Over the years I’ve sold iron beds to people that have had every imaginable style home, apartment, estate, farmhouse, beach house,adobe, penthouse , etc. that you can imagine. But I’ve never sold a bed to anyone with a more unique home than a couple in upstate Maine who happen to live in a “lighthouse”. From…
Not something traditionally seen in this country…….but the Butler’s bedroom was a common setting amongst the upper class throughout England. Because the butler held a rather important role in the families day to day living, it was important his private sanctuary be befitting his station in life. Often great pains were taken to make his…
Antique iron beds came in every possible design and after having been in the business for forty years I continue, to this day, seeing designs I’ve never come across before. But there is one consistency when it comes to styles and designs that you can count on. Iron beds will always fall into one of two…
What, you ask is “gendered iron beds“…….. Quite simply it means taking any antique iron bed and establishing it’s gender by the “finish” you apply. It’s actually quite simple. You can take a beautifully scrolled Victorian or Art Nouveau bed that has soft flowing feminine curves and design……. and make it look masculine. Maybe not…
“The Hills are Drying Up”, has become the catch phrase for every antique picker that is still in the business. When I started as a wholesale “picker”, over 40 years ago back in Washington DC., the “hills” were load with merchandise. The “hills” are the backwoods, that are away from cities and densely populated metropolitan areas.…
As you probably know, the largest size bed being made back in the 1800’s was a double/full. And you probably know that these old iron beds can be converted to accommodate a modern queen size mattress. But did you know that it can be done in two ways: The most difficult is done by cutting…
Quite often I have people come to me that are looking for that “special” bed for their master bedroom. If you know anything about antique iron beds, you’ll know that they came in more shape’s and designs than you could count. I’ve been in this business for around 40 years and continue to see beds…
Over the years plain Austere iron beds have often been referred to as “hospital beds”. The reasoning for that is quite simple…….. many of them were. Straight “soft shoulder” beds with straight interiors were a perfect bed frame for the continual use that a hospital bed receives. So it was surprising when I came across…
Iron beds have been used throughout history in institutional settings for one main reason…….durability. No other material, wood, plastic, fiberglass etc. etc., can match up to the durability and strength of metal beds. Often referred to as “hospital beds”, some form of metal bed has always been used in these institutions. They are also easily…
When we think of log cabins and the appropriate decor for them we usually think more Austere and spartan. Although that is probably what most people that built these rugged homes used in them. As time went on and the west was opened up with the railroad, fancier furnishings became more common place. Iron beds…