Contract bed surgery – what’s inside a Millbrook bed?

A common concern with contract bed buyers can often be about the materials that are used for the mattresses and beds. Since there are so many types of mattresses and beds on the market today, it is important to know what goes into the manufacturing and design of these contract bed items.

With an uncompromising design philosophy, Millbrook Contract Beds was born out of the finest craftsmanship and the utilisation of the highest quality materials in order to create the ultimate in luxury sleep. With rapid mass production at work in this industry, Millbrook is totally committed to the traditional ideals of quality and craftsmanship. The hope is that through our dedication to this aspect of design, function and handcrafted care, our clients feel more reassured that our contract beds are superior in every way as we continue to promote well-being and comfort through the attainment of a perfect sleep.

^^^A peek inside a Millbrook Bed^^^

Sprung interiors are most common and are located in a majority of bases with the exception of waterbeds, high quality latex mattresses and cheap foam mattresses. There are various types of spring mattresses on the market and it’s important to know what different types are on offer. The main types of modern spring units are as follows: open coil, knitted and pocket spring.

Open Coil – individual springs are joined together using wire. There are between 288 and 325 springs in a 5’0 mattress.

Knitted – a spring system created from continuous lengths of interwoven wire.

Pocket springs – these are the finest of spring systems.  Each spring is housed within individual fabric pockets.  They move independently of each other, eliminating ‘roll-together’ and offering correct spinal support. The pocket spring is at the heart of all our top quality sprung beds. You’ll find that this offers the highest levels of support, durability and comfort.

Double stacking and individually hand nested pocket springs provide superior levels of support. The top tier if the springs absorb the majority of the weight whilst conforming to the body shape. The bottom rows resist more gently adding to the overall support and also to the longevity of the mattress, all working in harmony to ensure that your body is supported. Our unique Zonal edge springing provides extra strength to the sides of the mattress, by applying 2 rows of firmer springs on either side, ensuring no ‘roll-off’ or sleep disturbance.

HAND-SIDE STITCHING
Every mattress in the range features traditional hand-side stitching which secures the outer springs to the border at top and bottom preventing ‘roll-out’, and is the most highly skilled and labour intensive of all our operations.  Side-stitching is carried out by senior upholsterers using traditional long needles and twine to make borders and edges stronger.  The effects on the mattress are quite dramatic preventing the springs from distorting and extending the sleeping area right up to the edge of the bed.

DIVAN BASE
The fully sprung edge zonal divan base has a unique spring system incorporating two support levels of spring torsion with a higher gauge spring supporting the edge to prevent ‘roll-off’ and also creates a firm, supportive foundation for the mattress.

All divans are made from solid timber to carry the weight of the sumptuous mattress and load-bearing joints are secured and glued by hand for lasting strength.  All divans are mounted on smooth running solid metal casters. The drawers come complete with unique, smooth ball-bearing steel action runners.

There has never been a better time to experience the luxury of sleeping in our beautifully crafted, handmade beds. Relax, wake up and benefit from the most comfortable sleep you have ever enjoyed. Contact us for further contract bed advice at Millbrook.

Dressing down your hotel contract beds in time for the 2012 Olympics

Yes, the countdown has truly begun to the start of the ceremony of ceremonies! London Olympics 2012 is within reaching distance. It’s only a few months to go until it arrives. For all the hoteliers out there; there is still time to get prepared.

The guests started booking their places months ago and the big hotel franchises are already beginning to turn away customers as they are booked out. If you want to compete on this level you have to step-up to their level!

Provide your guests with the best you can possibly give them. Invest in your hotel facilities and accommodations in order to bring in bigger and better business. It’s really that simple. Our specialty is of course contract beds, but that in no way overshadows the other elements of a hotel that need to be maintained or improved upon.

That said, hoteliers know that the quality of their hotel contract beds can mean the difference between a satisfied customer and a complaint. Sleep is an important factor in everyone’s lives and it is especially important for the hotel industry where positive customer satisfaction is crucial to a successful business. The hotel contract beds make all the difference by providing a focal point for any room and assist in creating the perfect holistic experience for guests. Word of mouth spreads if you provide a satisfying enough experience.

There’s still time to get those tongues wagging!

Busy hotels often need contract beds that offer longevity, universal comfort and versatility. Millbrook’s International Collection predominantly caters to hotel businesses with a range of sizes and a variety of options that can be customised to suit the practical and aesthetic requirements of individual hotel brands. If you are willing to offer the best in your hotel rooms then guests will want to stay with you for the duration of the Olympic Games.

Millbrook supplies its contract beds to businesses large and small where the quality and value of our designs can suit high end hotel chains or smaller independent bed and breakfasts. We know what makes a good contract bed, how to tailor them to the hospitality industry’s needs and how to ensure that they give a good night’s sleep to its guests.

Millbrook Contract Beds has been in the bed manufacturing game for more than 60 years and we understand this industry more than any other hotel contract bed supplier. Trust us to help you bring in more customer satisfaction and up your street cred in time for the biggest event in the world this year!

National Bed Month and what it means to your Contract Beds

As a company that takes sleep very seriously, it’s important to note that we’re now in to week three of the Sleep Council’s National Bed Month.  If you’re a contract bed owner, then you may be interested to know what it means and what you can do to make the most of it as an opportunity for you to see how you can benefit from it.

National Bed Month has been running for over 20 years now and was created by the Sleep Council in order to promote the benefits and of course health implications of a comfortable bed.

So, just like a spring clean, if you’re a hotel owner, a healthcare establishment or even a university, now is the time to see if your contract beds are up to scratch!

We’ve written many blogs before on upkeep and care of your contract bed, but here’s a few of the essentials inspired by the wonderful Sleep Council that you can be doing to ensure your beds are as comfortable as they can be.

1. How old are your contract beds?  If you can’t remember and they’re over seven years old, then it’s probably time to look at updating them.

2. Can you look at your contract bed mattress and say it looks good without the sheets?  If you have a mattress that’s looking tired or even dirty, there’s no point trying to clean it if it’s old.  It’s much better to change it.

3. How are the springs and filling in the mattress?  Does it feel like a comfortable cushion or can your guests feel the springs when they lay on it?

4. Do you have guests complaining of bad sleep at the moment?   If you’re getting regular comments it’s unlikely to be the guests but your contract bed!

5. How does the contract bed frame / divan look?  Is it looking fresh or worn?

6. Can you hear the springs move when you put pressure on it?  Again, if you’re hearing something then it’s time to change your contract bed!

These are a few of the essentials that can guide you towards finding the best night’s sleep for your guests and you should not ignore the signs if you see them.

A good contract bed will enhance your guest’s comfort and if they’re happy when they’re sleeping they’ll be much happier when they wake.

Many hoteliers in particular forget or perhaps even choose to forget the affect their beds have on their guests, but if you want to check out why you should look at your beds during National Bed Month, do a simple search in Google for ‘hotel reviews beds’ or ‘hotel reviews sleep’.

You will see an array of reviews that all focus on how good or bad a guest’s sleep has been which should indicate just how important it is to ensure your contract beds are beautiful, comfortable and perfect for your guests!

Revisiting the Millbrook Contract Beds collections – Academic

At Millbrook Contract Beds we’ve started down a road of revisiting our contract bed collections to refresh our customers on just what makes us such leading experts in sleep and comfort. With the anticipation alive for the 2012 Olympics this year, we thought it pertinent to get back to the basics of our business. Read what we had to say about our International Collection for the hospitality industry HERE. Continue reading »

Becoming that morning person!

Here at Millbrook Contract Beds we understand that the only drawback to sleeping in one of our beds is that they are so difficult to leave behind in the morning.

If you’ve ever been a night owl you may have often found yourself pressing the snooze button once too often in the morning, and inevitably being one step behind for the rest of the day. The very thought of getting out from that cosy slumber before the dreaded sound of the alarm is inconceivable and seemed to go against the very logic of all that was right. Continue reading »

The secrets to sleeping well with Millbrook Contract Beds

In a previous blog Millbrook Contract Beds explored the fundamental importance of getting a good night’s sleep wherever you are and factors to take into consideration from the condition of the sleep environment, to background noises, to the quality of the contract beds. You can read our tips for achieving optimum sleep HERE.

It has been clearly established over the years by scientific studies that sleep is of immense importance to all people but with today’s frenzied, all-go and no-stop lifestyle, it’s hard to fully appreciate this fact.

So what is the secret behind achieving this perfect sleep?

Well, in order to understand the answer to this question, you have to address the problem of why people don’t get enough sleep. Millbrook Contract Beds investigates…

People often declare hectic working and social lives with a badge of honour, and it’s almost encouraged by the world we live in today. Unfortunately, this is not a healthy way to live your life for many reasons, but we’re focusing right now on why it is not good for sleep.

Attempting to fit 36-48 hours worth of activity into 12-16 hours is a good way to sap you of all energy and cause erratic sleep patterns. We are told that pushing ourselves can be a good thing so that we work harder and faster but eventually you end up fighting your biological body clock and the body clock will ultimately win.

Remember, sleep is not an indulgence you can dabble in from time to time. It’s a biological necessity.

In the last blog we mentioned several factors involved with this sleep deprivation issue and they are all issues that are commonly experienced.

–Internal and external noise

–Eating before bed

–Eating in bed

–Distractions like Internet/television in the bedroom

–The quality of contract beds and contract bedding

If none of these factors are addressed or resolved then you will end up sleep deprived and this can lead to is a series of ever worsening problems from chronic fatigue, lack of strength, decreasing mental functioning, low self-esteem, weight gain and affects on your psychological health leading to bouts of depression. These are major consequences of not getting enough sleep or not sleeping well.

The things is, if you’re not an insomniac or suffer from a sleeping disorder, and it is merely lifestyle choices that are causing this deprivation of sleep then you can still do something about it!

Getting a good night’s sleep can lead to improvements in many areas such as keeping the body strong and the mind healthy; improving memory and brain function; keeping emotions, hormones and immune system in check and giving you a balanced, healthy lifestyle overall.

Sleep is the key to regenerating and rejuvenating the mind and body.

So the secret to a good night’s sleep is quite simply addressing lifestyle choices, the environment you use for sleep and the quality of the beds beings used whether they are commercial beds or personal beds.

Thanks for reading. For more information Contact Us. We are also on Facebook and Twitter. Get involved with Millbrook Contract Beds and let us know what you think about the world of sleep.

Hibernating this winter with Millbrook Contract Beds – A Closer Look

If you haven’t read the first part of our blog on staying warm and getting a good night’s sleep during the winter season, stop what you’re doing right now! Follow THIS LINK and start from the beginning with our introduction to things.

Millbrook Contract Beds has been doing some research into ways to keep warm this winter and we believe the secret to a successful sleep during the harshest time of the year is comfort.

Humans yearn for more sleep when the cold weather begins to seep in. It’s a natural instinct on our part to fall back to the bedroom during the winter to “hibernate.” You wake up in the morning to rain, sleet, snow or below zero temperatures and you want to stay in bed! Everybody knows this feeling. Indulging in sleep is after all, one of our most favoured past times. A nationwide survey confirmed that more than 5,000 adults spend extra hours in bed EVERY DAY during the winter than they do during the summer.

So, now is the time to prepare your rooms for this period of hibernation. Cater to that desire and natural instinct in the best way. If people spend more time in their beds then make sure those beds are the right beds for sleeping in!

Mattress, bed base, duvet, pillows, extra sheets and blankets are all an essential part to a comfortable sleep experience. Millbrook has its own range of recommended contract beds such as The President – a top of the range contract bed with extravagant filings, woven damask upholstery and 2000 individually hand nested pocket springs. It’s a dream. But it’s not just down to quality of contract beds as much as it is quality of environment.

In the previous blog we discussed this idea and its importance in helping people ride out the winter in as much comfort as possible.

Our top tips for achieving this, beyond getting yourself the right beds, include:

1. Don’t ignore your cues for sleep. If you’re tired, sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to chronic tiredness and fatigue during the days. Winter increases this feeling.

2. Warm your mattress before you get in with a hot water bottle or electric blanket.

3. Replace all contract bedroom furniture that has been worn and torn over time – i.e. if your mattress is tattered, uneven and lumpy, do the sensible thing and get yourself a new one! Discomfort during a cold night will be amplified.

4. Clean the sleeping space. An uncluttered room equals an uncluttered mind and helps you to settle to sleep more quickly.

5. Adjust the temperature of the room to suit you. Close windows, close curtains and doors, adjust your heating or air conditioning.

6. If you’re sleeping at a hotel or staying in another place, bring something personal with you to make it feel more like home (e.g. photos, books, alarm clock etc.)

7. Wind down before bed and have a nice, relaxing hot shower or bath.

8. Get the right amount of hours when you sleep – 8 hours average per person

And it’s pretty much as simple as that. If you need to rethink your sleep environment then do it now before things get a lot colder. There’s still time to replace your old beds with new contract beds.

Contact Us for more information.

Millbrook Contract Beds is on Twitter and Facebook. Meet us there and share in our community.

Hotel interior design options Part 2 – the Millbrook Contract Beds Way

In the previous blog we addressed the question that many hoteliers find themselves asking; “What are the benefits of hotel interior design?” Millbrook Contract Beds believes that hotel refurbishments can repay dividends but they require investment.

Let’s walk through the process in a little more detail…

You must comprehensively plan out a design proposal in order to determine what needs to be changed, amended, refreshed and bought new. This knowledge will ultimately be based on how a hotel operates and budget allowance. From a design proposal the planning stages are far more achievable and realistic. This can allow for a smoother integration of environmental ‘green friendly’ options and new technologies. As long as you meet the operational functions that are essential to running a hotel business you can begin to select what needs upgrading or replenishing from the following:

• Contract bedroom furniture (including contract beds)
• Fixtures
• Fabrics
• Textures
• Lighting
• Colour scheme

These factors are critical interior design features that demonstrate and define the presentation of your hotel to guests.

Our experience in contract beds and dealing with the hospitality industry is the basis for much of our advice. Our contract beds are tailored to suit the respective individual hotels that require different qualities and aesthetic presentations of their furniture. We cater to this need because we understand the importance of individuality.

Dare to be different with your design choices… it will only help your profit margins in the long term.

It doesn’t have to be a chore or seen as a financial zapping of your resources. There are some clear financial benefits involved beyond creating environments that guests will appreciate. Successful interior design refurbishments will have lasting effects giving you durable, up-to-date fixtures and contract bedroom furniture that won’t need replacing or repairing for quite some time.

Through investing in an interior design refurbishment you help to prevent the need for the costly dribs & drabs of work over the next several years. That’s why it’s unfortunate that many hoteliers perceive hotel interior design as an unwarranted expense even when the hotel interior design process makes perfect aesthetic and financial sense.

So if we were to step back and answer the question posed at the start of this, “What are the benefits of hotel interior design?” we would argue that differentiation and individual qualities help to distinguish between brands and businesses. People want something different, especially from an independent hotel. It’s as simple as that. Be a leader, not a follower. Use hotel interior design to build a truly recognisable, unique brand.

For more information on hotel refurbishments and hotel refreshments click on the links to our previous blogs to get a clearer idea. In the meantime please follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Rebranding the hotel sector – Advice from Millbrook Contract Beds

In the last blog we addressed what Hotel Refreshment involved and how the hotel sector was preparing for the expected boom of 2012. You can read that blog HERE.

This second part in a two-part blog series from Millbrook Contract Beds is here to address the other approach to hotel refurbishment – a complete overhaul in the branding of a hotel, large or small.

It’s called Hotel Rebranding and it is a program like hotel refreshment that is implemented by many hotels – sometimes on a rolling schedule every 7 years or alternatively whenever it comes due.

London in a snapshot

So what is hotel rebranding?

Rebranding is different to refreshment as it is a bigger job and involves a lot of work including reassessing marketing strategies, aesthetics, design and its sector positioning. Room rates are usually increased during a hotel rebrand, and you are more likely to see bigger chains go through this process. It is a much more corporate approach to refurbishment and it is on a massive scale.

The process can involve creating new guest rooms out of redundant or unused space, replacing facilities such as bathrooms and communal areas, changing layouts, introducing new guest facilities and services, updating technologies and new entertainment capabilities.

Basically, this rebrand starts from the contract beds on up!

In a hotel rebrand it is possible to see so much change occur that the brand itself is reborn leaving no corner of the property untouched, from bedrooms to public areas to restaurants and event spaces.

However, due to the nature of upheaval and the cost of time and money, huge rebrands are not as common as hotel refreshments. As we are looking at the arrival of 2012 sooner rather than later, many hotels don’t have time to rebrand themselves like this.

What are Green Refurbishments all about?

Green refurbishments are in keeping with green policies that many hotels are adopting around the world. 30 per cent of hoteliers are looking to install more energy efficient green technology using renewable power for their properties. Sustainability has emerged in the last decade as a dominant trend in hospitality and hotel refurbishments. Guests are getting into a mindset where luxury ratings are simply not enough. A hotel’s green credentials go a long way to sealing the deal.

Many design principles being used or flirted with in the UK hotel sector include recycling water conservation, energy efficiency and maintenance/longevity.

Hotels Go Green

How can Millbrook Contract Beds help?

We provide a service to our customers that helps provide quality contract beds and contract bedroom furniture of the highest ilk to their operations. Our design philosophy is uncompromising in terms of how the beds are made, so you know you are getting the best of the best.

Many hotels and businesses come to us for our advice and our quality of product. In the build up to the big boom or bad bust year of 2012, Millbrook Contract Beds wants to be at the centre of the demand and in the thick of the action. If you are planning a hotel refurbishment, whether it is a refreshment of guest rooms and contract beds, or a major rebranding overhaul on everything, we know we can help. Contact Us for some impartial advice or you can always follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Changing rooms – Give your hotel a make-over with good quality contract bedroom furniture

In the world of hoteliers there should always be an emphasis on quality. As far as contract bedroom furniture goes, Millbrook Contract Beds likes to be at the top of the game. We decided to take a look at the hospitality industry and explore just what really constitutes genuine quality commercial beds and commercial furniture.

To thrive in these hard times a hotel needs to be different and have something ‘extra’ to offer beyond the standard trimmings. This is what gives a hotel the upper hand in very competitive times. So if you are looking to become a leader in quality, on whatever scale you are operating on, it’s time to face up to the state of your premises, the aesthetics of the place and its commercial furniture!

Individuality between hotels, B&B’s and boutiques should be a high priority and can make all the difference when it comes to profit margins. It’s vital to be able to stand out from the crowd – see our previous blog on Boutique Hotels HERE for more information on how uniqueness and niche qualities will be of great benefit in the coming months.

Hotel rooms consist of your standard contract bedroom furniture from wardrobes to desks to chairs to beds. Everything in these rooms should be thoroughly maintained without any excuses. Guests demand bang for their buck! As a contract bed supplier, Millbrook is an authority on this particular matter.

Take a fresh look at your hotel and recognise where its weaknesses lie. A majority of the problems begin with design and facilities, but the one aspect of a hotel that should never be subpar is the quality of the furniture. If your contract beds are lousy, your guest experience is lousy too, no matter how much you pride yourself on good service. Real good service begins with making it a place fit for people to sleep!

So take that look around and imagine yourself as a customer coming in to book a room. Ask yourself; “Would I want to sleep here for the night?” Try out the rooms, sit and lie down on the bed, experience your hotel from the other side. We can’t stress enough how much difference a bed makes to a hotel room.

Our contract bed ranges have been developed and manufactured to suit a variety of industries from healthcare to academic. The International Collection is very much targeted towards the hospitality sector and the International contract beds very much reflect that in their function and design. What makes our contract bedroom furniture superior to our competitors is that all beds are hand-crafted with individually wrapped springs and are made from the finest materials. Due to our design philosophy our beds such as The Hotel contract bed, The Executive, The Club Class and The President are tailor-made for hotels looking to offer that extra “something.”

For hotels on tight budgets it may come down to a choice of only being financially able to replenish or improve certain aspects of the hotel. Think about what you can accomplish on the budget you have and what would create a better guest experience. Style, comfort and cleanliness are top considerations to take into account. There’s nothing worse than an institutional hotel so don’t underestimate layout and colour scheme either.

Give your hotel a make-over with new contract bedroom furniture, experiment with colour, keep it immaculate and put an emphasis on providing the best guest experience you possibly can. That’s the secret to making a hotel stand-out.

Contact Us for more information on our contract bed ranges and don’t forget you can follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.