Does Your Furniture Still Work for You? | Accessible Custom Furniture
What are your options if a piece of furniture you cherish is not working for you as you would like? This was the question we faced on a recent project.
The original footboard impeded the making of the bed
Our client had a king sized bed frame that had worked well for over 15 years, fit with her aesthetic and was part of a well functioning bedroom set. Made by a local furniture manufacturer, it was solid cherry with a dark brown stain. Quality materials.
Bespoke modifications make furniture accessible
As she aged, however, she was having difficulty lifting the large mattress in order to tuck the sheets under when she made the bed. The mattress fit tightly against the footboard and she couldn’t fit her arm between the two. A made bed is important for her. So how to address the problem?
We discussed three possible solutions:
Buy a new bed frame. As noted, this bed otherwise worked for her. Why relegate an otherwise good piece of furniture to the bin? Reselling was not something she was interested in.
Remake the bed rails to a longer length in order to create a space for her to get her arm into to tuck in the sheets. Aesthetically this could have kept the footboard intact and matching the headboard. But the gap at the end might have looked awkward and created a space for things to fall into. We also thought it might have looked a bit forced.
Remake the footboard to a shorter height. The existing headboard and footboard had a frame and panel design. By lowering the top of the footboard we wouldn’t have enough room to make a realistic frame and panel. The panel would have been about an inch wide. Silly looking.
Lowering the footboard solved the problem
After some good discussions she decided to have the footboard remade to a shorter height.
Once we disassembled the frame and got it back to the shop the construction methods revealed themselves. The legs were simply bolted to the frame and panel. Our solution was to rip off the bottom rail of the panel so that we could utilize the existing bed bolts, legs and top cap. A new piece of cherry was edge glued onto the existing rail making a single, solid panel.
Take the time to get the details right | Custom handmade
The next step was stain matching. Although we contacted the manufacturer, we weren’t able to acquire their stain or recipe. Fortunately, we were able to have a local shop come up with a spot-on color match. It took about a week to get the stain, but the wait was well worth it. The details matter here and taking the time to get the proper stain was the right thing to do.
Although the original finish was a solvent based lacquer, we prefer modern, water based, professionally applied topcoats. Cleanup is easier, there are no noxious fumes and the durability is significant. A few coats to blend the new and old and we were ready for delivery.
One of the most gratifying aspects of building custom furniture is the joy that we can bring to clients. In this case our client was ecstatic with the outcome. Not only did the appearance satisfy her expectations, but she was able to return to an important aspect of her lifestyle. Sometimes we transform spaces. And sometimes we simply make things a whole lot better.
Connecting with a furniture maker that listens to your questions and concerns, and can address what will work for you is key to achieving the best experience and best outcome. We often say that if you want a commodity that fits many, go to the store.
But if you’re looking for a unique solution that fits your lifestyle then consider investing the time and energy into custom work. How do you want to set yourself apart?