Are you handy with a glue gun and fabric? If so, this is what I would do--upholster the headboard (inside of the gold painted border)in the RL fabric (order a pair of curtains if you can't get the fabric). First you'd want to pad it with a thin foam and then cover with fiberfill (hopefully those with more upholstery experience can chime in if this isn't correct). Then cover it with the fabric and either tack it down or use an heavy duty electric stapler. Cover the rough edges with gimp or piping made from the fabric (perhaps you could have somebody make this for you if you don't sew). Alternately, you could find a fabric that coordinates with the RL and then make a couple decorative pillows to match. I would paint the exposed edges (do this before you upholster) either a shade to match the armoire or pick up a color from the background of the RL fabric. I think the bed would look like a gorgeous custom piece and would make the room appear even larger than if you painted it a contrasting color.

There are color people on here such as funcolors. But I don't know if it would look right if you sprayed it. How about looking on craiglists and buying a cheap bed and have the head board and foot board upholstered? I think Marilyn Monroe would like that, I bet your daughter would too in a white or even black or purple.

Why, thanks, Mtn. I used Bbstx idea of zip ties to replace the second bolt. It works very well. Thanks, Bbstx. My son the contractor finally explained the order of all the hardware to me by using the shish kabob analogy. Imagine the long bolt is the skewer. First slide on the medium size metal washer so it is against the bolt head. Next slide on the leg of headboard, then slide on the large rubber washer (to prevent metal on metal), then slide on the metal bed frame, then the locking (small) washer and finally the nut. Ta da. It worked. Along with the zip ties and lots of cursing. I am going to need to use the felt pads under the feet of the headboard because right now it is levitating. Thank you all. It takes a village -- or a forum or whatever.

Yes, you can order just the headboard and use a heavy duty bed frame. That's what I did with the Charles P Rogers iron bed in my guest room. I love the look of the footboard but didn't have much space. Brass Beds of Virginia also offers a low footboard for its iron beds. I like that option better than no footboard because I think the interlocking frame makes for a more sturdy bed. If you go to their website and click on a bed you like you might be able to see an illustration of what the low footboard option would look like.