Now that Memorial Day has passed, and it's unofficially, officially summer, it's time to think about switching bed linens from winter coziness to summer crispness. If you're going to freshen your linen closet, the folks that make the fine linens at SFERRA have a message for you: stop obsessing about thread count.

Most of us use thread count -- that is, the number of threads per square inch of fabric -- as a proxy for quality. And it is definitely important -- just go to any good linen department and give the samples of different thread count a good stroke and scrunch. But it's not the only thing that matters, nor is it what matters most: the quality of the fiber matters more. (You could have a sheet of densely woven straw, for example, and you wouldn't want to sleep on it.) Egyptian cotton is most used in luxury linens because it produces a long fiber, or staple, which means it's easier to spin into smooth, fine yarn.

After that, the weave that's used influences the feel of the sheet. For summer consider linen, a loose weave of long flax fibers, like SFERRA's Classico line fitted queen sheet for $210, king flat sheet for $315. Or go with percale, a tight uniform cotton weave that results in a matte look and a smooth, crisp feel. For example, pictured here is SFERRA's Sereno line, fitted queen sheet for $410, king duvet for $1,080. But okay, just because you're not obsessing about thread count doesn't mean you have to forget it entirely: the Sereno line has a very luxey thread count of 800.

Learn more about SFERRA's "Lose Count" campaign by friending the company on Facebook.

Ligne Roset, a high-end, family-run (since 1860) furniture line that offers a range of products from furniture to lighting to upholstery, opened its first concept store, in Austin. The company focuses on smaller-scale, more design-forward pieces, and, unlike many of its competitors, allows consumers to purchase select pieces from the showroom and take them home directly. Some of its signature pieces are the origami-inspired Facett collection and Pierre Paulin's 1954 Tanis Desk. See the gallery for a few shots of the store.

Designer Eduardo Garza is famed for his trays that feature coral, spiders, snakes and other naturalistic themes. For Vivre he's cooked up something a little different, a trio of lucite trays embellished with rock crystal, amethyst or jet stones around the handles, Vivre is having a spring sale this weekend, these trays usually sell for $585 but are $351 each until Monday night.

Here's a classy and simple cat condo by Purrplex that looks nice and should keep your cat happy too. It's like a 1-BR home for your feline friend -- bathroom, bedroom, dining room and pantry, all in one. Constructed of high-density plastic laminate on high-density 3/4" particle board, Purrplex's surface is countertop grade laminate that withstands moisture. Cats enter through two ports in the left side. The lower leads to the sleeping area, the upper to the litter box area and then another jump up to the dining area. The pantry has one adjustable shelf. Comes in Wilsonart Antique White, Black or Wild Cherry. Dimensions: 30.75" W x 22" D x 34.5" H. $314.95; also available -- different cushions ($19.95). Free shipping!

[Thanks, Raeann]

When it comes to home decor, showing off your expensive taste is best done without trying too hard (unless you're Donald Trump) but instead investing in a few special pieces. If your taste leans towards the slightly flashy and totally unique, then check out the glass tile rugs over at SICIS. Available in a variety of designs, some (like the one pictured above) shine like flooring made of gold. They're all very artistic and incredibly beautiful, and I think they're especially suited to entryways and bathrooms (since they aren't especially cozy).

Via Trendir

Bathroom lighting is a delicate thing because you want to be able see clearly while washing your face or tweezing something, but you also want to avoid that bright, cold atmosphere that can happen so easily in a small room full of porcelain and tile. I'm not sure that these illuminated mirrors from Alchemy are the answer to that dilemma for everyone, but if you have the right room and decor scheme these Full Moon Mirrors could provide just the right balance of light and luxe interest to your bathroom.

They have several designs available, including pure gold and platinum versions. Pricing upon request.

Via Trendir

In 2007, one of Marc Newson's famous Lockheed Lounge pieces set a new auction record for a living designer's work. That piece sold for $1.5 million. How will today's economy deal with a Lockheed Lounge? We will get a chance to find out when Phillips de Pury & Company offers up Lockheed Lounge, 1985 at the Phillips de Pury & Company's London Design sale on April 30. The Marc Newson's Lockheed Lounge, LC1, 1985 has a pre-sale estimate of £500,000 – 700,000. The chaise, which has a fiberglass core and a shiny exterior of riveted sheet aluminum has become an iconic piece of modern design. It is featured in several museum collection and is part of a few private collections. The piece on offer here is one of four artist proofs which preceded the edition of ten, and it was originally owned by the designer's mother. It was also the one used in Madonna's video for the song "Rain." The chaise has been in a private collection since 1999. If an Art Deco leather chair can sell for $28 million, maybe Newson's chaise is a worthwhile investment.

My favorite kind of doorknob has always been those old fashioned glass knobs found in old homes, but those are all the same unlike these from Out of the Blue Design Studio, which are not only decorative accents but individual little works of art. Created for everything from doorknobs to cabinet pulls to shower door handles, there's a style and color combination to fit every personality. Many of the designs are whimsical and full of color, but there are also options for those who prefer a sleeker, more modern look if that's what you prefer. Certainly not something you'll want all over the house, but an accent knob here or there could really be fun.

Via Trendir

Wow, this looks like a comfortable chair -- nothing like a big luxe beanbag for relaxing in after a long day at work (that guy modeling looks totally passed out). The ROO chair is part of Woodnotes' Spring 2009 collection, and although it looks and feels like a beanbag it's filled with a material that's guaranteed to maintain its shape. There's also a smaller version, the MY chair, that's more for sitting comfortably, as opposed to lounging or laying down on the ROO. MY $1,500, ROO $1,900.

Via ForbesLife

Architect and designer Zaha Hadid has put her curvilinear aesthetic sense to creating a tap for British manufacturer Triflow, a brand which has created a three-way tap. The Hadid tap brings spout, body and handle into one flowing shape. It channels filtered water through a separate waterway keeping it separate from the hot and cold water streams which are controlled by the tap handle. The filtered water is turned on with a electronic button.

[via Dezeen]

I love mirrors. In the practice of Feng Shui, they recommend placing a mirror across from a room's entrance. I like that, because it makes the room appear larger and lets me know right away if I need to fix something about my appearance -- and more importantly, if I don't need to fix anything. It relaxes me.

Mirrors are excellent for distributing light in any space, and a beautiful, well-kept (dusted and clear) mirror is a gorgeous addition to any room.

For awhile, my roommate and I were looking for a large mirror for above our couch. When we couldn't find one we liked (they all had such wretched frames), we decided to instead make a collage of smaller mirrors, each with their own unique frames. The effect is very elegant.

Here are some droolworthy mirrors from Horchow. If these are out of your price range, I recommend checking the local thrift store for interesting mirrors!

More than just the La-Z-Boy for the wealthy, Inada's Sogno massage chair (above) can give you a healthier back -- and shoulder, arm, and fingertip.

The Sogno chair (pronounced "SOHN-yo") was the winner of the CES Innovation Award for 2009, for its impeccable balance of comfort, functionality, and design. Songo, which means "dream" in Italian, can massage over 1,200 square inches of you as you sit in it, including from your shoulder to your fingertip. That's more than any other chair on the market. Doesn't that sound nice? It gets better:

"Every Sogno massage begins with an infrared body scan that compares a user's profile to 106 stored body profiles. Advanced robotics and differentially applied then mimic the hand movements of a human massage therapist, providing the widest range of variation and choreography in kneading, tapping, and sophisticated stroke combinations." -- Inada

$6,000 doesn't seem like too much to pay for an infrared scan and a full-body massage every time you sit down to watch TV. You can purchase the chair from HealthyBack.

The humidifier isn't exactly the most attractive object in home decor but for cold, dry winters it can be essential to comfort. The humble humidifier gets a design upgrade with the Middle Colors humidifier, a simple ultrasonic humidifier that produces a steady mist of steam. It comes in two sizes, small which delivers eight hours of mist, and large, which delivers a bigger blast for ten hours. Best of all it comes in a wide range of fashion colors. It sells for $115-$190.

Minnesota artist Gary Lundstrom has created a new line of art lamps that celebrate Minnesota style and history. Great Lake Design. The lantern-style lamps are based on the white pnes that line the north shore of Lake Superior, and have stained glass interior lights and solid oak bases. The lamps cost $1200 a piece and part of the money from each sale will go to the Saint Louis County Historical Society in the Duluth Depot.

[via MSNBC]

It's hard getting men to use coasters, unless you hand one to them or there's one sitting out on the table already it's unlikely to happen. With this coaster set in easy reach, though, things might be different. Made of solid quasi-isotropic carbon fiber the coasters have a high-gloss surface on the top and little rubber feet on the bottom. Plus they can be stored and displayed in their very stylish stand that looks more like sculpture than any coaster set I've seen. Certainly a good way to keep the coasters out and in easy reach for regular use. $149.99