When I found out that Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen was launching a new range of bedding I was super excited. Based on my previous posts, you might think it’s because I have a ‘thing’ for bedding (and you would be right) but my excitement is more specific than simply adding some fresh sheets to my already heaving linen cupboard. This time, it’s because I’m excited to try new bedding from a brand that I’ve adored for more than a decade. Let me explain…
It was in the early 21st century – 16 and a half years ago to be precise – that I bought my first set of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen bed sheets. They were a kind-of wedding gift (to me, from me) because I wanted to start off life in my own home the right way – with fresh sheets in a gorgeous floral design that dictated the whole theme of the bedroom.
At the time, I thought it was just a lovely set of bedding – albeit more expensive that any sheets I’d bought before – and I had admired the floral pattern for months before deciding to buy the bed set from a catalogue (remember those?). But I’ve since discovered that it didn’t really matter how much that bedding set cost me originally because… they’re still going strong!
Yes, my 16+ year old duvet cover is still in absolutely perfect condition and it’s still the best bedding I’ve ever bought. Other sheets come and go, but this first set that I got for my first home are still at the top of the list. They wash really well, they never need ironing, the colours haven’t faded and the fabric has stayed crisp. So when I spotted the new Sleeping Beauty collection by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, it was the first time in all these years that I’ve done a little woop when looking at bedding!
The only reason why I need a new set of bedding is because I now have a kind-size bed and my early 2000s duvet set is a double (we lived in a tiny house as newlyweds!) Now, the floral sheets are used in our guest room, where they look super-opulent against the patterned wallpaper. Seeing as my original sheets did so well, I’ve got high expectations for the new king size set I ordered. I’m taking my role as a reviewer very seriously and wanted to put the bedding through it’s paces before reporting back to you!
I thought the time was right to add some new pillows too. Rather than going for memory foam or synthetic fibres again, this time I’ve opted for a rather more environmentally friendly product. The Eco Comfort Pillow from Silentnight is filled with high performance fibres that are made from 100% recycled materials – around 17 plastic bottles. I’m so pleased that my two pillows have prevented 34 or so plastic bottles from going into landfill – or into the sea for that matter.
The excellent eco credentials extends to the breathable materials (that are foam and chemical treatment free yet still meet fire safety regulations) and the fact that the pillow is fully recyclable at the end of its lifespan. Plus, the products are made in the UK and Silentnight supports the Marine Conservation Society. But, first and foremost, a pillow still needs to be comfortable, right? I chose the ‘soft’ option and the Eco Comfort fibres certainly are soft, and they spring back to their original supportive shape after use – great stuff!
As my style has become much more minimalist over the years, I decided to order the ‘Cocktail’ design from the LLB collection – a crisp white bedding with silver embroidery in a chevron pattern. While I have to admit that many of the more flamboyant designs in the Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen collection caught my eye, I knew that I would get the most use out of a simple, classic design. The bedding collection is a collaboration with UK bedding specialists J Rosenthal and can be bought directly from them, or via Very, Littlewoods, IdealTextiles or LinenFields.
I like my bedroom to look and feel like a hotel, so white is always my first choice, but the addition of a minimalist chevron stops my bedroom looking clinical or bland. What I imagined to be a printed design is actually textured embroidery. This adds a luxurious touch to the simple white sheets and the thread is a shimmery silver tone – subtle, but glam! I have previously been gifted an Eve double-layered, multi-season duvet so I’ve used both layers now that we’re in the winter. The chevron design on the matching cushion however, IS printed onto the fabric.
The coordinating cushion is a super-soft velvet-like fabric, it has a piping edge, and it’s reversible. The reverse is an ivory colour so it didn’t look quite right against the bright white sheets, which is why I’ve chosen to display the dark grey side as a contrast. But it would look great with the opposite colourway – the dark sheets with the pale side of the cushion.
In terms of washing and drying, the bedding made from a very lightweight poly cotton, which makes the duvet cover easy to wash at 40 degrees. It can be tumble dried and ironed on a low heat. Because it’s so lightweight, it’s also relatively quick to dry if hung on a washing line or airer.
Seeing as I’ve rarely needed to iron my original LLB bedding, I had high hopes for this collection! The poly cotton is easy and quick to iron – the only thing that slowed me down was the chevron pattern itself. While you probably CAN iron over the top of the embroidery, I felt like I wanted to keep the iron on the white fabric so I worked along the chevron to smooth out any wrinkles.
You know how some fabrics wrinkle as soon as you finish ironing? And you end up with big creases after just one night sleeping in the bed? Well these sheets are pretty good at looking crisp night after night. Sure, they crinkle a little like any bedding would with use, but the chevron embroidery actually does a great job of helping the duvet cover to keep its shape and look neat overall.
What do you think of how my bedroom looks with these lovely new sheets? It makes me so calm to go into the bedroom at night and see a fresh, clean, classic design that doesn’t overwhelm the space. Do you ever go into your bedroom during the day and the bed looks so inviting that you just want to get back into it? That’s how I feel right now and I’ve been struggling to stay away from my bed ever since I added these sheets!
Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience 🙂
