Little luxuries may be helping us get through the lockdown. Nowhere is this more clearly to be seen than in the bedroom, according to John Guiney of Slumber Suite (slumbersuite.ie), who has seen orders rise significantly since the pandemic was announced.
The business specialises in supplying hotel bed linens, a sector that knows the value of luxury, comfort and durability, at a good price. It’s what makes Slumber Suite such a great option for consumers too.
“We’re definitely seeing more luxury items sold at the moment. I think people are looking at their bedrooms, perhaps feeling a bit trapped, and trying to treat themselves,” says Guiney.
What’s daft is that we didn’t maybe give quality bed linens due consideration before. “We spend all this money on getting the right mattress, and the right bed, and then go and put poor quality bed linens on it. It’s madness, particularly as it’s the part you actually feel,” he points out.
The company specialises in quality Egyptian cottons, which are super soft, at a price that will keep you relaxed. A king size Dorchester Oceania duvet cover set, a 100 per cent Egyptian white cotton cover with a contemporary silver trim, is just €60 on SlumberSuite.ie, including matching pillow slips.
Hotels know a thing or two about smartly made beds and one of the tricks of the trade is extra-deep fitted sheets which are easy to put on and good at staying in place. They can be hard to find, but something Slumber Suite specialises in.
Kids colourful bedroom sets are flying out the door too, says Guiney, particularly those with matching curtains. With families cooped up together like never before – and parents with young kids no doubt in need of a break – it’s no surprise to find some of his biggest sellers right now are blackout curtains. Call it a lockdown living life hack.
Bed linen brand White & Green (whiteandgreenhome.com) has made a name for the Winckworth women who set it up four years ago, not that they needed it. Mum Sari was already a well-known interior designer while one daughter, Danielle, was an international model and another, Rebecca, a member of choral group Anúna.
Rebecca recently made the headlines for the nightly serenades she gives neighbours from her balcony in Colombia, where she is in lockdown. Together with sister Andrea, the family has seen its range of organic, fair trade cotton bedding enjoyed the world over.
A king sized bed, fully dressed out in White & Green, costs €250 and will last years
The products are luxurious but affordable and the secret behind their success is their blend of comfort and quality. A king sized bed, fully dressed out in White & Green, costs €250 and will last years. In the first 10 years that works out at 6 cents a night, points out Rebecca Winckworth. “I think it’s amazing that for 6 cent per night we can transform our sleep and our customers say they do sleep better, 100 per cent, when they are sleeping on our sheets. You glide into them at night; they feel so fresh, soft and comforting.”
Comforting to know too that they are really easy to wash and iron, with deeply fitted sheets extending to 38cm, and elasticated all round, so no more “tug of wars” to make them fit,she says.
The company recently added super absorbent towels and bathrobes to its range, well as soft throws, all of which are machine washable.
“The one thing we cannot keep up with demand for is our silk pillowcases and silk eye masks,” says Winckworth. “Silk absolutely protects hair, keeps it from breaking and going frizzy overnight, and also helps to reduce wrinkles. The eye masks are so important now that it gets bright so early in the mornings and they stop you from getting puffy eyes when you wake up.”
All this lockdown lounging isn't just taking place in the bedroom. Online orders at Elephant Living (ElephantLiving.com) are up 900 per cent since the travel restrictions came in.
It’s easy to see why. The company’s signature Elephant beanbags are big and comfy, great quality and, priced from €99 for a junior one and from €149 for the grown-up versions, great value.
Right now as the world craves vitamin D and is up for spending as much time as possible outdoors, Elephant’s water-resistant vinyl beanbags are the perfect choice, as they are suited to both indoor and outdoor living.
It’s also the cheapest gardening makeover you’ll ever do. “You can put some of our mad floral designs in the garden and they look fantastic, bringing a lovely pop of colour to any space. Then bring them in to brighten up the room the rest of the year round,” says owner Mark Mellett.
They’re light enough to be brought in and out too, which helps, given our changeable weather.
The company has a gorgeous range of homeware accessories, including cotton throws, sofa cushions and floor cushions. It has lovely baby gifts too which are proving a big hit at a time when visiting new parents is impossible.
Right now Mellett should be gearing up for Elephant’s annual appearance at Bloom, which always creates a buzz. Instead he’s busier than ever processing online orders. It’s not nearly as sociable but good news all the same, especially for those looking forward to a little de luxe lounging.
Our appetite to ease lockdown living extends to interiors of another kind too – our tums.
Like all restaurants, Camden Street's hugely popular Hang Dai Chinese (hangdaichinese.com) had to shuts its doors to diners. But it opened itself up to takeouts and the results have been spectacular, says co-owner Will Dempsey.
“We have redesigned our menu so that it includes not just customer favourites but a new range of dishes well suited to home delivery and orders have been terrific.”
The move allows it to continue serving loyal regulars but opened it up to a whole new legion of fans. “I think in the lockdown a lot of people have taken to social media and many people seem to have found us that way,” says Dempsey. “We’re on Just Eat now too, so that has brought in even more people.”
As well as gorgeous food, the crew at Hang Dai is busy preparing its famous cocktails to go too. Featuring hand-pressed juices and syrups, these are available in single servings and the even more popular litre bottles. Don’t miss its Watermelon cocktail, perfect for summer evenings.
We miss our customers, and the rest of our staff who aren't yet back with us
Doors at the restaurant reopen to diners as part of the Government’s plan, at the end of June. Dempsey can’t wait. “We miss our customers, and the rest of our staff who aren’t yet back with us,” he says.
But having built up such a keen following for the restaurant’s takeouts, he won’t be forgoing that side of the house any time soon. “We’ll keep it going,” he promises.
