designer's notebook - from founder Anki Spets

At AREA, we seem to meet two kinds of people: those who prefer sheets that are more cool and crisp, and those who prize supreme softness in their sheets above all else. Crispy sheets are cool, cotton percale, often associated with luxury hotel beds. The softest sheets are cotton sateen, which drapes more, hugging you, and is also a bit warmer. Both are 100% cotton, but...

"Can I see it in white?" Absolutely. White remains the most requested neutral by interior designers. It’s also a staple in so many of our customer households. The popularity of white in design isn't new, but what changes from decade to decade is where, how, and how much white is used in a space. Here are a few ways you...

The way cotton yarns are woven determines the look and feel achieved in the final fabric. There are two basic types of cotton fabric - percale and sateen. There are a lot of factors that create variation within these weaves, but generally percale is evenly woven, with one yarn over and one yarn under. This makes for a sturdy fabric with a...

  Gifts, however meaningful, often miss the mark. The best gifts are the ones that are useful and disappear, things we consume. We eat cookies, burn candles, wash with soap, or smear creams.   How about something that's really useful and most people are skimping on?  A new set of sheets may not be the first thing most people think of when it comes...

  We have long been fans of linen. It wears beautifully, has a natural luster, regulates temperature well, and is highly durable. But did you know linen is also the best choice for the environment? Flax plants do not require irrigation like cotton. They are sustained from rainfall in the regions in which they grow (our linen is from Lithuania). Flax...

  In a recent article for Remodelista, AREA founder and designer Anki Spets gave her insights on the European practice of sleeping partners using separate duvet covers. Much like skipping the flat sheet, this practice is starting to spread. The benefit is better sleep, as well as the opportunity to style your own side of the bed. As we went over in a previous post on the...

We get a lot of questions about thread count, and for good reason - it's often touted that higher thread count = better product. Since we have been in the bedding business since 1990 we’d like to share what we’ve learned on the subject as well as our point of view. what is thread count? Thread count is a measure...

One of the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of working at AREA is seeing what combinations we can come up with. I've spent many a pleasurable hour in the LA store with a customer or designer, exploring blends of colors and textures to match myriad needs. Every season we update our Inspiration Look Book with combinations Anki curates herself. See her current Inspiration picks right...

AREA bedding lasts a long time, but its life can be extended even more by caring for it correctly. PREP The first thing to do is spot clean each item before running it through a wash cycle. Once a stain has been heat set, there is no chance of removing it from the fabric. Oil stains from skin care products...

Hello. My name is Leah Cooper. You and I may have met me before. I worked at the AREA Los Angeles store for 4 ½ years before taking a full-time position in marketing in January of this year. Now I’m working directly with Anki Spets and getting the opportunity to communicate with all of you. Back in 2014, I was...