Get a nice blanket, snuggle up near your new space heater, and dream easy: We know what you need.
can be excruciating. The seasons are a-changing, and it’s only going to get colder.
But like every good Boy Scout, I’ll be prepared. I’m going to get myself a space heater, a warm blanket and duvet (and if that fails, I’ll get a dog).
Snug as a Bug
In cold weather, I take solace in my duvet.
TsUM (2 B. Khmelnytskoho) has the city’s largest selection of cotton, wool, acrylic and polyester duvets and blankets. Unfortunately, they’re just godawful to look at, unless you like obscene floral patterns in hot pink, mold blue and mustard yellow. Woolen blankets go for about Hr 300 for a queen size, slightly more for larger sizes. King-size polyester and acrylic blends were around Hr 745.
Linens in Globus Mall has a small selection, but they had a nice selection of duvets for kids, although everything was on the pricey side – from Hr 890. Linens also has a good selection of wool blend blankets from Hr 479. The selection at Linens actually appeals to the eye, and I would not hide in shame having it in my room.
La Notte (14B Sahaidachnoho), definitely has both the city’s best selection and the most reasonable prices for blankets, duvets and more. From satin, to wool, to acrylic blends – the selection and quality of all the products were excellent. Woolen blankets started from Hr 216, while big fluffy Soley cotton duvets were Hr 852. Acrylic duvets started at Hr 170 and polyesters for Hr 10 more. I was bound to find something to hide in.
Another consideration is one of those hand-knit woolen blankets available on the Andriyivskiy Uzviz, or in one of the local outdoor markets. Nice ones go for around Hr 150 to Hr 200. They have a little character, too.
“It’s getting hot in here”
Looking at heaters can be like looking at modern art – sometimes you have no bloody clue what you’re looking at. And let’s face it: You often don’t know what you’re looking for. If you just want to keep your feet warm you can get away with a small fan-based unit for around Hr 100, but if you’re looking for something to heat a larger room, you’ll be out Hr 300 to 700.
Of the stores I visited – New Wind (1/12 Shota Rustaveli), Shelf (11 Shota Rustaveli), Eldorado (19A Khreshchatyk), Fox Trot (45 Chervonoarmiyska) and TsUM – Eldorado and TsUM had the best selection, with nearly 20 different models. Pricewise, Eldorado and New Wind came out ahead, although many of the stores were within Hr 20 to Hr 30 of each other in prices on the same heaters.
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Looking at heaters can be like looking at modern art – sometimes you have no bloody clue what you’re looking at. And let’s face it: You often don’t know what you’re looking for. (Post photo by Vitaliy Pavlenko) |
The best heaters, salepeople told me, are the Italian-made Delonghi ones. Coincidentally, Delonghi units are also the most expensive, ranging from Hr 150 for their small fan heaters, to Hr 513 to Hr 700 for medium-sized radiators, to Hr 1,399 for their large models.
Go with Eldorado for both its selection (it’s the only store to carry nearly industrial-sized models) and prices. For example the Delonghi Dragon 2 was nearly Hr 60 cheaper at Eldorado (Hr 689) than at TsUM (Hr 745.50). And what makes higher-end models, such as the Dragon 2, the Rapido and the Thomas RC-82 more expensive? It’s all those interactive temperature settings, thermometers and other things to get the temperature just right without melting your cat.
