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It's better in bed Baltimore
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According to experts, we’re a sleep-deprived nation. I can’t sit in front of the tube for more than 20 minutes without seeing an ad for Ambien, Lunesta or the lovely Lindsay Wagner extolling the virtues of a Sleep Number bed. These same experts site myriad reasons for our apparent lack of shut-eye. See: www.sleepfoundation.org and www.bettersleep.org/
My own personal belief is that bedding gets short shrift in the boudoir. Beyond the obvious basic-a decent mattress-people don’t spend enough money on the bed’s comfort factor. Phina's, a fine bedding store located in Baltimore’s historic Federal Hill (www.phinas.com) neighborhood, recommends first dressing your mattress with “bed underwear”. Your allergies, itchy eyes and other unpleasant symptoms might be caused by dust mites—fix the problem with their bed underwear system that includes 2 mattress covers, an anti-allergen mattress protector (pharmaceutical grade) and a cotton quilted hotel mattress pad. This gives complete protection and comfort. Use the same system for your pillows.
Once you’ve got your mattress’ undergarments in order, it’s time for outerwear.
I am an admitted linens snob-however we spend 33 % percent of our lives sleeping—so it makes perfect sense to spend accordingly for comfort, luxury and style.
While researching this column, I turned up an interesting free trade luxury linens brand called Malaika, (http://www.luxe-brands.com/malaika.html ) that will allow you to sleep in luxury with a clear conscience. The Malaika concept illustrates that luxury brands and social responsibility can go hand in hand. According to co owners Margarita Andrade and Dragonfly Gallagher, their model grew from a simple idea: every woman, regardless of age, background or literacy, can learn to sew. Today, dozens of underprivileged women, from rural and urban Egypt, come to Malaika's workshop, to learn embroidery techniques. Once proficient, the women leave the company’s workshop and return to work from home, making way for more women to be trained at the company’s premises.
Malaika uses only the finest quality materials including 400 strand Egyptian cotton, the finest linen and silk embroidered with beautiful icons from nature. France's prestigious DMC is the source of Malaika's lustrous embroidery thread. These threads will set you back some pretty big bucks, but with proper care, these linens will last a lifetime. In the region, you can find Malaika at Lauren Ames Interiors, 114 S. Cross Street Chestertown 21620, 443.282.0058-if your'e on the Eastern Shore, you can see the linens up close and enjoy wine and cheese, Friday, October 31 from 5-8pm and if you need a remedial education in bedding terms: http://www.best-in-bedding.com/glossary.htm.
I’ll also put a plug in for Tommy Hilfiger’s gel pillows…great for those with allergies to down. Check the internet—or your local T.J. Maxx…now get some sleep!
Local Resources:
Phina's
919 S Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
(866) 643-0224 or (410) 685-0911
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The desire to decorate our dwellings is as ancient as paintings of animals on cave walls and one need only look back in history to find its roots. …
