Ok, so what’s the score with mattresses? I am trying to convince my husband that we need a new bed and therefore a new mattress ;0) I can understand his hesitation as they are not cheap, but, they are definitely worth the investment. We bought ours from John Lewis a year ago and I’m sad to say we are disappointed with the quality, we can feel the springs when we lie down and it has two big dips on either side, we have been turning it every now and then, as advised by the company, but surely this shouldn’t happen? It came with a guarantee and so I think we are going to return it. I have provided the following information in the hope that you don’ t experience the same problems as us.

In the first instance, you need to find out what works for you as an individual. Do you prefer hard or soft mattresses? Do you suffer from backache or any other ailments? The first place I suggest you visit is The Sleep Council, a fantastic website covering absolutely everything to do with sleep, including, ‘How to get the best night’s sleep’ and ‘Shopping for a new bed’, I have included their video below which should offer some helpful tips & advice.

Another useful site is ‘Which‘, an online resource for consumers, covering pretty much every topic you can imagine. The link above will take you to an article they have on ‘Choosing the right mattress’, there is a small charge to access this information but they only charge £1 to trial the service. Also, take a look at Mattress Info as they have a really informative buying guide.

Other places to look when buying is Dreams, they have a really wide selection to choose from covering all price ranges, visit their website to view all beds and mattresses and mattresses.

There is one mattress that I slept on for a few weeks (at my sisters house) and wow, to this day, I have never slept on a more comfortable bed, it was some of the best nights sleep I have ever had. And no, I am not being paid to say this. It was a Vi-Spring mattress and this is something that I would definitely save for…

I hope this has been useful! x

I’m afraid it’s been a while since my last post as we have been out of the office shooting.  I’ve been looking at a lot beds recently as we are thinking of buying a new one for ourselves, hence this feature.  Whether you are thinking about solid wood, rattan, metal or maybe leather, there are a wide range of choices.  I have included images from some of the major players, showing one in each material.  My favourite is the first one, a beautifully carved bedstead made from solid oak.

Antoinette Bed, French Bedroom Company

Matalan bedding

Sol bed, Natural Bed Company

Emer Oak Bed, Living it up

Rattan bed, House of Fraser

For the Tv addict! Dante bed by Littlewoods

Lit Lit bed by French Bedroom Company

Iris Bed by Beautiful Modern Thing

Some other compies to consider are:Leather beds by Bedstar, Feather and Black & The Sleep Room

Nestled in the colourful fishing village of Trancoso on Brazil’s idyllic Bahian coast is the one of a kind, UXUA Casa Hotel {pronounced ooo-SHOO-ahh}.  The creator of UXUA – Dutch fashion designer Wilbert Das, first arrived in Trancoso whilst traveling in 2004, instantly falling in love with it’s beauty and pristine natural spirit, sense of preservation and tradition roots of the community.  Wilbert felt at home and after 10 days left with the typical Brazilian ‘saudade’ – a Portuguese word meaning a nostalgic longing for something. Within a year of leaving, he returned and started searching for a property to buy and build a home which would later become UXUA Casa Hotel.

“The colours and energy of this town really offer something magical and as much
as I have traveled, I think Trancoso is one of the most visually stimulating and relaxing
places one can imagine; a true harmony of human habitation and nature, and a place with
a wonderful warm native population with deep and extremely diverse cultural and ethnic ties’
- Wilbert Das

On Trancoso’s historic ‘Quadrado’; a grassy cliff top square, Wilbert purchased the first UXUA casa named ‘gulab mahal’ which was built and restored to an Indian-style pousada. From there Wilbert set out to create a property of houses {ten in total}, each completely different but combining the rustic elements native to the village.  The casas range from authentically restored one to three bedroom fisherman houses; self catering or fully serviced, to sleekly opulent, but ecologically-conscious treehouses hidden amongst the lush tropical gardens. Trancoso’s rich 500 years of history adds to the design of UXUA, taking inspiration from it’s Portuguese founders in the 1500′s, Jesuit missionaries, Indian tribes, African slaves, and Brazilian hippies of the 1970s. Resulting in an amalgamation of architecture, showcasing southern Bahian and Indian influences alongside a rustic modernism that nods towards Wilbert’s work in contemporary fashion and furniture design.  Wilbert collaborated with local artisans, using traditional building methods, reclaimed and organic materials and Brazilian antiques and art. The fusion between interior and exterior runs throughout the property seamlessly and this can be seen in the choice of colours. The rich, earthy tones and floral brights reflecting the nature that surrounds UXUA.

The eco vibe runs throughout the properties, even the kitchen utensils are recycled coconut shells carved by Bahian cowboys. Shower-heads are carved from the trunks of eucalyptus trees, & sofas are upholstered using canvas taken from the backs of old transport trucks. Further up-cycling can be seen in the beach lounge that is built entirely from old local fishing boats. Wilberts creative use of up-cycling and re-cyling is not only intelligent but inspiring. His keen eye for detail shows up in my favourite feature at UXUA… the lake-like pool. The stunning pool is created entirely from 40,000 specimens of unique green aventurine quartz, a native Bahian stone considered by many to have powerful healing qualities as a therapeutic mineral.  The traditional technique used to build the quartz pool walls is called ‘pau a pique’ – creating a stunning finish, especially when lit at night.

Prices start from R$1710 (around £455) per night. For further information on booking the UXUA Casa Hotel please click here.

Below are images of the new bedding collection by Calvin Klein called ‘Fall’.  Inspired by nature, the collection has a calm and luxurious appearance, we love the soft muted tones of Tortoise and the deeper palette of Smoke Flower.  The 3 new ranges would look fantastic in any bedroom setting as the simplicity of the colours would make the perfect base to any decorating scheme.  The range will be available from mid-September 2011 in the UK market with a corner at Selfridges and Harrods.  Make a note in your diary…!

Tortoise. Tactile and organic. Inspired by the subtle colours and forms found in nature and woven in muted grey tones. Hints of metallic threads in the cover let and a she en-like finish on the decorative pillows accent the mat t e shades of grey.

Tanzania. Abstract and undulating. A colour -washed ground provides a base for abstracted, linear strokes in mink and sand tones. Painted Buds sheeting with splatters of desert colours, completes the earthy scheme.

Smoke Flower. Painterly and smoldering. A warm, deep floral print with blossoms in hues of peacock blue and mulberry, diffused on an ashen- coloured ground. A classic chenille cover let lends both depth and texture to the flowery theme.

Half rough, half luxury. Transformed by internationally acclaimed designer Rabih Hage who’s stance on luxury is, “that physical comfort is not as important as the intellectual and human exchange.”  The idea of ‘a little bit of luxury in a rough part of London. A little bit of rough in a luxurious London,’ might not be to everyone’s liking – as some see Rough Luxe more as an art installation than a hotel.

Rough Luxe is the antithesis of a conventional luxury hotel; based in a non- assuming Georgian building on a side street in King’s Cross.  Rough Luxe blends heavily distressed walls; chipped and rough edges, with bold & opulent artworks; both modern and ancient. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the academy acclaimed, The King’s Speech, and the speech therapist’s consulting room.

The styling’s of Rough Luxe is a mix of old and new, furniture and art; combining colours and beautiful fabrics with cheap materials and existing deconstructed walls.  The contrast between harsh worn textures and sumptuous fabrics is stark. The opulent fabrics & characterful furniture, was mostly scooped up at the Savoy Hotel auction. The colour scheme focuses on a greyscale with splashes of colour – most notably in plum & postbox reds.

Prices start from £177 per night.  For further information please visit their website.