Last October (7 months ago) my friend, Traci, mentioned the idea of my making an upholstered bed frame for her and her husband's master bedroom. They'd tried one from West Elm but the bed wasn't really meant to accommodate a boxspring and the assembled bed wound up sitting too high, so she wanted to model it after the West Elm one but custom to her needs.
Traci chose the Camel linen from Gray Line Linen - great quality, GREAT price. Like $9.75 a yard great.
And so 3 months ago I gathered my materials and started work on the bed. If you follow me on Instagram you might remember these couple of shots:
I had the bed mostly finished and then Traci and I started playing the open weekend game. And wouldn't you know, we were on pretty much opposite schedules for the next two months.
The whole family headed out to her house, about an hour away, a few Saturdays ago and I finally assembled the bed. And not without a hitch either.
First I screwed the legs in too high and had to re-drill holes (the first ones were, luckily, still covered by the frame). Then screws kept breaking...not stripping, actually breaking and getting lodged in the wood. I have never had that happen before and still don't know why.
Then I got the whole bed assembled but the top was wobbly and really needed metal corner brackets on the inside to hold it tight and together. But at this point it was practically dark, the hardware store was closed or close to closing, and my daughters were nearing the point of hysteria from hunger, so I had to stop for dinner and leave that last task to Traci.
Then...after she got the brackets installed and assembled the bed with boxspring and mattress, her husband sat on it to put on his socks and it collapsed under him!
Eeeeeeee...
They wound up installing the metal frame they had from before inside the upholstered frame so the metal is actually supporting the weight of the bed and the upholstered frame is really just there for looks.
So...it seems I am not ready to share a tutorial with you on how to do this since my final product had its fair share of issues.
It does look nice, though, and is at least achieving its purpose of being pretty! Here are a few assembled shots Traci's husband, Colin, took for me after they had things all put together.
Such is the hazard of doing things yourself (or hiring a do-it-yourselfer friend, in Traci's case). I do love the finished look and am SO glad the metal frame fit inside to correct what this bed lacked in muscle!
Oh, big deal, so the beds on the floor.LOL! Your finishing work is impeccable!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise...it all worked out in the end!
DeleteLooks incredible! Nice work:)
ReplyDeleteWell, it's pretty :) Beds are tough, not all mattresses and frames are created equal that's for sure. I love that nailhead trim! xo K
ReplyDeleteIt sure looks pretty - I know you'll figure out the rest!
ReplyDeleteThe bed looks fabulous! You did an awesome upholstery job. Love that you shared the truth, it makes a funny story!
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you -- this looks professional. Beautiful work --must be great to sit back and look at this beauty knowing you did it yourself. congrats!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a typical MC project! and they lived happily ever after!!!
ReplyDeleteWell it looks beautiful and that's all that counts! You'd never know there was a metal frame under there! So in my eyes it was another successful project by TCOH :)
ReplyDeleteHaha...well, THANKS! It does look pretty :)
DeleteOh no!!! What a bear! It looks absolutely beautiful and custom though. I think I'll be checking out that linen you used for it!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great linen source...I have plans for a pretty shade of coral linen!
DeleteIsn't it great that even though most times things don't go like we planned, everything still turns out ok in the end? Love the frame and I think it's brilliant to just attach it to a metal frame.
ReplyDeletelol, I was laughing so hard reading this. It's like a scene from one of the Chevy Chase Vacation movies. And exactly what each of my furniture DIYs end up being like. But the finished product looks amazing!!! Love how the nail heads finish it off nicely. Well done, even with a few speed bumps! ;-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, that's how I felt putting it together. I kept thinking, "You've GOT to be kidding me, ANOTHER issue???"
DeleteOh man...doesn't that sort of stuff always happen when it's for friends? I am sure that was a priceless moment between Traci and her husband when the bed collapsed! You know his face had to been hilarious! It looks gorgeous and you cannot tell by looking!!! It's beautiful and the nailhead trim is perfect! Jesse @ Scout & Nimble
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine...sure hope they got a good laugh out of it!
DeleteAt least it looks beautiful! :) I really want to make a bed frame after we move, so maybe we should brainstorm later on how to do it!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! I would love to create something like this one day!
ReplyDeleteMe too...well, you know, one that actually supports weight :)
DeleteOh, what a crazy story. You my friend, never cease to amaze. It looks beautiful. And all a learning experience. So happy it turned out for them. Well done.
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