So is there a right way and a wrong way to convert your antique iron bed to a king size? Yes and no………. Some iron beds lend themselves to a very common sense enlargement to a modern king size. Others have numerous possibilities, some far better than others.
Here are two perfect examples.
A Fort Worth Texas client purchased these two beautiful beds and asked that they both be converted to accommodate her king size mattresses. One of them is a bed that we consider a “slam dunk” when it comes to the appropriate design for conversion. Only an extension of the short horizontal tubes at the top need to be elongated and then additional interior verticals, to match the existing ones will be welded in. The other iron beds she selected is a beautiful “art panel” bed with the original art work from back in the early 1800’s. The options for converting this bed to king size were numerous and open to many possibilities. But in the end…….it made more sense to try and mimic the original design……. not really changing it. This design made the most snse and looks the most natural.
As you may already know, the largest size iron bed being made back in the early 1800’s was a double size. So when someone wants a king size , we convert whatever original double they select from our inventory into a king size. That’s done by cutting it apart in integral places and adding additional tubing to increase the width of the headboard and footboard. We also take molds of the original castings so when additional vertical rods are needed, we’re then able to pour those needed castings in our foundry. When we convert a bed to king size it’s been done in the same manner in which it was originally put together close to 200 years ago.
When it comes to Queen conversions, none of the above is necessary. The reason being, the difference in width between the antique double size and the modern queen is negligible…. It’s only a couple of inches on both sides. So a width conversion isn’t necessary like that with a king. The way we accommodate the old antique double , to hold the queen mattress ,is by welding the siderails, that hold the headboard and footboard together lengthwise, longer by 5″. Once put together the box spring and mattress will set on top of the siderails and extend over a couple of inches. Once the bed is appropriately dressed, that width difference is not noticeable.
It should be mentioned that all of our conversions are done in the same manner foundries constructed their beds back in the early 1800’s. For this reason, our conversions never look like conversions…..
I hope you’ve found this blog informative . I invite you to revisit my website
to answer any and all questions you might have about antique iron beds.
I also invite you to take a look at our company Face Book page for multiple photo albums on Custom Finishes, Canopy Conversions and a comprehensive “Before & After” King Conversions album.
