East Meets West — Get the Best of Both Worlds

“My arm for a pillow,

    I really like myself,

    Under the hazy moon. "

                           ~ Yosa Buson

Remember the futons you had when you were younger? For the boomer generation, it would be the futon you had in your apartment or dorm room, that you enjoyed while listening to the Allman Brother, Jethro Tull or Pink Floyd.

For Generation X it would be the Futon that you enjoyed while grooving on the Cars or Billy Idol. For younger generations, the futon would be the same and the music background would be… Well, you get the point.

These futons were great introductory sleeping mattresses and were firm, not very expensive and easy to move around from location to location. These futons similar to traditional Japanese Style Sleep Mats or Shiki Mats and were usually composed of 2-4 inches of cotton and that was all. Very, very firm!

As we grow in years, many people still like the firm sleep, and simple design of the traditional futon they had when much younger, but need a more comfortable, and supportive sleeping surface.

This is the basic idea behind the Eco-Rest Hybrid Futon from Haiku Designs. We call it a Hybrid because we have combined the best of both worlds, the firmness of the futon with the comfort and orthopedic support of a more Western-style mattress. This Hybrid effect makes all the difference and creates a sleep surface that is in short… amazingly comfortable.

We do this by starting with an Eco-Friendly core of Botanical all-natural latex. This can be from 2-6 inches depending on the size of the futon. The latex offers a wonderful slight give to the futon and also lessens the cupping or indention effect that happens with more traditional futons.

We then surround this Latex Core with Organic Cotton, All-Natural Wool, and an Organic Cotton heavy tufted cover. This all-natural product provides not only a healthy, chemical-free sleep it also provides a firm style of a futon with the luxurious comfort of latex.

The Best of Both Worlds, where East meets West.

The Eco-Rest Hybrid Futon from Haiku designs is an all-natural, Eco-friendly futon available in a number of different sizes and comfort levels.

Lay back and enjoy. You can almost hear the sounds of… (Fill in your favorite band).

Source URL: https://www.haikudesigns.com/blog/east-meets-west-hybrid-futons.htm

THE NIDRA ALL-NATURAL INNER COIL MATTRESS

“Taking a nap,

    Feet planted

    Against a cool wall. "

                           ~ Bashō Matsuo

One translation of the Sanskrit word Nirda is the Goddess of Sleep. Another meaning is geared more towards a meaning of Deep Sleep or meditative sleep or what has sometimes been referred to as “Yogic Sleep” or “Physic Sleep” referring to that space of deep relaxation between wakefulness and sleep. With an estimate of almost 1/3 of the American population suffering from sleep problems and sleep issues, it is clear that anything that can help give a better nights sleep is a big plus. 

At any rate, Deep sleep or Nidra sleep is something that most of us can use, and a deep and restful good nights sleep supports an ever-expanding list of health benefits ranging from a better immune response, fewer allergies, better brain health, less stress to the nervous system, and more and more.

Our Nidra All Natural Sleep mattress is a great investment and a good place to start in building and creating a better night rest for oneself.

The All-natural components mean no toxic chemical compounds, styrene, or flame retardant chemicals. This cuts down and eliminates the off-gassing of chemicals into the sleeping environment.

The use of all Natural Cotton, Stitched cover and a 100% wool liner instead further reduces exposure to chemical fibers. The Natural wool liner serves as a flame retardant as well as wicking moisture away from the body, cutting down on night sweats, cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.

The nested Inner Coils, encased in a sustainably produced sugar cane based fabric, provide a firm mattress base and maximum orthopedic support. The All-Natural Latex 3” inch layer provides a comfortable and pillow top feel to the mattress and Latex is far superior foam based on the Sap of the Asian rubber tree. Latex provides a luxurious feel to the mattress and also is naturally mold, allergen, and dust mite resistant, furthering the overall effect of the mattress and providing a deep and restful good nights sleep.

Try out our Goddess of Sleep…. And get off the list of the 40 million Americans with sleep issues, and get a better night sleep naturally.

Dine like you're in nature with the Mokuzai Live Edge Dining Table

BE ONE WITH NATURE WITH OUR GEORGE NAKASHIMA INSPIRED DINING TABLE

 "The old pond

    A frog leaps in.

    Splash!   "

                           ~ Bashō Matsuo

Inspired by the creations of Japanese-American George Nakashima, the father of the American craft movement which ushered in working with traditional craft materials such as woods, glass, and or metals in the early 20th century.    In accordance with this tradition, we are proud to showcase the Nakashima-inspired Mokuzai (木材) Live Edge Dining room table.

Designed off of George's popular Live Edge or natural edge dining room tables, we utilize solid Acacia wood while maintaining the natural edge of the wood on the outer sides of the table.  While the table's live edge is sanded and smoothed over so your family won't catch any splinters, it stays true to the 'eating in nature' feel by keeping as much of the tree's texture as possible.

Now in the 21st century if you wanted to own a George Nakashima original you'd need to fork out 5+ figures, but with our affordable Mokuzai Dining Table you get this traditional (yet still modern) style in your dining room without breaking the bank! 

Available as a complete dining set with 4 different modern chair styles, you can customize your Mokuzai experience however you like.  We recommend the Long Island Metal Chairs, built from steel to complete a retro yet feel in your dining space.

Did we mention this beauty is completely Eco-Friendly?  Well, yes it's good for mother earth too!  The Mokuzai's Solid Acacia Wood is constructed from Acacia trees, a fast-growing and highly adaptable tree making it one of the most eco-friendly solid woods available.

WHY WAIT?  SHOW OFF THIS EXQUISITE NATURAL TABLE IN YOUR HOME!

Unless you're looking for something a little bit different- in which case see some more of our natural & eco-friendly dining room sets!

Source URL: https://www.haikudesigns.com/blog/mokuzai-blog.htm

Show your 💖 with these LOVE inspirited items from Haiku!

GIVE THE GIFT OF TRUE LOVE THIS VALENTINE'S DAY!

 " Dawn gifts a soft touch
    An invitation to love
    Sweetest surrender "

                           ~ Mia Rose

Here at Haiku Designs we make it our policy to celebrate one of the greatest of all experiences anyone can have- LOVE!  We love our puppies, our significant others, ourselves, each other, and most notably our beautiful planet that makes it all possible...  

In keeping to this commitment to celebrating all of the things we care so much for we'd like to show off some of our amazing LOVE themed items.  These products are carefully sourced, made with love, and represent a great fondness for mother earth that we all share! 

LOVE (THE MUSIC OF THE HEART) - CALLIGRAPHY PRINT

An open heart sings a wondrous melody, bringing great blessings to whomever may hear it.

Display your love to the world with our Seeds of Wisdom LOVE calligraphy print.  Love truly is the music of the heart.

See the Love Calligraphy Print here

LOVE THROW BLANKET

Perfect for a cozy cuddle in front of a fire or for warming comfort on a chilly afternoon, our soft and luxurious throw features the Chinese Kanji character representing "Love" woven into 100% natural, unbleached cotton. Cream calligraphy on black background reverses to black symbol on cream background.

Generously cut with room enough for two. Give the Gift of Love. Free UPS shipping for any love throw shipped within the continental United States.

See the Love Throw Blanket here

ORGANIC COTTON, WOOL, & BOTANICAL LATEX PILLOWS

Many people sleep on pillows manufactured from petrochemical foams, synthetic fillers and poly fiber covers these days.  There have been many recent reports that these materials off-gas toxic fumes directly into the sleeping environment.  Show your LOVE by giving the gift of a safer sleeping environment!

See our Organic, Latex, & Wool pillows here

THE LOVE REMEDY FENG SHUI CALLIGRAPHY PRINT

Improve the loving energy flow of your most treasured space with the Love Remedy print.  The love symbol is balanced by a pair of cranes representing harmony, this print makes a beautiful compliment to nearly any room.  In Feng Shui to improve the chi of your space the color red should be placed in the Love and Relationship corner and should ideally be balanced with a pair of equal objects.

See the Love Remedy feng shui print here

Source URL: https://www.haikudesigns.com/blog/show-your-love-this-valentines.htm

Step into the Zen Modern Lifestyle

WELCOME TO THE ZEN MODERN LIFESTYLE

 "  Sleep on horseback,

    The far moon in a continuing dream,

    Steam of roasting tea.  "

                           ~ Bashō Matsuo

Haiku Designs Furniture and Mattress wants to formally welcome you to the Zen Modern movement. We are one of a growing number of purveyors of this new and exciting way of living that combines elements and themes from the ancient schools of Zen but that has been updated, and blended with values, ideas and design themes suited and matched for contemporary interests and that is and is of course…decidedly modern.

What is Zen Modern?

 Harmony with the Environment

For starters Zen Modern is based on the Zen Idea of being in harmony with the environment.   That means making choices in one’s personal lifestyle to choose more Eco-friendly products whether it is Eco-friendly Furniture including Dining and Bedroom Furniture or whether it is choices made on what ones eats and the clothing one wears.  The idea is lessen our negative impact on the planet and doing what we can do to live in more sustainable, and balanced manner.

 The Beauty of Less-

Another Aspect of the Zen Modern style is based on the theme found in Japanese furniture designs but in also the schools of Danish and Mid Century Modern interior design, of the beauty of Less.  This means simplifying and de-cluttering one’s life and also choosing furniture, art, decoration where one or two outstanding pieces set a tone for a room or an environment. 

 Simple Luxury

While acknowledging the beauty and value of many of the principals of harmony and simplicity, the Zen Modern Lifestyle is firmly rooted in the 21st century.  It is about enjoying and having it all.   This is not a monk’s style of living or chosen poverty of renunciation. It is about living a life of fullness, balance and comfortable luxury that supports one’s lifestyle while at the same time supporting the planet. Nothing wrong with 21st tech… as you sip your Organic Green Tea, or Single source coffee, on your beautiful Eco-friendly Natural latex mattress while you browse the internet or enjoy the latest Netflix series installment.

LIVING WELL IN THE 21ST CENTURY. WE CALL IT THE ZEN MODERN LIFESTYLE.

Haiku Designs offers a unique selection of modern furniture, organic bedding, and lifestyle products from designers in Italy, Asia, and the United States, based on the themes of simplicity, harmony, balance and beauty.

Source URL: https://www.haikudesigns.com/blog/step-into-zen-modern.htm

Float on a Floor of Tatami Mats

“All the day long-

  Yet not long enough for the skylark,

  Singing, singing.  "

                           ~ Bashō Matsuo

As opposed to having a cheap, unnatural particle board core, faithful Tatami mats have a rice straw interior and a rush grass exterior, forming a true and traditional marriage in the Japanese spirit. It takes more time to manufacture a mat layered with straw that comes from rice, but the end result is more durable over the course of time.   

In addition to these assets, Tatami mats are also warm to the touch of bare feet, and although they’re firm, they’re not too hard, which makes them akin to a sprung-wood dance-floor, providing flexible support to the spinal column as well as every joint in the body. Mats made with these natural materials also have the added benefit of not producing any toxic off-gassing like carpets made from chemicals and synthetic fibers, which can off-gas for a long period of time, causing allergic reactions and negative medical conditions for many people, especially those individuals with keen sensitivities, such as vulnerable children and elderly adults.

TATAMI MATS ARE THE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE FLOOR/SLEEPING/EVERYTHING MAT

Haiku Designs is very selective about the Tatami Mats they offer, and the ones they emphasize are referred to as “Kaiteki” mats, which are both strong and pleasing to the eyes. This type of mat is ideal for foyers, dining-rooms, yoga studios, game-rooms, or any room/space that gets heavy traffic. Translated into English from Japanese, Kaiteki means comfort, and yet these mats also provide great support for the body as a whole.

Made in Taiwan for mostly Japanese customers, the Kaiteki mats are comprised of all natural materials, as they were a thousand years ago, defying the infantile practice of using toxic materials that didn’t even exist 150 years ago. To drive the natural and truly traditional point home, the rush grass straw acts as a tenacious barrier, earning the Kaiteki mat the coveted "Best Grade #1" rating, which simply means that it has very little or no visible flaws in the pattern of the straw. As a significant footnote, the mat is then fortified with muscular clothe around the perimeter or edges to prevent it from getting warped in any way

Also available from Haiku is our high quality Japanese Furniture and Japanese Beds - let Haiku Designs help you create Zen & Harmony in Your Home.

Please contact us anytime by telephone on weekdays or email on weekends for more information about Tatami mats or other alternative, eco-friendly products. We also have periodic sales and discounts so keep an eye out for those ongoing opportunities.

Source URL: https://www.haikudesigns.com/blog/float-on-tatami-mats.htm

The Ingenious Design of the Raku Japanese Platform Bed

“A snowy morning--

    By myself,

    Chewing on dried salmon.

                               ~ Bashō Matsuo

The Japanese, the word Raku means “comfort, ease, or relief” in English, and another translation compares it to the word “pleasure”. What’s so amazing about the design of the Raku bed-frame is the easy yet exquisite locking mechanism that joins the rails and the feet together.     

 This design does not rely on nuts and bolts or unnatural materials. Its assembly relies on a simple, sophisticated, puzzle-like design that’s very sturdy. The assembly of the frame is better executed by two people, but if you have the time and the patience to line up all the parts with a 10% margin of error, you can save yourself some money and increase your self-satisfaction. By the time you’re done, you’ll have a bed-frame that won’t fall apart unless a nuclear bomb falls on your house.

SUPPORT YOURSELF THE NATURAL (AND COMFORTABLE) WAY

Pretend that you’re a mattress for 10 seconds . . . and forget about the fact that texting is radically changing the laws of grammar and punctuation. Anyway, mattresses need firm support and conventionally that comes in the form of a dangerous weapon called a box-spring. In response to this assault on Nature, more people these days are using natural wooden slats for bodily support. However, when it comes to installation, slats are a bit inconvenient, since they consist of a series of thin, narrow planks connected by clothe, which makes them annoyingly unwieldly. So, another natural, eco-friendly alternative is Tatami mats, which have a long and honorable history in Japan. Defined by a questionable and scary Google search, the word tatami is defined as a “three foot by six foot (91 cm by 183 cm) floor mat woven of rice straw, used traditionally in Japanese homes” and other homes around the world.

To complete this blog’s proposal of a triad marriage, we need to choose a mattress to sleep on, which may be the most important decision when it comes to one’s orthopedic health and one’s overall health. As a guide, we might consider the fact that the word orthopedic is defined as “relating to the branch of medicine dealing with the correction of deformities of bones or muscles”. As a response to this, we might consider a latex mattress, which is a great topic for another blog, but for now, just visit this link for a more in-depth exploration of latex as a substance for a mattress alternative

In the meantime, please contact us anytime by telephone on weekdays or email on weekends for more information about Tatami mats or other alternative, eco-friendly products. We also have periodic sales and discounts, so keep an eye out for those ongoing opportunities.

Source URL: https://www.haikudesigns.com/blog/raku-ingenuity.htm