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…
One of the more enjoyable things about being in the antique iron bed business over the past 40 years, is having been able to see countless beds be “re-born”, in the refinishing process, after a “storied” past of close to 200 years. It really is like the rebirth of an old piece of furniture that…
The use of the symbolic meaning of flowers on iron beds and particularly in their detailed castings to represent emotions was developed to a high degree during Victorian times. Due to the strict protocol of the times, emotions, wishes and thoughts were not openly expressed between men and women. Instead, subtle things like bed designs…
Why Manhattan? What would make this city the consistently largest antique iron bed market in the nation. Is the sophisticated tastes of its people? Or is there a much more practical reason behind the “iron bed” capital of the world. For close to 40 years I’ve been selling New York designers beds in record numbers…
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…
For over thirty years people have been asking me how it is that I had come by the name, Cathouse Antique Iron Beds for my business. Although you wouldn’t think it would take much of an imagination, the true origin is actually pretty funny. While living in Georgetown, Washington D.C., and attending George Washington University,…
It never ceases to amaze me where our Cathouse beds will turn up and in what publication or setting they were used in. The antique iron beds in both of these photo’s was an extremely feminine bed. So it really doesn’t surprise me the context of the photo shoot it was used in. What does…
One of the great things about decorating in a Country Cottage Style is that you can mix and match furnishings, so it’s great for those who are decorating on a budget. Wood pieces are usually painted in a lighter color and are also distressed, whether due to age or by design. If you scour the…
For some strange reason we have had the good fortune to have sold more iron beds in the month of October than any other month in the year…..even December. There’s a good possibility that people that are buying these beds for Christmas presents start the process early to allow themselves plenty of time to have…
One of the first things you should consider if you’re thinking about purchasing an antique iron bed is where you plan on using it. Is this going to be a bed for your master bedroom that gets a lot of daily use. Or is it for a guest bedroom that gets limited use. Maybe a child’s room.…