PHOTO: PAMELA MOUGIN

PILLOW TALK

“I have no bedroom problems, there is nothing in my bedroom that bothers me.”

– Jan, from the movie “PILLOW TALK”

If you think about it, your bed is the most important place in your home. It is the place where you begin each day, it is the place where you end each day, and most importantly it is the place where you dream!

After talking so much about so many of my past jobs, you may be surprised to learn that I never worked in a sheet factory, a laundromat, or in a hotel making beds. And due to this lack of experience, my bed making expertise is not quite up to par with the rest of my wheelhouse.

PHOTO: WILLIAM WALDRON

A fact I find interesting is, on average, a person spends up to 1/3 of their life in bed…that is a lot of life to beautify! So, to help make this third of your life (and 100% of your dreams) more beautiful, I thought I’d invite my friend Jenny Johnson Allen to join me for some pillow talk.

PHOTO: KEVIN O’GARA

Jenny is the woman behind JENNY JOHNSON ALLEN Custom Linens, and knows everything there is to know about customizing the choicest cocktail napkins, monogramming the prettiest hand towels, and of course, making the perfect bed. Here are some of Jenny’s insider tips on the art of bed making...

PHOTO: KEVIN O’GARA PHOTO: KEVIN O’GARA PHOTO: KEVIN O’GARA PHOTO: KEVIN O’GARA PHOTO: KEVIN O’GARA

JENNY'S TIPS

1. You don't have to be rich to treat yourself.
There a fabulous items out there a many price points and a little consideration could really change the quality of your bed and sleep.

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2. Bedding should reflect your personality.
An easy way to do this is monograms. They are very personal, not just swirly and girly. It can be a word, it can be graphic. I love how creative Julia B's monograms are. I think it's wonderful how something as simple as a custom monogram can create a sense of tradition or even a family heirloom.

PHOTO: KEVIN O’GARA

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3. Start with the sheets.
This is a not so obvious place to spend the money, but it is worth it. And for goodness sake, don’t skimp on the bottom sheet, after all, this IS where your bottom goes.

PHOTO: ERICA GEORGE DINES

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4. Always have a good blanket.
This layer -- no matter the weight or the season – always adds to the overall comfort of the perfect bed.

PHOTO: PETER VITALE

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5. The secret of silk...
One of my favorite secrets...silk filled inserts instead of down! Silk lets you breath, is never too puffy, and folds perfectly.

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6. Begin with white then add the design details.
I like to use white or ivory and then incorporate color with a flange, trim, or monogram.

PHOTO: ERICA GEORGE DINES

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7. Pillow redux.
Don’t put 18 pillows on a bed…who wants to take them off every night? Instead keep it simple, use everything you keep on there. Less is more.

PHOTO: ERICA GEORGE DINES

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JENNY’S PERFECTLY MADE BED:
•  Bottom sheet
•  Top sheet
•  Blanket
•  Coverlet
•  Duvet cover

“I’ve had hangovers before but this time even my hair hurts.”

– Rock Hudson (Pillow Talk)

See why you need a good bed?