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News.com.au
21 hours ago
- News.com.au
Bed Threads Organic Cotton review: Budget ‘buttery soft' linen
When it comes to home furnishings, I've always had champagne tastes despite my budget being decidedly more beer-adjacent (just ask my husband). I firmly believe every home should be a haven of comfort and that the saying 'buy cheap, buy twice' applies one hundred fold when it comes to your homewares and appliances. That being said, in this current financial climate, one must economise — even when it comes to a place where we spend at least eight hours a day. For years, I've loved the look and feel of linen bedding. It gives your bedroom an understated, chic finish with minimal effort thanks to linen 's natural texture. It is also so comfy in summer and only gets softer with every wash. However it is prohibitively expensive at times, costing upwards of $500 to kit out a queen bed. Which is why it's no surprise we've seen an increase in brands adopting a more affordable material. From $50 at Bed Threads Known for their high-quality 100% French Flax Linen Bedding range, Bed Threads has become the latest brand to release an Organic Cotton range which I have been road testing* for the last four weeks. Bed Threads co-founder Genevieve Rosen Biller told checkout that Organic Cotton 's affordability has been a 'welcome benefit, but it wasn't the driving factor'. 'The main motivator here was delivering customers the Bed Threads experience in the fibre they were genuinely looking for,' she said. Rosen Biller said the response since launching a second material in its signature bedding range has been 'incredible'. 'We sold out of our Espresso and Berry colourways in the first week, which was far sooner than we anticipated,' she said. 'We've been thrilled to receive five-star reviews and comments like 'finally' and 'we've been waiting for this' from customers as well.' FIRST IMPRESSIONS Bed Threads' Organic Cotton range is available in eight colourways: Vanilla, Berry, Butterscotch, Apple, Moss, Aegean and Espresso. Personally, I prefer more muted or neutral tones that lean on the cool tone side for my bedding, so I struggled to pick a colour combo at first. But given Bed Threads is known for its jewel shades and bold colour combos, I decided to go wild and pick out a set of sheets in Espresso, a rich chocolate brown, and duvet colour/pillowcases in Moss, a dark forest green. The bedding came beautifully packaged in organic cotton bags, a nice touch given other brands will usually package their manchester in plastic. Straight away, the quality was evident — the stitching was to a high standard with no snags or lose threads and the cotton was buttery soft to the touch. Putting the set on my bed, it transformed my bedroom instantly into a trendy hotel room — the colour combination was perfection and it gave off a sophisticated, (dare I say) sexy feel. Given it's cotton and not linen it does have a more structured look on the bed which was a bit hard to get used at first. But it still had that understated, elegant look that I love about block-colour manchester. WHAT'S IT LIKE TO SLEEP ON? In short: Extremely comfortable. These sheets are like floating on air on a cool, crisp day. They don't make you feel hot but also aren't as cooling as linen, making it ideal as an all-year bed linen option. The sheets are soft without being slippy or too shiny, a pet hate of mine with high thread count cotton sheets. HOW DOES IT WASH? One of the benefits of Bed Threads' Organic Cotton collection is that they're more low maintenance then their more sophisticated cousin, 100% French Flax Linen Bedding. Bed Threads recommends washing its linen range in a cold, gentle cycle and avoid putting it in the dryer. I've washed this range four times now on a regular cycle, throwing it in the dryer on two occasions. All times the colour has held well and it's stayed soft too. Being cotton, it is also quick to dry if you hang it on the line. My only issue that I find it does collect a few bits of fuzz and my hair. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? A queen bundle set of the Bed Threads Organic Cotton range will set you back $360 versus $576 for the 100% French Flax Linen Bedding range. Each Bed Threads bundle includes a duvet cover, fitted sheet, flax sheet and four pillowcases. Otherwise it's $150 for a queen duvet cover (versus $250 for the linen cover), $50 for a pair of pillowcases ($70 for the linen version), $100 for a queen fitted sheet or flat sheet ($160 and $170 in linen). Despite the price difference, Rosen Biller said that both collections are 'long-lasting products crafted to the highest quality standards' and 'our customers are ultimately choosing the fibre (or colour palette) that most resonates with them'. 'As a more widely available fabric, cotton is naturally more economical than linen – a fibre which is so in-demand that it's often subject to shortages,' she said. OVERALL VERDICT While the Organic Cotton range is still priced at the more expensive end for bedding, after road testing it for a month I can say it is well worth ir. It's incredibly comfortable to sleep on, washes well and you can tell the fabric and stitching is high quality. It's also a great alternative for shoppers who want a more affordable and low maintenance fabric than linen, but don't want to sacrifice on style or comfort. And let's face it, what's better than saving a few pennies on bedding and using that money to treat yourself to a bottle of bubbly. French champagne anyone? Sign up to our free shopping newsletter for the latest deals and sales you won't want to miss.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Melbourne suburbs smashing house price records after rate cuts
More than 10 Melbourne house price records have fallen since the Reserve Bank cut interest rates in February. And with mega results north of $30m the sales are proving it's not just the city's mortgage belt that have been holding out for a rate cut. Cashed up neighbours have swooped on at least two local landmarks, with title documents recently confirming the sale of a Brighton waterfront mansion understood to have topped the suburb's $31.6m record in the past month. Key underquoting fix Vic govt has dodged since 2009 Melbourne tipped to lead 2026 property boom | KPMG Meanwhile, in one of Melbourne's most affordable suburbs, Frankston North's most expensive home is now a $900,500 four-bedroom house after Sydney-based investors pushed a local buyer to the unprecedented sum at an auction in April. Renovations have also been a key factor driving home sales to new heights. In the west, the couple behind an Albion home's extension that smashed the local record by $150,000 are hunting for another project with half an eye to besting the benchmark for neighbouring Deer Park or Ardeer. Owners Emily and Dean sold their 33 Adelaide St, Albion, reno for $1.42m in late May, about 10 days after the year's second rate cut. Emily said with expectations of another cut this week boosting borrowing capacity, and likely to lower mortgage costs, she would expect more records to tumble as home renos picked up — especially in Melbourne's west. 'And the west is a great, growing space and it has a lot of potential and has reached the cusp of change, with a lot of families wanting to live in this area,' she said. The renovator added that resistance to paying record sums would also likely drop, especially for homes with exhaustive extensions and updates, as they were the most likely to tick enough boxes that buyers would see value in them — even at unprecedented prices. 'If it's a cheaper property for a cheaper price, that's great — but long-term, how much money will you tip into it to make it what you want? To buy something that's already finished will almost always be better value than doing it yourself — especially with building materials and trades and everything going up,' she said. Real Estate Institute of Victoria interim chief executive Jacob Caine said a flurry of record breaking sales was 'surprising', as Melbourne was still waiting for a 'wholesale' surge off the back of rate cuts. 'However, there's always an opportunity for standout properties to attract incredible interest and record prices,' Mr Caine said. 'And I absolutely expect that we will start to see more and more suburb records tumble as anticipated rate cuts take effect.' He added those hoping to get a record sale for their home might want to consider renovations, as there was still 'significant trepidation' around undertaking them in light of building industry difficulties that had made the few homes going the extra mile more appealing. Melbourne's Rate Cut Record Setters 'Teychel', Brighton Sold for $31.6m+ (July) Broke prior record by unknown sum Kay & Burton, Ross Savas Sold for $7.1m, March Broke old record by $2.95m Whitefox Northside, Dylan Francis 160-162 The Avenue, Parkville Sold for $7.9m+ (May) Broke old record by $800,000+ Nelson Alexander, Nicholas West 161 Beach Rd, Parkdale Sold for $5.35m (March) Broke old record by $124,000 Buxton, Matthew Cox 10-11 Timbertop Court, Frankston North Sold for $900,500 (April) Broke old record by more than $100,000 OBrien Real Estate, Mark Burke 20 Mora Ave, Oakleigh Sold for about $3.2m Broke old record by about $100,000 Ray White, Daniel Seyran 73 St Vincent Place South, Albert Park Sold for $15m+ (Off market) Broke old record by $1.2m+ Marshall White, Ben Manolitsas 26 Nicholson St, Footscray Sold for $2.665m (June) Broke old record by $465,000 Hocking Stuart, Leo Dardha 33 Adelaide St, Albion Sold $1.402m (May) Broke old record by almost $150,000 Ray White, Marcus Fregonese 11A Sage St, Oakleigh East Sold $1.603m (August) Broke old Unit record by $133,000 OBrien Real Estate, Gareth Apswoude
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
The moment the PM gained confidence Australia could recognise a Palestinian state
The Albanese government gained confidence it could recognise a Palestinian state before a two-state solution was negotiated following a declaration last month that set out a new path to solve the decades-long Middle Eastern conflict. The New York Declaration at the end of July was one moment in a steady stream of momentum building towards recognition of a Palestinian state. But it was a significant moment. At a high-level international conference led by France and Saudi Arabia, Middle Eastern and European powers committed to taking "time-bound" and "irreversible" steps for the settlement of the question of Palestine, and the implementation of a two-state solution. On the same day the New York Declaration was settled, the United Kingdom announced its intention to recognise a Palestinian state, following France's move a few days earlier. Canada signalled its intentions to recognise the next day, and now Australia has also followed. Since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza following the October 7 terror attack by Hamas, the international community has worked on a plan that could deliver peace in the region. The New York Declaration lays the foundations of a plan that could be followed the "day after" war ends in Gaza, with commitments by the Palestinian Authority to hold democratic elections, accept a de-militarised state, and reform its school curriculum to promote peace. Its policy — called One State, One Government, One Law, One Gun — spells out a program to hold elections within a year to trigger generational renewal, and support disarmament of Hamas under a set time-frame. In return, financial support would be provided to the Palestinian Authority as it progresses its reforms, under a staged plan expected to be detailed further at the September UN meeting. To support Gaza's reconstruction, financial support would also be committed through an international trust fund, with the group backing an Arab League plan that would provide $53 billion to recovery efforts. And following a ceasefire, a transitional administration under the Palestinian Authority would immediately be established to operate in Gaza, excluding Hamas from governance. An international peacekeeping force would be deployed to ensure stability, which could also evolve to monitor any future peace agreement. Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian said the authority had assured Australia and the world it would reform. "We're moving by the book and we are presenting our reports on the milestones we are achieving," Dr Aghabekian told the ABC. "[And] President Abbas has made it very clear to leaders of the world these elections are also a Palestinian demand. "Now, we need the support of the international community to ensure that the environment is conducive to enable Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank to be part of this election process." In a joint statement the day the declaration was settled, foreign ministers of several nations, including Australia, voiced their support for commitments by the Palestinian Authority. They also expressed their determination to work on the "day after" architecture to rebuild Gaza ahead of September's UN General Assembly. The agreement marked a shift in global politics, as the Arab League nations signed onto a plan with the West to recognise Israel, demand the disarmament of Hamas and condemn the terror group's October 7 attack, opening a door for international recognition of both Israel and a Palestinian state. And, critically, it provided a workaround to a longstanding hurdle. By providing a pathway for Palestinian recognition that could then lead to a two-state solution, it offered a way to progress a two-state solution that could not effectively be vetoed by nations unwilling to cooperate. Alluding to the declaration, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said last week there was a "unique opportunity" in the international community to isolate and diminish Hamas. "The best way to ensure peace and stability in the Middle East is for there to be two states and the reason for urgency behind recognition is this, there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the world does not act," Senator Wong said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese affirmed on Monday that the world could no longer wait for success to be guaranteed "There is a moment of opportunity here, and Australia will work with the international community to seize it," Mr Albanese said. While the declaration provided impetus, and fresh hope for peace, there are still major hurdles. First, Hamas still holds hostages captured in its October 7 terror attack, and shows no intention of surrendering in Gaza. The terrorist organisation has said it would not surrender until a Palestinian state was recognised. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his opposition to progressing two-state solution while war in Gaza rages, and just days ago announced plans to escalate Israel's military operation and occupy parts of Gaza. Its agreement to a two-state solution would also require withdrawing from West Bank settlements considered illegal under international law. And the US, a key player that holds the power to veto full Palestinian membership to the United Nations, has opposed the push for recognition, saying it would be a "reward" for Hamas. The Coalition has challenged the government to explain its break from a longstanding bipartisan position on a two-state solution. It has questioned how several commitments of the Palestinian Authority, including the disarmament of Hamas, will actually be achieved. Former ambassador to Israel, Liberal senator Dave Sharma, said Australia's decision would make reaching a ceasefire deal harder. "Hamas has been portraying this concession from Australia, the United Kingdom, France and Canada as a win ... it's changed their approach to ceasefire negotiations," Senator Sharma said. Mr Netanyahu also said on Monday that international pressure through recognition would not change his position, labelling that push "delusional". International relations specialist Professor Amin Saikal said he did not expect Australian recognition to make much difference "on the ground" in the Middle East, where Palestinian territories remained under Israeli occupation, and Hamas refuses to surrender. "They will simply be joining another 147 countries around the world that have recognised the state of Palestine. But this time it is members of the western alliance that have come forward, and I think that is very significant," Professor Saikal said. "The Israeli leadership will have to really take notice of that because, otherwise Israel is going to remain more isolated ... the next step would be sanctions if Prime Minister Netanyahu remains defiant." International law professor Don Rothwell said recognising a Palestinian state while parts of it remained under Israeli occupation would be unprecedented, adding there was a risk the status quo would remain. He said it was not meaningless for Australia to add its voice — but it was hard to see how some of the necessary conditions for peace would be met. "There's such a strong momentum towards Australia and many like-minded making this formal announcement of recognition at the United Nations it's very difficult to see how anything could derail that," Professor Rothwell said. "It's also very difficult to see how some of the expectations Australia has with respect to the reform of the Palestinian Authority elections will play out over the next month."
