Sheet Dreams

Luxury sheets are hot.

Rather than choosing bed linens based on whether they're on sale or because they don't clash with the bedroom color scheme, discerning shoppers are imagining how it will feel to relax nestled under high-end bedding at the end of a long, hectic day.

They're scrutinizing labels for clues to quality, checking thread counts and getting familiar with names of revered bedding makers such as Yves DeLorme, Sferra Brothers, Pratesi and Frette.

"Some people shop for brands, others for the feel of the product [or] the overall aesthetic," says Jane Berk, public relations director of ABC Home at ABC Carpet and Home in New York City.

"The older brands have a long history of quality and attention to detail. They have produced some of the finest sheets on the market, and have brand recognition," she continues.

The increased demand for luxury bedding stems from a dichotomy of current trends: staying home and going away.

"In these uncertain times, we're putting more time and money into the home," says Jeffrey Whitney, the store manager at Nancy Koltes at Home, a purveyor of elegant linens in Manhattan's Nolita district. "People are staying closer to home and have the inherent need to feel really, really comfortable. They're not traveling as much but are more in tune with the self and with the home as an extension of the self." ...