The Sleep Book Tielle Love Luxury

THE 

BOOK

So what gets us up in 

the morning? 

Helping people all 

over the world to get a 

great night’s sleep.

At Tielle, we are committed to 

making a difference to the lives of our 

customers through the power of a 

great night’s sleep. We’re devoted to 

doing everything we can to inspire a 

healthier and happier you; Whether 

this is at home, on business or 

travelling, we want everyone to value 

the importance of a great night’s 

sleep. We do this through providing 

the best possible products to suit 

your needs, tailor-made solutions for 

your lifestyle and good old fashioned 

honest advice. 

Our own co-founders and leaders 

in the luxury linen industry Robert 

and Joe are obsessed with all things 

textiles and ensuring fantastic 

bedlinen, duvets and pillows do 

everything they can to take your 

sleep from average to awesome. 

We do know however that there 

are other factors that contribute to 

how you catch those Zzz’s, so we’ve 

enlisted outside expert advice in our 

quest to provide you with the tools 

to create a sleep sanctuary, to eat 

yourself to a better night’s sleep, 

support on managing stress and so 

much more. 

“Reclaim your inner 

peace’ is our mantra”, 

and along with a host of fantastic 

experts and contributors we’re on 

a mission to explore and understand 

the benefits of sleep and wellbeing 

on our happiness and productivity. 

With insomnia being at epidemic 

levels in the developed world, and 

modern businesses celebrating 

employees who work late into 

the night, we are determined to 

transform people’s lives one night 

at a time. 

The Sleep Book 3

MEET THE 

EXPERTS 

‘With over 70 years of experience in 

getting luxury linen right, every time 

let us introduce the experts’

Joe Molloy 

FOUNDING DIRECTOR, TRADELINENS 

Joe Molloy joined the Irish linen 

manufacturer Ewart Liddell as a 

Graduate Trainee in 1984. It was 

his first foray into the industry and 

where he adopted the attitude of, 

“The answer is yes 

– now what is 

the question?” 

He got under the skin of the 

manufacturing process by spending 

a full year in the factory, learning 

all aspects of dobby and jacquard 

weaving. He was a constant presence 

in a number of other factories too, 

to learn about spinning, dyeing and 

general cloth manufacture to complete 

his education. 

As well as pride and confidence 

that they provide the best quality 

linen, both Robert and Joe worked 

hard to become the “go to” duo 

when housekeepers and purchasing 

managers need help and advice. 

It is this approach which has ensured 

the business continues to prosper 

and grow. 

In short, their aim is to be the best 

at what they do and keep on doing 

it to an industry in desperate need 

of expert help and guidance! 

The Sleep Book 

5

Robert 

Lancaster-Gaye 

FOUNDING DIRECTOR, TRADELINENS 

A textile man through and through, 

Robert Lancaster-Gaye is the man 

whose friends will always thank him 

for teaching them the true meaning 

of mitred corners and the vagaries 

of thread count. More importantly, he 

is known in the industry as the go-to 

person for making sure luxury hotels 

up and down the country can boast 

the best bed, towelling and table linen. 

30 years ago Robert met Joe Molloy 

who heralded from Belfast, a city 

made famous very many years ago 

as being home to the finest linen 

manufacturers in the world and 

so their partnership started. 

Their shared vision and exacting 

standards meant that their linen has 

graced the bedrooms and restaurants 

of the world’s finest hotels for over a 

quarter of a century. 

Turns out that a flair for art and 

numbers not only gives you the 

potential to study architecture; 

mixing creativity with business 

acumen can also put you on the 

road to a passion for textiles, an 

expertise in hotel furnishings, an 

obsession with detail and quality, 

and a chance to mix with some 

incredibly interesting people in 

the hospitality industry.

Emma 

Hooton 

TIELLE INTERIORS EXPERT 

After graduating from the prestigious 

KLC School of Design, Emma Hooton 

worked for House & Garden’s Top 100 

designer, Hugh Leslie, at his renowned 

practice in London. Seamlessly 

balancing practicality with cool country 

style, Emma’s portfolio comprises 

prestigious London residences, historic 

homes and rural country estates. 

Passionate about discovering new 

trends and innovations, Emma lives 

and breathes interiors in every 

aspect of her life. 

Influences range from boutique country 

hotels to cutting-edge architecture, 

modern classic furniture to cool antique 

pieces. Part of her practice’s ethos is 

to establish relationships with the 

best in British designer-makers, 

from countryside artisans to 

London-based craftsmen 

and suppliers, which results 

in the ability to create unique 

designs whilst offering 

excellent value for clients. 


5 

Move 

ways to sleep better 

and feel better 

aside clean eating, sleeping better is now 

the fastest growing health ambition among UK 

adults. According to a recent survey, over a third 

(37%) of adults in the UK say they don’t get 

enough sleep – more than any other country 

surveyed – making us some of the worst sleepers 

in the world. 

Of course we’ve all experienced the cranky, 

irritable behaviour that accompanies tiredness, 

but regular poor sleep can also have an impact 

on our health. We asked Dr Tim Paget for his top 

five tips for a better night’s sleep. 

1. Eat well 

What you eat and drink 

can affect your sleep. 

Some foods such as 

fatty, fried or spicy foods 

can tax or upset the 

stomach and keep you 

awake at night. Eat light 

foods in the evening 

and avoid stimulants like 

alcohol or caffeine. And 

don’t eat or drink alcohol 

close to bedtime! 

2. Adopt a routine 

Bedtime routines aren’t just for kids. Have a regular 

bedtime that will fit with your body’s internal clock 

and its daily variations in temperature and cortisol 

levels. Unwind before 

bed with a daily routine 

such as a relaxing 

drink, meditating – 

even writing down 

worries and reminders 

for the next day so 

they don’t plague you 

at night.

3. Meditate for sleep 

Studies show that by paying attention to the present 

through mindful practices we can cultivate position 

emotions which in turn help us sleep. Before bed, 

foster mindfulness with a simple meditation exercise 

by taking a long, deep breath in through the nose, 

then slowly releasing the air through the mouth. 

Far from being for monks and hippies, meditation is 

widely used by the world’s most successful people. 

4. Avoid alcohol 

Drinking alcohol may induce sleep but it can 

radically reduce the quality of sleep. Aside from 

being a diuretic and making you prone to nighttime 

toilet trips, studies show it affect reduce rapid 

eye movement (REM) sleep, an important regular 

part of the sleep 

cycle, during the 

course of the 

night. Drinking 

also relaxes the 

muscles in your 

throat leading to 

snoring and so 

wakefulness. 

5. Switch off 

Modern devices such 

as phones and energy 

saving light bulbs 

emit blue light which 

can interfere with the 

sleep-inducing hormone 

melatonin and trick our 

bodies into thinking 

it’s time to be up and 

about. To maintain your 

sleep pattern, dim the 

lights and implement a 

techno-curfew an hour 

before bedtime. You 

may also want to turn 

your clock away from 

you to stop obsessing 

about time. 

Dr Tim 

Paget is a 

physician 

and coach. 

He believes 

taking time for your 

physical and mental 

wellbeing is an essential 

ingredient in personal 

success and happiness. 


Invest in good shoes and 

sheets because if you’re not 

in one, you’re in the other 

1 /3 

Of our life 

in bed 

We spend one third of our life in bed so it 

makes sense to get it right. 

In the words of the Dalai Lama, a good 

night’s sleep is ‘the best meditation’. 

Without it we feel groggy, irritable and 

are incapable of thinking straight.

poor quality bedding 

can disrupt your sleep 

Yet while many of us know the 

bedtime no-nos such as alcohol 

that disrupt sleep, poor quality 

bedding can be equally to 

blame. Fitted sheets that creep 

off the bed at night, a saggy 

pillow, even those pesky little 

bobbly bits (known as pilling) 

that make us itch, can also 

be responsible for keeping us 

awake, just when we need to 

switch off most. 

Often after a bad night’s sleep, we’ll 

reach for the coffee, spending on 

average £2.45 a cafe cup in a bid 

to get through the day. Yet good 

quality bedlinen costs as little as 3p 

a night* and can make the difference 

between slipping into a deep slumber 

and tossing and turning all night long. 

Quality bedlinen costs 

as little as 3p a night 

*Based on average number of commercial washes 

within a hotel versus domestically washing 


5 signs it’s time to upgrade 

for a good night’s sleep: 

1. Linen 

Problem: Linen that’s 

itchy and scratchy 

We say: Polycotton sheets can 

make you itch and overheat. For the 

perfect night’s sleep, opt for sheets 

made from a high-grade cotton . 

This will make the sheets strong, soft, 

breathable and beautiful to touch. 

2. Duvet 

3. Pillow 

Problem: Waking with 

a crick in your neck. 

We say: Inexpensive shop bought 

pillows are cheap for a reason and 

are more likely to lose their shape 

and support. Take the pillow test by 

placing a pillow over your arm. If it 

folds over like an old saddle bag, 

get a new one as it’s either no good 

or past its best. 

Problem: Waking in the 

night sneezing 

We say: Go for clean, high quality 

feather and down duvets and pillows 

encased in dust-proof casing so no 

feather or down can escape. Natural 

fills also hold fewer bedbugs than 

synthetic fills, according to 

clinical research.

4. Topper 

Problem: A topper that 

dips in the middle 

We say: This is more likely to be 

your mattress, rather than your 

topper but a topper with inferior 

fill power will make the ‘dip’ more 

pronounced. Go for a two-tier 

topper for extra cushioning and 

support; a good quality topper will 

also prolong your mattress’s life. 

5. Protector 

Problem: Waking up 

sweating at night 

We say: A breathable, deep fill 

cotton protector will help you keep 

your cool and your mattress fresh. 

To stop the protector creeping off 

the bed, go for well-constructed 

fully fitted protector or one with 

elasticated corners and robust 

elastic corner straps to hold the 

protector firmly in place 


How to create the 

PERFECT 

BEDROOM 

sanctuary 

The bedroom should be a refuge from everyday life 

where you can retreat beneath crisp, luxurious bed 

linen and find your inner calm. We asked interior 

design expert Emma Hooton to share her tips on 

creating the sleep sanctuary of your dreams.

Colour and texture 

The key to a serene interior is the 

use of gentle neutrals layered with 

soft textures to add interest and 

atmosphere without fuss. To give an 

edge to the scheme, a rich colour 

accent such as a deep aubergine or 

dark red velvet adds a touch of luxury 

and romance. Bed linen should be 

kept clean and white with colours 

introduced in cushions or bed throws 

for a lasting look. 

Furniture and 

accessories 

The bed should be your biggest 

investment in comfort and style. 

We love using four-poster frames 

teamed with high quality bespoke 

sprung mattresses. Accessories with 

gorgeous textures such as marble 

lamps and beautifully upholstered 

tailors’ dummies work well. Greenery 

is also important (and creates a healthy 

environment) so where possible use 

a windowsill or chest of drawers to 

show off a lovely hydrangea or other 

bedroom flowers. 

Linen and 

soft furnishings 

We always go for clean white bed linen 

with simple, classic textures that act 

as a backdrop to our schemes. Bed 

covers should always be oversized 

to drape on the floor and extra-large 

pillows with super king size beds mean 

you can spread out and feel totally 

spoiled. When it comes to thread count 

we go for a minimum of 300tc as not 

only does this mean high quality but it 

sits well on the bed and also launders 

beautifully. 

Bedroom lighting 

For ceiling lighting, dimmable 

downlights are a must. A central 

chandelier can be a lovely feature 

although we prefer to use lighting in 

the corners of the room and let the 

bedside table lamps become main 

feature lights, along with floor standing 

reading lights next to armchairs, to give 

the room an all-encompassing feel. 


MODERN 

DAY BOHO 

Mix a little mid-century modern with a touch of hipster and 

shazam, you’ve a room fit for any trendsetting guy or gal. 

Typically blending the old with the new, the effortlessly cool 

hipster hideaway is epitomised by natural materials, 

salvage and flea market finds, vintage furniture, playful 

objets d’art, and industrial elements such as exposed brick. 

DESIGNER TIP 

“Think eclectic but smart and 

don’t compromise on mod-cons” 

Tielle Interiors Expert, Emma Hooton

Shop the look 

Snow Fox Throw 

Cool and Crisp 200tc 

Matt finish works well with this 

style. Try housewife pillowcases 

for an unfussy look 

The inspiration 

Style with Savoy duvet 

The most popular duvet with 

hotel clients with 70% duck 

feather for snuggling and 30% 

duck down for super softness 

Lighting 

Think industrial shades 

with squirrel cage bulbs 

Artwork 

Anthromorphic 

and abstract 

art works well 

within this 

scheme 

Materials 

Use natural materials 

such as vintage 

leather and suede 

Accessories 

Stack a pile of iconic 

books or indie mags 

beside the bed 

Furniture 

Mix modern pieces with 

upcycled, vintage and 

retro finds 

As used by...

CLASSIC 

LUXE 

Want a luxuriously self-indulgent bedroom that never goes 

out of style? Characterised by neutral palettes, occasional 

pops of colour, warm wood, gorgeous textures such as 

marble and brass and exquisite detailing, classic styling 

is a staple of sophisticated, quintessentially British hotels. 

DESIGNER TIP 

“Use soft lighting to make the 

most of luxe light reflecting 

fabrics such as silk” 


Shop the look 

Classic Hotel 300tc 

The perfect backdrop to 

rich fabrics and sumptuous 

textures 

Down Surround Topper 

The crème de la crème of 

toppers carefully crafted for a 

sleep experience like no other 

Portuguese Sabella 

Bedspread 

Classic craftsmanship 

in 100% cotton for soft 

layerable texture 


Lighting 

Layer bedside 

lamps with 

a reading 

light beside a 

classic chair 

Accessories 

Create elegance with a 

pretty flower arrangement 

Colours 

Add a rich 

accent colour 

such as deep 

aubergine or 

dark red velvet 

Textures 

Mix velvets with 

linen and silk for 

an indulgent feel 

Furniture 

Mix period 

pieces for a 

classic, timeless 

design 

As used by...

LIVEABLE 

MINIMALISM 

Escape the clutter and chaos of the outside world 

with a liveable minimalist look. Focusing on basic 

geometric forms, sober neutrals and clean lines 

softened by a layered mix of materials and textures, 

this friendly relative of minimalism, brings beauty, 

calm and order to the home. 

DESIGNER TIP 

“Keep the focus on statement 

pieces that have clean, angular lines” 


Shop the look 

Smooth and Silky 600tc 

Loved for its luminous 

lustre and sensual drape. 

Guaranteed to create a show 

stopping bed 

Savoy Pillows 

Our most popular pillows 

provide the perfect balance 

of structureand softness 

European Goose Down 

Duvet 

Blissfully warm, naturally 

breathable and lavishly filled 

with the highest quality 

goose down 


Lighting 

Choose a stylish 

pendant in a light 

reflective material 

Bed 

Choose a low-slung bed 

with a simple structural 

framework 

Artwork 

Keep the focus 

on simple graphic 

abstract artwork 

Decorative 

objects 

Carefully position 

groups of neutral 

ceramics 

Materials 

Combine hard (marble, 

wood, brass) and soft 

(velvet, cashmere, 

suede) materials for 

added sensuality 

Storage 

Create a 

streamlined, 

clutter-free 

home with 

fitted joinery 

As used by...

MODERN 

BRITISH 

Celebrating the art of design and craftsmanship, Modern 

British draws on the traditions and heritage of furnituremaking 

techniques to create a clean, authentic style fit 

for a simpler way of life. 

DESIGNER TIP 

“Use simply executed furniture 

made from the finest materials 

to capture this understated look” 


Shop the look 

Soft and strong 400tc 

Soft and Strong 400tc is a classic 

favourite in a luxurious sateen 

weave 

Bedspread 

Layer up the luxury for this 

sumptuous style with soft 

texture with our Portuguese 

bedspread 

Savoy Duck Feather and Down 

Duvet, Topper and Pillows 

Relax knowing you’re enveloped in 

the highest quality natural materials 

which are loved by our hotel clients 

and guests the world over 


Pattern 

Use pattern and colour 

sparingly in cushions 

and throws 

Artwork 

Hang artwork in groups 

for a clean, unified look 

Materials 

Offset a neutral 

backdropwith mixed 

woods and textures 

Lighting 

Add beauty with 

a lovingly crafted 

artisan light 

Furniture 

Choose sustainably-sourced 

timber furniture with gorgeous 

detailing in the shapes and joints 

As used by...

Our Savoy pillow is 

70% feather and 30% 

down. Its loved by The 

Independent and our 

most requested product. 

THE 

PILLOW

Our top 5 tips for getting 

choosing the perfect ones for you. 

We spend a third of our life buried in 

pillows so it makes sense to invest in 

the right pillow for you. Here Tielle linen 

expert Robert Lancaster-Gaye shares 

his advice on buying a pillow so comfy 

you’ll purr like a kitten all night long. 

1.The first thing to remember when 

choosing your pillows is that it’s entirely 

personal preference, no two people 

sleep the same or want the same from 

a pillow. It’s also worth remembering 

that we spend a lot of time with our 

face buried in our pillows so invest in 

the best quality you can afford. 

2. The quality of the pillows isn’t only 

defined by the percentage of down 

in them, it’s the quality of the filling 

and not all down and feather is created 

equal in terms of cleanliness and 

plumpness. Ask yourself, does it sound 

too good to be true? 

3. Investing in high quality ingredients 

means that your pillow will plump up 

and retain its shape and support for far 

longer. A quick way to test your pillows 

is to place it over your arm and if it 

sags in the middle it could be time for 

a change. 

4. The firmness or softness of a 

pillow isn’t only determined by the 

percentage of down but the quality 

and quantity. We always recommend 

that you buy one, sleep on it and then 

buy the rest for the bed once you’re 

happy. It’s worth remembering that a 

new pillow will always be plumper than 

a 5 year old one. 

5. Lightweight pure down is generally 

too soft for most people and a blend 

of feathers and down gives better 

structure and support whilst being soft 

on the face. 


ANYONE CAN 

SPIN A YARN... 

5 Common Myths, Busted 

Think posh sheets are all about thread 

count? Want Egyptian cotton because 

people say it’s the best? With so 

many confusing myths about linen 

and towels we thought we’d give you 

the facts straight from our very own 

‘expert of linen’ Joe Molloy 

Myth 1 

Egyptian cotton is best 

We say: Look for products that contain 

a high quality long staple cotton from 

a retailer you can trust. 

Forever quoted as synonymous with 

luxury, the main attraction of Egyptian 

cotton is that it can be used to make 

long staple yarn. Using long staple 

over short staple yarn helps produce 

cloth that is softer and smoother 

to the touch, both very desirable 

characteristics of high quality bedlinen. 

Thankfully the production of cotton to 

make long staple yarn is not the sole 

preserve of Egypt’s Nile Delta, and not 

all cotton grown in the region produces 

long staple yarn. Given the worldwide 

supply of so-called ‘Egyptian cotton’ 

far outstrips the physical production, 

it’s easy to see why confusion and 

misinformation reign supreme. 

Myth 2 

Posh sheets have a 

high thread count 

We say: 300tc or 400tc linen woven 

from good quality cotton will have all 

the luxe factor you need. 

It’s hard to debunk this myth without 

a little bit of ‘geek’. Thread count 

refers to the number of horizontal and 

vertical threads in a square inch of 

cloth. So, in a 200tc cloth you might 

have 110 threads running vertically and 

90 running horizontally; in a 400tc, 

you might find 280 horizontal and 120 

vertical threads. The problem begins 

when you increase the thread count as 

the threads need to be packed tighter 

together, creating an impermeable 

barrier that makes the fabric less 

breathable and potentially harder to 

launder. Think wrinkles on a grand 

scale. Manufacturers may also twist 

multiple individual threads together 

to artificially boost the thread count, 

as BBC journalists recently discovered 

when investigating linen at some very 

well known stores.

Myth 3 

Fabric softener 

fluffs up towels 

We say: It’s always better to go aunaturel 

when it comes to towelling. 

Fabric conditioner coats the loose 

cotton fibres with a waxy finish, which 

actually prevents the towel from doing 

its job. Our advice is don’t use it. Dry 

outside ideally or, if not practical, on an 

indoor airer overnight. Avoid radiators 

and if using a tumble dryer, make sure 

there is a cool down time as part of the 

drying cycle to allow the yarns time 

to recover and prolong the life of your 

towels. 

Myth 4 

Percale and sateen are 

much of a muchness 

We say: Nothing beats the look and 

feel of pure cotton bedlinen whatever 

your weave. 

While percale and sateen both rank 

high in the popularity stakes, that’s 

where their similarities end. Percale is 

a plain weave (180 thread count +) in 

which one horizontal thread goes over 

and then under one vertical thread. 

This simple construction gives linen a 

crisp, fresh spring-like feel. In contrast, 

sateen is a different form of weaving 

that produces a cloth that generally 

flows and drapes a little better than 

its percale counterpart, with a higher 

lustre and more silk-like appearance. 

To replicate the hotel-at-home look, 

consider a 300tc sateen made using 

long staple yarn. Breathable, easily to 

launder and with a beautiful drape, it’s 

pretty much the go-to favourite for our 

luxury B&Bs and 5* hotels. 

Myth 5 

Down pillows win 

hands down! 

We say: It’s totally personal! As a rule 

of thumb more feather equals more 

support. 

The type of pillow you need can 

depend on the way you sleep. But 

unless you love cloud-like softness 

you’ll probably want a mix of feather 

(support) and down (softness and 

warmth). How much feather you need 

depends on how firm you want your 

pillow to be, but a good hotel-quality 

average will be around 70% down 

and 30% feather. Bear in mind that 

inexpensive shop-bought pillows are 

cheap for a reason, and more likely to 

quickly lose their shape and support. 


Like you, we absolutely love a good night’s sleep. Nestling into the 

best quality linen, selected with expert advice, is what we promise 

you but we also care about our people and the environment they 

work in. They are at the heart of what we do. 

Over 40% 

of energy used at our largest 

supplier is renewable 

Over 20 

visits to our mills 

each year to ensure their 

continual improvement 

120 

Our 10% Better Cotton 

commitment is enough yarn to 

circle the globe 60 times 

textile students in 

India trained each year 

We support over 30 

staff welfare initiatives across our mills

100% 

of our feather & down is a 

by-product of the food industry 

Zero tolerance policy 

to child labour 

Promoting equality 

two of our largest mills 

are run by women 

By 2020 BCI want 5m 

BCI farmers, producing 

30% of the world’s cotton 


www.tielleloveluxury.co.uk

The Sleep Book Tielle Love Luxury

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