Headboard Makeover

I have always always always wanted a really cool bed.

My husband has never never never wanted to pay for one.

So... when my sis-in-law asked if I wanted a king sized head and footboard (for free), I was ecstatic.

I also had no idea what it would look like.

When it came (thanks again, Risse), I realized it was not exactly what I would have picked out myself:

It sat in my house for weeks, as I debated over just putting it together or trying to redo everything.  Mostly I debated over the amount of work it would take.

I finally just took the plunge.

After tearing it apart, stripping it down, putting it back together again and giving it a fresh coat I came up with this:

Pretty cool, hu?

I really wanted a tall headboard, and didn't really care for a footboard.

I loved the straight top of the fb, but hated the curved hb.

So I decided to turn the fb into the hb.

Here's how I did it:

 I started by unscrewing the molding from the top of the hb, and chipping away the design in the middle of each bow.

Then I took the fb, and broke the legs off.

This is the fb without legs:

Then I broke the legs off of the hb as well:

And it was left looking like this:

The top curvy piece was removed next:

I then took the fb, and put it on top of the hb, so I could see what it would look like (tentatively), like so:

It was going to have to be repainted or stained from all of the demolition, so that came off next:

Once the stain was removed, I sanded everything, and had my brother and cousin put the pieces together and install the new legs.

 

I decided on cream.

Some day I will (maybe) get around to putting a few coats of black glaze on it to bring out all of the cool lines.

But that will have to be when I have my own garage, instead of using my parents.

Even so, it is pretty amazing to me.

I absolutely love it!