FitSugar

Pillow Talk

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:15:00 PDT

Is your pillow over 2 years old? If yes, you might be sleeping with a veritable zoo of mold, bacteria and dust mites. Not exactly the kind of pillow talk you want to engage in, is it?

That fluffy bit of comfort on which you rest your head every night can be a hotbed for germs, and might contain even more germs than your bathroom. Yick! Pillows absorb germs from our skin and the air and since we rarely clean or replace our bedroom pillows, bacterias and molds are free to reproduce unhampered. This can become quite a problem if you have allergies to dust mites or mold since you are placing your head in the hot zone for 8 hours a night.

Experts suggest that you replace your pillow every 2 years. Since that can be a costly endeavor, you can try pillow protectors instead since they can prevent dust mites from breeding in your bedding.

Fit's Tip: One quick way to zap all those bacteria is to throw you pillows into the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat. Aim to do this at least once a month and at least once a week if you are experiencing severe allergy symptoms.

Sweet dreams....

Beautiful Block-Printed and Hand-Embroidered Textiles From Allem Studio

Elka Karl — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:46:29 PST

If you're on the hunt for beautiful block-printed and handmade textiles for your home, check out a relative newcomer to the market, Allem Studio. Founded as a design collaboration between friends Mitali Seth and Lovisa Shergill in 2009, Allem Studio creates lovely hand-embroidered and block-printed textiles for the tabletop, bedroom, and living room. Their collection of pillows, bedding, and tabletop items including napkins and place mats features vibrant, colorful designs that reference ethnic-inspired crafts with a modern twist.

Seth and Shergill work out of a studio located in Shrewsbury, MA, and source manufacturing of their products through socially responsible vendors, including SEWA, India, a women's only co-operative.

You can purchase Allem Studio's products through a variety of merchants across the country, as well as online. If you're in New York, make sure to check out Allem Studio at Booth 7962 at the New York International Gift Fair this weekend.

Two Quick and Easy Organizing Tips From Jillian Harris

Elka Karl — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:28:37 PST

I'm always on the lookout for easily integrated organizing ideas, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designer Jillian Harris recently shared a few quick and easy tips pulled from her own home. The best part is, you may already own some of these items - you just need to organize and style them in the manner Jillian suggests.

Bedside Tables: "Always think about storage when selecting furniture. An extra drawer and a shelf can make all the difference for storing linens, spare vases, and bedroom essentials. Stacking seasonal throw pillows brings a pop of color into space and personality without appearing cluttered."

Vintage Suitcases and Chests: "They're not only super hot in a space, they tell a story, are eco friendly, and perfect storage solutions."

See more of Jillian as she hosts the new show Canada's Handyman Challenge this month on HGTV.

Do You Replace Your Pillows?

Julia Walsh — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:00:00 PST

CasaSugar Community member Sherrilee recently wrote in the Organization Tips group, "I found it's worth it if you change your pillows often. I buy new ones when they lose their plumpness. They aren't sanitary anymore, and I feel safer as it prevents dust mites and other germs. It's worth investing in." Do you do the same? Do you swap in new pillows when they're no longer plump or clean?

5 Ways to Prop Your Bed Pillows

Julia Walsh — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 05:00:36 PDT

Making your bed is like making a cup of coffee; some of us like cream and sugar, and some of us like three dozen throw pillows. If you're looking to freshen things up in the bedroom, considering rearranging your pillows in a different way. It'll make the space feel brand-new! Here are a few ideas.

Joseph Altuzarra Talks Resort '12, His Holiday Wish List, and Why He Loves Parka Coats

Brittney Stephens — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:00:16 PST

Joseph Altuzarra is one of the coolest, most talented new designers out there right now - as evidenced by his 2011 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund win just a couple nights ago. He has quickly become known for his sexy, utilitarian take on feminine dressing, and his uncomplicated approach to separates. For Resort, Altuzarra went slightly conservative, but still youthful giving off a polished, French insouciant vibe - punctuated by short formal dresses, cropped, shrunken day jackets, and sleek, feminine skirt suits. We viewed the line during a sit-down brunch hosted by Neiman Marcus San Francisco and the designer, and we were delighted to see the sweet, classic-cool pieces up close and personal.

FabSugar: What's your favorite part of this collection?
Joseph Altuzarra: The eyelet! We did a lot of classic eyelets from Switzerland that are hand-embroidered, and also some really cool digital eyelet prints and knit eyelet pieces as well. Putting together the moodboard, we knew we wanted to do a ton of eyelet, and overall wanted a very St.-Tropez, Brigitte Bardot feeling. We also injected a '90s vibe into it, because we wanted it to have a connection to Fall as well. Resort is much more tied to what the customer wants, and because there isn't a show you can design less editorially, and more commercially - which is a great thing.

Find out more about the collection, as well as Joseph's Winter party dressing tips and what's on his holiday wish list when you keep reading.

Achoo! How to Relieve Allergies in Your Bedroom

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:35:57 PDT

If you suffer from allergies to dander, dust mites, or mold, it's time to take a closer look at the place where you spend one-third of your day - your bedroom. Here are some things you can do to reduce your allergy symptoms.

Evict the Offenders
Looked under your bed lately? To prevent a colony of dust mites from becoming squatters in the apartment below where you sleep, vacuum under your bed at least once a week. And don't be lazy about it - move the bed and other furniture to suck up the disgusting fluffs hiding in all the nooks and crannies. If your bedroom isn't carpeted, be even more ~~anal~~ thorough and mop the floor. Aside from washing your sheets weekly, take time to wipe down the tops of your dressers, nightstands, the blinds, and windowsills. Not to make you crazy for cleaning, but the curtains and your comforter can get dusty too, so don't forget to wash them once a month. If your bathroom is connected to your bedroom, check the bathtub or shower for mold and mildew.

Keep reading to find out other ways you can relieve allergy symptoms in your bedroom.

A Chic, Hip Bedroom Retreat For Busy and Stylish Parents

Elka Karl — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 05:00:06 PDT

Erin, who blogs at Skoots and Cuddles and whose bedroom we featured earlier this week, is one of those moms who seems to do it all. When she isn't parenting three kids and working as a graphic designer, she's updating her blog on her latest home decorating and improvement projects. She's been decorating her master bedroom, and though she notes that she's not quite finished, she was happy to share photos of the cool space with CasaSugar readers. Check out some of Erin's thoughts about decorating her master bedroom!

Where she finds inspiration: "I love interior design and am an avid magazine and blog reader. I find inspiration for decorating my house in anything I find beautiful . . . a piece of art, a chandelier, a rug or even an paint color. Every room in my house starts with a single item that I love, then I build the room from there."

Her focal point and inspiration for the master bedroom: "In the case of my master bedroom, I created the room around the artwork above my bed from Focus Line Art's Etsy shop. I loved the contemporary color combinations paired with the rustic tree rings. After purchasing the artwork, I gradually picked out paint colors, furniture, curtains, and bedding."

Keep reading for more tips from Erin!

Su Casa: A Master Bedroom Makeover

Casa Community — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:40:00 PDT

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member YBandD from the Su Casa group:

Last time there were adventures in Zero VOC paint, and this time it's adventures in spray paint; I know, classy huh!

The new bedroom at the beach rental is finally coming along. I officially still hate moving, however, I am loving my sweet new office slash sunroom slash all-around chill-out space with “peekaboo” views of the ocean (peekaboo meaning there are a few houses pretty much blocking my entire view of the ocean except for that small sliver of blue). But, I really can’t complain, now can I?

Once I got all my furniture in, I quickly assessed the new space. The main difference is this room has a lot more windows to deal with than my previous room, plus sliding glass doors separating the bedroom from the office. The window above the bed is also not centered on anything in the room, making it difficult to achieve any semblance of balance.

The new gray coat of paint looks oh so cozy with the furniture in. I decided to drape the glass doors at the opening between the office and the bedroom. The drapery softens the opening and is also functional, so that I can keep all the blinds raised in the sunroom on a permanent basis. I also draped the off-center window at the bed head wall with one panel to play up on the asymmetry. After a quick trip to Target, I found these modern, almost Chinese lattice-framed mirrors. The mirrors would reflect light, which actually could start to balance with the light coming in from the window. However, they were a faux sponge painted bronze color, which is not exactly what I had in mind. Insert adventures in spray paint, Take One, here.

Continue reading to hear more about how Kelly updated her bedroom!

Live Like a Kardashian in the Gansevoort Park Hotel

Elka Karl — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:00:58 PDT

Kim Kardashian may have just celebrated her marriage to New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries, but she's not quite ready to settle down in one place quite yet. She and her new husband are staying at a hotel for the moment and not just any hotel. The newlyweds have booked a penthouse suite at the Gansevoort Park Hotel for $7,000 a night, according to Curbed.

Kim and Kris will reside at the Gansevoort Park Hotel while she films the next season of Kourtney and Kim. While there, they'll enjoy all of the amenities the penthouse has to offer as well as some special extras, including K&K monogrammed sheets, pillow cases, towels, and champagne bottles.

Yesterday, Kim tweeted, "I'm really obsessed with the Gansevoort Hotel in NYC!" and I can see why. The rooms, outdoor spaces, bar and restaurant areas, and amenities are spectacular. I also love the color scheme in the suite bedrooms - the peacock blue and fuchsia really pop against the white backdrop.

Have you ever stayed at a room in the Gansevoort? While it may not be the three-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot presidential suite, each room in the hotel is quite stunning. I'd love to book a stay the next time I'm visiting New York!