If you’ve been coming here for a while, you’ll notice that things look a little different on my blog now! I actually had this design created over a year ago, but it’s taken this long to get all of the technical ducks in a row to implement the new design and entirely rebuild the backend of the site for the sake of speed and efficiency. We still have some minor tweaks and cosmetic changes to make, so hang in there if things are missing or a little off for the next few days.
So, last week, I drove out to fellow antique dealer’s home to buy some ironstone, but I ended up buying an antique French daybed instead! It was pretty much impossible to resist. It does need some work, but I know it will be fabulous when it’s finished.
Here is how it looks now…
I will paint it, because if you look very closely, you can see the front “headboard” is white and other pieces are pale blue. Of course, I’ll be reupholstering it as well. The panels you can see will be pretty simple, but the outsides of the headboards are missing their foam, so I’ll need to add all of that.
At first, I thought I might just upholster everything in cream hemp sheets and use a twin mattress I already have, but after looking for inspiration, I really think it needs an upholstered box spring and a cushion, so it looks more like a daybed/sofa and less like a twin bed with a really high footboard.
And, while I think a nubby cream linen would look lovely, the idea of doing a dramatic blue and white fabric makes me giddy. I envision something like this…
And I’m considering a fabric like this blue and white check…
It would definitely be a show-stopper!
I’ll keep you posted on what I decide and will share the process…
56 Responses
ooh, can’t wait to see your progress! I’m actually getting ready to make a daybed from some old chairs so can take all the hints I can get.
Being a vintage bed I’d be wondering if a traditional twin mattress would even fit. Older beds sometimes are shorter then mattresses today. That looks like it was stuffed with horsehair, not foam. It’s a really neat piece! I’m looking forward to what you do with it!
Hi, I am working on a chair right now with a similar blue and white check, love that fabric. My vote is for the check!
Can’t wait to see what you choose. I love the inspiration piece but the check is pretty amazing. Looks the new look of the site.
LOVE the daybed! And while I really like the blue check, you had me at nubby cream linen! Lol. With blue check pillows of course. : )
Same here!
Me too!!! Can’t wait to see the finished product. No doubt it will be gorgeous.
Beautiful , I am not surprised you couldn’t resist. Look forward to see you work your magic!
fabulous!!!
Love the daybed! While you’re tweaking the new format, may I respectfully suggest making the font larger and a little darker? I’m using a 19″ monitor and am having a difficult time reading the lighter, small font. The light gray font seems to be popular on so many blogs lately, and it’s just difficult for older eyes to read.
I second that! Darker font, please. Larger is good, too. Both would be wonderful.
Oops, I’m Barbara H.
No doubt it will be lovely!
Ooh, I just see a toile and the Buffalo check together… Gorgeous any way you finish it!
I have to address the elephant in the room: The website makeover, while attractive enough, is completely annoying. Ads are popping up everywhere and keep coming back. The large initial picture takes longer to load and navigation is worse! I’m sorry, this is the first time I’ve really had trouble with your website. The ads everywhere are the worst part.
Yes, we did launch a new look and layout, but we’re still tweaking some things! 🙂
Oh what a fabulous find!!! I had been looking for such a daybed and finally found two twin headboards at Round Top that I made into a bed. It is in our sun room and we love it. Can’t wait to see what you do.
The new site is beautiful! Great job.
What a fun project! I have two of these beds waiting for the same treatment but I’m just not sure how to go about it and don’t want to ruin them. I’m looking forward to seeing you do your magic and hoping you show how you tackle the actual upholstering of it. Thanks Marian!
Oh that day bed…..what a beauty. Love the new look, as soon as it opened. It so soft and pretty, so you. I don’t mind ads, i understand the purpose and i know you have tweaks but the one on the top, it’s huge and just takes away from your blog.
Yeah, the one on top is one of the things we’re fixing. Right now it’s covering the header and it’s supposed to bump everything down. Anyway, it’ll be fixed soon!
I am sorry but I do not like the new look.
Sorry! I know not everyone is going to love the change, but this is it, now. 🙂
Love the daybed! I think I would use both fabrics; the cream linen on the interior and the blue and white check on the outside. Whatever you chose it will be beautiful! Oh yes, I would do a French mattress similar to the one Anita from Cedar Hill Farmhouse has on her outdoor daybed. I am swooning as I type…
Lovely find
How about a mix of the check with that great curtain patterned fabric you
have used a lot and ❤️
Love that French daybed! I also like the new, simplified version of the blog. Good call on both!
I’m reading on a smart phone and no problems with ads.
Are you sure it will take a regular sized mattress? I bought a wooden one thirty years ago for my daughter. I had to have a special sized mattress custom made. It was only 30 or 33 inches wide. Then when they delivered the mattress, the rails wouldn’t hold it, so they had to alter it and add slats. But, it was my daughter’s bed for over 15 years and we still have it.
The size of the type is really small. I know I am one of your older readers, but I’m wearing glasses. Thanks
I love the inspiration room you featured- I have my living room painted in that same blue- Ben Moore’s Van Deusen blue. I used blue and white toile for curtains and a very similar blue and white check as pillows on my blue mohair chairs..I can’t wait to see your bed transformation, as always- you’ll produce a beauty!
No doubt whatever fabric you decide on this is going to be one amazing and gorgeous piece!!
You might be in a rut with the blue and white checked fabric for the daybed. Just sayin’…
Marian, what a wonderful find! Your French Daybed will be so beautiful once you finish it! I love the blue and white check! This is my favorite! However, just know it will be beautiful with whatever you decide! Have a great day!
Love gingham. Where do you find the gingham fabrics? All I find are red and black. Looking for middle sized checks to buffalo check.
Like I wrote yesterday…Love the new look of the site. I’m not having any issues with ads or pop-ups. The day bed is going to be AMAZING! I can’t wait to see how you transform it!
Marian, I love the daybed and your ideas for it!! Will you be selling it at Lucketts?
I hope you will not have a dust ruffle cover up those great side rails! Just me….and I would love a darker font as well. Size is okay for me but the gray is too light…but I love all you do and will follow you regardless. I would hate matching the plaids on that buffalo check but then I know it doesn’t bug you to not have it all matchy matchy! =) Which is also what is great about your style.
Keep up the good work~!
Love the daybed and look forward to seeing what you do with it. As for the new look, so very plain. Where are the great pics that were in your header? I looked forward to seeing them each day. As for ads, not a problem for me as I have Ad-blocker on Firefox. Love it!!!
Daybed is gonna to be swoon worthy for sure! Irrestible ! Love all ur stuff, I’m a big stalker….I mean fan !
Please a little darker and bigger for the font. Thanks, cannot wait for updates
Oh my, I’m in love with this bed, can’t wait to see what you do to it. Love the new look!!
Hard to read gray. I’m straining and I don’t like it.
I also think a pattern other than buffalo check would look softer and better with the glorious curves on that piece!
Wow…can’t wait to see what you do with it!
I actually love the new design… gray font and all! I know it was a ton of work and I think you’ve done a beautiful job. Hope all the tweaks you plan are easy enough to accomplish. I have some web design and page building in my background and know it’s a lot at times. I think it’s gorgeous. Well done!
Sounds perfect! Can’t wait to see it completed. Live the style!
I love your blog and look forward to my daily read. But this light gray type is killing me. And the links are impossible to see. I hope this is one of the things you are working on!
I agree also and I am Barbara M. (CT Granny)
Love the buffalo check! I’ve been looking for some large check red. Hate ordering online because I want to see it and feel it!
Blue and white mattress ticking would look great on this 🙂
That is so weird…we went to a flea market two weeks ago and I saw a beautiful old day bed, I would like to call it a chaise but its way to big to be a chaise..the fabric is horrible shiny beige and green…yuk…I was thinking linen. I would love to go a bright for a pop of colour, but that would not go with the rest of my subdued furniture and then it was a question of which room should I put it in…..I love gingham I have gingham in two of my bedrooms, in lemon and lilac but this day bed is really making me think!
Love the new blog look… very light and airy, and feels less cramped. 🙂 Easier to read, too!
Yay! Glad you are thinking of a pretty printed fabric this time ??
That’s a treasure, Marian! I know you’ll do a fabulous job!
That is such a wonderful piece. I finally found a daybed of my own after three years of searching craigslist – can’t wait to see what you do with yours!
Warm regards,
-Luke
Where did you find the blue checked fabric?
This French daybed offers a beautiful way to furnish a spare room or a small bedroom. It is a great way to give a room a dual purpose, especially if you have a smaller home. Of course, you can purchase one of these beds simply because you like it!
This is like heaven, really!