Nothing is more rewarding than building a project that would have cost thousands of dollars from a furniture store, but costs you only time and materials. Let’s check out this beautiful bed that Matt designed and built:
I have finally finished my bed project! Here’s the story. I designed this bed by jotting down some ideas and it evolved as I worked. It has taken me well longer than it should have, but it’s finally done. I used mostly cherry, some walnut for the beading, and cherry ply for the panels. Most woodworkers don’t seem to like seeing sapwood, but I actually got a compliment for “gum streak” on the footboard from a cousin that works for a cabinet company. There are a few plugs on the tops of the headboard and footboard that are cocobolo. I used oak for the rails and stained it antique cherry, because I just had some good oak the right length for the rails. I’m pretty excited and my son has been very patient. I think he’s pleased. Hopefully it’s strong enough to handle years of abuse as he and his brother get bigger.
Nicely done. A new bed is on my ever increasingly long list of projects.
Matt, that is a beautiful bed. I hope I do as well when I get to that stage in my woodworking.
Very nice Matt. Perhaps you could share with us the finishing process.
I finished the panels before the frame was glued up. I think I sanded to 220 and then used a couple coats of seal a cell and 2 or 3 coats of Arm R Seal. After looking at these pictures, I think the cherry has already begun to darken.
A very handsome piece. And the workmanship looks clean as a whistle.
I like your wall graphics too.
DD
Great job, it would definitely be hard to find an affordable piece like this at the store.
Matt – great looking bed! How did you support the mattress…it wasn’t apparent from the pictures.
On the inside of the rails I glued/screwed strips of wood that was about 1×1. Then I screwed in 3 or 4 (can’t remember) poplar cross beams to hold up the mattress.
Thanks for all the nice comments guys!
Very nice work. Your wall graphics suggest you have an artistic flair, and I think that is reflected in your work.
This is my 6 year old’s room and he is a superhero fan. The cityscape is stickies from pottery barn, but we cut out white sillouettes of super heroes from the same sticky material.
I love cherry and the bed too.
beautiful bed!