A Bed of Roses

Harbor Springs Mattress Co. is building beds to last a lifetime

By Al Parker | Dec. 10, 2022

Nothing says “treat yourself” like a good night’s sleep. And Harbor Springs Mattress Company is in the business of making sure you’re sleeping on the best of the best.

After serving in the military, owner Rory Karpathian was considering college when a Veterans Administration advisor tipped him off about a night job at a company that made bedding.

On such a simple suggestion, a life was changed and a career began.

“I was a production manager working for the largest mattress factories in the county,” says Karpathian, who grew up in the tiny Detroit suburb of Melvindale. “I traveled to different factories for months, even years at a time to improve factory operations. I loved it. I loved being on the floor with workers, trouble-shooting production, machines, and making improvements. Then everything changed.”

He saw the bedding industry making major adjustments, with investment groups buying out mattress makers.

“They would churn out chemical-laden, poorly-made, foam-based mattresses,” he explains. “Mattresses that used to last for decades now, intentionally, fell apart after a few years. Springs were removed from box springs and mattresses became one-sided. Cutting corners, gimmicks and crazy markups became the norm. I had to walk away.”

Quality Over Quantity

In 2004, after almost three decades learning everything there was to know about making mattresses and bedding, Karpathian launched his own company—the Harbor Springs Mattress Company.

“The first thing I did was bring back old-world craftsmanship when beds used to last a person’s whole life,” he says. “I choose to bring back the lost art of hand-tufting because it creates the most comfort and is by far the most durable method. Using natural fibers and made-in-Michigan products is something we do because it is healthier, sustainable, and the fibers are stronger than synthetic.”

Harbor Springs Mattress Company is truly a family operation, with Karpathian’s wife, Dar Charlebois, serving as vice president and his son, Armen, as production manager. Their team includes about a dozen craftsmen who build and deliver the mattresses, plus a sales staff of four.

The business offers an impressive line of quality mattresses, but there’s no warehouse full of units waiting for a buyer to stop by. Each mattress begins when the client chooses the exact model they want.

“There aren’t many places where you can stop, meet, and talk to the craftsmen who actually make your bed,” says Charlebois. “We’re truly an old-fashioned mom-and-pop shop. Nothing is mass produced.”

From order to delivery, the process routinely takes five to six weeks. But they also offer an expedited program and can deliver a rush order within a week, explains Charlebois.

Each mattress is hand-crafted from layers of pure cotton, all-natural latex, and Michigan wool from the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill. “We receive our wool after you order your bed, so it is spun fresh,” explains Charlebois. “We often tell customers the wool in their bed is from sheep who are still happily grazing on a Michigan farm.”

Trained craftsmen hand-tuft each mattress to elevate the comfort level. “We know it’s unusual, but we really want you to love our bed for the rest of your life,” says Karpathian. “This guides everything we do. We are proud to be one of the few companies left in America who still hand-tuft.”

Materials Matter

The Bed of Roses model is their signature mattress and is constructed with 11 layers of pure cotton, natural latex, and wool. Here’s how it stacks up:

4 lbs of temperature regulating all-natural wool; 1 inch of natural latex layer; 1 inch of cotton comfort layer; 1 inch of natural latex layer; 1 inch of cotton comfort layer; hand-tufted, compressed 13.5 gauge inner springs; 1 inch breathable cotton comfort layer; 1 inch natural latex layer; 1 inch cotton comfort layer; 1 inch natural latex layer; 4 lbs of temperature regulating all-natural wool; and topped with a quilted Bed of Roses fabric with a vintage pattern and luxurious feel.

“Trusted by thousands of families in Michigan, The Bed of Roses is our well-loved, inner spring signature,” says Charlebois. “It knows just where to support you.”

The rest of the product line includes:

The Trillium: Their newest line with three levels of support, this mattress has an artisan hand-tufted top and 13 layers of fine natural fibers and organic cotton ticking. It’s 13 inches deep and topped by a removable mini-mattress that is another 2.5 inches deep.

Harbor Light: This the height of luxury and very similar to the Bed of Roses with a few extras. In fact, it features more than 20 pounds of wool in four generous layers. Overall, the mattress is 15 inches of comfort. “This luxury mattress will quickly become your haven,” says Charlebois. “It’s like a friend you can always count on.”

The Cozy: Their softest sleep on natural latex, this one is topped with wool from the Frankenmuth Wool Mill. This model has no inner springs and is made with a deep supportive latex core for added comfort. It stands 12 inches high and comes with a 10-year warranty.

The Moonbeam: “It’s the finest luxury economy mattress you will find,” says Charlebois. It features 9 inches of affordable, hand-tufted comfort and comes with a 25-year warranty.

Prices range from $1,660 for a queen-sized Moonbeam to $6,190 for a Bed of Roses.

In addition to their production site and showroom at 8643 M-119 in Harbor Springs, they have outlets at 415 S. Union Street in Traverse City and in Rochester. Learn more at harborspringsmattress.com or call (231) 347-0696.

Sleep Like a Queen on a Queen

A perfect pairing with a Harbor Springs Mattress Co. is elegant sheets and pillowcases from another Harbor Springs shop, Gattle’s. The two are less than a 10-minute drive apart, making it easy to create your perfect nighttime retreat in the course of an afternoon.

Since 1904 Gattle’s has been providing fine linens assembled from quality products from across the world. In fact, while visiting the U.S., Queen Elizabeth and Pope John slept on the shop’s regal sheets. With shops in downtown Harbor Springs and Naples, Florida, the quality blankets, robes, comforters, and sleepwear from Gattle’s are enjoyed daily by northern Michigan residents.

They also offer an impressive array of bath rugs, plush towels, soaps, and body products, and their extensive candle lines make wonderful gifts that will please any recipient. Online selections make it easy for customers everywhere to bring home the intricate detail and refined comfort of their items. Visit gattles.com, call (231) 242-4377, or stop in at 236 E Main St. in Harbor Springs.