I'm thinking #1 would go best with the chest, but I do like #2 also. Number 3 immediately made me think of prison. LOL Four just needs to go away!!

The chest is not my style, but if you like it, then it's your style and that's fine with me.

Where did you find all these beds? I'll be looking for iron beds for my new house and would love to find some that can be refurbished.

#2 is my favorite, but I think #1 is the best with the chest.

I like 2 or 4. I have a question - why refurbish iron beds and not buy a new one?

I like #1 and #2 best and best with your chest. I think #1, #2 #3 would work. #1 works best imo. Love #1 and #2.

Where did you find these?

I also like 1 and 2.. they are heads above all the others. 1 is more my taste in general but 2 also appeals to me and the castings on the support rods sort of echo the dressed pulls that you haven't seen.

3 reminds me of a crib ha! But I do like the corner castings.

I don't feel that they need to match (obviously) but I do want a cohesive feel to the room. My other post went into more detail of my plans for hte room. I am leaning towards a turquoise blue/green wall color and PB Neena quilt in blue greens with a duvet. Bedding will likely change frequently so not so sure that is important.

Lionstail.. I am refurbishing rather than buying new for a few reasons (please feel free to correct any misconceptions I have).

1. I like to repurpose/recycle where I can-- conserve our earth's resources, celebrate history, carry forward design aesthetics from another era.

2. I am not super pleased with the style or quality of the new beds I've seen.

3. There is something very beautiful about the castings on the old beds.. they were handmade and just have a presence that moves me.

4. Price wise refurbishing old is much less than getting a bed handcrafted and I haven't been all that thrilled with the standard run beds I've seen. I saw only one here locally that I liked and it was only available in king (and I have queen)

Squirrelhaven.. they are from Antique Beds by Cathouse (giggle). I can't speak for their quality yet but I have been blown away by the incredible customer support I've received. I will buy from no other.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cathouse Beds

Thanks for the link : ) I like the way the curves of #1 make the unit read not as rectangular as the chest. ie, the lines vary a bit more from the chest than #2 does.

My thoughts exactly, Squirrel.. it is the one that most fits me and does what I want to balance the room with the chest (again, the one pictured is not the one i purchased but it has a similar "feel"). The chest will not live with me forever.. or at least not in the bedroom but that bed will easily work with anything else I choose. (In fact, it will work really well with the birds eye maple set I am about to give up).

I had pretty much decided last night that this was the bed for me but today I learned a bit more of the history and it is from a foundry in the area of western PA where my grandparents, great grandparents and great great grandparents are from. It is also a very unusual design-- you don't normally see a craftsman bed with those curves at the top. The half castings where the verticals meet the headboard are not overly common either. This all helped to cinch the decision for me.

Sooooo.. I just 5 min ago had him pull #1 off the market. I have to select a finish and determine the appropriate height and I should have the bed in a few weeks. Weeeeeeeeee!

Thank you all for your thoughts.. Now I have to hurry along and select a paint color. I'd really like to paint the room before the furniture arrives.. or perhaps I should wait.

Brutuses.. I understand that the chest isn't everyone's style. I am not sure the chest is completely my style either but it is one of those pieces that "spoke to me". Even my sister who leans towards the mid century designs that make me shudder loves it. (in fact she threatened to hurt me if I didn't buy it ha). It is an adaptable piece and it was a goodish price and it is very different from the set I currently have. My current set is very delicate and curvy and feminine.. and I've had it since I was 18 or so. I NEED a change..

I am going for a very casual breezy and feminine but not girly. I am thinking a veranda opening up to a garden in a far away land kind of feel. I spent some time on the lush coast in natal, south africa many years ago. I hadn't planned it, but I think that's the feel I am shooting for.

and if I change my mind in a few years, ok.. I'll move the chest somewhere else and still have a beautiful bed. :)

I'm jealous!

Funkyart - we are doing the same thing - redoing our bedroom furniture after 20+ years with a *matched* bedroom set. We had a couple of antique pieces in there also, but wanted a more unique look, rather than a matched set. Plus, we were tired of it! LOL

We bought an old armoire and hubby refitted the inside with shelves. There is an area for the tv. I have an antique vanity and a small chest of drawers that the top actually pulls down and makes a secretary. That is *my* nightstand. We are currently looking for an iron bed and an old dresser or some type chest. I'll also have to find something for hubby's side of the bed - maybe a small table instead of something with drawers.

Anyhoo (I'm sure you wanted to read all that!), I love the old iron beds, but we just can't handle a double bed. I'm currently looking at a place that has new beds, but many are old looking and you can pick a custom finish, so that helps in making the piece fit in with the other antique pieces.

I love numbers 1 and 2 of your beds. Let us know which one you choose!

tina

Was just browsing around their site. It's a nice way to learn about the beds and how to describe them. They want to talk to me as far as what's actually available though! I just wanted to window shop a bit : ) What do refurbished beds like this run? Just a general price range, if you don't mind disclosing.

I just went to the website and see where they can CONVERT beds to queen and king sizes!!!! Yipee!! I've already emailed them. LOL I'm really interested in a headboard only. I love that bed on the main page of their website. Thanks SO MUCH for posting this website!!

tina

Tinam - yes, we are doing a very similar thing with our rooms and for the same reasons. And Yup.. mine is being converted to a queen and I saw a picture of one he converted to king for the extreme makeover show. When you talk to him he'll describe the process but it's all pretty cool. I can't say enough how absolutely amazing the customer support is-- he was incredibly attentitive and patient with me. I seriously would not buy from anyone else.. and I hope you have the same experience.

Squirrelhaven - the prices range a pretty broad spectrum. I looked at ones that went from like 700-2800 and there are some that go much higher in price. Mine comes in over 2000 and I'll have costs for mods and shipping. It's a bit more of a splurge than I'd intended-- but it is keeping me from quitting my current project/contract so I guess that's cool. I loved THIS bed but I surely could have made a much less expensive selection and still had a beautiful bed.

I am a little stuck on deciding a finish now.. I'll let you know what I decide.

I'm jealous!

Funkyart - we are doing the same thing - redoing our bedroom furniture after 20+ years with a *matched* bedroom set. We had a couple of antique pieces in there also, but wanted a more unique look, rather than a matched set. Plus, we were tired of it! LOL

We bought an old armoire and hubby refitted the inside with shelves. There is an area for the tv. I have an antique vanity and a small chest of drawers that the top actually pulls down and makes a secretary. That is *my* nightstand. We are currently looking for an iron bed and an old dresser or some type chest. I'll also have to find something for hubby's side of the bed - maybe a small table instead of something with drawers.

Anyhoo (I'm sure you wanted to read all that!), I love the old iron beds, but we just can't handle a double bed. I'm currently looking at a place that has new beds, but many are old looking and you can pick a custom finish, so that helps in making the piece fit in with the other antique pieces.

I love numbers 1 and 2 of your beds. Let us know which one you choose!

tina

I love numbers 1 and 2, but love number 1 the best! The curves, the accents, everything. Your bedroom will be so beautiful!

Funkyart, those are some great beds! You already have them pictured in the order of my preference. I'm excited about your room -- I'll bet it's going to be super.

Thank you, Oceanna and Wodka! I am excited but a little nervous too.

I have a lot of work ahead of me! If you didn't see my post from the other day, I have a lot of wallpaper to remove... and quite honestly it needs a thorough cleaning.

Then there's the fun stuff: I need a floor plan, a mirror, rugs, wall art, bedding, wt and I need to select paint. I think my wallet just had a seizure hahaha!

Number 2.

Well.. I bought #1-- that means #2 is available for any of you who loved it! ;)

We got very simple but very nice one at an antique store (one of those that have a couple floors with all kinds of stuff crammed in every space available) and it's been sitting in the garage for a couple years waiting for me to work on it. You're making me want to get it out and get to work on it soon! Nice choice, and I liked all of them except the one that looks like jail bars.

I love both #1 & #2 and if I knew about this site, I may have bought my headboard from them and had it refurbished. I love their unique antique headboards. I also love the headboard with the Ivory bedding.

Oh I love them with white or ivory too, Lynn-- it really sets them off and would be perfect for the look I was going for. Unfortunately I have dogs who get on the bed.. and well I can be as bad as a kid when it comes to spilling and making messes. I don't eat or drink in my room.. but I am still sure I'd find a way to mess up a white duvet.

I woke up a little panicked today. "Did I choose the right bed?" "Did I choose the right finish?" I've settled down now .. but I am eager to get it. They'll be sending me pictures through the restoration process so I'll share them if you'd like.