Modern bed dressing…success lies with the detail….

March 10th, 2010
Selkirk Solo - Iron Bed from The Original Bedstead Company.

Selkirk Solo - Iron Bed from The Original Bedstead Company.

Challoch - Wooden Bed from The Original Bedstead Company

Challoch - Wooden Bed from The Original Bedstead Company

Swansea - Wooden Bed from The Original Bedstead Company.

Swansea - Wooden Bed from The Original Bedstead Company.

Ascot - Wooden Bed from The Original Bedstead Company.

Ascot - Wooden Bed from The Original Bedstead Company.

THE 21st CENTURY CONTEMPORARY BEDROOM in which a simple platform or modern metal bedstead is the one item of design statement, when surrounded by little more than clear floor space and matching furniture, can appear austere in the extreme without other visual interest. For it is the accessories and the colours that add up dynamism and character to minimalist bedroom environments, where texture and vibrancy really comes into play.

Adding another level of interest with a sumptuous fake fur throw or a thick waffle blanket can introduce a deco-esque feel. Likewise, stripy animal print bed throws or possibly even a headboard in the same fabric can produce stunning results.

When walls and the bed colour are neutral, the introduction of a sharp jolt of colour in the form of sensual turquoise or ruby red bolsters and cushions can result in an equally enticing feel.

Topically organic materials such as wool, hessian, cotton and linen are all easy companions for a naturally decorated bedroom and work in great empathy with modern or more traditional wooden beds and furniture, resulting in a warm and inviting mix of textures.

Ever popular, crisp white and buttermilk cotton bed dressings are always compatible with airy contemporary bedrooms, reflecting the designers’ passion for functional simplicity and a neutral colour statement.

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The Mysteries of Sleep – fact and fiction

March 6th, 2010

Sleep

For centuries mankind has been intrigued by the mysteries surrounding sleep, and whilst we spend a third of our lives asleep, it is only within the last 25 years or so, that some of the answers to our questions have become clearer. There remains great debate regarding many aspects of this state of our existence that most of us simply take for granted.

Dreams, sleeping disorders, patterns of sleep and more, are all subjects that have spawned vast research and countless reports and articles. As a teaser, we include here a few interesting and thought provoking facts and figures surrounding this most fascinating subject….

  • In recent years, one of the most persistent sleep distracters is the presence and lure of around the clock internet!
  • As an age group, 18-24 year olds suffer more than adults with impaired performance when sleep deprived.
  • Studies suggest that women require up to an hours more sleep than men and that deprivation may be one reason why they are more susceptible to depression.
  • Teenagers require as much sleep as smaller children (10hrs) whilst those over 65 the least (6-7hrs), For the rest of us 8 hours is optimal.
  • Snoring only occurs during periods of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
  • Ducks and dolphins at risk of attack, balance sleep and survival by keeping one half of the brain awake.
  • An evening spent on the wine will help us get to sleep, but it is likely to be a light dreamless, and ultimately, less restorative slumber.
  • To drop off we must first cool off. Body temperature and the brains sleep/wake cycle are closely linked. That’s why hot summer nights can cause restless sleep
  • Even tiny luminous rays from an alarm clock can be enough to disrupt the sleep cycle, interfering with sleep chemicals even though we may not fully awake. Read the rest of this entry »

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Cottage comforts and Country charm….

February 27th, 2010

English Country Cottage

English Country Cottage

The image of the quintessential English country cottage is both endearing and enduring.

Whilst the stereotype pictured postcard village scene is often overplayed, few would deny the nostalgic appeal that our little rural communities evoke. In such settings the traditional cottage bedroom and the furniture therein is invariably comfortable and welcoming in keeping with the theme.

The rich textures and deep patinas of natural wooden beds are a natural partnership with the shabby chic of many old cottages and country homes as are traditional forged metal and polished or antique brass bedsteads. Indeed, since their rise to popularity at the end of the 19th century, these well-loved designs have enjoyed endless appeal.

Cast metal bedsteads in traditional styles particularly suit country schemes as their clean and inviting lines contrast with the quirky irregular contours and oak beams of old buildings. From its early peasant roots, the country bed was, of necessity, truly simple and modest.

Early wooden beds would have supported a functional Hessian sacking base or rows of tightly strung ropes or leather straps that supported a basic and invariably, uncomfortable mattress. Once iron and brass bedsteads became widespread and affordable within the more prosperous country home, they became popular for use for the serving staff in Spartan attic bedrooms.

The designs lacked decoration and embellishments and were accordingly very easy to maintain and keep clean as well as being largely free from the scourge of the bed bug, which had plagued previous generations!

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A brief history of the Mattress.

February 20th, 2010

jasper-mattress

We probably take the word mattress for granted although few realise that it owes its origins to Arabic culture.

Indeed, during the earlier part of the Middle Ages, Arabic culture was more advanced than that of Europe. One of the amenities of life enjoyed by the Arabs was sleeping on cushions thrown onto the floor.

Derived from the word matrah, which meant “place where something is thrown”, and “mat, cushion”, this kind of sleeping style was adopted by the Europeans during the Crusades and the Arabic word was taken into Old Italian and subsequently into French (materas) from which is derived the Middle English word of the same spelling, first recorded in a work written about 1300. Our modern day word, like so many, is a corruption of those original interpretations and owes its origin to the Medieval Latin translation matracium.

Whilst arguably not the most emotive piece of domestic necessity, the mattress and its derivatives have been with us in one form or another since the dawn of mankind. Indeed from the available evidence, it seems pretty likely that the concept of the mattress originated during prehistoric times when piles of leaves, straw and animal skins would have provided a more comfortable sleeping solution to early humans than a simple hard surface. As the greater numbers of ancestors left behind a nomadic hunting existence in return for a more settled agrarian lifestyle, primitive furnishings, including the bed, began to develop.

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The Original Bedstead Company at the Interiors Show 2010

February 19th, 2010

The Original Bedstead Company - Interiors - 2010.

The Original Bedstead Company - Interiors - 2010.

The Original Bedstead Company - Interiors - 2010.

The Original Bedstead Company - Interiors - 2010.

The Original Bedstead Company - Interiors - 2010.

The Original Bedstead Company - Interiors - 2010.

The Original Bedstead Company - Interiors - 2010.

The Original Bedstead Company - Interiors - 2010.

It was perhaps poignant and appropriate that with the onset of a new decade, we should decide to come to Birmingham with a few surprises up our sleeves at a time when the temptation might be to play it safe and stick with the tried and tested.

Certainly, looking around the vast halls of the NEC, there appeared to be certain reluctance for manufacturers to buck any trends, which after a challenging trading year is perhaps hardly surprising.

Yet times of austerity, historically spawn innovation and it felt wholly relevant to choose this exhibition platform for OBC to showcase for the first time, an exciting new product line-up to gauge reaction and response.

For those visitors who thought that any new direction was a response to the economic mood, we would beg to differ. Indeed, most of the new product categories have been under development for some considerable time and it is only recently that we arrived at the culmination of these development efforts with a range that we believe is worthy of the closest scrutiny.

For this debut the intention was never to fill order books but rather to suggest that there is more to The Original Bedstead Company than the traditional and contemporary bedstead ranges for which we are best known. Diversification sends out an intriguing message and we were by and large flattered by the feedback both from our established customers and from those people that we were meeting for the first time.

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Interiors 2010…. where do we go from here?

February 9th, 2010

Another year races by and another “Interiors”, the UK’s premier furniture, lighting and accessories show comes to a close. It does not seem twelve months since the last event and certainly it has been a year that few in the industry will forget, although many might wish to…

Up until recently, it was simply known by many in the industry as “The Furniture Show”, an annual event that has been running, certainly for as long as I can remember, and for the majority of my colleagues those four days of intensity are a pivotal point in the calendar.

Sadly, the same intensity that once saw swelling order books and upbeat retailers has been harder to find in recent years and the woes of the industry amidst the economic turmoil are all too well known and documented. Certainly, the sea of visitors that I remember from not so long ago, seemed conspicuously absent from this years show and I suspect that many stayed away as a consequence of poor January weather-hit sales and over-stocked warehouses.

Few would argue that it is likely to be another challenging year although acceptance undoubtedly enables all within the industry to make sometimes-tough mental readjustments and sharpen our senses to future opportunities, as we remain alert and hungry for business. There is certainly a temptation, when business is quiet for manufacturers to sit on their hands and play it safe when it comes to new product development and design innovation. Sticking with the tried and tested is a safe low risk option in periods of pain and it is an eminently sensible philosophy.

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What makes us different ?

February 6th, 2010

Our blog has been created with the with the purpose of encouraging discourse, debate and insightful comment.

Like most good internet forums of its kind, it thrives on views and thoughts from a wide range of perspectives to breathe life into what otherwise might be simply a raft of related articles lacking the human element to give it a soul.

The topic of beds, bedding, bedroom furniture and all the associated paraphernalia that we chose to introduce into the most private room in our homes, is a vast, almost unlimited subject with countless links and a most fascinating history that has been chronicled at length.

The intimacy of the bedroom and its purpose as a private sanctuary away from the demands of modern life is surely unquestionable.

Likewise, the mysteries of sleep and our dreams have intrigued mankind across the centuries.

The fables and stories that centre on the bedroom have also spanned the generations with a familiar and endearing quality and visions of Victorian attic bedrooms and romantic Arabian nights cannot fail to stir the emotions!

And yet, whilst most of us spend upwards of one third of our life in the bedroom we are frequently guilty of neglect in this fast- lane age when fixtures and furnishings and inspirational or soothing decorative nuances receive only passing thought.

As fundamental to our sense of well-being, the bedroom deserves far more than this.

After all, it is often only the one place where key moments of our life occur. As a setting for birth and death, relaxation, taking a nap, lovemaking or perhaps working or simply contemplating, no other room in our homes offers such a complete reflection of the human self.

And as a personal space where we can revive and recharge, the bedroom deserves a degree of reverence for those life- enhancing qualities that we so often take for granted.

If in some small way our blog can encourage thought and dialogue to provoke intrigue then it will remain true to our open-minded philosophy and forward thinking values.

As something of a trendsetter within the industry, our in-house manufacturing policies and groundbreaking designs set us apart.

If this forum achieves the intent of encouraging comment from which to draw future inspiration for product groups and bedtime associated topics, then it will have been a job well done…

At the very beginning of a new decade our resolution is that there might be no constraints on our aspirations, imagination and enthusiasm for what lies ahead…!

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New trends in bedroom style and design.

February 1st, 2010
The Original Bedstead Company

The Original Bedstead Company

A sanctuary and retreat….these are the key words that describe what the bedroom represents to many in today’s frenzied, economically uncertain world. People want a place that they can come to at the end of the day to unwind, recharge and relax, just as importantly they wish to do that in space that is fresh and evocative of modern styling trends.

New twists in bedroom design often echo those of the fashion world, but that is just the surface. For dig a little deeper and discover eclectic, eco-friendly, evocative surroundings that offer the ultimate in serenity whilst portraying lively adaptations of traditional design style.

In a demanding style conscious era, more and more homeowners are seeking to make their bedrooms very personal spaces. One sure-fire way to achieve a highly individualistic and comfortable environment is by the sympathetic use of eclectic decoration and fixtures.

An eclectic look is achieved by the subtle blending of periods and the style that predominated at the time. Combining an antique Louis XVI chair with a sleek contemporary dresser topped with a beautiful Venetian mirror, sets the tone.

Equally, a modern minimalist four-poster bed flanked by marble- topped Empire style side tables might be your personal thing. The mixing of styles adds character and individuality to a bedroom. Take away those matching beds and dressers, jumble it up a little, add your personality to the mix.

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Sleeping in the modern age

January 13th, 2010
Bedroom Styles

Bedroom Styles

There can be little doubt that one of the benefits of living in the 21st century is that, in terms of bedroom style, we have never been spoilt with so much decorative choice and captivating design innovation. And whilst modern living might conjure images of contemporary minimalism, it need not be so.

Most would agree that that our preoccupation with contemporary design and an uncluttered approach to styling themes has had a significant effect on modern day bedrooms, and indeed, many architectural themes are perfectly suited to this philosophy. Yet many traditional bed designs can look strikingly modern in the correct setting, with basic contours that are perfectly suited to low maintenance settings and neutral colour themes.

Dark English oak and emotive Victorian Antique Brass are two such materials that simply come alive when sympathetically married to the minimal urban aesthetic. With clever lighting and inspired use of complementary accessories, some definitive results are possible as old and new come together with intriguing results. It is often a surprise to find that the Modernism trend is actually not modern at all but has deep roots that are linked to a period in design history almost a century old.

In fact today’s contemporary interiors often unknowingly pay homage to the style of the Machine Age and the early Modernist architects and designers, albeit with a different take on their maxims of function and simplicity. In clean-cut homes where technology has replaced artifice, and decorative nuances rely on simplistic texture and colour rather than pattern, the often elaborate period bedroom style has been replaced with a desire for calm minimalism and understated detail.

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“Sleeping under the stars….”

January 4th, 2010

The bed is the ultimate escape. A pocket of sanctuary for renewal, respite and romance.

Creating a hideaway where the bed becomes a self- contained haven, means that wherever you may be, and however small the sleeping area, it is possible to climb between sheets and be instantly transported to a quieter place in time.

When on the move or sleeping under the stars, the sensory effect is sharpened and as a way of reclaiming our links with nature and recapturing a simplicity of experience, it has little equal, although one which we all too rarely capture.

A hammock or tree house in the garden during balmy summer months can provide a wonderfully simple escape, whilst a flight of fancy exotic beachfront retreat with a basic platform bed under a canopy of palms and the sound of the sea, might be the ultimate tropical fantasy.

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