If you need a quantity, you want to find a bulk soil product rather than bagged - bagged soils will run you at least 3-4 times the price regardless of quality. And you probably do not need all compost - a planting mix or some combo of soil with added organic matter is better than 100% compost for raised beds. Don't let folks make you feel guilty about buying soil or compost. Not everyone has the luxury of time or space or ingredients or ability (or even community permission) to make their own compost or in the quantities required. And you cannot "make" soil so if you need to fill a bunch of raised beds, importing soil is the only reasonable alternative. Folks in very urban areas do it all the time and it is becoming more and more common in suburban locations, especially those with small lot sizes and crummy native soils. Check this place out - they are throughout CA and look to have a decent product. They deliver themselves but only on large orders but they also supply various retail outlets. Call and see who might be available close to you. If THEY don't deliver, rent a pickup from uHaul or wherever or borrow a friend's.......it will still come out cheaper than buying umpteen bags. The Premium Planter Mix is what I'd go with............or you can do a part load of that and a part load of the compost. Check the analyses first :-) Here is a link that might be useful: SoCal bulk soil supplier

It depends what your looking for and how much you want to spend. Pottery Barns iron beds, (really most of the companies that I looked into) are made of hollow tubing, and cast iron, not solid iron. There is a big difference in weight, sturdiness and beauty when you compare solid iron to hollow tubing. But then solid iron costs more. I searched for a long time for an iron bed that didn't squeek and jiggle and felt solid. I ended up with a Claudio Rayes bed. It was the best quality and value that I found for solid iron, and it's a knock out beautiful WOW type of bed. Everyone compliments me on it. But a king runs around $1500.00 I had to save my pennies, but it was well worth it. :)

I ordered my son's bed (a Wesley Allen) from them a few years ago and it's both well-made and attractive. The service and delivery were good, and having the bed customized to allow space for a trundle was not a problem at all. I do wish that I had asked for sample finishes to be sent prior to ordering, because the black iron finish that I ordered had a lot of silver in it and I prefer warmer tones. Also, it was a standard powder coat finish and very evenly applied, so my one regret is that the bed doesn't really look like a banged up, old antique, but most people would probably prefer that! With that being said, I think their real antique beds are a bit expensive, and since I wanted an antique iron bed for my daughter, I ended up ordering hers from Loading Dock Antiques, which IMO has antique beds more reasonably priced than either AIB or Cat House. Plus, it's a Mom and Pop type shop and they did a wonderful job refinishing the bed in a distressed, chippy finish and sending me emails and photos during the process. I can see reselling the Wesley Allen if my son doesn't want to keep it after he leaves the nest, but my daughter's bed will definitely be staying or passed down. I just ordered another iron bed (my third in two years!) for my guest room and again wanted an antique rather than a reproduction. However, since it's hard to find an antique daybed in a true twin size that works with a trundle, I ordered the iron and brass daybed from Charles P. Rogers, in the antique iron finish. A bit more expensive, but they use solid forged iron, pure brass, hand poured castings and hand applied finishes. I'm hoping the end result is a new bed that looks like and has the quality of an antique. We'll see in a month or so after it's delivered. So, that's my unsolicited review for 3 different iron bed companies! Have fun choosing one for your daughter - I just love iron beds for little girls (and big girls, but I'm stuck with my husband's choice of Mission oak). Daughter's antique iron bed Here is a link that might be useful: Daybed

Ok... you have given me some courage. Dh said not to do it because it may not come out right, yet wants to buy a new bed. I told him he might as well let me try and if it stinks, we can then buy a new bed. I would make it primarily black with just a little silver washing as an accent. I do not want an solid black bed frame as that may be too stark. I want to do a light metallic silver/gray base on our walls and a deep purple matte damask stencil on top on 2 of those walls. I am even considering putting the silver micro glitter type add ins in the wall paint to make it have some sparkle in the background. We have a vintage chrome sconce for each side of the bed and I'd like the light to dance against the wall. (not doing the stencil directly behind the bed, but on the side walls). Pantergirl - if "both paints cure in a week" does that mean each coat? Should I do the black and then wait a week for the silver on top? Our bed will be taken apart as we will be camping on mattresses/boxsprings in our finished bsmt while the work to the main level gets done. I will not be in a rush to use the frame as our work will take approx 12 weeks to complete.