Right now below my coverlet I have a down blanket for warmth. In summer I just use the sheet and coverlet; DH just the sheet. What I also like about it is that DH and I have different needs in terms of warmth so having layers allows for more flexiblity than using a comforter which is often too hot for my DH. I also wash mine very frequently--about 1-2 times per month, along with my sheets. There was a recent thread on matelasse bedspreads which might be helpful to read. Some brands had quite a bit of shrinkage which may be a concern for you. Some coverlets have a scalloped edge, some a straight edge. There are also many different designs on the matelasse coverlet. Mine is a floral design, though my shams have a paisley design. Your mattress/boxpring selection will also be a concern in your final choice as you need to check the measurements to make sure it comes down low enough on the sides. Many mattresses are quite thick and so some prefer a low profile boxspring (5" vs. 9") which is standard. This choice will affect how far your bedding comes down on the sides.

Not quilt related, but wanted to pass on my experience with two Homegoods bathroom waste baskets that I reluctantly purchased for my new home. The wastebaskets are a woven wicker look in shades of gray. The "wicker" is some sort of plastic, but the baskets are attractive. I purchased two different styles. One is a rounded basket. If I put the basket up to my nose, I get a slight hint of what I am about to describe. However, the rectangular style basket smells much stronger! That basket, or I should say it was a whole group of the baskets that alerted me to the smell when I was walking down the store isle. The smell is hard to describe. Perhaps like a strong cleaning odor such as Fabulouso, but much worse! Smelling the item also made my throat tingle. Like there is a chemical. I know nearby shoppers thought that I was crazy because I was sniffing everything!!! I purchased the rounded basket and decided to pass on the rectangular basket until... I went back the next day. 😁 The baskets still smelled the same, but I thought if I brought it home the smell would dissipate. It's been almost a week, and the smell is better. I do not notice unless I sniff up close. So the waste baskets are made in Vietnam. The tag is fancy, saying things like "hand crafted unique pieces for your home by local artisans" and "inspired by rich traditions, colors that flaunt vibrant color and exotic culture". "Now you can have a bit of this magnificent (or scent) in your own home". Nothing about the smell. Lol P.S. - I once bought two old sailing flags off of eBay and they both smelled like they were stored in an oil warehouse. My father was in the oil business so I knew that smell well. I di throw them in the washing machine and dryer. The smell dissipated.

Oh my everyone. Thank you for your help, olychick, Tibbrix, aktillery, sjhockeyfan, may_flowers, joaniepoanie, and everyone else! So I bought it. It's on. Not the best pic, and no big pillows, but goes good with my clearance target performance $20 king sheets:) I also told Target I had lost my rain check and they gave me 15% off without it, so I was happy. I had a rough day with some cautious good news, so I figured I deserved it too :) So here goes...

Percale..I love percale. I went over on another forum and was reading, I had a great chuckle let me tell you. Someone complains their percale sheets are to noisy (yes Roc, I read it) and I can't believe how many people want cool, crisp sheets from their childhood, think it might be percale so they buy percales than complain about wrinkles...well they can't have 100% cotton percales and not have wrinkles. We all have two choices with percale sheets. Try to smooth them out by hand or iron...some people are quite satisfied with a hand smooth, but I will tell you percale ironed is REAL percale...percale feels much different and much more crisp if ironed. There is a huge difference in how they feel after ironing. Its not about looks..its about feel. I can not sleep on un ironed percales. AJ..I am not putting you down for not ironing yours, not at all...I realize not everyone has the time or desire to iron. If they feel good just with a hand smooth that's all that matters. Just don't start ironing them for awhile than stop, you will notice a huge difference lol and you may never sleep again. Haha.