Windows on the World

For a nap or a good night's sleep, travel-weary guests appreciate a comfortable bed and soothing linens. This room's king-size bed welcomes visitors with lace-trimmed bedding beneath a cool-to-the-touch silk duvet cover. The bench at the bed's foot is ideal for laying out a suitcase or sitting to pull on a pair of shoes. A milk-and-honey color scheme yields light, and thoughtful touches serve every need.

 

Small honey-hued chests offer bedside surfaces for lamps, a water carafe, and a drinking glass, plus drawer space for corralling small belongings.

 

Visitors wake to a lovely wraparound window view of the garden. No need to close off the scenery until the last wink, thanks to remote-controlled draperies, which can be shut and opened from the bed! The window corner, furnished with two upholstered chairs and a table plus a soft red throw, makes a comfy spot for conversation. For a final touch of luxury, a crystal chandelier draws the eye up to the room's coffered ceiling.

 

Make up your guest beds with sheets and blankets that feel good next to bare skin, and your houseguests will rest easily and comfortably. Look for woven cotton sheets and pillowcases with thread counts of 220 or more. They're soft, they wear well, and they're available in myriad colors and patterns. Woven cotton flannel and cotton knit jersey are also fine feel-good choices.

Here's a checklist of soft-to-the-touch linens you'll want to lay out for your guests:

• Lightweight natural-fiber blanket
• Down or synthetic comforter
• Heavier wool blanket for drafty rooms
• Silky throw for napping
• Feather and synthetic pillows in firm, medium, and soft
• Scratchproof cloth for cleaning eyeglasses
• Bath towel, hand towel, and washcloth
• Cotton terry-cloth or flannel robe

Resources: Like what you see in this story? As of 2005, the items featured in this story were available from these manufacturers. Fabric for bed - Kravet; 888-457-2838. Fabric for draperies, trim for draperies - Brunschwig & Fils; 800-538-1880; www.brunschwig.com. Fabric for chairs - Scalamandre; 800-932-4361; www.scalamandre.com. Triangular table by window - Rose Tarlow-Melrose House, Los Angeles; 323-651-2202; www.rosetarlow.com. Lamps flanking bed - Janis Aldridge, Inc., 2900 M St., NW, Washington, DC, 20007; 202-338-7710. Chandelier - David Latesta, through August Georges, Washington, DC; 202-337-5110. Bench at foot of bed - Michael Taylor Designs, 1500 17th St., San Francisco, CA, 94107; 415-558-9940; www.michaeltaylordesigns.com. Fabric for bench - Christopher Hyland, Inc., New York City; 212-688-6121. Silk accent pillow on bed - Baker; 800-592-2537; www.kohlerinteriors.com. Bath towel, fringed throw - Restoration Hardware; 888-243-9720; www.restorationhardware.com. White accent pillow - Lands' End; 800-356-4444; www.landsend.com. Crochet sheets - Pine Cone Hill, Pittsfield, Massachusetts; 413-496-9700; www.pineconehill.com. Embroidered sham - Pottery Barn Bed + Bath; 888-779-4044; www.potterybarn.com. Yellow accent sham - Garnet Hill; 800-622-6216; www.garnethill.com (product line varies). Chocolate square - Ghirardelli Chocolate Co.; 800-877-9338; www.ghirardelli.com.