Friday, May 11, 2018

Sleep tight

When I was 18, I got my first apartment.  My great-aunt had died several months before, and her sister started breaking up her household at the same time. 

For some reason, she didn't want her sister's bedroom set, so I bought it from her for $100 (the same amount the "junk man", i.e., antiques dealer) offered her.

It has served me well since 1982.  Until . . .

Several years ago, the bed frame failed.  It was one of those traditional four piece (headboard, foot board, side rails with hooks) and the wood had split in a few places.  I glued and braced it, but it cracked somewhere else, and started making alarming noises every time we got into the bed.  Eventually, one of the posts on the headboard separated completely, and I gave up, let it go and bought a metal bed frame from Amazon for the time being.

I cannot even articulate how much I hated that metal bed frame.  It squeaked, it shifted, it rolled even with the wheels locked.  And without a headboard, I always felt like the bed was just floating in space.

But with a move coming up, I didn't want to spend money on something new, plus I didn't actually see anything I liked.

A few weeks after we moved in, we stopped into an antique/auction place near the house, and lo and behold, there was a bed frame leaning against the wall.  Mahogany.  Carved.  Heavy.  Old.  All good things.

We bought it for less than we would have paid for a new one, picked up pine boards for slats at Home Depot, and the other day, we finally got it assembled.  Not only that, but a young neighbor getting her first apartment is taking the metal frame off our hands, so it was a zero-waste replacement.

It feels like a bedroom now.  The art is the right height, and if I want to read in bed (once I find shades for the bedside lamps that aren't out yet), I have something to lean against.

Also, you'll note, I finally got curtains up in the bedroom.  These were in my workroom at the old house, but fit and look perfect here.  I love how little new stuff I've had to buy to make this place a home.

6 comments:

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

Thanks for sharing the updates to your home with us. So glad you found a headboard you like!

Nancy K said...

It's nice to have a cozy nest to retire to. Thanks for sharing your progress.

Irene said...

Looks lovely! Keeping things you treasure and finding replacements that fit in with all those things is what really makes a house a home.

Nursebennett said...

I love that you found a great real wood headboard for such a great price and it coordinates beautifully with everyelse! A warm and relaxing bedroom. Looking very much like a well loved and comfortable space.

Vicki said...

Nice to see you settling in so well. Love the back story too.

AuntieAllyn said...

Great headboard! Gives the room even more warmth.