my new bed

by | Jan 3, 2013 | Antiques, Favorite Finds, My House | 83 comments

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You know me.  Almost all of the furniture and accessories I buy for my home, I buy used.  (The only exception I make is for a sofa and mattresses.) It’s almost always cheaper and the quality is almost always better.  I also just like buying used.  The pieces have more “soul” and character.  If I have money burning a hole in my pocket, I go to the antique mall.  I don’t think I’ve set foot to shop in a real mall for over a year.  Any time I do go to a real mall (usually for a youth trip), I make a point to wander into Restoration Hardware.  A lot of their furniture and accessories are a bit masculine for my taste, but I love the classic quality of their designs.  In my mind, they are tops when it comes to beautiful neutrals.  I never bought anything from them, but I always walked out with a armful of catalogs for inspiration.

For years, I have had my eye on this bed…

 

source

…at over $1600, it was always too pricey and buying a bed was never a high priority.  So, I have spent at least 3-4 years scouring Craig’s List, antique stores, flea markets, fairs, thrift stores and E-bay to try to find a cheap, vintage-looking, French, queen-sized bed.  No luck.  I’d find a beautiful French bed with a curved foot board for $100, but it was a full-sized frame.  I’d find a queen bed for $100, but it wasn’t French.  I’d find a French-style queen headboard, but it didn’t have the frame or foot board.  I’d find a vintage, French, queen-sized bed, but it was the wrong style or was way out of my budget.  You get the idea.

I finally came to the conclusion that if I wanted what I wanted, I was going to have to be patient and wait for it.  So, that’s what I did.

The time has now come to replace our slouchy 10 year old mattress with a comfy higher quality mattress…and with it, I’m getting my bed.  The bed that always caught my eye.  Eeeeeeeee!  It is now on final clearance with an additional 10% off the clearance price.  It was still a splurge for me, but I’m selling other things to offset the cost.  The mattress and box spring were delivered yesterday and are hanging out on the floor until the bed frame arrives in a few weeks.

I will say, though, I don’t think I’ll be doing a lot of shopping for new furniture.  There’s no hunting, hauling, refinishing and repainting involved.  Where’s the fun in that?!  One reason I love this bed, though, is that it’s solid wood, so I can paint it, and I can reupholster it anytime I want a change.  That’s my kind of new piece of furniture!  We’ll see how long it stays as Restoration Hardware intended…

Does anyone want to make a wager?

See you tonight for Furniture Feature Friday.  Get ready to share your favorite furniture finds and makeovers of 2012.  It goes live a 10:00 pm EST.

PS – This is not a paid or sponsored post.

 

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    83 Comments

    1. Anne Boykin

      Dear MMS, So glad you are getting the bed of your dreams! I’m sure we’ll be seeing it soon and that’s exciting. You have such great style! Hugs, Anne Boykin

    2. Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage

      Oooooh, I’m so excited that you’re getting the RH bed! It is beautiful! Their stuff is usualy so pricey, but they do have some good sales here and there and the quality is wonderful.

    3. Debbie Byrd

      Pure Gorrrrrrgeousness!!! Love everything about it. The more neutral the big pieces, the more you can change everything else around it without breaking the bank! You truly are inspiring, Marian (dare I call you by your given name, instead of MMS?!!) Cannot wait to see how the room comes together, now that you have the main piece (or, ‘star attraction’) coming!! Gonna be FAB, as always!

    4. Emily @ Putting Down Roots

      I get so much inspiration when I visit our Restoration Hardware! I also leave with a magazine or two ;). The bed is gorgeous…my guess is that you’ll have it painted within the year 😉 😉

    5. melodee

      it’s BEAUTIFUL!

    6. Lisa @ Before Meets After

      It’s beautiful Marian! I am with you…everything in my house is used and repurposed, except for matresses and couches!! Congrats on the new bed. I’m sure you’ll have your unique touch on it by summer!

    7. Jenny B.

      I can’t wait to see what you do with it! I am sure you will make it way prettier than RH intended it to be. 😉

    8. Anne

      Beautiful bed Marian! My bed is eighteen years old.And about two months ago I finally decided enough was enough with the old pine finish.I still love the bed but it needed an update from the orange pine.I painted it with your paint in Linen.Now I LOVE it! I can share photos if you want to see it.I also painted our armoire that same color! That color brought new life to my bed and bedroom! It is a king size bed and those are usually a bit more.I am going to hang on to mine that’s for sure!
      I bet you are already planning your transformation on this bed LOL!
      xx
      Anne

    9. Traer Beaudette

      Beautiful! I am in the same boat your are, I really wanted a beautiful vintage bed, but we have a queen. So I just propped an iron headboard frame against the wall of my bedroom for now! I am in the process of redoing my bedroom decor too 🙂 Can’t wait to see how you modify it to make it your own!

    10. Linden Townhouse

      That is a lovely, understated bed. You must be so excited. You are right, though, about Restoration Hardware being a bit masculine. I used to love that store! But over the years, they have abandoned the lighter decor they once had and the furniture that was scaled for normal human beings. Now, everything is huge, dark and heavy. Am I the only one who thinks this? (However, I must admit that I love to browse the RH children’s catalog.) 🙂

    11. Suzanne

      Even though like you, I prefer vintage things to new, after forty-some odd years I’ve realized if I find THE exact item I love I should just buy it (if I can afford it.) Otherwise I wind up spending time, effort and money trying to recreate it. Glad to hear your love story turned out so well. : )

    12. Bekki

      There is a Restoration Hardware outlet about 10 minutes from here from my house. Even the outlet is expensive, but I do love to browse, and every now and then I find something I can afford and use. I love that bed is is so pretty!

    13. Angie

      Dear Ms. Mustard Seed…… you are a published author! You should not feel guilty about treating yourself to your beautiful new bed.You’ve worked hard and deserve something special. (Especially since you have loved it for so long)! I love Restoration Hardware too! I usually only buy some vintage toy or picture frames since thats all I can spend. ENJOY!

    14. Cherie

      Love it! How nice to get something that you have wanted for so long! Congrats!
      Cherie’

    15. sharlotte

      Oooohhh, I love this too! I can’t wait to see it in your home! Good for you!!!
      By the way, I received your book for Christmas and I’m really enjoying it. I’ve only had time for a few pages, but I wanted to read it slowing and really study your photographs. I’m loving it!
      Keep us all posted on your new bed!

    16. Donna

      The bed is you! So glad to see you finally have the bed of your dreams…you’ll paint it before summer…just finished reading your book, and yes I was inspired! And if you want to sell that gorgeous china cabinet to make up the difference…just let me know! 😉

    17. MARY EGUIA

      Love the bed. RH is working with a designer that you have to go to the web site.When my sister and I went to Atlanta for the market for her store I came across this wonderful store. BOBO INTRIGUING OBJECTS. Well I love RH and when I was looking thru the caatalog I noticed that alot of the merchandise looked like BOBO. Well, in a magazine article RH said that BOBO was designing for them!!!! Just some random info.

    18. Jeanine Okio B Designs

      Your patience definitely paid off. What a beautiful bed! I have my eye on a dining room table from Williams Sonoma. Hoping my patience will pay off too!

      Jeanine

    19. antiquechase

      Great bed. We have an RH outlet by my house and man it’s dangerous. Somehow just “looking” for a new couch can be $$

      Best time of year to buy there!!

    20. Jennifer Longenecker

      I can already imagine all the different things you could do with that bed. Have fun.

    21. Atta Girl Amy

      Gorgeous bed. And vintage/antique queen beds are hard to find because it’s a fairly new size. I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect queen for our guest room for a long while too. I figure I will find it someday. 🙂

    22. Debbie

      wowow! love the pic of the bed cannot wait to see it!

    23. Jennifer @ Celebrating Everyday Life

      Beautiful, beautiful!! I love to look at the RH catalog for inspiration too! Congrats on getting the bed of your *sweet* dreams 🙂 Can’t wait to see photos of it in your home!!

    24. karen@somewhatquirky

      Congrats!!! We do the same thing – everything is recycled except mattresses. And appliances – because I expect them to last my entire lifetime! I was watching the HGTV special last night and coveting like crazy. But every time I see something like that I find myself wondering if I would be at home in all that new stuff. And also wonder “where would MY stuff go?

      • Miss Mustard Seed

        Yeah, I’ve come to the point that I don’t like furniture stores at all! 🙂 We buy electronics new as well, but I would buy a used appliance, depending on the situation.

    25. karen

      yes, and this bed would look wonderful with a shabby painted finish on it! that is always the hard part for me when i buy something new, because i would rather put my finish on it! it is so satisfying to find the perfect piece!

    26. karen@somewhatquirky

      Oh and I was going to tell you that there is an antique warehouse in Kansas City, Mo that has some remarkable antique beds that have been restyled into queen and kind size headboards and foot boards. They are absolutely amazing. I couldn’t identify anyplace where the work was done. I don’t know if they did it by joining two twin headboards or double headboards or what. Whatever is was it was expertly done.

    27. Jamie Harris

      Oh, MMS, I am patting myself on the back! I bought that bed about two years ago! I have some gorgeous linens on it in white and greige. I am like you, in that my whole house is collected and old, however, I wanted a sturdy bed. This bed is the one! I haven’t even thought of changing it yet, because it is just lovely. I can’t wait to see how you dress it – then, of course, I might reevaluate mine!! Haha! ENJOY!

    28. Jeanine

      Happy New Year MMS,

      Lovely bed, congratulations !! Can’t wait to see the bed all done up a la MMS style…

      Queen size beds did not become an available “standard” size until the 1950’s so usually anything made before that time period would have been custom or full size. This is why queen size older beds are practically non-existent…I have a beautiful antique mahogany poster bed from the 1880’s and had it converted to queen size by a professional.

      Best wishes, Jeanine

    29. Jill Flory

      That is a beautiful bed Marian – I’d say it might last a year that way – wink wink!
      I love restoration hardware. I want one of their couches so bad. I keep toying with the idea of my hubby and I making our own 10 foot couch. I think we could make one for about half or less than they charge. And that would include some good upholstery tools too! Just not sure I really have the stamina to take on that kind of project.

    30. Kristen

      Ah yes, the perennial search for just the right queen bed! I’ve been on that same hunt for years too:) I just like having a footboard or else a tufted headboard would work for me. I’m so, so glad that you are treating yourself to that beautiful bed…you deserve it. I can’t wait to see what linens you put on it – I’m sure it will be beautiful!

    31. Mary

      Congratulations on your new bed – it is beautiful – took time looking over the Restoration Hardware website – I think I will have to move to the US – such beautiful things!! I got a new mattress and base last year – and am still looking for the perfect headboard etc – will have to be patient and keep looking. Looking forward to a wonderful year with you. Thank you for the inspiration

    32. MimiG

      Just an FYI. The side rails of most older full size beds can be reworked into a queen. And there such a small difference in width of headboard / footboard people just don’t notice. I’ve had mine done like this, using full size “external” with queen mattress set and bedding, for 20 plus years. No one has ever noticed…=)
      If they’re wood most any carpenter can adjust, if metal, any local machine shop/car welder can do. An antique car collector did mine for under $25.

    33. elma

      Oh I love the new bed!! So exciting!! I bought a vintage twin bed for my son and had a carpenter add on to the rails to make a true twin and I just LOVE it!!!

    34. Ronda

      So happy for you that you are getting the bed of your dreams! I, too, have been scouring Craigslist for the perfect bed. I am finding that most of the beds of the era and style that I want are only full, since queen-sized beds seem to be a fairly new thing. Can’t afford to buy new at this point because of the lovely new floor going down and a beautiful barn oak china hutch that my hubby bought me for Christmas! Look forward to seeing your bed in your bedroom!

    35. Carrie

      There’s nothing like that sort of anticipation to make you truly appreciate something, too. Enjoy! 🙂

    36. Pamela

      Now what good is hard work if you don’t get to treat yourself a little bit?? I think you have earned it! It’s an “investment piece” is the excuse I always use…
      Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

    37. chris from midwest cottage and finds

      this so ironic..i was at RH last week and ordered the table and chairs Ihave been stalking for years–i had to go to the store to see them before i ordered…so i drove the 3 hours to chicago to see the table and chairs…..and i placed the order…and also got the extra 10% off!! Am now painting items to sell at my May sale to cover the cost!!

    38. breida @ breidawithab.com

      wait! you have RESTORATION HARDWARE IN YOUR MALLS!!??!!
      i’ve never even bee INTO one of their stores – only seen the catalog.
      lucky you!
      and i LOVE the bed!
      b.

    39. Marlene

      Love the bed!! Really perfect!

    40. Marlene

      Love it!

    41. Kathryn

      I have never had the chance to hit a Restoration Hardware location….only a catalog the bed is wonderful…but I see you saying the bones are right…but I need some color and painting it within a year..you will put the MMS look to this bed…and it will be even better….hey that is an idea….MMS furniture designs…if Paula Deen can have furniture why not you…..

    42. Linda A. McDonald

      I think sometimes we are the same person. So many times you like exactly what I like. You even describe things like I would. Tomorrow I am going Lucketts and am hoping to see other vintage style places in Leesburg. My wonderful husband is willing to make the trip (it’s our 38th wedding anniversary) so I can look for some French pieces to paint for resale. Any suggestions? My area doesn’t seem to have a lot of French furniture. I can’t thank-you enough for your inspiration. Hope someday we can meet.

    43. Rayna

      It’s beautiful! I’m so happy you purchased it. Sometimes we need to treat ourselves to something we normally wouldn’t! Enjoy!

    44. Bettsi

      BEEEEEEautiful! I think you got an amazing price, Marian. Also, it’s your bed- you need it to be wonderful. I am sure you are going to love it. Congratulations!

    45. Denise T

      It is gorgeous!!!!!! I agree with you. Enjoy it !

    46. Laurie

      If that is the rough hewn, greenish toned oak that is the same as the RH dining set I found on craigslist, I will offer this. The greenish cast is a little off my taste, and I looked around the blog world and found someone who sanded the whole table down and then waxed it. It had a grayish cast then. That is my plan, when I finish remodeling my kitchen, or you name it other projects.

    47. Lori Merrill

      WOW… you deserve it, girl!

      As your article hit my email, I’m sitting on my new mattress with the old hanging out in my front hall, scouring craigs list for a new hb/fb. Looking, staring at my laminate dresser, Armour, side tables, wondering, how can I ‘French, Country’ them???
      Following your lead is the best! LuvYa!!!

    48. Jody

      I LOVE that bed and can’t wait to see it in your space!

    49. Danielle

      That bed is fabulous. I have a feeling it will get Mustard Seeded very soon! Can’t wait to see it as is in your space and when you decide to change it up. x

    50. Harmanie

      That bed is gorgeous. I am só jealous. My Aunt hás a beautiful 1930’s bedroom set that I have coveted for a while now. She was trying to sell it and I wanted to buy it, but unfornately had no place for it since it was a double and couldn’t see my husband and I going to a smaller bed. Well like you I will be patient, but that bed is so beautiful. Good things come to those who wait, patience is always a virtue.

      • Em

        I have two double beds. With the addition of a little hardware, they are now equipped with queen-size mattresses and box springs. Patience? IMO, she who waits gets too old to care.
        I had a king size bed once, and it was too big a stretch to reach my handsome husband…..so queen-size for me….LOL.

    51. Claudine

      Congratulations on your beautiful new bed, Marian!!!!
      I think it is totally FINE to buy something you have wanted for so long!!!!
      You deserve it!!!!
      I am sure you are going to LOVE it as it is for a while!!! The design is timeless!
      You will probably starting changing other things around the bedroom, though!
      That’s what we do, LOL!
      Have fun!

    52. Lorri Chambers

      Beautiful bed ,,,,my sweetie and I are sleeping on two twins pushed together and one is two inches(mine) lower than the other,,,,but the sweetie has promised to build me a headboard I saw that was way expensive….and then we will get a mattress set….so I guess patience is definitely a virtue

    53. Brandi

      lol….I give it less than a year before it’s changed in some way. I’ve been shocked at what you’re selling when I remember reading about how long you’d been looking for it, wanting it, etc.

      LOVE the bed though. I managed to find the EXACT bed I wanted from Thomasville (also over $1500) on CL…I could hardly believe it! It’s now in our bedroom after (at the time) 12 years of ONLY a metal frame.

    54. Anneke at This, That and Life

      Don’t hate me, but I see stuff like like this a ton in Seattle Craigslist! And I agree ~ it’s beautiful!!! I finally had to set limits on searches, because you can almost always find something around here. It’s going to be a year of great sleep for you! 🙂

    55. KATHY

      Love the bed but KNOW you will make it your own! Can’t wait to see what you do.

    56. Liz G.

      I can relate so much to this post! Haven’t found my dream bed yet though… this gives me hope, though, and encouragement to keep waiting!

    57. Audrey Zumwalt

      Beautiful bed Marian … so happy that you have found the perfect bed and been able to finally get it. You will have a lot of fun redecorating your bedroom around it. Anxious to see what you do.
      Blessings in 2013.
      Audrey Z.
      Timeless Treasures

    58. Joselyn @The DIY Spot

      I can so relate! I’ve had a hand on everything in my home, as well, with the exception of my sofa. I much prefer thrift stores to retail. And I too get weak in the knees when I’m browsing Restoration Hardware. Your bed is so pretty. I’m glad you decided to buy it instead of compromising. You’ve worked hard and accomplished so much. You deserve it!

    59. Sarah

      You know, it is ok to throw something new in with the old. Most of what I have is used, put together attractively, and carefully chosen, I might add. But, sometimes you need that item that just helps to make it all look better and fills the bill. If it just happens to be new and you have planned carefully why not? It is all about balance. No apologies. You will sleep great!

    60. jennylynn

      Enjoy your new bed, I think it is nice to get something new from time to time.

    61. Sharon

      Love the bed! I’m treating myself to my first ever beautiful headboard (Pottery Barn) and bed also. Still haven’t settled on mattress set. What did you discover in your search and what did you decide on? It’s pretty confusing out there!

      • Miss Mustard Seed

        The reviews were best for memory foam beds, so we went with a Tempur Pedic.

    62. Nancy

      You spend a third of you life in your bed. Well maybe you don’t because you couldn’t do everything you do with eight hours of sleep a night! Seriously though, it looks great and I know we will see a lot of changes in your bedroom soon. Congrats!

    63. Carolyn Miller

      Love the bed! And being on sale is a great incentive. I have a good friend who found the cutest headboard by the road for trash and she painted it so adorable. It has all the curves and is solid wood. I am also looking for the “perfect” headboard on m shoestring budget and know I will find it soon. Half the fun is the search!

      Love your site; it is my daily inspiration (along with Jesus!)

    64. kristin

      It is so great how things work out! To get it on sale–love the bed! I have to say though, you have eyed THAT particular bed for years, so enjoy it as is for a good amount of time. I think at least a year or two! You have so many projects lined up to do, right?? So enjoy that beauty for what it is now! Sleep tight!

    65. Janice Chiaffredo

      You have had a whirlwind year and you deserve a good nights rest! You will love it!

    66. Cindy

      That’s exciting! I saw this bed on Pinterest and thought it was gorgeous! I can’t wait to see it all fluffed up with blankets and pillows, and in your bedroom!

      Cindy

    67. Runt

      I have yet to buy a NEW piece of furniture for my house and we’ve lived there almost two years now. We did buy a new mattress, but like you said – I don’t think I could buy a used one. Creepy kind of, right? Our couch is a hand-me-down as is the dining table and chairs, the sofa table that is being used as extra counter space in the kitchen and the bed set we just bought was bought used (about 30 years old) from my in-laws. It’s solid wood and in great shape! New stuff nowadays just doesn’t seem quality unless it’s over priced, to me anyway. So yay for a good sale! Now, if I did buy something new, I don’t think I could bring myself to paint it/renovate it. If I’m going to spend that much I better darn well like it just the way it is!!!

    68. Barbara

      I’m so glad you made the splurge! When I was in college, I slept on mattresses with questionable pasts, hills and valleys. That’s one of the great things about getting older! I’m betting you won’t change the bed for a while, unless some little hands get on that beautiful fabric!

    69. ruth de castro

      marian! i love resotration hardware 🙂 we got a salvaged wood entertainment center from them and also our dinning table and chairs. They are local for us (in marin) and their customer service is impecable. I had to get my dining table and the entertainment replaced since it was chipped in an area and also a piece was floating on the table. They replaced it with no problem. If you get on their mailing list, they also have friends and family twice a year sales-

      Congrats on the new bed 😉 i think thats an awesome investment, since you spend at least 1/2 of your life sleeping. I wish i could get a new one, but we spent so much on our ethan allen set two years ago that Im just going to work with the dark zebra wood.

    70. Sandra

      the bed is beautiful, but I can’t wait to see how you make it fit into your room and all the extra interesting things you will do and add to the room to make it feel at home in it’s new place.

    71. Jacqui

      I love my bed! Hope you love yours as much. It is really gorgeous, happy sleeping!

    72. Beth

      I was just in World Market, and they have a really similar headboard. “Courtney”. Headboard only. It happens to be on sale right now, and can be seen on their website.

    73. Jeannie

      Hello Miss M, The bed is certainly worth waiting for, happy that you finally purchased it, sure that you are anxious to see it in your bedroom. Wishing you many good nites of sleep.
      We certainly appreciat all the traffic we get from you, would love for you to join us.
      Always,
      Jeannie
      of The French Hen’s Nest

    74. Gail

      Happy New Year!
      I am renovating my 1980’s house into a french farm house. This is a huge project and I usually design and make my sofas,tables etc. and find vintage too.
      When I buy new though I have bought many new pieces from Restoration Hardware… Bed,sofa, outdoor furniture and lots of pillows,linens and accessories. I love the quality of their line. A couple from Anthropology have snuck in!!!!
      You will love your new purchase!
      Sleep tight!
      xo,
      Gail
      of
      Casual Loves Elegance

    75. aussiebeachgirl

      It’s a beautiful bed, and you deserve it! heather x

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