We lived in California and bought a CalKing there but we didn't have gaps because we hadn't decided what to do in regards to a headboard. 3 yrs later, we moved to Michigan where they don't have the CalKing and just as you said, it was a royal pain in the patoot finding sheets, especially since that's not something I prefer to buy online. I couldn't find them ANYWHERE. Ironically, when we finally did find a headboard we liked, we decided to size back down to a queen. As it turns out, the CalKing was so big we always felt like we were sleeping on the other side of the room from each other and in cold weather, well you know!

If your DH is 6.2 I'd go with the CalKing, regardless of the gaps. I'd just find my source for sheets first before commiting to it. My DH is 6 ft and has stated that the CalKing was more comfortable for him in that regard & really isn't comfort what it's really all about?

Penneys online has CA king sheets.

Go with the Ca. King. It's all I've owned and with online supplies you shouldn't have any problems finding bedding.

I have just a headboard and it does have some extra space on each side, but it's something I've never really noticed in the 19 yrs I've owned it.

Locally, I find my best sheets at Tues. Morning. Online check out Penneys and The Company Store.

I have a california king and use regular king sheets, they fit perfect

Many furniture lines also use the same headboard for both full and queen, even though the full mattress is 6 inches narrower. I used a full/queen headboard with a full mattress set in a city apartment and now use it with a queen set.

We have a Cal King, which is better for my 6'1 and very long legged husband. Our bed is a Cal King and doesn't have any gaps and it wouldn't work with a different sized mattress since we have wood side rails that connect the headboard and footboard.

We live in California and have no issues with finding bedding, but I just purchased some wonderful Peacock Alley Cal King sheets at Tuesday Morning, which also has them available online.

Another Cal King fan. My husband is 6' and loves it---his feet do not hang off. I found my sheets here in Texas at Tuesday Morning, and I've also ordered online from Costco.

Wow, thanks for all the feedback so far....I'm pretty sure I can get past the bedding issue - I sew, and I'll probably just make the duvet or spread to match window treatments...and I'll look to Tuesday Morning, Penneys, online, etc. for the sheets...

But, back to my biggest concern...I'm not concerned about the head/foot board being wider than the mattress - I'm concerned about what the 3" gap on either side between the mattress and wood rail of a nice bed set would look like? Anyone faced with that? My other option is to skip the footboard and side rails and just go with a headboard attached to the wall. Right now we had an antique Qn. headboard attached to a basic metal bedframe...it bangs against the wall all the time -- don't want to do that again.

Thanks again, all, and I hope to hear from those who have experienced the gap issue...

I sold an iron cal king bed because i could not find bed skirts to go with the bedding I wanted. Now with the internet andsince you can sew you should not have that problem. I have since bought a cal king sleigh bed taht has wide wood sides and no need for bed skirt. You need to get cal king sheets, but depending on your type of bed, you may be able to use regular king size quilts, coverlets, comforters , etc.

I am with you, the king looks too square. I love the cal kiing size, and for us it fits between my windows perfectly.

Only other problem I have had to solve-can't find cal king pillows or shams-so solution-two king size pillows work-with two regular pillows with shams in front of them. Then a smaller decorative pillow in front of that looks grat! and not too many pillows!

thrifty-
I noticed you have a sleigh bed with wood sides. Do you have 3" gaps between the wood and the mattresses? Or was your manufacturer one of the few that actually adjusts for the Calif. King's narrower wideth? So many I'm looking at just sends the longer wood rails and then there's a gap...I'm just not sure if that will be an issue or not.

Thanks!

The headboard/footboard that is made to fit both with different length rails also have two different slots to attach the rails so there is no gap. Only if you tried to use a bed made only for a king would there be a gap.

I love our CA King and I order sheets online. The one thing is the bed styles I like are not available in CA King size so I'm considering just doing a head board.

Lyfia-
I hadn't thought about that possibility by manufacturers.....before I order, I'll check to see if there are two slots depending on if choosing King or Cal. King.

Thanks! I think I will definitely pursue the Cal. King!

We have had a Cal King for 20 years. We just bought new bedroom furniture and got a beautiful sleigh bed with dresser and night stands. The store we bought it from ordered the Cal King bed frame from the furniture company. We couldn't be more pleased. Not all manufacturers offer that size though.

This isn't the place we got it from (we bought it from a local store), but here is a picture from an online retailer of the bed frame (only this is a queen size) so you can see what it.

http://www.beckerfurnitureworld.com/Item.aspx?ItemID=1323391545&ItemNum=I85-404%2b405%2b406

Lane Furniture also makes beds in Cal King.

I was glad to learn from reading this thread that King size sheets fit Cal King beds. I'll have to try that. I'm located in Virginia and Cal King sheets are not in stores around here, so I have ordered Cal King sheets and a heated mattress pad online in the past. Fortunately, I don't need to buy sheets very often.

Here is a link that might be useful: Aspenhome Chateau De Vin bed

I opened an email from Lexington Furniture and remembered this post.

Don't know what your style or budget is, but they had a close-out of a Nautica California King bed.

List was $1,650, on sale for $569.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nautica

We have a Cal King sleigh bed from Pottery Barn. RH also do Cal Kings. It is in our guest room (son is 6'7" and a good friend is 6'6"). I buy CK sheet sets online, Sferra and sets from Costco. The sheet sets from Costco have proved to be very good value.