Company offers innovations with adjustable foam beds
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, April 7, 2008
New York — Innovative foam systems meet sophisticated German engineering in new specialty sleep sets offered by Sleep Studio, say founders of the supplier.
Foam bedding veterans Michael Rothbard and Chris Ann Ernst have joined forces again to head Sleep Studio. They worked for Comfort Sleeper, a supplier of specialty foam sleep products, in the 1980s and 1990s.
Rothbard and Ernst founded Sleep Studio two years ago. This January, it showed at the Las Vegas Market for the first time.
"We've developed something that looks different," Rothbard said. "I was nervous about how the market would react to something new. The reaction has been very positive."
The flagship product is the Somaflex bed, which the company says offers the pressure relief of memory foam and the support of latex, with ventilating air channels that penetrate through the entire mattress to help maintain a comfortable sleeping surface.
"The unique Somaflex design allows adjustable firmness and resiliency to match individual tastes," Rothbard said, "so it's actually several beds in one." Retails range from $3,975 for the VX line to $11,950 for the Signature Collection.
Another unique feature of the line is the foundation, a German engineered point-and-spring support system with four zones of support. Floating pods in the system independently support each part of the body.
The foundation can be used to make each side of the bed firmer or softer. It comes with upholstered side panels and legs that screw into the foundation so that the bed can stand alone or drop into existing furniture. The foundation is new to the U.S. market, according to the company.
Sleep Studio offers a green story, using sustainable, renewable resources including bamboo, cotton, linen, cashmere and eco-friendly cushioning.
Its Somaflex conforming material is the first visco-elastic material to use natural, renewable resources, the company says. It outperforms other visco foams by conforming faster, dissipating heat faster, reducing odors and reducing the impact on the environment, according to the company.
Sleep Studio also offers certified organic latex, as well as "Somaflex resilient material," which has the resilient feel of latex while using natural, renewable resources, the company said.
"We believe strongly in developing environmentally responsible products," Ernst said. "That is why we have developed our eco-friendly cushioning material and use natural fiber materials to cover our beds. We don't expect customers to buy our beds simply because they are green, but we want them to feel good about their decision to buy from us."
Sleep Studio is based at 295 Fifth Ave., Suite 1008, New York, N.Y.
