This black material looks kind on pourous, non? I think the designer had in mind the humidity-matress situation. I've been sleeping for years on boards -no slates. My mattresses - i changed the first one after seven years- never had a problem with moisture or smelling - even after a big mug of coffee spilled. I keep tourning it few times a year and vacuum etc as usual. So, the slates: you can do without them.

I've never heard of slats being used for support to let a mattress "breathe." Aren't slats for structural support?

I would think that the designer knows what he's doing and wouldn't use something that would interfere with your mattress. Do they recommend using a specific kind of mattress with the bed?

Considering there is a box spring under my mattress that probably doesn't really let my mattress breathe - I'd say, no. Go with what the bed came with. And ditto to HHRI - I'd imagine the maker knows what he is doing.

Slats usually have more give than a solid, flat surface. But if you don't need the give, then who cares!

Well, no, I had a foam mattress once that we used on a plywood platform base and it eventually got mildewed on the underside. But we lived in an area with very humid summers and we didn't have A/C, so that may have had a lot to do with it.

We have this and the black material is indeed porous. We've had a Simmons NXG sitting right on the platform without a "foundation" for several years now, without any issues. Bonus: we recently had to move quite a distance and the frame broke down easily, went back together easily, and held up very well.

First off, kudos on your good taste, Elan. The Mies is a nice looking frame.

As for the slats, they generally allow for better air circulation than a solid resting surface. But whether or not that can cause a problem for you largely depends on the kind of mattress you use, since some allow for better surface evaporation than others. Consider this: We lose a pint of moisture every night; 2/3 of it evaporates through our breath, the rest by sweating. In extreme cases the sweaty third can cause (and has caused!) unhealthy black mold in the sleep environment. So if you use a frame with a solid base, it might be a good idea to pick a highly air-permeable mattress to top your new bed frame.

The other side of the coin is the following: The sweat and dandruff we leave behind when we get up is the best food source for dust mites and other pests. A well-vented mattress offers better surface evaporation which will help keep the mattress cleaner.

Lastly, since it all boils down to keeping your mattress clean, you can help the process by picking a mattress with covers that can be zipped off and machine-washed which, in turn, will help keep your bed pristine for years to come.

We have created a mattress that considers all of those things when we designed the Somnium (www.somniumbeds.com). We even went a step further and gave it precise 90 degree corners to complement the modern, minimalist look of frames like the Mies.

Don't forget that a big purpose of box springs or slats is to absorb shock to prolong the life of the mattress. If this surface doesn't have some springiness, your mattress itself will take the brunt of the weight on it and become compressed faster.

Thanks Kalli,
So, overall, any complaints/issues regarding the Mies bed? Is the bed sturdy/high-quality?

Related question - I have an full size antique metal bed frame and currently have a box-spring and mattress which makes the bed is SUPER high. The box-spring is sitting on a metal lip formed by the side rails with the mattress on top - there is no middle support bar or beam.
Can I get full sized slats to replace the box-spring? Can I put the mattress just on the frame? I am aware of "low profile" box-springs, but am turned off by the expense.

Haha so is it bad that my mattress is on the ground? My boyfriend is a very sweaty fellow, especially when sleeping.

I have the Cottage Iron Bed and the Lloyd Daybed from Charles Rogers - I have been very impressed with the quality and the customer service. They often have good sales and free delivery - I was able to get the sale price but have it delivered months later (after a move). The salespeople are very helpful.

The daybed has the upholstered platform and after a year, I haven't noticed any issues. It's softer (the mattress is the Chelsea) that the traditional box spring set we have on the regular bed, but quite comfortable to sleep on.

You might want to consider a "platform" mattress that is specifically made to go without a box spring.

As long as air gets to the bottom of the mattress you should be good.
Check out what happens to a futon when you don't air it everyday.

http://www.wideislandview.com/2010/03/dont-let-this-happen-to-you-taking-care-of-futons-and-tatami/

Archidelia, that is the exact situation I have. I have an antique wrought iron full size bed but today's full size mattresses are about an inch too wide and too long so rather than the box springs sitting on the slats, it is balanced on the edge of the rails (with the slats not really doing much underneath), already making it a few inches too high, plus the height of the mattress... I can't remove thw box springs because then the edge of the rails would eventually damage the mattress. I just make do with my ridiculously tall bed.

I don't know what you need- I tend to agree that the manufacturer would put the correct base on the bed. I have an organic natural rubber mattress, and it rests directly on slats. I was told that it's for "breathing" and not getting too hot. Anyway, I have been very comfortable and the mattress is holding up well. I agree that your base looks porous, it should do the trick.

You'd be surprised how many makers of bed frames don't give mattresses all that much thought. Even the displays in furniture stores are typically set up to showcase the design of the bed frame -- not to address sleep comfort or nocturnal health. It's an unfortunate disconnect between two industries.

But there are options out there that address many of the issues you all are bringing up: There are choices for overall thinner mattresses (ours have a profile of just under 8", for example) and some can be used used with or without a foundation. It's all in the design; and we designed ours to even work straight on the floor without jeopardizing functionality.

In the end, you just have to realize that the search for the perfect bed usually doesn't hinge on the frame alone.

Archidelia - full size mattresses usually don't require a center support. You should be able to bridge the 53" side-to-side span in your frame with replacement slats. As long as you have a mattress that doesn't require the springs in the box springs - some do, some don't - changing the height should be pretty easy. I am happy to help you figure this out if you have more questions.

This company has been making beds for 150+ years. I suspect they know what they're doing.

And anyone who slept on an old fashioned platform bed slept on a solid surface. Not a prolem.

Archdelia and confounded, I had a bed just like what you describe. I'm pretty sure the slats from Ikea would have worked fine -- but we didn't have Ikea back then and I had to wing it at the hardware store. I bought 1x4 lumber and had it cut to the width of the bed. Had two pieces cut to the length. Laid them out on the floor the way I wanted the slats to be in the bed and screwed the "length" pieces on top of the "width pieces." Then I flipped it over and put this platform into the bed rails. That way I was able to use a futon in my antique bedframe. Later I replaced it with a regular mattress. Worked fine both ways.

Yes, I think so. We've loved it. From what I remember they also provide excellent customer service and sent us a few wood samples. We went with a color other than the one we thought we'd go with when looking on-line.

We have a king-size and there's a foot in the middle for support that you don't see at all.

One tiny little quibble: We have a ton of white at our place and white bedding and with our mattress we can see a tiny bit of black from the deck all the way around. But I tuck the giant white comforter in and so don't notice it. If you use a light-colored duvet the size of your mattress, you might see it.