{
For the ultimate in comfortable bed
underpinnings, I suggest Sleep Innovations
Novaform, 100 percent nonallergenic, memory-foam accouterments. Memory foam
provides extra body support, relieves neck
and back pressure and, when used as a topper, adds life to an old mattress.
“Not all memory foam is the same,”
warns Val. “We have tested many less expensive products. They do not perform as well as
those made in the U.S. by Sleep Innovations.”
I’m particularly taken with the warehouses’ new Novaform Elite Choice two-in-one mattress topper. It has 21/2 inches of
high-density memory foam on one side
( 2 inches is standard), 3 1/2 inches of luxurious,
extra-comfort, “down-like” microfiber on the
other, an antimicrobial finish and a soft,
durable 300-thread-count, 100 percent cotton, washable, snug-fit cover. All sizes are
available, but Cal king sizes have limited
distribution. Costco’s price is about half that
of other retailers. (A similar product, the
Novaform Natural Partners memory-foam-and-down combo, is available on costco.com.)
Costco
Memory-foam mattress topper
Luxury sheet set
White goose-down comforter
White goose-down pillows
Duvet/comforter cover and shams
$139.99
$59.99
$99.99
$34.99
$59.99
Nat’l Dept.
Stores
$230
$105
$300
$120
$230
Prices based
on surveys
taken in
Seattle in
July 2006.
Total:
$394.95
$985
towels are now 2 inches longer, at 30 by 58
inches. (The standard size is either 30 by 54
inches or 27 by 50 inches.)
Val warns, “Some retailers avoid additional costs by just increasing dimensions
rather than boosting the amount of yarn
used. We add more yarn. This guarantees the
same plush weight per square inch.”
I am always grateful for costco.com’s
nimbleness and innovative attitude. In this
category, Amber suggests that members
consider costco.com’s plush Turkish cotton, Egyptian waffle pattern or eco-friendly
bamboo towels.
Costco, expect to save around $150 for the
queen size and nearly $190 for the king.
(Look for coordinating PCF down pillows.)
Costco.com carries a huge selection of
down products, including lightweight to
extra-warmth comforters and pillows.
Towels
The majority of towels are made with
super-absorbent cotton. The longer and
denser the fiber, the more absorbent and
softer the towel. Egyptian cotton, with its
long, strong fibers, makes a particularly
thick, lustrous, super-soft yet durable towel.
Costco offers WestPoint Stevens Martex
100 percent Egyptian cotton loop towels.
Two new colors—icy blue aqua spa (arriving
in October) and dusty violet—add new sizzle
to the established palette. Don’t forget to pick
up the plush, coordinating bath mats.
Do you like extra-large bath towels? I do.
This is why I am thrilled that Martex bath
Comforters
Pacific Coast Feather (PCF) has been in
the down business since 1884. I am a big fan
of this company for its craftsmanship.
Costco’s 600-fill-power queen and king
PCF comforters are hypoallergenic, made in
the United States and found in most warehouses. They provide exceptional insulation
for year-round comfort, with large, fluffy
clusters of Hyperclean® white goose down.
The 370-thread-count, 100 percent cotton
fabric is three times more leakproof than traditional covers, and the baffle-box construction provides even down distribution. At
Blankets and throws
With a nod to the upcoming gift-giving
season, consider Berkshire Microplush fleece
blankets, Phoenix Down throws, white goose-down blankets and Sunbeam’s machine-wash-able, heated lap throws in the warehouses.
Shop at costco.com for wool/silk and
wool/cashmere blankets as well as silk, cotton
and electric blankets. And for magical naps,
consider costco.com’s 100 percent pure
Mongolian cashmere throws ( 53 by 67 inches),
crafted in Italy, or Kirkland Signature 100
percent cashmere throws, arriving in select
warehouses and online in early October.
So long, old rags. Hello, happy home. C
For information on
caring for your linens,
see “Buying Smart bonus material”
in the September Online Edition.
Visit
costco.com, and click on
“Costco magazine.”
sweet dreams { THE HUBBY AND I gladly tested two of costco.com’s
luxury sheet brands. Here is our pillow talk.
Empress 100 Percent Silk Sheets
Hubby: “Nice sheets.” (Translation: I like them. Can I go to sleep now?)
Pat: “The set came through the washer and dryer like a champ. Look at this
double-turned hem work. They fit our deep mattress. What a fabulous feel.”
(Translation: A keeper.)
Sorrento Italian 100 Percent Egyptian Mako Cotton Sheets
Hubby: “Nice sheets, too.” (Translation: It’s bedtime. Can we talk about
which one to buy tomorrow?)
Pat: “Machine washed and dried just fine. Nice heft and luster. What an
intricate leaf pattern. I read Mako cotton is also used in fine lace making.
Mmmm … marvelous.”
(Translation: No discussion necessary. We are buying both. Nighty-night.)
