Ritual Behavior

Sian Winship

Independent marketing and advertising consultant

“My bedroom is a place of inspiration, where I can reflect and look forward.’

Bed: Vico Magistretti’s 1996 Italian modern Vanja bed from Dormire in Santa Monica.

Sheets: Calvin Klein 100% Egyptian cotton sheets. “They’re so soft, and I love the rich burgundy color.”

Favorite pastime: “I travel all the time--I have 400,000 frequent-flier miles--so if I’m home on Sunday, I watch every NFL football game on TV right up to ‘The Sopranos,’ when I make a bowl of pasta and sit and watch.”

Favorite possession: An abstract Morady lithograph from the Ein Hod artist kibbutz in Israel. “It’s very uplifting and comforting. It reminds me of my vacation [in Israel].”

Bedtime ritual: Lying in bed with a glass of Dewar’s and a crossword puzzle. “It puts me in the right frame of mind for that transition to evening.”

David Cruz

Owner, Blackman Cruz vintage store

“It’s the room where I disconnect and go off to dream world.’

Bed: 1940s Paul Laszlo built-in headboard and bedside table. Sheet thread count: “I don’t care. Sheets should feel familiar. They get better the longer you have them.”

Bedroom ambience: A B-movie set. “At night I see the Klieg lights and neon marquees of Hollywood Boulevard and hear helicopters circling overhead. In the morning I look out over hills and palm trees, watch raccoons and listen to the wild parrots squawk. It’s so L.A.”

Favorite bedroom possession: Pair of Renato Toso 1960s Leucos lamps.

Bedtime ritual: “Trader Joe’s health-food cereal in the middle of the night--with soy milk and no sugar so I don’t feel so guilty. I sometimes add a little granola from La Brea Bakery, which is really sinful but wonderful.”

Carla Hacken

Executive vice president of production, Fox 2000 Pictures

“I don’t see any houses or hear any cars. i wake up to birds, go to sleep listening to wind chimes.’

Bed: Custom-made platform bed with button-tufted headboard inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona lounge. “I always wanted a white leather bed and a Mies lounge. Actually, my designer covered the bed with Izit, a leather look-alike, since the whole house had to be dog friendly.

If it gets dirty I just spray it down with 409.”

Sheets/bedding: Egyptian cotton Frette sheets and a 100% linen duvet cover by Area. “In the winter I try to use less expensive Chambers sheets because the dogs come in with wet feet and make dirty paw prints across the bed. I also have oversized feather pillows I brought back from a cheap hotel in Prague when I was on location--they’re the best.”

Bedtime ritual: “Reading catalogs--J.Crew, Bliss, Design Within Reach--plus a little CNN puts me to sleep within 15 minutes.”

Rachel Ashwell

TV host and author, founder of Shabby Chic stores

“I’m a bit tired of the word ‘sanctuary,’ but when i think of my bedroom, the word does come to mind.’

Bed: A mosquito-netted king-size box spring and mattress set against a white clapboard wall.

Sheets/bedding: “I sleep on Shabby Chic handkerchief-weight linen sheets and pillowcases and a feather mattress. Sometimes I’ll change to our jersey sheets, which feel like I’m sleeping in a big white T-shirt. I like to mix and match my sheets in pink colors: It’s very girly.”

On the bedside table: “A white lamp, water and a pink drinking glass with three pink peonies, a book on feng shui and Rita Rudner’s book ‘Tickled Pink: A Comic Novel.’ Just below I keep my collection of hearts in the drawer.”

Bedtime ritual: “A cup of Lipton tea and two cookies before I go to sleep. If I’m on my goodbehavior I have a fat-free oatmeal cookie, but I do love chocolate chip the best.”

Arthur Forney

Co-executive producer, Law & Order” trio of television shows

Elisabeth Forney

Co-owner, Duo Deco vintage furnishings

“It’s my personal comfort zone-- a place to flop down and have good conversation with my other half.’(Arthur)

‘It’s my nest.’ (Elisabeth)

Bed: Contemporary French Mobile bed from Linea.

Sheet thread count: 300-count Yves Delorme Egyptian cotton sheets from Strouds. “I like my sheets to be very soft and very cold.” (Elisabeth)

Mattress: “We both like a firm bed so we bought two twins that zip together and rest on two slatted bases with rubber mountings. The mountings pivot and flex to contour to your body weight. It’s very good for your back.” (Arthur)

Bedroom ambience: “Definitely not froufrou. I’d sum it up as comfortable.” (Arthur)

“In France we say the ultimate luxury is what you don’t see. The bedroom falls into that category--very private and personal.” (Elisabeth)

Favorite bedroom possession:

“A picture of my mother.” (Elisabeth)

Bedroom ritual: “Sunday morning breakfasts in bed--croissants, cafe au lait, orange juice. Arthur brings it to me.” (Elisabeth)

Adam Isaacs

Talent agent, United Talent Agency

“I’m a sensualist. the bedroom should look good, smell good, feel good.’

Bed: Indonesian Toraja bed of recycled teak from Warisan, Los Angeles.

Sheet thread count: “The important thing is how they feel. I won’t buy sheets I can’t touch first.”

Bedding: Donna Karan Home Modern Soul collection Egyptian cotton sheets, linen body pillows, diamond-pleated cashmere throw and satin and panne velvet quilts--all in black. “You only know how great the bed feels when you get in it.”

Favorite pastime: “Stretching out with my pride of blue Abyssinians and watching action movies--’Aliens,’ ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘Dressed to Kill’ are my three favorites.”

Bedtime ritual: “Read whatever I want [during] the last 20 minutes before I go to sleep--no scripts, please. I read 15 to 20 of those a week.”

Janice Jerde

Architect

“It’s a tranquil, romantic and sensual room.’

Bed: 100-year-old Ching Dynasty (1644-1912) wedding bed that architect husband Jon Jerde purchased in Shanghai as a surprise.

Sheets/bedding: “The older the better; when you can almost put your toe through the sheets, they’re just getting good.” The custom mattress was made by Decorative Sleep as the bed is an inch smaller than a normal double bed.

Bedroom ambience: “Sensual and romantic. I had difficulty sleeping the first night. The bed has a history, and you feel it. I took out my silver cross and everything has been fine ever since.”

Bedtime ritual: “I take out the faux mink throw and put it on the floor so that my [Tibetan terrier puppy] Galileo’s silk pillow fits [on the bed].”

Kate Stamps

Interior and landscape designer, Stamps & Stamps

“For us, it’s a warm, cozy and inviting spot. i love the idea that we can close out the world.’

Bed: Built-in 18th century-style bed cabinet with a 1740s carved French doorway surround and mid-19th century embroidered side bed curtains.

Sheets/bedding: Linen sheets made by Volga Linen Co. “I buy [them] in England. They’re cool and crisp, and although a little stiff new, they soften up with washing. I also love Nancy Stanley Waud’s high-count Egyptian cotton bed linens for the duvet covers, which have been washed so many times they feel like silk.”

Best time to be in bed: Cold rainy days.

Favorite bedtime pastime: “Watching one of our 2,500 videos on the 48-inch TV screen at the end of the bed cabinet. It’s like seeing a movie at the Beverly Center, except you’re in your own bed lying down.”

Bedtime ritual: “Hearing Sinbad, our one-legged parrot, call out ‘Night-night.’ ”