Duvets

[PlatyPius 5]

I can't comprehend the desire to sleep with the weight of a mattress on top of you. My fiancee has been gushing about her duvet and how great it is.... I can barely tolerate the weight of an American comforter on me.... how am I going to cope with sleeping under a Serta full size mattress?

Tea kettles....

I also don't understand the fascination with electric kettles. America had them....in the 50s...when electrical appliances were cool. I have this thing called a stove ("cooker"). On top of it are 4 rings that spit out fire. If you place a plain old kettle filled with water on top of one of these rings of fire, it gets hot and boils. Why buy an extra appliance for no reason?

Some things are going to take some time to adjust to. Luckily, Sian doesn't drink tea or coffee, so I don't have to deal with the electric "kettle" thing. Duvets on the other hand......

Edited April 30, 2006 by Cian

[Tex'n'Brit 0]

I can't comprehend the desire to sleep with the weight of a mattress on top of you. My fiancee has been gushing about her duvet and how great it is.... I can barely tolerate the weight of an American comforter on me.... how am I going to cope with sleeping under a Serta full size mattress?

I wonder, could you possibly be thinking of the things that are usually referred to as feather toppers or feather beds? I can imagine that some innocent non-duvet owners might easily mistake one of those for a duvet. They are very similar in appearance to duvets but they're much thicker and heavier ... they're supposed to go on top of the mattress itself and not on top of the sleeper.

Anyway, I bet that once you've had a chance to try sleeping under a good quality duvet ... by the sound of things you'd probably be better off with a summer weight one which is, to coin a phrase, almost 'as light as a feather' you'll finally understand why so many of us ex-pats rave on about them.

I'm not a tea drinker either and I rarely have coffee, but I think it's handy having an electric kettle anyway. I don't have any facts to substantiate the following claims, but - IMHO - water in an electric kettle seems to boil quicker than if it's in something placed on the hob (cooker/stove top). For some reason it also feels as though I'm wasting less energy too, but who knows!

All the best,

Sheila, currently enjoying a trip back to The Land of Duvets & Kettles, stuffing my suitcases with genuine Cadbury's!

Edited April 30, 2006 by Tex'n'Brit

[Jaylen Brit 0]

Yes real duvets are very light - Im not planning on buying a winter weight one for the US - everyone seems to keep their heating on 24/7 in winter anyways so a winter duvet would be too warm.

I will try and see if I can locate a decent summer weight one in the US, online.

The main issue seems to be that UK bed sizes are slightly smaller than US ones - I can easily buy a UK King sized duvet pretty much anyplace but its a little too small for a US King *sigh* Covers for UK Kings are no probs either - and I really REALLY don't dont want any flowery patterns.

It just boggles my mind that SO many US bedrooms seem to be done out purely for ladies over 60 (frills, flowers, girly ruffles) and looking at most of them you wouldn't know that a man actually shares the room.

I have a feeling I'll have to end up getting everything in the UK just to get the designs I want. Oh well..

Oh and another great thing about duvets - making the bed takes SECONDS

[Lou Lou 1]

It just boggles my mind that SO many US bedrooms seem to be done out purely for ladies over 60 (frills, flowers, girly ruffles) and looking at most of them you wouldn't know that a man actually shares the room.

Amen to that! I've never seen so many of those crappy frilly bedskirts in people's bedrooms - bluergh There is a distinct lack of style and taste when it comes to decoration over here, that's for sure. But there are good companies getting around to it...finally. I end up searching sites, finding a duvet cover I like and then buying it on Ebay for about $40 cheaper. Browsing magazines like Domino gives you good ideas of where the nice stuff is hiding out.

[hockeygal 0]

I keep telling you guys... buy two flat sheets you like out of the sale bin... sew 'em together...presto! A lovely duvet cover. No flowers or frills (unless you want 'em)

Do you guys use them as sheets, or do you use sheets underneath them? I find a lot of the covers you find in shops have decorative items like buttons and piping that make them more of a decorative cover than a sheet. I just throw mine in the wash and replace them like regular sheets.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

I keep telling you guys... buy two flat sheets you like out of the sale bin... sew 'em together...presto! A lovely duvet cover. No flowers or frills (unless you want 'em)

Do you guys use them as sheets, or do you use sheets underneath them? I find a lot of the covers you find in shops have decorative items like buttons and piping that make them more of a decorative cover than a sheet. I just throw mine in the wash and replace them like regular sheets.

Thats the good thing with duvets - no sheets!

You have the duvet, its slip cover and then the sheet on the MATRESS only..thats it

And yeah I can see how you can make your own duvvet covers but I suck with sewing unless its invisible mending type stuff.

If I made my own it would look pants

[Carol&Marc 0]

It just boggles my mind that SO many US bedrooms seem to be done out purely for ladies over 60 (frills, flowers, girly ruffles) and looking at most of them you wouldn't know that a man actually shares the room.

Amen to that! I've never seen so many of those crappy frilly bedskirts in people's bedrooms - bluergh There is a distinct lack of style and taste when it comes to decoration over here, that's for sure. But there are good companies getting around to it...finally. I end up searching sites, finding a duvet cover I like and then buying it on Ebay for about $40 cheaper. Browsing magazines like Domino gives you good ideas of where the nice stuff is hiding out.

And thanks for the tip on where the hidden stuff are!!!

Carol

[lizaanne 0]

Try Eddie Bauer for duvet covers - I've had one on my bed since long before I met my Brit, and I love it! Though I do use it more like a comforter with topsheet and blanket. My duvet is feather filled, but pretty light weight. And the cover for it and the matching pillow shams are not frilly and nasty - they are a nice bumpy fabric (matalase) with a light green water color cris-cross pattern on a white background. Very nice, and not prissy.

~Liza

[kc456 0]

Ikea has pretty good lightweight/cotton duvet colors in non-flowery patterns. If you guys have one nearby, then check it out. You may also be able to shop online, not sure.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

I checked out Ikea online for the US but I was disappointed with what they had showing for sale - not nearly as much range - maybe they have more in the actual store?

I just dont want 'our' bedroom to look too feminine - for either of us (cos I hate flowery patterns) - I want him to feel at HOME in it! lol

Eddie bauer - I hadnt even THOUGHT of checking there - thanks

[PlatyPius 5]

*Cian checks to make sure he's really male....*

Erm....yeah.... *cough* I LIKE flowery bedroom stuff, while Sian likes plain, solid colours.

*wanders off*

[Jaylen Brit 0]

I found a great duvet cover - and its in the Ikea US online store - tho I found originally in the UK one (they let you shop online - unlike the UK - what bliss!)

http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/05021_PE079032_S4.jpg

Cool huh?

AND they do duvets - even better!!

Edited June 1, 2006 by Jaylen Brit

[hockeygal 0]

IKEA sells a cool duvet that comes in two parts that snap together. One is light enough for summer, the other is a fall duvet. Snap them together and they are warm enough for winter. A duvet of all seasons.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

Yeah we have them here, lol

But my sweetie isn't a HUGE duvet fan so Im gonna get a summer weight one which we can use in winter (cos he keeps the house warm anyways) instead of his sheets and quilt/coverlet.

I *was* gonna buy duvet and covers in UK but if they have the nice stuff in US as well, AND online so no need to drive to find one, then there's no need

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Yeah we have them here, lol

But my sweetie isn't a HUGE duvet fan so Im gonna get a summer weight one which we can use in winter (cos he keeps the house warm anyways) instead of his sheets and quilt/coverlet.

I *was* gonna buy duvet and covers in UK but if they have the nice stuff in US as well, AND online so no need to drive to find one, then there's no need

You might try one of the finer department stores, they often have the various weights all stacked on a model bed. Then you could atleast get an idea of the proper fill you are looking for. Most offer a high thread count, so the feathers (if this is what you choose) don't come popping out as often. You will also find very fine covers in places like Macy's and Dillard's, they wash well and hold up for years. I don't recall seeing thread counts when I was over in the UK, was my cheapo hubby just taking me to the wrong shops lol?

My mother just recently gave me a synthetic down, duvet/comforter I honestly like the feel of it and it washes very well, think she got it at Macy's. She also gave me a feather mattress topper, omg girls that is just heaven, if you don't have one it is a must to put on the I want list.

From the American perspective, I do love the ideal of a duvet. What I was not impressed with across the pond..........polyster bedding everywhere, I found very few duvet covers that impressed me. For my long stay I took my own 400 thread count sheets, much better than itchy balled up polyster against my skin. Of course we all must note, my brit had no idea how to explain what a tog was nor did he know any other stores for me to look in besides, ASDA, Tesco and Argos . I have noticed when he turns on his webcam it is typically, those NICE sheets I took over and left behind, and yes the top sheet too!!! Whew I need to add that to the subservient foreign husband thread.