Did you know there’s a Bellingham business that sells its own line of custom-designed mattresses? If you’ve ever stayed a night at the Hotel Bellwether, it’s likely you’ve already slept on one!
Northwest Sleep Solutions is a local and family-run business that’s been open in Fairhaven for 17 years. Owners LeAnn and Scott Caseria are the Mom and Pop of the business, with each of their three sons having contributed over the years and each employee treated as part of the family.
Photograph by Kristen Boehm
It’s evident after just a few minutes of conversation that the Caserias know beds inside and out. Scott and LeAnn showed me around their store, encouraging me to try out the mattresses and telling me about each of their pros, cons, and how they were made.
“I started in the mattress business in Bellingham in January of ‘85.” says Scott. “I’ve run a lot of the big places in town, and just kind of wanted to do my own thing. … It was a bit of a risk doing this, but we wanted to truly be different.”
The differences at Northwest Sleep Solutions are possible thanks to Scott and LeAnn’s combined 50+ years of experience and relationships in the industry. They’re able to purchase stock for lower prices, and in turn sell for less than other stores in the area. They forgo sales in favor of having low, equitable prices year-round. They serve Whatcom, Skagit, and Island counties via their single delivery truck and crew (and they’re among the very few that will still haul your old bed away for free).
Photograph by Kristen Boehm
Every bed the Caserias carry is made in the United States, and is CertiPUR-US certified or made with all-natual materials. They work with a Seattle family-run company, 45th Street Bedding, to sell “the only 100% two-sided natural latex mattresses in the area.” 45th Street Bedding creates mattresses using latex sap from rubber trees.
“I’m a bit of a tree-hugger,” Scott says, explaining their eco-friendly focus. He also notes that some recent trends in bed-buying have large carbon footprints from worldwide shipping and low-quality materials that don’t stand the test of time. While ordering a mattress in a box might seem cheaper and easier, it doesn’t always pay off in the long run.
“It does make me feel good when a younger family comes in,” says LeAnn. “You know they’re making an investment, but quality is worth it.”
The Caserias’ hand-picked inventory of over 30 different mattresses includes beds by Tempur-Pedic, Simmons Beautyrest, and themselves! Their own line of mattresses began when Scott custom-designed a plush flippable bed for the Hotel Bellwether about 12 years ago. From there, the Caserias decided to take mattress matters into their own hands.
“Some of the beds that the industry makes, they kind of miss the mark on certain things. So that’s why we developed our own line … to fill the gaps in the lines that we have,” says Scott. Northwest Sleep Solutions’ line is able to tackle tricky combinations, like beds that are still supportive but have a softer feel, while maintaining “quality, affordability,” and “integrity.”
Photograph by Kristen Boehm
Although it wasn’t always available to the public, the Bellwether bed joined its Northwest Sleep siblings (the Matia, the Fairhaven, the Larrabee, and the Larrabee Firm) on the sales floor about a year ago, so you can now purchase this hotel-quality bed for your very own home! While you’re in the store, don’t forget to take a look at the natural-fiber linens, plush mattress toppers, 20-or-so different types of pillows, and other home goods that LeAnn curates, many of which are made by friends or other local businesses. They take pride in providing most everything you might need for restful, healthy sleep for years to come.
“We’ve done this a long time, and we actually like doing it,” Scotts says. “That makes a difference.”
1440 10th St., Ste. 103, Bellingham, 360.734.6977, nwsleepsolutions.com
