Thomasville bed lets me sleep like Hemingway
David Perry, Executive editor -- Furniture Today, July 19, 2004
Being a man's man, like my literary hero Ernest Hemingway, I had to try out Thomasville's new Hemingway bed.
But first I had to admire the animal kingdom parading across the top of the mattress. The Belgian damask, by Bekaert, features a veritable African menagerie — giraffes, zebras, antelopes, cheetahs and elephants. The African bush also is prominent, with grass and trees set off by a setting sun.
The powerful African vista is a real eye-catcher. "I've never seen anything like this," admitted Don Robb, president of Chittenden & Eastman, which makes the line to designs and specifications set by Thomasville. He showed me the line at the Thomasville showroom in Thomasville, N.C.
Like any good journalist, I was immediately captivated by the bed that honors a journalist — the aforementioned Mr. Hemingway. He was a newspaper reporter before he went on to become a famous novelist. Sadly, I'm still stuck at the reporter level. Even worse, I can't write like Hemingway.
But, thanks to Thomasville, I can sleep like Hemingway. The Natural Contour bed, with Hemingway's name on the label, shows me the way.
I lay down on the foam-encased single-sided bed. I allowed myself to relax. The bed felt good and supportive. I was pleased. The light overhead was bright. I shut it out by closing me eyes tightly.
Then, after a few moments, I heard Hemingway's voice.
It sounded as if Papa was standing by my very side: "You look comfortable, my friend. Sleep the sleep of the just. Tomorrow we will go hunting and it will be good and we will kill many animals, and we will drink the fine wine and we will be happy, as only hunters can be."
Then I snapped out of my reverie. Alas, I had a column to write. I decided to let my hosts, Robb and Ryan Tessau, Thomasville's merchandise manager, give me a boost.
Since the Hemingway bed is available in both plush and firm versions, I wondered which type Hemingway would have preferred.
"I think he would have been a plush guy; he would have enjoyed the comfort of that model," Robb said. "He loved to stay at high-end hotels," added Tessau, who noted that those hotels had luxurious mattresses.
I was thinking the tough Hemingway would have favored a firm bed, but my hosts made good points. Even tough guys can like plush beds, I realized.
So I closed my notebook and took one final look at the Hemingway bed, which retails at about $1,599 in queen. It would have been nice to take a quick nap on that bed. Maybe next time.
My column is done. Thanks, Ernest, for the helping hand.
I owe you one.
