Fri 2 May 2008
Just about everything, in some way, is different in France. Now, of course, their beds are similar to ours, there are just differences, even in sizes. They don’t have box springs, for instance, but flat, narrow platforms with small wooden slats that are convex and it seems to do the same sort of job to me. There are no wheels underneath, but straight legs. I brought some of my box springs with me to France and they all have wheels. I used to think this was great but here they slip and slide all over the place on our wooden floors, moving even when you sit down on them. I had a horrible time finding some sort of flat little rubber containers to go underneath and, in fact, finally had to buy some in the States.
The French aren’t as big on dust ruffles either and I ended up bringing those back from the States as well. I will say that they can be a little difficult when the matress moves around when someone sleeps in the bed and, when the duvet cover is tucked under at the end, everyone but me also tucks in the dust ruffle at the end of the bed-not a pretty site.
I had never used duvets before I came here. They are fluffy bed coverings, very warm in the winter, that are tucked into large envelope type covers, rather like putting a pillow into a pillow case, and that becomes the bedspread.They are a pain to get the duvet into its cover-it takes all sorts of pushing and pulling and fluffing.
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When I moved here, I put a top sheet underneath as this was the way I was used to doing things-putting sheets under bedspreads. The French don’t do this, but just use the duvet. The problem with this is that the duvet cover has to be washed and then you have to do the wrestling thing again getting it all put together. I do see people, usually on the week-ends, with their duvets laying across the bottom of the open window being aired. I haven’t done this as of yet as my windows are filthy on the outside frames. I do know that it is the habit here, and in other European countries, to pull back the duvet and open the window for a while every morning so everything airs out. Some people even put a mirror on the bed to see if it fogs up, a sign that it hasn’t aired out enough. I must admit, I never thought of this. I just washed the sheets when I thought they needed it. I’ve been trying to leave the duvet turned down for a while every morning so everything thing is as dry as possible. Sometimes, I even open the window to help the process.
I have returned to putting a top sheet under the duvet on our queen sized bed. I like keeping our duvet cover as clean as possible so I am not always washing it, and when it gets too hot, the sheet is nice when we push the duvet to the bottom of the bed.
My other blog: Sideroads of Europe
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I couldn’t sleep without a top sheet . . .
I noticed in the south of France that duvets were cascaded out bedroom windows in the morning to air.
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I just LOVE duvets, the look and feel of them. I was enchanted with them years ago the first time I visited England. However….for all the reasons you stated, I’ve never wanted to get one for our bed here. SO much work….lol But they are pretty and very “old world.”
I did take back a French custom about 10 years ago though….I loved how in all the apartments we rented, there were 2 twin beds pushed together to form a King. My OWN sheets, blanket, spead! NO bouncing, movement, etc. during the night! Brilliant idea and when we got new beds that’s exactly what we did. A King brass headboard, but with 2 extra-long twins pushed together. Very comfortable.
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:39 am
The easiest way to put a duvet cover on is to have the cover outside in and put your 2 hands into the corners grab the corresponding corners of the duvet and flick and flick until the duvet is inside, a little adjusting and hey presto it’s done.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 am
When I first moved in with Michel, he slept with one big round sausage pillow. I’m used to rectangular pillows, so I had a stiff neck for days, until I bought two rectangular pillows.
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:02 am
I have been using duvets for years..we love them. Its good now that you can buy an all season quilt..one is a 4.5 tog and the other 9 tog …one for spring, one for summer , clip together and there is your winter one. Found out you can get a 2.5 tog for those who get really hot.
Yes whilst living in Germany, we used to hang ours out the window.
May 4th, 2008 at 4:10 am
No duvet for me! I’ve tried, and tried, and tried. But I hate the darn things. Yes, they are toasty warm in the winter, and yes - I know there are different qualities and weights. But that darn cover! I didn’t have problems getting the cover on, but apparently I am a violent sleeper and most mornings I’d wake up with the duvet bunched down in the bottom or otherwise scrunched up somewhere. Which meant taking off the cover and redoing the darn thing! YUCK! I gave up years ago. I now sleep with a top sheet - but mainly because my cat likes to crawl under the blanket and I don’t like her against my skin. She sleeps between the cover and the sheet. I LOVE no box springs tho!
May 5th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Love this post! You know, I grew up in the US but we never used a bedsheet between the comforter and our bodies. We’d just use the duvet. When I started dating (we didn’t have sleep overs at Americans’s houses) and got into the bf’s bed, I thought “huh, how funny. I’m supposed to put this sheet over me and then the duvet.”
Now I use the sheet. It’s just easier cleaning.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
DUVET HANGING OUT THE WINDOW : 1) we wipe the rail, then we put a towel, and then the duvet/blanket or sheets. …we know how to stay clean …
But I still prefer freshly ironed top sheets!
May 10th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
linda,
we’re friends of Dennis Horvath, might you be in south of france by may 31?? be returning from a mediterranean cruise and on our way to south of spain.
à bientôt, n