A more natural sleep
David Henderson’s passion for a good night’s sleep is contagious.
From his Christchurch work and showrooms, he shares with Avenues the secrets of his Dreamwool Beds, a business that has been in the family since 1974 – with its beginnings in 1934.
Dreamwool mattresses comprise two types. The craftspeople create top-of-the-line luxury latex and pocket spring mattresses, which offer maximum breathability and climate control without compromising on comfort. The materials used are of the highest quality and natural. Both beds will guarantee you a restful sleep, but the truly special element in them is the 100 per cent merino wool sourced sustainably from South Island farms.
In 1978, Edgar Henderson, David’s father, was an ex-farmer with a bad back. Recalling old-fashioned black wool singlets worn by the shearers and how they regulated their body temperature was the inspiration for his invention of the first woollen under quilt.
“With that, we were always known for the quality of our product. That’s stuck with us.”
Each Dreamwool mattress is crafted to mimic the wool’s natural state as it is on the sheep. The needled layer of merino wool is softer on the top, and as you go deeper, its density increases. That, combined with the natural latex or European-style springs, has David comparing it to a chocolate brownie rather than a sponge cake.
“A brownie is dense. The mattress may look thinner, but you get far more in it.”
David says natural fibres have a calming and cooling effect.
“They draw away excess body heat before it turns into perspiration. This creates the perfect microclimate in the bed.”
Every Dreamwool luxury bed is made to order, and fewer than 500 handcrafted merino wool mattresses are made each year.
David says they’re made to the highest quality.
“Yes, you might be paying a little bit more, but beds are like shoes. If you’re not in one, you’re in the other. It’s important that you’re comfortable – life’s too short for a bad sleep.”