Hanging Nightstands

Post by Jessica Schoenenberger

Spend any time looking at bedrooms on Pinterest, and you’ll encounter the ever popular hanging nightstand. Predominantly featuring reclaimed wood hung from the ceiling with sisal rope, it’s an exotic look that is catching everyone’s eye.

The allure of the hanging night stand lies in its utility for a small space. Considering you can see more of the floor, and the rope above is ordinarily unassuming, your space feels bigger. Plus, combining the unfinished look of the wood with the simplicity of the cord evokes a minimalistic yet cozy quality. There’s something incredibly peaceful about a piece of furniture that lazily floats in the air.

They can be done in a single slab natural wood, or planks for a more finished, less rugged look. Crystal over at the Weathered Fox blog has an impressive DIY for one made from painted planks. The natural wood versions offer up a rugged, outdoor or even vaguely southwest look. The planks, on the other hand look quite beachy, depending on how you choose to handle the rope.

There are countless DIY’s out there for this. The only drawback is that, well, it’s hanging. While some say its slight sway is nice, I’ll admit it would make me nervous. It is especially something to consider if you have pets or children that might bump into it. If you’re not someone that tends to keep a glass of water or other fragile items on your nightstand, it might work. But if you are, I would think about how the weight of the system affects how much it moves.

Have any readers tried this trend? I would love to hear how it went!

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Movies in Bed: Rogue One

Post by Jessica Schoenenberger

Rogue One

I might be late in the game, but Rogue One was just made available on Netflix.

For those who don’t know, Rogue One is the latest spinoff in the modern reboot of Star Wars. It takes place right before A New Hope out of the classic trilogy. Remember at the beginning of A New Hope, when the iconic text rolls across the screen revealing that rebel spies managed to capture the plans to the Death Star? Rogue One is the story of how many good men died to get those plans that would later be used to destroy the legendary enemy weapon.

Though it only includes faint cameos of a few of the familiar characters, Rogue One is very much a Star Wars movie. It’s a story about a raggedy orphan that bands together with other raggedy people to carry out a mission that is severely shorthanded. It’s a little more cheeky and comedic than the originals, and you get to see more of the daily life in the galaxy. There is, of course, a delightful droid as always, and some of the best action sequences of any Star Wars movie, due to crazy-cool innovations in cinematography and animation.

Don’t be fooled though, for all the fun it is, it has a dramatic ending that will leave you with your mouth open and tears in your eyes, but also feeling the wondrous excitement and fulfilment of classic Star Wars. Keep an eye out for incredible CGI and live action resurrections of key characters from a New Hope-you won’t miss them. In fact, if I was cynical I would say the whole movie was made just to bring them back. But in reality, Rogue One stands very strong by itself, satisfying any hard core Star Wars fan, even if it’s just a tidbit to tide us over until The Last Jedi. It’s the perfect thing to send you off to sleep feeling like you could conquer anything, even Darth Vader.

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Sleeping with Pets

Post by Jessica Schoenenberger

During winter evenings, my cat curls up next to my chest, lets me put my arms around him, and snuggles with me all night. In the summer, he chooses the top of the fridge over my amazingly comfortable mattress, but still joins me in the morning (usually when he wants food). For a lot of you, this type of affection might seem normal for your pet. But with my cat, a black Bombay named Lu (Lucifer) that was rescued from the streets of Brooklyn, this is the biggest honor of my life. Lu’s affectionate in his own ways, but not the most cuddly. So the fact that he deigned me the most tolerable human in the house to huddle against during the colder seasons is something I won’t take for granted. Believe me, my boyfriend is more jealous than anyone you’ve ever seen.

So there I am, relishing every moment Lu seems to be depending on me for something other than food for once. And for the first half of the night while I’m sleeping soundly, it’s nothing short of heaven. Then as I get restless I come to the number one cat owner dilemma. If I move and disturb our little Dark Prince’s sleep, I know he will quite literally grumble at me in annoyance and jump down, leaving me cold and lonely. Or worse, he’ll awkwardly sandwich himself somewhere near my legs, leaving me only a few inches of the mattress to spare. Yes, my cat has emotions like that, I swear. And yes this is normal for a cat owner (I hope).

my cat picture

The benefits and drawbacks of letting your pet sleep with you have long been debated. According to Science Daily-about half of all pet owners co-sleep with their pets. Even further, Web MD states that 62% of cat owners sleep with their pet.

If you have severe allergies, of course it is best not to sleep with your pet, especially if you notice it irritating you. Otherwise, the consensus seems to be that it is perfectly fine to sleep with your pet if you can tolerate it. It has never been definitively proven that you are at higher risk of disease. Plus, there seem to be at least a few benefits in it for you. According to studies, sleeping with pets can relax you and provide you with a sense of security. Not to mention warmth, if you aren’t already a hot sleeper. Some insomnia sufferers can only sleep with the comfort of their dog or cat next to them. Like many lessons about sleep, it’s really about what is comfortable to you. If you feel you are sacrificing a good night sleep just to make your furry friend happy, you may want to rethink your situation. Otherwise, snuggle away!

A few tips if you do choose to sleep with your pet- If you have a new pet, you should try to give them a neutral sleeping area before letting them into your bed. And when you do, it should be by invitation only. That way, if you find that you are uncomfortable on certain nights, your pet will have somewhere else to go without being traumatized. Plus, for dog owners specifically, invitation only sleeping will reassert your dominance over certain dogs that might become territorial or aggressive about their perfect spot on the mattress.

Lu tends to be very restless any time I move around. And, at 4:45 in the morning on the dot (God knows why), he starts bothering me for his breakfast, meowing and wreaking havoc in the room. When this happens I am able to lock him out of the bedroom to get some extra shut eye, and he still has a few favorite spots around the house to settle into.

my cat in bed

In the end, it really comes down to the balance. If you train your pet correctly, you should feel comfortable kicking them out if you can’t sleep. But it’s a personal choice. I of all people know how hard it can be to part with your pet when all you want to do is cuddle, but sometimes it will be for both of your benefit. You don’t want to end up resenting Fido for tossing and turning all night. I know I’ll probably still hold on to Lu longer than I should to my own detriment, but I’ll enjoy every second of it. Maybe I’m too obsessed with my pet, or maybe I’m just a normal cat owner starved for the aloof animal’s attention. But I do what makes me happy, and you should too. That’s what it’s all about, right?

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Foundation and Mattress- What’s the relationship?


A new mattress can be really tall, making it feel like you are climbing a mountain to get into bed. That’s why good manufacturers ( like Charles P. Rogers) offer 2 options on the height of your foundation at no difference in price or performance; Low Profile or Regular Height.

Foundation heights

Why Get A New Foundation - Your new mattress, a significant investment, needs proper support. Many folks consider using their existing foundation rather than buying a new matching foundation: its seen like an add on rather than a necessary purchase. But ask yourself, why you are replacing the mattress? Poor comfort & support? Valleys & depressions? Your foundation could be as worn as your mattress, it wont give your new mattress proper support, nor proper alignment for you and your partner. Your brand new mattress might break down even more quickly than you’d like.


What to consider when selecting the height of the foundation for your new set of bedding- An easy formula to help decide which height foundation is best with your new mattress-

drop to the floor + height of the foundation + height of the mattress = height from floor to top of the mattress.

Referring to our formula, first measure the drop from the rail to the floor. Then, add the height of the new mattress with the drop. Now it’s time to decide which foundation works best for you; low profile 5” or regular height 7.5” foundation. Plug in each foundation measurement (5” or 7.5”) to the equation, adding it to the drop and new mattress height you just calculated, and you will know the measurement from the top of your mattress to the floor. Compare the measurements to your current total height, and decide which works best for you. If using a bed skirt, you’ll need to find out the measurement from the floor to the top of the foundation to see which height is most appropriate for your bed skirt drop.



Bed Skirt Drop


drop to the floor + height of the foundation= bed skirt drop

You will want to ensure the height of your new mattress and/or set scales well with your existing furniture and nightstands, and you are comfortable getting in and out of bed. If you are putting a new mattress on a platform bed, measure the drop to the floor then add the new mattress height to know the measurement from the floor to the top of the mattress.



drop to the floor + height of the mattress = height from floor to top of the mattress.


Let us know if you have any questions when you are doing your measurements. This little bit of math will help you decide which height foundation is best for you.


Sleep Well!

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Builder Upgrades for Your Master Bedroom

Post by Tracy Kaler.


Photo by LMK Interiors

Building your dream home? If you fear that your master bedroom could end up looking a little too cookie cutter and would like your space to feel more personalized, implementing even one or two of these upgrades might be worth the splurge.

Select more expensive carpeting.
A simple carpet upgrade can make a bedroom look luxurious and feel much comfier underfoot.

Upgrade your carpet pad.
Speaking of comfy, a high-quality carpet pad can make all the difference in the look and feel of your wall to wall carpeting.

Raise the ceiling height.
Sure, ceilings that measure at 8’-0” might be standard, but a 9’-0” ceiling height (or higher) will instantly add character to a vanilla bedroom.

Select a fun paint color.
Rather than going with the standard ivory or beige on the walls, choose a tranquil blue, soft yellow, or even a bold color if you’re feeling adventurous.

Add decorative molding.
Crown molding or wainscoting will add an architectural element to even the dullest space. Talk with your builder about options that are within your budget.

Dress up your bedroom with a chandelier.
Let there be light! Yes, a chandelier (rather than a ceiling mount) will undoubtedly dress up your space.

Put the lights on switches and dimmers
Straightforward and inexpensive, dimmers give you the ability to control the amount of light in any room. They’re a luxury worth every penny.

Customize the closet.
Storage makes all the difference, and a customized closet will reap the rewards when you go to sell.



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