Nearly 50% of all the iron beds we sell , we end up raising the headboard. Why? Because with todays pillow top mattresses and large Euro Shams, that most people have, if the headboard wasn’t raised……it would be hidden behind all those pillows etc. The majority of all the interior designers I deal with have me raise the iron beds they get for their clients.
When we raise an antique iron beds headboard, it’s done at the point right about where the side rails connect. That way, the design of the bed isn’t effected and also the height of the mattress will also not be affected.
Raising the headboard of a bed is a relatively simple thing to have done. First find yourself a local welder. It’s not necessary that he’s familiar with or ever worked on antique iron beds. He only needs to cut the tubing on the outer perimeter of the headboard, above the hitch , and weld in as much as you feel you need to have the design exposed above the pillows you have. Everyone is different. We all have a different number and size pillows. Some people lay their pillows flat and other people prop them up against the headboard of their bed.
The best way to know how much to have your headboard raised is by measuring the total thickness of the box spring, mattress and pillows. Now take that measurement and place it from the top of the hitch, where your box spring starts, and see if it covers the design on your bed. If it does, by how much? It may be impossible to raise it to the point where all the design element is showing. But if you can get the top third of the design showing above the pillows, then your “minds eye” will fill in what is covered, by looking at the full design on the footboard.
The welder you select should be told you want the tubing that is going to be welded into your beds headboard, to be “doweled”, for additional strength. Your should also be sure and tell him you don’t want to see any weld marks on your headboard. The transition from the old tubing to the new, should be seamless. Also …. be sure and tell him your bed is an antique and to please treat it with care. It’s important he only does the work you want done on your bed. Not something he thinks will make it better…..
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 the multiple “Before & After” photo’s on our company Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/ – %21/pages/Cathouse-Antique-Iron-Beds/126838177398
