I had a Garder mattress that lasted me a long time. Made in New England and I liked the mattress. I would still own it but my wife, wanted a softer mattress. it did serve me well for ten years. It was built well and seemed to me like it would have lasted another ten years.

Gardner Mattress based in Salem, Massachusetts is a professional operation with great quality and service. My mattress came with a ten year warranty; I've had it for five years, and it feels like the day I bought it.

I agree, Gardner Mattress is Salem is a great spot. I ordered a queen mattress & box spring. When they came to deliver them, the box spring wouldn't fit up the stairs. They remade the box spring into a split box spring- basically two twins- at no charge.

Would love help with two questions:

Any recommendations for the Seattle area?

Are custom mattresses also required by Federal regulations to use flame retardant chemicals?

There is also the Charles Beckley Company in New York, which also makes traditional horsehair mattresses (I think they are the only ones left in the US), which will last forever (think 30 years as opposed to 10) and be considerably cheaper than other horsehair mattresses from Europe (VI-Spring, Savoir, Hastens).

http://www.chbeckley.com/

They also make other kinds of mattresses, all custom.

As for flame retardants... Wool is a natural flame retardant, and so if your mattress is made with wool, it does not need the chemical versions. You can also get a doctor's note I believe. (at least that is how it works in Canada). Best check with a custom mattress maker.

In Seattle, why not try McRoskey out of SF:

http://www.mcroskey.com/index.shtml

I don't know where the mattresses are manufactured, but Bob's Discount Furniture is a local chain based out of the CT area. At least that part of it is small and local, and the customer service was amazing when I bought my mattress there 5 1/2 years ago. Still just as comfy as it was then, and they even sent me free mattress covers for the first 2 years.

Sunrise mattress Ossipee, NH.

Fly by Night Futon will give you the best sleep of your life. I know they have spots in Northampton, Ma not too far away. I've been sleeping in their beds for years, and there's nothing like it!

Gosh, wish I still lived in Mass. Anybody know any mattress manufacturers in the Southeast? Especially any ones that do natural materials or basically anything that doesn't outgas allergenic organic volatiles? (my eonasophils and the aldehyde group have a hostile relationship)

Mystic Bedding in Medford is great -- I bought my mattress and box spring from them... wow, 11 years ago now (eesh!) and it's still sooo comfortable and looks like new!

http://www.mysticbedding.com/

There is also the Norwalk Mattress Company in Connecticut. A friend of mine who is an interior decorator recommends them to all of her clients.

http://www.norwalkmattress.com/

I got a great mattress in Portland Maine.

http://www.portlandmattressmakers.com/

I got a king size from them a year ago and the quality is fantastic.

Gardner Mattress is fantastic. My parents have been using them for 30 years. I purchased my first queen from them 3 years ago and it feels like new. They'll customize the mattress for you, cut a box spring for no extra charge.

We love our mattress from Portland Mattress Makers! It's a king sized.

It took me forever to decide on the mattress, but I finally got one from Natural Form, which makes their air mattresses in New York! I got the queen because did not want to buy another bedroom set. Let me tell you after sleeping on coils for 8 years, it is just heavenly to sleep on air mattress.

http://www.naturalform.com