Fancy Iron Daybed

This country was not known for their iron daybeds. Daybeds were something the Europeans did more of. In this country we did more regular twin size  beds. So when someone wants an iron daybed with and American made  bed, we take a twin size and cut the head down to the height of he footboard.…

Iron Bed Pin Rails

I’d say close to 85% of all the iron beds that were being made in the 1800’s used side rails that had a conical shape on the end much like that of an ice cream cone. They would drop down in to the reverse image that had been cast around the  beds side tubing. Although…

Bunkie Boards…..Eliminate That Tall Box Spring

As you’re all probably aware, iron beds elevate the mattress and box spring off the ground an average of 8″ higher than a conventional modern bed frame. There were a number of reasons people back in the 1800’s choose to elevate their mattresses so high. They were certainly not for aesthetics ……… but instead were…

Iron Bed Tubing Sizes

There are a number of different size iron bed tubing sizes. The two beds in this photo are the most prominent. They are the most traditional 1″ diameter thick wall tubing, the blue one, and the 2″ diameter thick wall tubing. The 1″ tubing was used on probably as much as 80% of all the…

Queen Width Conversion to Double Iron Bed

99% of the queen conversions we do on our iron beds here at Cathouse are simple length conversions. As you may have read in a previous blog, the width difference between the antique double size  bed, which was the largest size they made back in the 1800’s, and today’s modern queen, is only a couple…

Rams Head Twin Iron Bed

This is one of the rarest twin size iron beds I’ve ever come across. It has large “Rams” head castings on the four corners. It’s easily the heaviest twin size bed I’ve ever encountered. That is due to the size and number of castings. Usually twin size  beds are much more delicate and feminine. This…

Iron Beds & Subtle Finish Differences

Here is a photo of a slight adjustment we did to an iron bed finish we did for a client. We have made a habit of emailing our clients what we refer to as “final approval” photo’s, before we ship their bed. Because all of our antique “finishes” are hand applied to our  beds, there…

Problematic Conversions……No Problem!!!!!

Problematic Conversions……No Problem!!!!!Why? Because the largest size iron bed being made back in the 1800’s was a double/full size. Back then there were no queen or king sizes. So to accommodate those individuals with either a queen or king size mattress, it’s necessary to have us convert it. The conversion process our beds go through…

Black Iron Finishes on Iron Beds

Actually a variation of Black. Regular Black can be a very dull lifeless color for anything, especially an iron bed or large piece of furniture.  Yet with a few simple “tweak’s”, an otherwise lifeless color can come to life and have a rich organic look to it. Here are the steps that go into our…

Crackle Finishes on Antique Iron Beds

One of the more popular custom antique faux’ finishes we do on our iron beds is the “Distressed Crackle” finish. It came about as a result of the response I continually got from my customers that would see old beds I’d get in, that had 150 to 200 years of paint that had crackle and…