I received an email recently from a reader, that went a lil somethin’ like this:
“I saw, a while back on your site, where you mentioned something about your daughter’s bed: about building it from a headboard and a footboard. I LOVE her bed, and have been eyeing the one from Land of Nod for quite some time now. I would like to find one that has the sideboards, and was wondering if you could elaborate on how you did that. Thanks so much!” -Emily
First things first: For those of you who know the feeling that is absolute sublime victory in searching for that perfect piece, I have to share this one with you (and I’m not sure I ever have.) For Emmy’s big gal room, I knew I absolutely positively had to have a classic, Jenny Lind bed. Like Emily, I’d been eyeing this one from The Land of Nod for months. But it just wasn’t doable. {Big $$$ would have depleted the rest of our room budget.}
So, in my usual flea market shenanigans, I began to search. And search. And search. And one day I came across a headboard and footboard that once belonged to a pretty little cottage-esque kinda bed. So I snatched it up, and paid about 60 dollars for it. It was solid wood, and I thought it would serve its purpose nicely. I had given up the faith. I had settled, as it was a nice piece, but wasn’t what I really had my heart set on.
So, cut to about one month later, I’m perusing in one of my not-so-usual places, searching for, I think, night stands at the time, when I found it. The piece de resistance. The find of all finds. {The only thing that defeats this particular find, are my matching antique brass lamps that now sit in my bedroom, that I paid a whopping ten smacks for. Nah. This bed still wins in my book.} A discarded head and footboard, already painted white. Already distressed. For THIRTY DOLLARS. I’d spied plenty just like this in fancy shmancy antique stores, at a minimum of 300 bucks a piece. I hesitated for a moment, as I’d already purchased my cottage-y one. Shaking off my momentary loss of sanity, and resolving to refinish and sell the other one, I then snatched it up. {And that, ladies and gentleman, is how I started refinishing furniture-but digression is my hobby.}
So how did we transform it into a full fledged bed with sideboards? This is probably the most straightforward project we’ve tackled. I wanted a bed with antique-ish qualities. I thought that was part of what made it so cool. {Read: I had a mattress but no box springs.} So we purchased a pair of bedrails from a local furniture store. And some 2 x 4’s from home depot. Two for each side + more to cut into the appropriate sizes {six, to be exact} for bed slats.
We took the footboard to home depot to match up the paint, but basically painted the two larger side rails to go with the bed. It was easy to do once it was cut to size, and if you don’t have a saw, you can take your measurements to Home Depot and have them cut for free. Once the metal side rails were attached, we added the side boards by drilling into the headboard and footboard, as seen here.
I’m sure there’s other ways of doing this, but it’s what worked for us. The screws look super obvious all zoomed in like this, but they really are hardly even noticeable. Especially with the bedding in place. If we ever want to move the bed, etc., all we need to do is disassemble and move.
We then simply put the slats into place, and the mattress on top. TADA! side rails for the Jenny Lind bed I’d been searching for. At a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction…of the price. Sometimes the slats fall off the bottom-but only if she jumps on it-just like a genuine older bed.
Yes, that tattered pillow is the lovie she’s had since she was born. No, she won’t throw away the old cover even though we already repaired it with a new, fabulous polkadot one. It’s a bonus, in her book.
So, a lesson learned: patience in waiting for what you really want, always pays.
I hope that answers your questions, Emily!
What’s something spiffy you found for a majorly cheap price that didn’t even need that much of a revamp? I think those are always the best of finds, don’t you?
jami nato says
freakin’ cute!
laura says
that room is the most precious room ever! beautiful! LOVE how you made the bed work too. 🙂
Nina-Magdalene Mama says
Lovely! And great photos as well.
Shirley L says
Her bed is gorgeous! What a beautiful bedroom.
michelle@Make 5 dinners in 1 hour says
Love it!!
sheila says
I love the bed, but I the pics. Are those made with stick-on doll clothes or what? Did you do the frames yourself?
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey girl! Those were frames i made from plexiglass with some vintage paper dolls 😉
Nancy says
Since most of us aren’t so lucky it would seem another other company would come up with that bed for a price that’s a lot more reasonable. What a missed opportunity!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Most definitely have to agree with you on that! 😉
Lara says
Thanks so much for your detailed blog and photos! Everything is priceless; you should be very proud.
I just had to share that I’m in the middle of my own similar process. I love design etc and waited 10 years to have a daughter’s room to create. That’s not to say that this has been point of our journey (obviously not) but rather to make note of the time I’ve had to think of the details that a little girl’s room would include. I too love the timeless look of the Jenny Lind bed and like yourself was wondering if the $550+ version at LoN was a wise choice. Then boom, the universe sent my an antique version that some one was willing to sell for $40 because it had already been stripped of its finish so it couldn’t be sold for much. Perfect, saves me the labour of all those spindles! Now to find the perfect dresser. I’ll send you photos whenim done if you’re interested.
ashley @ the handmade home says
What a lucky find! Congrats-and of course we’d love to see photos! ;}
Melissa Olson says
SO so cute! Nice job. Love the room!
court says
Love the idea! We have a Jenny Lind for my daughter, a 3/4, it needs LONGER side rails, it is too short. Now I know how to do it!!!! Brilliant!!!! Thanks!
Ashley says
Do you still have this bed? I’ve been looking everywhere for one!? 🙁
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hi Ashley! We sold this at our yard sale last spring. But I’ve seen quite a few at the local flea markets here in MOntgomery! Keep your eyes peeled where you live and stay diligent – you’ll find one! ;}
Mandy says
What size mattress did you use? Lovely project, looking to do something similar. Thanks for the post!
ashley @ the handmade home says
It was a twin! Thanks Mandy!
Whitney says
I just LOVE this room! Is there anyway you can tell me where you got her tall dresser in the corner? It is gorgeous!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey Whitney! It came from the local flea market here – sorry I am not much help!
Whitney says
It is beautiful!!