Converting an Antique Bed to a Modern Queen or King Size By Ken Melchert

Antique beds are rarely set up to this day the queen and king size mattresses and box springs. Most people want standard queen or king bed, or at least the old standard, a double or size.

Between 100 to 150 years ago, before you get on paper the exact size of a bed and the mattress was not so important. The average height was much shorter, and beds can be of any size with feather beds or home-made mattresses.

In the 1890s, appeared bedding manufactured, and the double standard or full size at about 72 "x 52". Antiquarians relate to the older, smaller-than-double size beds as "three quarters", but can vary greatly in size. Complicating the issue are European beds, built entirely different dimensions.

The common problem is how to expand an ancient bed of a modern desirable size without ruining the original proportions and appearance of the bed.

Our carpenters have done conversions for many years. We use standard brown steel, either for the full / double or queen / king length. We attach these rails to the head with bolts that go through security with its own header. Sometimes we add a solid piece of wood to have a secure place to bolt the rails. In the platform, attach a sturdy steel plate fitted with welded-on bolts. (We have never been able to find these boards, so they have designed and manufactured them in a machine shop.) This request is made inside the shelf so that nothing is shown from the outside. This allows the steel to be attached very well with nothing showing on the outside of the old platform. The bed can be created and taken down repeatedly, simply by unscrewing the nuts and bolts in each corner.

If you ever decided to return these "converted" beds to their original size using the original wooden railings, the steel fittings can be removed without visible damage to the bed.

Another factor in the use of old bed frames modern standard is the thickness of the bed springs and mattresses. Most bedding stores love to sell very thick or "pillow-top" mattresses that may be too tall and cover much of the beautiful and headboards. If most of the header must show thin mattresses and springs should be required to store bedding. The point is that the measure of steel rails to the top of the mattress to determine the thickness ideally before ordering a new mattress. The occurrence should be as anticipated, not the surprise of a foot higher than you expect!