Like Marlene, I'd love to see someone get a hernia trying to make off with it! lol! That is one substantial bench! Even I wouldn't worry about sitting on it. I love the turned wood on the headboard - just gorgeous!

I found the most expensive item needed to make a headboard was the foam. I made mine similar to NHB only we drilled holes in the plywood for buttons. Once is was upholstered, we decided not to use buttons but they can always be added. If you decided on buttons, I know there is a fabric store at the Berlin Mart in NJ that covers them reasonably. I also found their price the best for foam which they can custom cut. I know it's out of the way for you. Try 4th Street in Phila for materials. This is our Guest BR. We used a very tweedy fabric. Please ignore how the bed is made in this picture.

I love the first one for a little girl and it will look great without a footboard just with that pretty headboard by itself. It will look even prettier if you have an eyelet bedskirt or some kind of bedskirt that is white. I have a bed with an Rustic Ivory Iron Headboard with no footboard due to the size of my bedroom and I am very happy I chose no footboard to make my room appear smaller with less walking room. If I had a big bedroom, I would love a footboard. I also had a Stanley Fiasco and despite missing the styling of the Cottage Revival Furniture (I loved the bun feet and beadboard sides that were really veneered wood over particle board but pretty.... I do not miss the mismatched furniture, peeling paint, spintered and chipped runner, holes in back of bureaus, and many other quality control issues) , I love the fact that my solid Maple Wood Durham Furniture (Royal Cottage in Sand White) came to me in such wonderful shape and MATCHING and did not waste 2 weeks of my time due to the poor quality control from Stanley and the Kearny, NJ store actually allowing furniture that was so mismatched in color with so much damage to be delivered to my home. I sure wish I found my new retail store in Flemington, NJ first since I am sure (based on what they told me and seeing how wonderful they were with my Durham Delivery) they would have never let furniture with that quality enter my home based on what they have told me when I showed them the pictures of the Stanley Furniture. Also The Durham furniture was ready in 6 weeks rather than 11 weeks like the Stanley Furniture.

I just did some on-line research and you might want to do the same, but from what I read: - If you are painting it: use paint appropriate for outdoors then coat/seal it with a polyurethane for outdoor use. - If you are not painting it: use spar varnish.