Rela's Journal: SLEEPING AROUND

Sweet dreams...

The shadows are long by the time we pull in between the stone entrance pillars of Twin Farms, in Barnard, Vermont.

The plowed road winds through the bare birches....

..past an old barn

...and a stone cottage where

icicles hanging from the eves indicate the frigid temperature outdoors

... to the Main House, once the country home of Nobel prize winning author, Sinclair Lewis and his wife, Dorothy Thompson "the first lady of American journalism".

Today TWIN FARMS is a luxury resort where you can curl up by the fire and read an early edition of a Lewis' novel or go skiing on hills just outside your window. What a perfect romantic retreat for a Valentine Get - Away or any get-away at all. Each individual suite has a REAL wood burning fireplace and the wonderful smell of wood smoke lingers in the cold air...

A Wyeth-like image from my window

I am sure it's wonderful in summer , spring or fall but probably not easy to find room at the inn during leaf changing season so book early.

DOROTHY THOMPSON

As famous as Sinclair Lewis is - wife Dorothy was equally famous in her day. In fact she was considered the second most influential woman in America after Eleanore Roosevelt in the late 1930's- to the mid 40's

WOMAN OF THE YEAR 1942

The character of Tess Harding, played by Katherine Hepburn,

was directly based on Dorothy Thompson

This was the first movie in which Hepburn was teamed with Spencer Tracy.

Their love affair blossomed and lasted a lifetime

KATHERINE HEPBURN

SPENCER TRACY

Is it possible that they had a tryst at Twin Farms ????

... and so to bed

Alecia Beldegreen has compiled a fascinating history of the bed
and illustrated her book with wonderful photographs

Proving one's royalty can be quite uncomfortable
Hans Christaian Anderson's Fairy Tale of
The Princess and the Pea

Royalty has slept in magnificent beds since
the days of Henry VIII at Hampton Court

We all know that Henry did a lot of sleeping around

and made good use of the many beds available to him at court

"The Throne"

ANNE BOLEYN 1505-1536

Anne Boleyn was the second of Henry's six wives.

Alas when she only produced a female heir, Henry trumped up charges against her-

said that she had been sleeping around... with her brother no less-

and had her sent to The Tower Of London

That did not end well for the Queen.

ELIZABETH I

Daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII

Liz decided that she would stay away from the marriage bed

Known as THE VIRGIN QUEEN

Not sure anyone believes that anymore but hey...

she kept her head on and grew her empire to it's greatest glory.

Elizabeth, like her father knew the importance of PR so when she had her portrait painted she insisted that she look youthful, strong and powerful despite her failing health and loss of teeth.

In those days before Botox and Juvraderm the queen stuffed rags into her mouth to puff out her fallen cheeks . It's no wonder she was in bad health- to cover her scars left from small pox ,

she painted her face with the white mixture of lead and vinegar.

Could it be the lady died of lead poisoning ?

INTERIOR DESIGN- RELA GLEASON

Treat yourself like royalty in a contemporary draped bed

inspired by those at Hampton Court

RELA GLEASON - INTERIOR DESIGN

A gilded iron headboard looks like a royal crown and is set off

juxtaposed against rough sawn panelling.

GEORGIAN HOUSE

Booking a stay at Georgian House (on the grounds of Hampton Court) gives you a very special access to the palace and the grounds. To be there at night after the gates have closed out all the daily visitors is very special . Book through the Landmark Trust

The sun-drenched steps at Georgian House

lead up to four bedrooms.

INTERIOR DESIGN - ANTHONY HADAWAY

A small studio apartment with a four poster bed is a luxurious cacoon in the midst of Manhattan. the mass of the bed gives great importance to one entire wall and serves as a cozy sleeping place as well as for seating. The unexpected scale in the small space makes the whole space feel bigger and more important. I think it was brilliant to use the bed in such an untraditional way.

The opposite wall is "wallpapered" with shelves full of books and found objects of interest. A bicycle often lives leaning against the books and serves as a sculpture when not in use as a means of transportation around town.

FYI- this entire apartment was furnished with discarded pieces the designer found on the curb available for FREE (one of my favorite four letter F words)

"NEW YORK NEW YORK WHAT A WONDERFUL TOWN !"

I love the way four poster beds create a room within a room. They command instant attention. I designed both the Quincy Bed and the Adams Bed as interpretations of the traditional pencil post bed

ADAMS BED

QUINCY BED

INTERIOR DESIGN - MARSHALL WATSON

INTERIOR DESIGN - KATHERINE IRELAND

Not all beds are fit for a royal welcome but they function well and can be very comfortable

A Murphy bed tucks away into a cabinet in the kitchen of an ancient Irish cottage

An invitingly made bed with a beautiful upholstered headboard...

folds away in clean, built-in cabinetry


A straw mattress tucks between a fireplace and a window in a medieval castle. Perhaps this wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep but it provided some coziness and a sense of protected shelter, nestled into it's alcove				.

Alcove beds have an intrinsic cozy charm

Room at the inn...

Some of the very best beds are found in hotels and inns where every effort is made to create the ultimate romantic and comfortable experience