Hi Lisa and Andrew.

Firstly regards your choice of base: I am of the mind that design and look of your bedroom should not be completely influenced by what is deemed 'right' for your mattress. I also have a sleigh bed frame used with a pocket sprung mattress.

The slats are sprung slats but they are cushioned with an old duvet to prevent them from digging into the underside of the mattress upholstery.

Ideally, I would have liked the slats to be rigid to give the mattress the even support I know would not be too detrimental to the mattress springs - But, the bed frame I liked only came with sprung slats.

Knowing that the sprung slats may have a tendency to create the humpback bridge effect to the mattress was a risk I was prepared to take (there is only anecdotal evidence that this may happen and usually on cheaper one-sided mattresses). I know the weight of my mattress fully compresses the slats so the likelihood of this happening is at best minimal.

As for your choice of mattress, I'm glad you concur about pillow tops, and for your budget, you really do have a considerable amount of choice of well-upholstered two-sided traditional built models. We would recommend looking at Our Artisan Naturals first.

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Taking into account the models you mention, it seems that you have been looking at mattresses that fit your budget and accepting that this is all you can expect to get.

Not necessarily so.

Try the other way around - Look for the mattress that you both fall in love with but falls WAY out of your budget.

The Vi-Spring Herald Superb, for example, is a model I think would be ideal for your bodyweights and requirements, has an RRP of £2520 (you can find this for considerably less) but compare that to our Artisan Naturals and you will see that the differences between these two models are arguably nominal.

There are only four main constituent components:

1. The Spring unit: Both Calico encased - Undeniably similar.
2. Insulating Layer: Herald Superb use 1000 GSM Bonded Wool and Cotton - We use 1500 GSM Mohair - We think our Mohair is a better insulating layer in quality of product and weight.
3. The core layer of the Herald Superb is 1200 GSM horsehair - our core layer is 1200 GSM Poly cotton (50% Polyester and 50% Cotton). Undeniably horsehair is a premium component.
4. Primary layer on Herald Superb is 1200 GSM Blended Wool and Cotton - We use 1200 GSM Blended Wool and Cotton.

Using this one example you are able to determine where to make your compromises.

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It would be an interesting argument for someone to come forward and say that the Herald Superb represents a better purchase pound for pound when compared to our Artisan Naturals when the only major difference is the 1200 GSM core layer.

You have £1000 to spend on a mattress!

Make absolutely sure you know where your money is going.

Although it is a considerable sum, it will not get you most manufacturer's mid to high ends using natural fibres as the main components.

Incidentally, your mention of the Harrisons Haven (various models) was quite amusing as a key component in these particular models is "Contura" a mix of memory foam, high-density foam and Latex.

Finally, a good tip is not to completely disregard high-end stores as a source for your mattress research.

John Lewis, Feather and Black, Barker and Stonehouse, Furniture Village etc, will put into perspective what your £1000 can realistically get you.

Once you know what is available from high-end manufacturers will give you a better view of what your dream mattress will consist of and then all you have to do is to find the equivalent.

John and Ryan.