Bed: Excelsior II with BJX Mattress Top I just received a new bed to test for October, so it's time to weigh in on the bed I tested for the whole month of September — the Hastens. My nutshell review: awesome bed, awesomely expensive. I LOVE this bed for two reasons: 1. I sink into it wonderfully and sleep really well and 2. it has zero smells or textures that are toxic or off-putting. Ten beds to go. Our bedroom last night with the beds piling up. Sara's amusement with the project is still intact. I look forward to getting into bed each night, but we probably went too soft as Sara Kate, even now, finds it too squishy. While Sara had reservations at first, the bed has grown on her and she "really likes sleeping in it alone" (because the softness makes her feel as if she's falling towards me). After four weeks, she definitely wants it firmer (we tested a "soft"). You can check out what we thought at first here. The sleep experience is the first thing you notice about these beds.
When you lay down, you sink in farther in your heaviest parts, which means that your head feels lower than your feet. This is strange for anyone who has lived on firm mattresses for years, but very comfortable when you get used to it and - apparently - better for your circulation in that you are actually horizontal. Hasten's are also proponents of "soft" beds, so you may also be talked into going softer than ever before. Be careful about this. While I liked this soft coaching, my wife did not and too much softness can be a shock. In addition, the "topper" that comes as an option on these beds offers a lot of softness, so I'm not sure you need the mattress to be as soft as well. The words "lumpy" and "cloudy" have been used to describe the experience of sleeping on these very thick, handmade mattresses and they are right. While there is plenty of support, the natural fibers break in natural ways and it feels like there is more pressure in some places than others. If you ever flopped down into a pile of warm laundry as a kid, you know what I'm talking about.
It's marvelously comforting, but definitely not familiar. Side sleeping and temperature regulation are both great here. The deepness of the sleep experience nicely supports you on your side while allowing your hips to sink way down and keep your body horizontal. The natural fibers are warm and cozy, but you never heat up. There's plenty of breathing. One of the chief selling points in my mind is the fact that Hastens are complete beds from top to bottom and made entirely of natural materials like cotton, wool, horsehair, flax, steel and wood. There's absolutely nothing bad in here. Even the fireproofing required in the USA is naturally based. It's like a big cake. Hastens are really big, heavy beds as all those natural ingredients add up. While it may not be an issue for many, it's worth noting that flipping the mattress is nearly impossible for one person to do. In addition, due to their depth, there's no way to store anything underneath aside from a few thin magazines.
Also, here's a cool video of burning a Hastens and a "regular" mattress. The Hasten's doesn't burn. Given that these beds are guaranteed for 25 years of use and are probably good for much more than that, the price tag might make sense to many who replace their beds at the national average of every seven years. Nevertheless, this is a different kind of purchase for Americans who rarely think about their beds this way. BTW Hastens recommends simply changing your topper every 3-5 years. If you've got the money and you want to make a real investment in your bedroom that's really wholesome and eco friendly and NOT blingy or fancy in a tacky way, this is for you. The bed we tested was over $10k, but you can get an entry level Hastens in the $8k range. Their top of the line Vividus will cost you nearly $80k and is for all intensive purposes a theoretical exercise in bed design when there are no limits. It's over the top. With the sheets drawn away you can see the topper, mattress and box spring which has its own feet.
The feet and the color of the fabric are all changeable. The topper is also optional.Luxury mattresses, ergonomic pillows and layers of luxury linen—but sleep is the ultimate priceless luxury, isn't it? The bedroom is the sanctum sanctorum of a living space. And bed its focal point. The bed has emerged as the luxury abode of style, couture and comfort. “Sleep is the ultimate luxury and the consumerist icon derivative of this piece of luxury is the bed,” says Delhi-based luxury interior designer Manjeet Bullar. With sleep attainting the status of luxury, people are going that extra mile to make the most of it. Interior designer Vinita Chaitanya says, “Indians are getting ahead in the game. The bedroom is their sanctuary. Off late, the only brief I get is to design the bedroom based on the client’s last stay at a seven-star luxury hotel”. Vinita says her clients are well-aware of brands such as Frette, Fendi, Versace, Ralph Lauren, White Linen Co. And Atmosphere, which sell luxury mattresses, ergonomic pillows and high thread count bed linen.
She adds,“Bed linen can cost lakhs of rupees and Indians are willing to buy. Harrods has bedsheets with thread count of 1000. Milan-based luxury linen brand Frette sells bedsheets in pure cashmere. Young homemakers too are investing in labels like Zara Home. We import beds from international labels like Baker Furniture, Christopher Guy, Cavalli and Fendi. We import mattresses from Hastens and Tempur that cost between ₹1lakh and ₹20 lakh”. 140-year-old Italian luxury brand Frette, which has an ardent admirer in singer Madonna, has a store in Mumbai. Their linen range comes in thread counts from 300 to 1000 and costs ₹18,000 to ₹1 lakh. The higher the thread count, the finer, lighter and smoother is the product. Let's not forget that versatile natural fibres give a cooling effect in summers and much-needed warmth in winters. Linen Box, a Chennai-based brand sells only white luxury linen to clients in Chennai, Bangalore and Kochi. Their pristine white linens, which lend a satin-weave effect, are made from Indian cotton with a thread count of 600.
White linen is timeless. An elegant all-white bed reflects purity and goodness. Aneena Tharakan, owner of Linen Box, says, “When we started eight years ago, we had to educate people about the luxury of sleeping on white linen and high thread count. Today we sell our linen for baby beds too”. Mattresses from Mon Chateau in Bangalore has found fandom among Hollywood celebrities. Their Royal Pedic mattresses, made in Beverly Hills California, have made it into the homes of former US Presidents like John F Kennedy and Ronald Reagan; royalty of Saudi Arabia, Brunei and Thailand; top entertainers and athletes. Now it is finding favour among Indians too. The mattress is crafted with New Zealand lamb wool, natural latex and cotton from California and Texas. Available in a pillow-top and organic range, it can cost anywhere between ₹6lakh and ₹8 lakh. Besides goose-feather pillows and duvets, Mon Chateau also stocks Egyptian cotton bed linen from Italian luxury label Nancy Koltes that costs between ₹50,000 and ₹1,10,000.
Offering a thread count of 350 to 900, the high-grade bed linen comes in jacquard weave and fine embroidery. The store also has furniture from legendary American brands like Baker Furniture, Hickory Chair, Thomas William and Lexington. Vasanthi Ram, CEO of Mon Chateau says, “The desire for luxury in bedrooms in India has increased by almost 65 to 70 per cent. Clients want luxury even in their guest rooms. When you can spend ₹70 lakh on a kitchen, why not on your bed where you get the biggest piece of luxury – peace.” “Safety is also luxury. Go back to nature. No chemicals in the bedroom. The furnishings should be in timeless natural fibres like cotton, silk yarn, horse hair, semal tree tuft and duck-feather to pashmina, yak and sheep wool,” adds Manjeet. Delhi-based designer Raseel Gujral, of artistic home label Casa Paradox, has recently designed a stunning four-poster bed bedecked with crystal, silver and engraved mirror for a client. The cut-crystal bed crafts both the French and Mughal influence in its design.