Bed Update...continued!

A year ago we bought 3 beds for our master bedroom, a guest room and my mom. They felt firm enough at the military BX furniture store but once they were delivered, they didn't feel the same. There was no "comfort guarantee" so we were stuck with the beds. We ended up giving one away because it was just too soft for me since I'm a stomach sleeper. My mom didn't like hers either so we switched her bed with an older but firmer mattress that she preferred.

Since that time I feel like we've tried dozens of mattresses at different stores afraid to make the final decision. After much thought we finally settled on a latex bed which is supposed to spring back much more quickly than memory foam... or so we thought.

At America's Mattress, Chris, one of the owners happened to be on hand to help us at his store. He said he had the Serta Vera Wang Tranquility mattress at his home and he thought it was great. It did seem firm at the store although it had some softness which Chris said we would like.

It was delivered in a week. After the first couple of nights, I was noticing a depression in the mattress and couldn't understand why since the latex was supposed to spring back! Art said he thought it was fine.

I e-mailed Chris and he talked to the Serta people who said there would be a tiny depression which is normal because: "the latex will not get body impressions, however, the Tranquility has convuluted foam and Body Loft foam in the quilt which give it some softness. Slight body impressions are normal and supposed to occur as the material mold to your body's impressions."


Later I was noticing more of a depression which gave me the feeling that I was rolling off the peak in the middle of the bed.

I e-mailed Chris and he said I should try rotating the bed. That's when I noticed that the side Art had been sleeping on did not have as big a depression as my side. He is heavier than I am so how could that be?

I e-mailed Chris yet again and he came to our home with the Serta sales manager. I'm just thrilled that he stands behind the products that he sells.

They confirmed the depression in the bed. Chris actually got on the bed and said he definitely could feel what we were talking about. I'm just relieved I wasn't crazy after all about having that sinking feeling at night.

They told us to come back to the store and decide which firmer mattress we would like. Then they would swap out our defective mattress. They also said they would keep trying until I was satisfied.

I really think that's great.

This is certainly a decision we'll keep sleeping on.

Craigslist Buy in Makiki: Night stands, Foot and Bed Updates

I've been looking for a pair of night stands for the Guest room/Art's office for the longest time. The biggest problem was the bed's super height. When we were sleeping on it I felt like I could touch the ceiling. OK... I'm exaggerating. Anyway, it was very difficult to find night stands that would be tall enough.


And then... Hurrah! This pair came up yesterday, just in time for all our guests who will be arriving next week. The height was just right and I got them both for $130. Incredibly, the person who was selling them turned out to be a relative of a good friend of ours. Hawaii is like that. That was quite a surprise.


There were some scuff and paint marks on them and the legs were wobbly. A screw driver tightened the legs up perfectly and my fingernail managed to scrape off the paint. That was a surprise. Now they look almost brand new. Not exactly in our style but it matched our older looking furniture.

Bring on the guests!

Foot Update: I went to see the new orthopedic doctor today and Dr. Quinn said my foot is almost completely healed but it will be another two months for it to be truly like new because there is actually little blood supply going to that part of my foot. Art liked Dr. Quinn the best because he noticed that this doctor actually asked me to remove my shoe to look at and manipulate my foot instead of just studying the X-ray. I don't have to wear my cast anymore but he wants me to get new gym shoes.

Bed Update: I e-mailed Chris, the owner of America's Mattress who sold us our bed and told him my concerns. He wrote back right away, "Kay, the latex will not get body impressions, however, the Tranquility has convuluted foam and Body Loft foam in the quilt which give it some softness. Slight body impressions are normal and supposed to occur as the material mold to your body's impressions."

Chris also said he was going home and sleeping on his Tranquility mattress and would take notice of what kind of body impressions he can see. I do have to say I've been sleeping through the night without getting up (except last night) and the bed is comfortable. I just have to find a good pillow. Art says he's fine with anything and that he can sleep on the wood floor just fine, too. He can be so aggravating.