Hometown Tourist: Harbor Springs Mattress Co.

You’ll often hear people talk about their products and say they’re fantastic due to innovation, but what about taking things back to being done old school?

We found a unique place to visit in Harbor Springs where the owner and his team make mattresses the old school style, in a way that seems to be a lost art.

David Lyden and Erin Malone take you to for this week’s Hometown Tourist.

Rory Karpathian is your go-to guy for the art of mattress making.

“I’ve been doing this for over 30 years. I used to run the major companies out there, major bedding companies. It’s hard to believe it’s been 16 years now I decided to start my own thing,” explained Rory.

So, he decided to go back to the traditional way.

You start with an inner spring. Cut and sew fabric, add U.S. cottons, wool from Michigan and rubbers for lots of layering and comfort on both sides, and hand tuft, which is a unique method he says no one else is using anymore that Rory had this setup custom built to do.

Rory says those natural fibers, like the wool, help to regulate your temperature in a way the synthetics don’t do for comfort and better sleep.

“It’s a lost art, but it’s so crucial to the longevity of a mattress and the comfort,” said Rory.

They then sew on the beautiful covers and you have your hand-crafted place to rest your head! They also make box springs, too!

It’s all a fascinating process to watch and at the end of the day there’s four amazing options to choose from in comfort level and price with the bed of roses being Rory’s pride and joy.

“When people come in, it’s just that friendship that you create, and we want them to take their time,” said Rory.

The love for what is done here is tangible. Rory loves working with people and their individual needs, like osteoporosis or custom beds, and of course getting back to the art and old school natural way of doing things is a true joy too.