King Chenille Bedspread

West Texas hotels near Marfa and Big Bend offer historic refuges and non ...

Having sheltered dusty travelers for centuries, West Texans know that lodging is more than just a convenience: Distances between towns and temperatures both run to extremes.

The historic hotels, some a century old, are grand refuges from the heat, with extensive outdoor spaces for relaxing; large, quiet public spaces filled with art and books; and solid, atmospheric restaurants. But several upstarts - some established in just the last year, others proving successful after five years or more in their remote locations - offer less-traditional options.

Here's an update:

Marfa area

El Cosmico, 802 S. Highland Ave., Marfa; 432-729-1950; www.elcosmico.com. You almost certainly have never stayed in a place like this assemblage of yurts, safari tents, a tepee and meticulously restored vintage mobile homes on 18 acres at the edge of town. Be aware that tubs and showers are outdoors, the better to see the stars, but not so hot for the luxury- minded. You'll also get to haul your luggage out to your trailer in a little wagon.

Cibolo Creek Ranch, 1-866-496-9460; www.cibolocreek ranch.com. So exclusive and private that the guests aren't even issued room keys, Cibolo Creek in the foothills of the Chisos Mountains got a new manager in January, Richard Gill. Hunting is a big draw, along with fishing and rides in the ranch's fleet of Hummers. The rooms are decorated with Spanish colonial and Mexican touches such as heavy armoires and Saltillo tile floors. Doubles start at $325 per night plus $75 per day per person for meals.

The Thunderbird Hotel, 601 W. San Antonio, Marfa; 877.729.1984; thunderbirdmarfa.com. Once a tired 1950s relic, is now all spare, rugged elegance. It reflects the stark beauty of its surroundings, with fences of ocotillo, lattice of salvaged oil-field pipe, pool, fire pit and 24 minimalist guest rooms with platform beds and animal-skin rugs. If you're too technophobe for the rooms' high-speed Internet or cable TV with DVD players, the hotel has loaner vintage typewriters and Polaroid cameras to help you channel your inner artist and capture your surroundings. Because as fabulous as Marfa has recently become, the desert scenery that's been there since time immemorial is the real West Texas scene.

Stylemaster Kingston 100% Cotton Chenille Bedspread King, Beige ...

Stylemaster Kingston 100% Cotton Chenille Bedspread King, Beige

This is a Kingston classic heirloom chenille bedspread. Vintage chenille bedspread with detail that reminds you of years past. Comes with Center pattern design and heavyweight contraction. Luxurious styling creates a richly detailed and textured design with swag and border designs. Fluffy chenille allover tufting. Creates an impressive center pattern. 100% cotton heavyweight construction. Machine washable and dryable.

I bought this bedspread in pink for my high king sized bed. I love it. All these complaints about shedding and lint in the washer and dryer are ridiculous. Everyone knows chenille sheds. Why did they buy it? There are plenty of other fabrics out there. Mine doesn’t shed except when it is washed. It is exactly what I wanted. The color and fit are perfect. I would definitely recommend this product.

I ordered two of these spreads: a full sized white and queen beige. The full is on a normal mattress and it fits it perfectly draping over the entire bed to just about two inches off the floor all around. The queen is on a newer type deep mattress where the mattress + box-spring + frame stand 30″ above the floor. The spread is sized big enough to drape level with the bottom of the bedframe (it’s just a normal universal metal frame that is about 7″ off the floor). This is just big enough for my liking. I wanted it to cover the boxspring and it does do that. I like the unfussy look of a bedspread as opposed to the business of a comforter, shams & bedskirt.

The biggest drawback on this is the fluff issue. Another reviewer noted that when washed and dried it filled the lint filters. This is true. you will have to watch it when drying to clean the lint filter at least twice during drying. I expect this to diminish with additional washings. I’m going to experiment and put it through an extended cool fluff cycle in my drier to see if I can get it to the point where lint is minimal. I think this would be an issue with any new chenille bedspread and will diminish with each wash/dry cycle.

I deducted one star for the lint shedding; however, if you’re at all sensitive to lint or fluff I would suggest passing on this spread.

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