Putting the bed together.
After we hauled the headboard up to the roof and through the window, we got to work on a base for the mattress… Our mattress is one of those tempurpedic memory foam things, and they are supposed to sit on a solid platform, not a traditional box spring.
You can buy a platform to match the mattress, but it’s essentially plywood covered with fabric, so we just made our own. (Aside from being less expensive, our old house’s stairwell was even tighter than this one; assembling the platform in the bedroom was the only way to get it upstairs.) So we already had the components to build/retrofit a frame that would accommodate the bed.
On a side note, if you have an old house/narrow stairwell, the memory foam mattresses are far easier to get upstairs. They are flexible and sort of smushy… Which is going to come in handy here shortly.
Our old bed had a similar wood-skirt that enclosed our homemade mattress base. But the wood-skirt was higher and had slats across the bottom to support the platform we built.
For this bed, the original slats are long gone… which didn’t matter anyway because there was no way I was resting anything on the actual side rails. Theoretically it would be fine, but I’m a lot happier with the weight of our giant-millennium-selves on the floor, rather than piling it on 130-year-old wood.
Normally when you buy a bed, the height is already determined for you. But because we were DIY-ing it, we tested out different heights with temporary bases – paint cans, spackle buckets, etc.
Sidebar – you might like my DIY, repurposed, antique headboard Pinterest board. I started it back when I was thinking we might DIY the whole thing, but it has become a collection of interesting headboard ideas/ beds I covet.
After we decided on a height, Paul cut “legs,” for the platform. You do not notice them unless you are really looking, but it is possible that I will think of a better solution… It would be nice if it were seamless, (even if I am the only one who notices).
In the interim, we just used wood we had in the garage. Nothing says elegance and sophistication like a GFT (giant fancy thing) and some raw lumber.
The mattress is almost the same width as the bed. (Diagram/measurements.) The only place it was a problem was up at the headboard between the fancy-scroll-y pieces. We were about an inch short. Because the mattress is just foam, it pushed in there with no problem.
You can see about 2 inches of platform between the skirt of the bed and the mattress. This part was hidden on our old bed, and I guess theoretically I should cover it with some kind of fabric… But I just don’t care. If/when I begin giving guided tours to the public, possibly I will address it then.
When the bed is made, the scroll-y pieces/blanket hide the platform.
Now. As previously discussed, the mattress itself is longer than the bed.
You remember that, right?
I thought you would.
Because, I for sure remember that. And I am confused how anyone could forget it. Especially, if, let’s say, I was married to that person.
As Paul was doing measurements and cutting stuff, I saw him do a double-take and go back to re-measure the length of the bed. I counseled myself – do not jump to conclusions. Do not get agitated. Do not assume. There is no way he is going to say what you think is going to say.
Then he said exactly what I thought he was going to say – the mattress is longer than the bed!
I tried not to let laser beams shoot out of my eyes.
The laser beams are not because I think everyone should remember everything all the time… I myself have forgotten some fairly basic fundamentals. Like long division.
I just realized the other day that if my life depended on me performing long division with an actual pencil, I would be forced to choose death. And then my tombstone would read – here lies VEB, she could not do math.
What the laser beams are about — is my suspicion that more often than I realize, when words are coming out of my mouth, they are going somewhere other than a place in Paul’s mind where he stores important information.
And that possibly, there is a folder in Paul’s head where he files everything I say to him… and then, nightly, he runs that file through the shredder.
April 16, 2014 @ 5:19 pm
Ok love it. First off you are lucky your husband finds what you say important enough to even let it in the filing cabinet- even if for a short time till shredded. 🙂 Mine blocks the door and throws it in the trash immediately.
Love the bed..I agree in the long term have him lengthen the side rails.
April 16, 2014 @ 6:01 pm
We used our old electric carving knife to cut the size of our memory foam mattres from a king to a queen! It worked! Love the bed frame!!
April 16, 2014 @ 8:58 pm
I have nothing to add as far as ideas. I just want to tell you that I like your blog immensely! It makes me laugh out loud, applaud your efforts, and realize that a marriage is way more than just coffee together…
April 16, 2014 @ 9:39 pm
That bed is gorgeous! So perfect with your fancy style! 🙂
Are you planning any modifications to make the bed fit the mattress, or the mattress fit the bed? Because I’m thinking there’s got to be some sort of something Paul could do to lengthen the side rails so that the foot of the bed is long enough for the mattress. Like maybe cut the side rails at the halfway point and do some sort of large fancy wooden medallion piece to conceal that it was cut? I don’t know. I have a long-suffering handy husband too, so I’m always coming up with more project for him. 😉 It’s nice seeing a fellow Pennsylvania blogger! I hardly ever come across anyone from PA in blogland. Everything looks great and I love it when you post!
April 16, 2014 @ 10:38 pm
Simply FAB -u-Los! I was wondering what magic trick your were going to perform to get this to work for you.
April 17, 2014 @ 10:52 am
Stunning, as per usual. We need to lobby HGTV or DIY for you to have your own show.
Studies have been done that prove men process women’s voices in the same area of the brain they process music in.
This makes sense to me, because my husband is a professional musician, but he never pays the slightest attention to lyrics, claims he doesn’t even notice them. So if Paul is anything like him, he hears the melody, ( i.e., is aware that you’re speaking) but doesn’t pay much attention to the lyrics (what you’re actually saying) unless (as is the case in my household) he senses by the pitch of your voice that it’s something urgent, not just the usual chatter.
April 17, 2014 @ 5:59 pm
Oh, that bed is perfect for pretending to be a princess! All one needs is a box of chocolates and a good book. Oh, and a maid, of course.
April 18, 2014 @ 9:41 pm
That bed is stunning!
“And that possibly, there is a folder in Paul’s head where he files everything I say to him… and then, nightly, he runs that file through the shredder.”
Replace Paul with Adam and you have my husband. Cheers!
April 19, 2014 @ 10:03 pm
Victoria, as always, I’m loving your blog. I just wanted to say two things:
1. I DO remember that the mattress was longer than the bed. We girls pay attention to details like that 🙂
2. I am horrible in math too, especially long division!
April 21, 2014 @ 7:51 am
A fairly simple solution which would add support to the mattress overhang is to find a lovely upholstered bench that can be adjusted to fit just under the overhang and resting against the wood at the foot of the bed. That way, the beautiful wood is exposed and the linen coverlet hem rests just on the top of the bench at the foot of the bed. The legs of the bench give you the adjustability.
April 22, 2014 @ 9:19 pm
I can assure you that though it has been awhile, I did not forget that the mattress was longer than the bed!
You are hilarious, you have exquisite taste and I adore your blog!
April 23, 2014 @ 1:04 pm
This beautiful, giant fancy thing made my wednesday morning. And the comment about the shredder. My husband once admitted that he sometimes just turns off his ability to understand English when dealing with me.
Thanks for making me crave some ornate victorian in my life . . . my husband would not thank you, but he can’t recall me ever speaking about it!
May 2, 2014 @ 7:39 am
Oh mannnn, not only did I remember the mattress was too long, but I told all these people (who don’t read blogs) about this awesome bed I saw on your blog but the mattress was too big for it. And these people still remember your mattress was too long.
March 15, 2015 @ 2:32 pm
Hi, I ran across your posting on the Kingdom Mirror while trying to figure out how much to post my Victorian Mirror for sale on Craigslist. I loved it and had to send it to my Mom and my sister and my husband and then I had to read some more. You remind me of me 25 years ago. I collected Victorian antiques with my sister and my mom. I bought a bed that looks practically identical to this one, and had extensions made for the side rails by a great old guy who really knew his stuff. They blend in so well with the bed, even after all these years. (Also, FYI, we used the slats that came with the bed.) Now I am trying to learn about how to sell my antiques, it isn’t easy. Please feel free to give me some suggestions. Maybe I could send you a picture of the mirror and you could give me an idea how much it might go for in your experience? 😀
June 28, 2015 @ 5:55 pm
It’s a beautiful frame but I’m a lil disappointed that the mattress and sheets hangs over the edge in a noticeable way. Since it’s a memory foam mattress is it possible to cut the mattress with one of those foam saws and then just stick chopped end towards the headboard? I suppose cutting an expensive mattress is crazy talk.
March 25, 2016 @ 2:50 pm
Just had to laugh at your description about the information you tell your husband and where it “goes”. It describes us to a T!
My husband even chuckled when I read it to him! Beautiful bed, by the way!