A Swede night’s sleep at Hästens

Leave it to the Swedes to help us busy Americans sleep better.

This month, a 150-year-old bed company finally made its way to Orange County and has opened up shop at Fashion Island’s Atrium court.

The beds are being marketed as the best-made beds in the U.S. ? and some of the most expensive. The cheapest bed at Hästens starts at about $3,500 and shoots way up from there, but Hästens employees swear by their product, arguing it’s difficult to put a price on a good night’s sleep.

“When people come in our store, it’s really more like an education because they don’t realize all the health benefits of our beds,” store manager Gina Vandyke said. “These are hypoallergenic products. We don’t even have a flame retardant on the mattresses because they are virtually chemical free.”

The high-end bed industry is a growing business, as more consumers become sensitive to persistent allergy problems and back issues.

Hästens beds are made of natural materials such as cotton, flax and wool ? all of which combine to have a “breathing” effect as one moves around in bed, helping to alleviate perspiration. The beds also incorporate horsehair, which acts like a tube that absorbs and removes moisture, while emitting fresh, recycled air. All Hästens beds are made by machines and are certified environmentally safe products by Oeko Tex 100, a European firm that sets standards for sustainability.

Hästens officials are banking on a series of recent reports linking a number of health problems to bad sleeping habits. Chronic pain, fatigue, stress and anxiety are often tied to bad sleeping habits and insomnia. Hästens officials said their beds provide stable, comfortable support that comes with a 25-year warranty, although Vandyke insists the beds often last much longer.

“There are 1,000 beds in Sweden still in use that are over 50 years old,” she said. “They’re also the official beds of the Swedish royal court.”

A visit to the store is like a slumber education experience ? customers are shown different mattress, taught about the composite materials and manufacturing processes, then invited to lay down and try out the bed.

“A lot of people tell me, ‘I could fall asleep right here,’” Vandyke joked.

After receiving the full tour, customers are shown the Vividus, the Cadillac of all beds. Each bed takes 140 to 160 man hours to create, and develops into a form-fitting sensation around the body, allowing the user to sink into the mattress and find their comfort zone.

For more information about Hästens Beds, visit www.hastens.com.dpt.19-bizspot-C.1PhotoInfo6F1S45EV20060619j0d6kuncKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)From left, Walter Marks III, Gina Vandyke and Evan Cole open the new Hästens bed store at Fashion Island. Beds at the high-end retailer begin at about $3,500.