05 May 2008

A Fine Place to Rest Your Head





One of my favorite pieces of furniture is the headboard. I'm particularly fond of upholstered headboards. I think that they add such a custom look and feel to a bedroom. At the last office I worked at, my love for my own upholstered headboard became a running joke. It took me at least a year to decide on the fabric, only to find out that the perfect fabric was on backorder for 3 months. I was through with waiting and hastily chose another fabric. It turns out that the joke was on me because now I am not loving it and I can't change it, at least for a while, for fear that I will be served with divorce papers from my husband citing "too many design changes in our house in a 3 year period" or something of the sort. We designers have a hard time keeping things in our houses for longer than a few months; I think most of us want to completely redo everything each season. That is, unless I have some sort of rare, undiagnosed interior design A.D.D. that has yet to be fully understood and/or researched.




An upholstered headboard can add a touch of softness to a room that usually consists of so many hard surfaces. I think most people like to buy the complete matching set of furniture; the matching nightstands, headboard and dresser. It's actually much more interesting to have a headboard made of a different material, two different nightstands that coordinate but do not match exactly and a large dresser or armoire that works with all of the pieces. By doing this, it looks as if the pieces were collected over time, not purchased from Joe Schmoe's furniture storefor one low price, with a big brown puffy recliner thrown in for free to finish off the set!
So maybe when you think of an upholstered headboard, these are some images that come to mind.


I can see the headline now:
"UPHOLSTERED HEADBOARDS GONE WRONG"




This style must have swept the eighties, although I still see some of these styles in magazines today. Let it go people, let's get rid of the round lines and shirred fabric. Just like you let go of your giant permed hair in the 11th grade, let it go.
Oh dear.



YIKES!!!!!!!!


And my husband's personal favorite.....


Yes, there really are headboards dedicated to your favorite sports team. Ai Yi Yi.




O.K., so now erase those images from your mind, though it may seem daunting. Feast your eyes on these delicious headboards:



Bigger is DEFINITELY better in the case with this headboard.
2007 Symphony Showcase House in Austin, Texas by Laura Britt Design (courtesy of vanessareynoso.blogspot.com)







Check out this website-aside from all of the fabulousness, they make a damn good cowboy chic upholstered headboard and I LOVE the name of their business


This photo is of Miles Redd's master bedroom - I love the mild cocoon effect that it creates as it sweeps over the ceiling above the bed. It also has a very tailored, more masculine look. Sigh.



This bed is such a sweet option from Kravet for a little girl's room. Can't you imagine it in a bright fuschia with lime green fabric on the knot detail?


Consider an upholstered headboard for your next bedroom project, it's a piece that will add a designer touch and tons of flair to your room.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really like those! I never thought of doing that - I have the matching bedroom set (no brown sofa, though).

inhabit said...

Girl, I am right there with you, with the matching set.

Anonymous said...

Same here, I have the matching set, minus the recliner, but its a wooden bed w/ headboard, can you still apholster that??? Love Ya Michelle--Stephanie

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, I have one of those nightmare upholstered ones in the garage. I did it myself with terrifying fabric. I can't bear the thought of the garbage men laughing at me when I throw it away. LOL.

inhabit said...

Stephanie, send me a picture of your headboard - maybe we can work some magic!
Amber, I didn't mean to front you out with your old school headboard.

Apture