Some people look at old beds as just a run down piece of furniture that doesn’t know when to say die. Others look upon that same bed with a much different eye…….. an eye of “refined elegance”. When that vision of “refined elegance” is given to any item ………… especially antiques or vintage furniture, it can be enhanced simply by the other articles that appoint it in a room.
If the room is “Spartan” and austere in nature…….little respect or homage is being paid to the item. Yet in that same room, if the surroundings are fresh and beautiful……. that vintage antique iron beds, will all of a sudden take on a renewed importance and value in the eye of the beholder.
I’ve seen the same bed in two different settings. One setting being austere in nature with few appointments, and those that were there were not attractive. In that type of setting the bed looked much more utilitarian in nature….just an item to hold the mattress…….dare I say a “necessary evil”.
Yet in another room that has been decorated with care and love for its surroundings, a bed can all of a sudden take on the importance of an item of great significance…….a reclaimed , highly thought of antique who’s surroundings were specifically designed around it.
Same bed ……… Two entirely different settings.
Refined Elegance is a term I like to use in relation to making the adjustments to a room, to highlight, with respect to a piece of furniture, in is case an antique iron bed, to enhance it’s visual value and importance.
The bed in this photo is a perfect example. I had seen this bed in it’s original setting in a small home outside of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The room was bare except for the bed and a extremely plain wooden dresser. The curtains were plain sheer white, unfinished hardwood flooring and old wallpaper that was starting to peel. A single light bulb hung from the ceiling. The mattress on the bed was covered with a simple white cotton bedspread and it had no dust ruffle and only two pillows that had been laid flat at the headboard…..not even propped up. To say it was depressing would be to give it the benefit of the doubt……. it was simply sad that anyone would ever have to sleep in such an obviously uncared for bedroom. ow go from that room to the one you see in the photo………..
The same bed we’re discussing, in the photo is now given a much more beautiful setting and appointments to enhance it’s beauty. It is dressed appropriately with beautiful linens, multiple pillows and is positioned to be the main item of furniture and importance in the room. Rich lighting, polished wood flooring, elegant overstuffed chairs and louvered window treatments all add to the “Refined Elegance of this antique iron bed.
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 our company Face Book page for multiple photo albums on Custom Finishes, Canopy Conversions and a comprehensive “Before & After” King Conversions album.
