Since we recently splurged on a new mattress (which, btw, is one of the best purchases we have ever made, it's sooooo incredibly comfortable), we really needed to bite the bullet and also get a new bed frame. Our new mattress needs to "breathe", so slats were mandatory and my 15 year old frame from EQ3 just wasn't cutting it.

We wanted something low, not too heavy, and easy to transport down the line, since we are living on the third floor of a rental. Surprisingly, choices were pretty limited. Right off the bat, I knew I didn't want to do anything upholstered, so anything upholstered was out. Don't get me wrong - upholstered beds are beautiful, and many caught my eye, but anything that adds an extra bit of cleaning responsibility to my life, needs to get cut.

I found a few options that I really liked, the first being the American Modern Bed from DWR. I love it's simple and classic lines, it's canted headboard, and the fact that it's a formaldehyde-free product crafted out of FSC-certified solid maple. But coming in at $2,885 (US), and with a six week lead time, it was a bit much.

My next find was the Modernica Case Study V Leg Bed from The Modern Shop. It has a maple veneer finish, is handcrafted in California, and since each bed is engineered and built with six legs instead of the standard four, it's incredibly sturdy. At $2,199 the price was more affordable, and simply put, this frame is definitely not at risk for going out of style.

Another option that I considered was the Piers Wooden Bed, created by Urban Green Furniture in Brooklyn, which retails for a base $1349 (and also sold by Dwell Studio). It's classic and sophisticated, made of wood and veneers, and it features a surprisingly sustainable, non toxic and eco-friendly design. It also comes in 8 different finishes, so chances are it will match whatever interior you have designed.

Clearly by now you may have realized that I have a type, and I'm OK with that. While I liked all the beds above, I still wanted to find something a tad more streamlined, lighter and simple to set up. Enter the Min Bed from DWR.

I know - it's a metal bed, totally not what I thought that I would want, but it's so elegant and minimalist and perfectly suited to small spaces with it's barely visible design. Coming in at $985 (US), it's a smart choice for apartment living and I love it's sleek lines. Plus it was a snap to set up. Minus the fact that it was the hottest day on record and our A/C has been broken for a week and a half. I know we are going to love this bed for years to come, and when we finally get our own place and want to switch to a wood frame, it will have no problem finding a new home in a guest suite or a cottage. Oh and as an added bonus, it's curved design has ensured that our shins remain bruise free, which when you really think about it, is priceless.

I've always had a crush on Hästens mattresses. The checkered pattern, the luxurious natural fabrics and materials made of horse hair and carefully selected Swedish pine, the unbelievable craftsmanship, and of course, the promise of the ultimate sleep experience.

These mattresses are the stuff dreams are made of, literally, if you have a kidney to sell or a 5% down payment on a house in the GTA. If only I wasn't so squeamish about selling off that one kidney...but I am, and I would like to keep growing that down payment for a house that I still probably will not be able to afford in Toronto. And yet my husband and I desperately needed a new mattress - ours is uncomfortable, sad, and pathetic - and so the search began.

We looked (and by we I do mean me) for months online to find a natural, safe, non toxic mattress that wouldn't cost us and arm and a leg. This was a tough search. I read countless comments on websites, any reviews I could get my hands on, articles with any mentions, forums, you name it. So many companies make claims to being "natural", or "organic", and the reality is that most of these claims are well, kind of fake. So how do you wade through these murky waters to find a mattresses that will actually be good for you and your family? I wish I could give you the perfect answer, but until these companies are actually held liable like other industries for making specific claims, it's really up to you to do the most research that you can and go with what feels right at the end of the day.

What I can tell you is that I finally narrowed it down to three choices - Obasan, Essentia, and Dormio.

While they were all good contenders, in the end we ended up going with Dormio mattresses, and we settled on their Premium collection. I loved the addition of the cloud like wool pillow top that makes you feel like you are basically sleeping on a comfy duvet. Their beds are made of organic latex (don't confuse this with the disgusting memory foam you will find in other mattresses - organic latex comes from the rubber tree and it is 100% natural), organic wool, and organic cotton.

They have many different mattresses at many different price points - you just have to find the one that works for you. And while some might think our mattresses was a definite splurge, to us it's more of an investment in our health and our future. We sleep in our bed 8 hours a day (if we are lucky), and this mattresses will last us for a good 20 years. It's completely customizable, and we can actually make changes to it as we grow. It's like a living and breathing thing that will adapt to our lifestyle for many years to come.

Also, the service that we received at this store was exceptional. Never once did I feel pushed into making a purchase, and my husband and I spent almost two hours testing out and learning more about their products. All of these mattresses are Canadian made, and we even purchased two wool pillows (they also have alpaca, kapok, buckwheat, and latex as well), a wool duvet, and some organic sheets to complete our new mattress set. Everything is being delivered in a few weeks and we absolutely cannot wait.

And just so everyone knows, this is NOT a paid advertisement. I actually liked the company so much, that I asked if they had a referral system, and they offered any of my clients or readers an extra 10% off on all of their products. So go now, while they still have sales!