Tell her the bed it too girlie for a boy so you'll find another bed to paint white for her. I just can't imagine anyone being able to paint over curly maple. You just don't see such special woods anymore. You've got me crying at the though.

How about you just slipcover it? {{!gwi}}

I think it would be smashing and adorable in white, though it would seem feminine ¡size> Sorry, I don't have a white I can recommend. Then again I remember Organic Smallhome describing her Dove White, which I believe was SW. I remember her saying it didn't have undertones and was a soft white.

I sure as heck
wouldn't paint it - I might refinish it though with a non yellowing finish. Hard to tell from the pic but it might be the finish thats yellowed - a more buff or light maple tone would look fine with the white painted furniture.

Do you know what the year, and make, of the bed is?

Yeah, I'm not truly thrilled to be covering such pretty wood. It is a more feminine bed, but she would use if for a future granddaughter, too. I'm more inclined to suggest that I paint this twin, which is one of a set that we are also giving her. They're mahogany, but very old and one has a damaged side board, that may or may not be easy to repair. Maybe I could talk her into letting me do these, instead? DH isn't as partial to these beds as he is to the curly maple one, which we hauled from upper NY Adirondacks down to SC just for a kid's room. Or, should I try to convince her to use the curly maple as is, because it's more fashionable NOT to have all the furniture match???? You can see why it's a dilemma for me.......

"Anyhow, the bed has been in storage in our attic for several years, with the hope that our daughter could use it for our second grandson, who will soon be 2."

This does not sound like a regular gift situation to me. A gift is when you have actually passed the possession of an item on to another person. You have been holding on to this in the hope that your daughter can use it - well, the truth is, she can't. What she wants is a white bed.

Which is all to say, I *love* that bed and think it would be a shame to paint it. If you have no use for the bed and don't mind it being painted, then by all means give it to her, but don't feel obligated to paint it yourself.

I don't want to be hard on your daughter, but I also don't want you to feel pressured into something that you have absolutely no obligation to do.

If you feel okay about painting the mahogany bed, and it is something you really want to do, then go for it. If DD wants it to match the other furniture then maybe you could bring a drawer with you to the paint store and have them match it.

Good luck.

Ha! I wouldn't paint the mahogany bed, but Would work on the finish.

I agree with Postum, did you actually tell her it was hers and are just storing it for her? It still seems to be your bed at this point, with whatever mention you made of gifting it not including 'wrecking' or painting it. I really don't think you're obligated to go through with her general plans for a bed, with this one that you treasure, and am sure she would understand something like that. You were intending to pass down a family treasure. I agree, once it's gone, though, what will be will be. You can only be saddened and perturbed then.

If she/someone takes the bed, I'd explain how much you love it and are so glad they'll be using it. Then they might leave it as-is or ask how you feel before painting it.

I would not paint it . . . I'd show her pictures of cottage rooms where whites and woods are mixed, to show her how it can be done. That kind of wood would look really lovely with white furniture.

If she really wants white, maybe just get her a new one (well, used, from CL). You could get one for a good price, I think.

Thank you, postum, squirrel, anele, just and kashka......you are ALL right, and you've helped me to think through how I really feel about this. It would be a shame to destroy the antique charm of this furniture. I've been looking through the Internet at birdseye maple pieces, for that's what this is, and they are quite rare and valuable.....as is!! The wood really is so lovely, and now I'm kicking myself for not buying the birdseye maple dresser I saw at a consignment shop a few years back. It would have matched this bed perfectly, but the bed was already in the attic. I just can't do it. I can much more easily find a white bed on CL that would work for her, if she doesn't want to take this one as is. I know she'll never paint it herself, she doesn't like doing that kind of thing. I also saw some pretty pictures of rooms decorated with this type of bed, and white furniture, so I'll show her those, too. Thanks for all your help and thoughtful advice.

Well, if you could suggest to her a different bed to paint that would be acceptable to both of you....or if she was cool with using the wood mixed with the cottage whites, then, you would all be happy.
If your DH is not on board with painting this bed at all, then, perhaps you should just find another bed.

Now, for what I would suggest, assuming that none of the above apply.......Just find a nice soft white and paint the bed. While it's vintage, and solid wood, it's not particularly valuable or rare. It's a good bed in a classic style, but if it has more value to your daughter in a cottage white, and she can use it that way, then, I really don't see it as a sin to paint it. When a person has something very valuable in it's original condition or when there is a great demand for a particular item, then, painting should be a last resort to save it. But to get real use out of something.......sometimes.......you need to change it.

Red

Has she seen the bed, Nanny? If it doesn't appeal to her as-is, it would be really great if you could just find someone who would love it as much as you do. That would be its ideal destination. I'm sure you have other things around that she would just love to have, for what they are.

Good choice! to listen to your heart. Finding an appropriate piece for painting or repainting shouldn't be an issue for her, as she wants a white bed, not that bed. Let her paint someone else's, who doesn't care.

"Although I know my DH will have a hissy fit to see this unique type of wood painted."

I would too, and probably go right past a hissy into a conniption fit. But, if you absolutely MUST, put two to three coats of clear shellac on and allow it to cure before painting. This will make it SO much easier to strip the paint later on. Still, its sentimental value to your DH as-is is a perfectly valid reason to say no way to painting this particular bed - it makes me grind my teeth to see how often ladies on this and other decorating fora just steamroller right over the feelings and opinions of the males of the household. It's not like curly maple comes along every day, and there are thousands of other beds out there in more generic woods that are perfect for slathering white paint all over.

As for the mahogany beds (which are in rather more battered condition, IMO, and thus better candidates for painting although I'd use the shellac trick anyway), you can simply bolt the headboard and footboard onto a standard metal Hollywood frame since the original side rails are unsuitable for use. Cover the ends of the bolts with these traditional bed bolt covers.

She's familiar with the bed, and once she realized what it was, and her husband heard about it, he, too, said "No Way!!!" She's definitely feeling stressed, they bought a gorgeous 5 bedroom, 30 year old house and they're used to living in a little bungalow. She's trying to furnish it without going broke in the process, and since all the rooms have already been newly painted, she's trying to work with what's there. She did not inherit my "paint a room whenever you feel like it" genes, and her DH hates to paint, too.

We're already deciding upon good colors to use in the bedding and accessories to take best advantage of the wood. It's going into a light teal colored room that has a white chair rail and white trim. I think once we get the right bedding and curtain fabric picked out, for bedding and curtains that I'll make, it will come together nicely.

johnmari, thanks for the tip about what to do with the twin set. Your idea would save us a lot of time trying to find replacement parts, and I like that link for the bolt covers. Great idea!

Sounds like it found a good home, then, afterall! It's nice to keep those things in the family.

Oh praise the Lord! I almost hated to come back here for fear others talked you into just painting it.
I wouldn't paint the mohogany ones either. Use the Restore a Finish on them. They too are gorgeous. I noticed there's a little gold medalion on the one. Is that the makers mark? I'm curious what it says.

Can't wait to see the finished room! I think the natural wood is going to add a lot of warmth to the room and your DD will be very pleased. (This is coming from someone who does enjoy white painted furniture!)