the bedhead

Around 6 months ago I made the following statement: "The bedhead we've been making out of an old fireplace surround is assembled, in place and almost finished. Stay tuned for an update this week."

Ahhh, I was wrong!!!

Let me start from the beginning on this one. Sometime not long after we got married in March 2008 we were playing around with ideas about bedheads and I spotted on a blog somewhere a fireplace mantel that had the middle section upholstered and was being used as a bedhead. The execution was so-so but we loved the concept and decided to do it in our own style.

So we searched around for a fireplace surround- the only requirement was kauri pine to match our treasured chest of drawers. Most of them were WAY above our budget but we finally scored one for $100 on eBay. It had originally been painted white then who knows how many other colours before being stripped back and VERY roughly varnished. Our plans were to remove the varnish, widen it slightly and add a new mantel shelf.

For 2 years it sat in Marcus' workshop. Ooops...

Anyway, Marcus slaved away on sanding this sucker back, much trickier than it seems thanks to all the lovely detailing. Marcus became a whizz with a dremel.

My work was to find a fabric. Have you ever had to find fabric to match every doona cover you own? Overwhelming. I started on the Ink and Spindle website and that's where I finished too. Birch in Chocolate Brown by some of the loviest ladies in town.

Then amazingly the stars aligned and somehow it all comes together. To upholster the hearth, Marcus cut a piece of ply a couple of inches wider than the space, I cut 2 layers of thick wadding the same size as the ply and then we ironed and upholster the fabric. Easy peasy. The upholstered hearth is screwed into the back of the surround.

I love it. I love the kauri pine and how each piece is a slightly different colour. I love the fabric and thankfully it goes with every doona cover we own!!

And just for people who give two hoots about project costing:

$100 - fireplace surround from eBay
$100 - Ink and Spindle Birch fabric
$25 - wadding from Spotlight
$0 - tools and consumables from Marcus' work
Total = $225

I reckon that a bargain!

[Other bits and pieces from around the bedroom - Doona from Kmart [scored for only $12!], Cushion from IKEA, Prints by Nate Duval, Sausage Dog by Jonathan Adler, Bedside tables from eBay, both lamps are thrifted, Hello Lover Wall Flag from Pony Rider, Kokeshi Doll and Brass Bunny both gifts]

Now to work out to do with this huge chunk on wall...