I will be doing a seminar - which should prove to be quite hilarious - as part of the IDS line-up, as well as exhibiting a fabulous booth. The seminar, which will focus on adding more value to the bedding while providing clients with an incredible sleeping experience, happens on Trade Day, January 27, 2012 from 3-4pm. Please come out and support Kim and I! We'd love to see you in the audience, even if it's to heckle us (Margot and Meredith!)


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Au Lit Fine Linens

We Change the Way
you Sleep

You spend a third of your life in bed, which is about 2,500-3,000 hours a year! That's why we believe that an investment in authentic quality linens is an investment in quality of life. We're passionate about what we do, which makes our purpose clear and simple: to change the way you sleep.

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