We have bought superkingsize bedlinen from Next before, but it's not cheap. They do have sales from time to time. Another good source is John Lewis.

I've just looked and discovered that the 'old' new quilt cover is older than I thought... Jonelle brand, which the internet says John Lewis replaced when it started using its own name for goods in 2001. Antique bed linen! I don't mind paying for quality but for more than £70 for a duvet cover, I want it to last for many years.

JL stuff is currently not to my taste, or poly-cotton, which is too hot.

I expect you’ve already checked out the M & S range. If not, might be worth a look.

Next do have sales. My mother and sister would get up extra early on boxing day to go to them. My opinion though is that they are a dreadful company and I try to avoid them

MOTB - yes, thanks, I have, mostly polycotton, in darker colours: a disppointing range, but that's the current M&S for you! Bring back BhS...

Ian - my sentiments entirely. However, in the absence of anything else that meets my criteria, needs must...

I've got some from Belledorm in Egyptian cotton

Thanks Debster, that looks very promising and 10% off first order with 'SWEETDREAMS' code.

I knew someone would know somewhere I hadn't found :)

There were 3 I liked the look of.
All 3 are out of stock for kingsize.
This may prove that there are not many companies selling tasteful/understated large duvet covers.
Gap in the market there methinks...

Honestly, I've found that (for me) it's better to spend a lot less and use somewhere like Dunelm, or even Te$c0 , and say the hell with it.

The sets I've had from both have done well (The Te$c0 ones in particular, surprisingly) If they last four or five years for half/third the price of the Laura Ashley ones, I'm OK with that. My tastes/preferences change over that time as well, so a new set makes sense in that context - and then I can re-use or re-cycle the old set however I want.

For me, the drain is far more on pillows - I like firm support, and that doesn't seem to last more than a year (sometimes not even that - Silentnight pillows were (for me) utter shite, really disappointing) and I hate memory-foam pillows, so it's some weird kind of balancing act.

Lyle - I read somewhere the other day that everyone should change their pillows every year due to the 'allergens' that they take in, so you're ahead of most people! Dunelm is just as expensive as LA now (they bought out the Dorma brand). £80 for a superking cotton duvet cover, no pillowcases. That said, I have just taken another look and have found one I actually like that is in stock... I just can't bring myself to buy from T£$co, even in these circumstances ;)

Gosh some of my pillows are older than me

BW, I know you loathe the Te$c0, but they're who I'd got experience with. I assume other supermarkets can offer similar products, but couldn't say for sure.