Posts Tagged ‘Iron Beds’

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Simple sanctuary

Friday, July 30th, 2010
Metal beds from The Original Bedstead Company.

Metal beds from The Original Bedstead Company.

FOR THE MAJORITY of us, life is hectic.

We’re busy juggling a hundred different things and becoming stressed and tired in the process.

Family, career and personal responsibilities will always take their toll. So for those times when life seems like a runaway train, it’s important to have a private retreat where we can lose ourselves and recharge away from the intrusions and distractions of our day.

Most homes have a quiet corner that we make a special spot that is ours alone. In fact it’s surprisingly easy to escape without setting a foot outside our front door.

Older, more traditional homes, by their very nature and the style of architecture and room design, have natural little hideaways that might be just perfect. Attic rooms and eaves as well as under-stair closets have great potential for easy conversion to a calm sanctuary.

More modern homes might have less natural potential although still harbour obvious possibilities.

A private space need not be small, but it does need to be furnished with your favourite things. Should you long for a quiet space to curl up with a book, you will need good light, a comfortable chair, some plush cushions and a warm throw and a handy place to stand a cup of tea. If your dream is to escape to a deep foamy bath tub, then go for subtle lighting, some background music and light loads of candles.

Every individual has his or her, own thoughts on what makes the perfect private space. Looking around the home, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a place away from the telephone, computer and other intrusions.

A corner of the study or maybe the conservatory, might be ideal, although for most of us the sanctuary of the bedroom is the natural and most obvious choice. A bed during waking hours offers the perfect solution for weary, overburdened people looking for a little escape.

There is something rather enticing about an iron bedstead or brass bedstead when it is adorned with rich linens, bolsters and plush throws, that rather draws us in.

It makes for a great personal retreat with an ottoman or chaises longues offering alternative comfort whenever space permits. And when the atmosphere is just perfect, the view out of the window tranquil and soothing, and peace decends at last, stick on a little classical music, turn off the mobile, and enjoy one of life’s most simple but elusive pleasures!

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Seasonal transformations

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Iron Bedsteads from The Original Bedstead Company.

Iron Bedsteads from The Original Bedstead Company.

WARMER summer months call for some easy changes around the home, to reflect the longer days and introduce a feeling of brightness into our living environment.

In the British Isles, we have become so used to prolonged winter days and grey skies, that it is of particular importance to celebrate the balmy summer weather with some easy makeovers here and there.

Warm colours, rich fabrics and soft throws are undeniably cosy and comforting when it’s grey and bleak outside, but as creatures of habit we often don’t even consider making changes as the heat returns. Decorative and accessory changes are not only good for our sense of wellbeing, but draw a line in the sand for the changing seasons and allow us to dust off some forgotten pieces as we give them the limelight for a while.

It’s the little changes that make all the difference, like removing the winter tog rated duvet from your bed and substituting a lighter summer version at the same time exchanging dark patterned decorative pillows and cushions for fresh floral prints to lighter plaids.

Reversible window dressings are always a good idea for the bedroom or guest room, allowing them to be turned easily from neutral to lively with the seasonal changes. Likewise the character of furniture is easily transformed with a few simple accessory additions.

Pillows, cushions, throws and slipover covers can all contribute to a lighter summery feel, and in the bedroom the same might apply to that well-loved iron beds, where luxurious winter linens make space for cooler summer patterns and lighter fabrics for balmy July nights.

A few minor accessory changes can also make a difference, so change those heavy pottery containers for clear glass or crystal vases to display bright seasonal flower displays and be sure to scatter a few garden magazines and flower books on the coffee or bedside table, to help bring the outside in and add colour and seasonal interest to your home.

These subtle changes can be made all at once or over a period of several days or weeks, as the inspiration takes us.

Any change, however small is sure to make a welcome difference, and should the winter months seem particularly long, just ditch the calendar and drag out a few summertime accessories anyway. Just because there is snow on the ground and ice on the windows needn’t mean that we have to forsake the uplifting signs of spring!

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Focal point room inspiration

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Lerwick Nickel bed from The Original Bedstead Company.

Lerwick Nickel bed from The Original Bedstead Company.

Whatever the architectural or decorative style, it’s a well known fact within design circles, that a room will become a more comfortable space to spend time, if we choose a focal point or feature and arrange our furniture and accessories around this point to create a feeling of balance and harmony.

Sometimes a focal point will be an architectural feature such as a large fireplace. At other times it might be a captivating picture, dramatic mirror or an inspired piece of furniture.

Whatever the situation, the focal point is easy to create or identify to exploit the full potential of any room setting. A good start point is to look around the room to determine the dominant feature, which in turn is likely to become your focal point.

In an older traditional setting this is likely to be a fireplace, a picture window, or a built in bookcase whilst in more contemporary rooms it might be a large ornament or modern abstract painting.

A focal point should always be something with interesting visual appeal or colourful or textural interest, otherwise it will not fill the brief as a “focal point”. It should be the first thing that you see when entering a room and it’s possible to create a focal point by concentrating on artwork, paint colour accents or large floral arrangements.

If the room has no distinguishing architectural features, another assured way to create focus is by using feature pieces of furniture.

In the bedroom, the bed is very often the focal point in terms of purpose and positioning, dictating the character of the room and influencing the decorative and accessory theme.

Traditional iron beds and contemporary iron beds styles are particularly appealing in this regard, as are French or English influenced wooden bedstead designs.

In traditionally themed bedroom settings a romantic brass bedstead might just fit the bill, whilst for more ascetic modern rooms a nickel or chrome bedstead is a compelling focal point choice.

Should an outdoor view be the focal point, it’s worth experimenting with the furniture positioning to take advantage of the window areas, and likewise a wall can be painted a different colour than the others and accessorised with wall ornamentation, artwork or display shelves. Lighting to accentuate and bring out the full character of your chosen point is a great idea and if you’ve identified a mantle as the focal point, consider using specimen plants and accessories to add interest.

In all instances it’s particularly effective when contrasting colours are used to allow the focal point to stand out.

Choosing the focal point that gives us visual pleasure is always a recipe for success and by making that “point” the first thing that strikes us it will ensure that others enjoy the same experience.

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…more guest room solutions.

Monday, July 26th, 2010

OK, SO WE’VE GOT our enticing iron beds and mattress sorted out with some lovely linens and an opulent bed throw with complimentary accessories, window dressings and a quiet corner for the times when your house guests need a little time away from their enchanting hosts.

So what else can we do to provide those little extra special finishing touches that will have them wanting to come back for more?

Well, first and foremost…de-clutter.

Guest rooms are a notoriously common resting place for household junk that we have nowhere else to deposit.

“Out of sight, out of mind”. Never has a saying been so true, so get rid of those old shoe boxes and record collections and rolls of Xmas wrapping paper by sticking them under the bed or better still up in the attic or under the stairs.

You might be happy to share space with your own clutter, but it’s unlikely that anyone else will have the same attachment!

Clearing out junk and anything that isn’t useful, creates an immediate sense of space and airiness.

Likewise, some careful attention to good ambient and direct lighting is a sensible idea, with variable intensities depending on the time of day and mood and a good reading light combination for the bedside tables that can be turned on and off without getting out of bed.

Other thoughtful touches might include a cosy robe (whoever remembers to pack one of those?), but it’s a nice idea and practical too when we’re in someone’s home other than our own. And what about leaving a few books or local magazines scattered about.

If it’s a book that you’ve recently finished reading it might just spark some interesting conversation and a regional magazine makes particularly interesting reading for anyone from out of the area.

Once again it’s all about adopting a little “hotel” philosophy to induce a comfortable and welcoming feeling. And after all this easily achievable effort, we shouldn’t forget the little finishing touches.

A vase of fresh flowers is such an easy addition to a guestroom but makes so much difference, particularly if the flowers are seasonal, bright and scented.

Think about the things that you like to have in your own bedroom and simply replicate.

So, a carafe of water and glasses would be appreciated as would a small radio and some bottles of lotions and hand creams. Personally we are bit anti-TV for the bedroom, but if your guests are addicts then it might just be a nice idea as long as it doesn’t distract from the purpose of the visit!

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Guest room solutions for five star weekends..

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Metal Beds from The Original Bedstead Company.

Metal Beds from The Original Bedstead Company.

Whilst you might not have the budget or inclination to convert your guest bedroom into something straight out of The Ritz, there are many simple things that can be done to make it almost as comfortable.

With a little thought and imagination some easy transformation is possible to turn compromised house-guest comfort into a truly luxurious experience. With luxury hotels competing with each other to provide the best sleep experience for their guests, no surprise then,that in the home the same philosophy should apply.

Investing in a good bed or metal beds and mattress combination will pay dividends.

This is one decision where compromise simply, just won’t do. So throw out that old sofa bed or hand-me-down divan set and choose an inviting and comfortable bed that will ensure a good nights sleep and have your guests thanking you for it in the morning!

Complete the experience with crisp, clean and fresh linens and nicely coordinated  bed throws, which will not only feel good, but will add that extra little touch of glamour.

Soft mattress toppers or comforters in the winter months are a nice touch with an extra blanket tucked away in the closet for the coldest nights.

And of course, it makes no sense to skimp on pillows after taking the trouble to get everything else right. Goose down, duck feather, synthetic fillings, memory foam or any number of various combinations. The choice is vast.

It needn’t cost much to provide truly comfortable head support, although it’s all too often an after-thought.

A pile of fluffy towels on the corner of the bed shouldn’t be forgotten either, just as you might expect to find in a boutique hotel, and for ultimate comfort, why not provide a corner in which your guests can relax?

We all need a little quiet time and privacy even when we are entertaining or being entertained, so a comfortable cosy part of the guest room complete with a soft upholstered chair or chaises longues where space permits, might be just the answer.

Even a small round back chair and stool will fit the bill and ensure that your friends have a quiet place to relax and reflect.  As with most things in life, it’s the little thoughtful touches that make all the difference!

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Weekend thoughts..

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Cara Iron Bed from The Original Bedstead Company

Cara Iron Bed from The Original Bedstead Company

WHEN someone suggested the other day that we feature a “Bed of the Month”, it seemed like a pretty good idea.

After all, why not?

Bedsteads, like people, have their own personalities.

Assured and masculine, gently glamorous, or somewhere in between, a bed, like most home-style choices, might just reflect our personality, our hopes and aspirations or maybe could just be a celebration of the seasons?

So putting the “bed of the month” idea to one side for a moment and on the seasonal theme, with summer temperatures set to hit a year-so-far high over the weekend, here’s a summery bedstead suggestion that’s sure to find favour, particularly with the romantics out there!

So, here we go….it could have been one of many, but there’s something about our Cara traditional iron beds that exudes an unmistakably inviting quality.

Gently organic floral curves and detailed castings suggest great balance of form with wonderful visual appeal. Feel free to disagree, but with its deep glossy ivory colour finish, we think that this gently beguiling design hints of warm balmy summer evenings with the windows ajar as the breeze billows the curtains.

And no, we’ve not been drinking too much Pimms, for there’s a compelling case for associating furniture and decorative themes with the seasons, and it looks as though we just made a start….!

Inspired, warmth induced thoughts to close the week…no less!

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Some Hampton Court reflections

Friday, July 16th, 2010

INTERESTING to note the presence of bedsteads even in the most unlikely of settings!

With The RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in full swing, a much- looked-forward-to visit on a particularly warm and sultry day this week, unearthed several old bedsteads and more modern creations in unusual surroundings.

Seems that there is no escape from these most ubiquitous of everyday objects, even away from the confines of the bedroom!

As testament to everyday British ingenuity and downright quirkiness , we shouldn’t really be surprised of course, and historically the humble iron beds was often put to good use around the home or even outside, once it had served it’s time for the purpose intended. So it was rather nice to see a couple of old metal bed head-ends feature within the “Well loved but forgotten” small garden display as props for plants or perhaps simply garden dividers, Who can say?

Along with a rusty old bicycle and other assorted forgotten tools and implements, we couldn’t help but feel that it offered a poignant reminder of gardens of old and their rather special inherent character, which you’d probably find nowhere else in quite the same way, other than within these shores.

Kind of makes us wonder how many such forgotten corners that there still are out there?

Certainly this lovely little creation brought such thoughts to mind. Elsewhere away from the distraction of the sea of flower displays, there were other bedsteads to be found.

One such pretty little period French style single metal bed, complete with lush green grass bedspread and pillow!

A rather interesting combination of materials. Animal, vegetable or mineral?

Well…probably all three actually, once someone is tucked up to sleep…!

And wandering around the show grounds, it’s good to see small bespoke stands offering new and innovative ideas for bedstead designs, from hand finished wood and wrought iron mix contemporary designs to more traditional Iron bed creations with a modern twist.

More about these thought provoking bedstead styles in a separate post, and admittedly, whilst beds might be the last thing on your Hampton Court Flower Show “shopping list”, it’s fun to encounter such diversity when it is least expected!

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The perfect Summer Decorating solution?

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

WITH SUMMER seemingly upon us, at least for the moment, it’s a pretty good time to be thinking about some fresh and airy decorating ideas away from the lure of the sunshine and ubiquitous BBQ!

In fact for anyone who has been contemplating introducing a touch of Shabby Chic into the home, summertime is the perfect season to provide a little inspiration.

Warm and breezy summer months are the perfect partner for the light and gently worn look of Shabby Chic, that actually need not be “shabby” at all in the true sense of the word, but rather traditionally comfortable and enormously appealing.  Elsewhere within these pages there are decorative and accessory suggestions for the quintessential Shabby Chic look which encompasses much of what we would associate with cottage style decorating with the enchanting use of pale or painted mismatched furniture, worn and vintage items, lots of faded flowery prints, and a general feeling of dilapidated but well-loved elegance.

Think of elements of a favourite Aunts cottage, teamed with pastel and cream colour shades and a scattering of quirky yet harmonious accessories, and you will find yourself on the right lines.

Shabby Chic embraces the beauty of imperfection and the inviting appeal of simple and homely living. It is a timeless home-style that is light, airy and welcoming and indisputably pretty.  Furniture choices become easy for the Shabby Chic home.

Old furniture brought back to life with a coat of white or eggshell blue paint will tie the look together. Mismatching is actually a plus and will ensure a thrown together informal style, which nevertheless needs a central colour scheme to create a link for perfect eclectic harmony.

Shabby Chic is particularly at home in the bedroom where the softly faded look is particularly enchanting, and a romantic white or glossy ivory iron beds would be the perfect partner for some soft floral fabrics and well- worn painted or lime-washed wooden furniture.

For a slightly more formal look, some pretty French style painted chairs or traditional Swedish-style furnishings can also work well. Just add some ornate gilt framed mirrors and some teardrop crystal chandeliers for the ultimate in enticing “not-so-shabby” Chic.

Appealing, calming and wonderfully affordable.

This is the inherent beauty and easy accessibility of this charming decorative choice. In fact a summertime Shabby Chic makeover might just be the perfect celebration of long balmy sun-filled days and a welcome antidote to those grey winter months which, before we know it, will be racing around again….!

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Simple sound sleep tips

Monday, July 12th, 2010

We’re constantly bombarded with advice for achieving a great night’s sleep, and mostly it is common sense stuff of which most people will be well aware, although a little reminder from time to time does no harm!

Without doubt,so many of us don’t have the luxury of a full and rejuvenating slumber.

Blame stress, family pressures, workplace anxieties and a host of other subconscious issues that plague our recharging time.

They all play a part in jolting our sleep patterns, all too often in the depth of the night as we curse another premature awakening and lie awake, listening to the clock or pad downstairs to make a cup of tea.

But there has always been a few simple precautions that are easy to achieve, to make our sleeping hours more peaceful and the chance of unbroken nights more likely. Unwelcome noise or light are an obvious sleep disruptor, and yet how many of us drift off to sleep with the bedside light still on or the radio  chatting away?

Light is one of the body’s most powerful time cues.

The rising sun can wake up the brain long before the alarm rings out, but then so too can artificial light or unwelcome noise as it interferes with the subconscious parts of our brain. A dark, quiet room is the most conducive environment for deep uninterrupted sleep although the regular hum of an air conditioner or whirr of a fan, may serve to soothe and block out other less peaceful sounds.

Temperature also plays a crucial part. Too hot,too cold….we know the consequences, and 60-65 degrees fahrenheit is the optimum range.

The temperature of the body needs to drop a tad before we enter sound sleep and it’s essential that we give it the opportunity to do so. And likewise, on the topic of comfort, we all know the importance of investing in a good mattress and bed support.

And yet there’s still far too many of us making do with shabby worn out beds when we are more than happy to spend money on our lifestyle needs and desires that are fundamentally of far less importance. A not-too-hard supportive mattress can make the difference between nights of sound slumber and refreshed waking hours and broken night time misery.

Invest wisely in a top class divan set or iron beds, brass beds, or wooden beds and mattress combination, for a completely transformed sleep experience.

And lastly as a final thought, research has shown that on average, we enter a deep sleep 60% faster if we simply spend a few minutes tidying our bedroom before we retire.

So now there’s no excuse to throw our clothes over the foot of the bedstead or leave clutter all over the floor, although of course there are always some things in life that will never change!

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Bedroom decadence?

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

AMIDST the harsh reality of now-familiar economic gloom, here at the Original Bedstead Company, we’ve noted with interest a significant upturn in enquiries and demand for our very finest flagship designs.

At a time when we might have expected cash conscious customers to sit on their hands or opt for more mainstream Iron beds or Brass beds model, quite the reverse seems to be the case.

In fact we’ve been kept pretty busy, keeping up with demand for unashamedly romantic iron bedsteads from our range such as the Athalone, Walton and Alva.

And likewise, invitingly glamorous brass beds, such as the Ayr, Montrose,

Liddlesdale and Mandallay have been equally popular. These are all elaborately designed bedsteads where laborious and highly skilled production processes are reflected in the showroom price, and yet interest has never been stronger.

It is certainly a positively heartwarming trend and we’re quietly wondering if it is not, in some small way, an intriguing reaction to the global malaise as we choose to treat ourselves to a little night time pampering away from the doom laden headlines of the day.

We’ve always viewed the bedroom as something of a sanctuary. Somewhere to relax, recharge and retreat from the stresses and pressures of modern day living.

For many the bed is the ultimate escape.

A place of solitude or companionship, where we can escape from the melee to a haven of warmth, comfort and calm.

What better expression then of restrained good taste, than an enticingly enchanting and sensual bedstead to set the scene and mood. History tells us that when times are tough, a little decadence is never more appealing and we’re rather flattered to be a small part of it all….

In the face of gathering economic clouds and World Cup woes, let us not doubt legendary staunch British resolve!

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