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Cutting The Posts Off Our Canopy Bed

Yup, we finally gave Ed a little haircut. For over a year and a half we tried to work with the posts on Ed the bed, but the realization that we didn’t have a lofted ceiling or a floor plan that made sense of those big dramatic posts slowly worked its way into our conscious and we finally decided that just because Ed was born with long hair posts doesn’t mean that a little haircut is cruel and unusual bed punishment. So here he is before…

Bedroom Moved1

… during…

Cutting Legs1

… and after…

Cuttinglegs14

This whole bed-trimming project was free, took about an hour of work, and we totally dig the more open look. It was just too much vertical stuff going on- especially with the bed right next to the window (with those floor length curtains going on). Ed’s totally crying out for a large fabric headboard so we can raise the mirror above the bed about another foot or two (like this poorly photoshopped rendering) and someday we’d love to stain the floors (and possibly the dresser) darker…

Headboard2

… but we’re getting there. And just because I can’t stop at one photoshopped headboard option, here are some more I had fun with:

Headboard4

Headboard3

But back to reality. You know we like to use what we have, and we love Ed for so many reasons. The height, the comfort, and the thin airy legs that he sits on which allow us to hang out be weird under the bed…

Bedroom Moved4

… so instead of completely scrapping him (ex: craigslisting him and buying a new bed) we devised a completely reversible plan to give his posts a little trim. How is it reversible? Well, while they don’t just screw off or anything, they’re solid wood posts. So we can always reattach them by adding a nice long metal screw to the center of each post that we could just screw back into the bed frame to attach them (it’s how a bunch of Ikea items are made, like how Lack tables have legs that can be screwed on and off). So although we don’t foresee any reason to put those suckers back on, who knows… maybe someday we’ll end up in a house with lofted ceilings and we’ll wish we could put Ed back together – and now, theoretically we can. Haha.

So after concocting our little Ed-tweaking plan, this is how it all went down (complete with insanely embarrassing not-meant-to-sound-perverted comments by yours truly):

For those who can’t watch the video (perhaps you’re at work, although it pretty much tells the story on mute) we snapped some photos for ya too. We basically just lined the Dremel up (we have a Multimax, and used the wood cutting attachment) with the base of the post and slowly sawed around it.

Cutting Legs2

Oh and see how we put a piece of cardboard between the mattress and the post? Just wanted to make sure we didn’t get too chop-happy near the mattress (and moving our organic mattress takes the strength of ten vampires, so we just didn’t have it in us).

Cutting Legs3

Thankfully we had no mattress casualties and each post came down after around five minutes of careful cutting.

Cutting Legs4

We actually got much better at making super clean cuts as we went, so we’re glad we started on the two bottom posts of the bed (which will always be covered by the comforter anyway) and worked our way up to the top two posts, which are seen a lot more.

Cutting Legs6

John even let me take a spin. I had to wrestle the Dremel from his cold dead tool-loving hands, but it was worth the trouble. Girls need a romp with a power tool every once in a while too. Especially because safety glasses are so undeniably sexy.

Cutting Legs7

We were really surprised how nice the top posts looked when they were cut. See the circle detail that they ended up sporting (the bottom posts didn’t have those)? They made it look like a decorative design, so they looked convincing. Like they were meant to be this way. Total happy accident.

Cutting Legs8

Then we just did some sanding to get everything smooth…

Cutting Legs9

… and I used the Ikea-white paint (I did a little hunting to find the perfect white paint that matches Ikea’s white tone here) that we had leftover from another project.

Cutting Legs11

 Check out the top right post after cutting, sanding, and painting…

Post1

… and the top left post after the same rigmarole.

Post2

By the time the paint dried and we made the bed it totally looked like Ed was born this way. Cue the Lady Gaga dance-a-thon.

Cuttinglegs14

Here’s John breaking it down. Just kidding. He ran through the shot and kicked his leg up in some sort of weird victory cry and somehow the camera caught his ghosted karate move. Hilarious.

Cutting Legs13

Here are things from another angle. Obviously we need nice large art where those botanicals are floating on that wall on the right of this picture (we’ll rehang the botanicals over a chair that we have in another corner), but we’re getting there. Especially once we build an upholstered headboard for Ed and move the mirror a bit higher, so it further ties into the chandelier.

Cutting Legs12

I can’t tell you how much we like this hand-me-down dresser from John’s parents in the nook. It’s the perfect fit.

Cutting Legs15

We already shared how it looks from the hallway in this morning’s post, but here’s that shot again, just to refresh the ol’ memory:

Hall Farest Shot

Although it definitely doesn’t match the wood dresser on the other side, there’s something charming about the little white nightstand in the window. And the fact that we have the same bedside lamps on each one sort of connects the two pieces, even though they’re very different.

Cutting Legs16

Here’s a straight shot of the bed as it looks now. I’m definitely itching to get on that headboard project so I can bump the mirror up a bit higher so not everything will be in the same line (the art on the right and the mirror are so perfectly lined up, I think the bed will feel more special with a big fabric headboard and a higher focal point above it). And as for the color of the dresser and the white nightstand, we’re open to painting or staining something, but we’re not rushing into anything.

Cutting Legs17

One thing is for sure, it definitely feels more homey and full than it used to look back when the bed was on the wall near the door.

Bedroom Pillows Lamps1

And it’s so much nicer to walk into this view, instead of stepping three steps in the door and hitting the bed.

Cuttinglegs14

So that’s the latest bedroom tweak, but we’re probably a good dozen tweaks from being done in here. Haha, you know us. Inching along. But you know we’ll keep you posted when we tackle other things, like dealing with the bare wall across from the bed, making a giant fabric headboard and moving the mirror up, etc. Should be fun…

Oh and how funny is this? Every morning around 10am the sun shines through the window above the sink (this pic is from before Ed’s move and subsequent haircut)…

Templates10

… and this shape is reflected on the rug:

Funny Shadow

Yup, the elongated shadow is pretty much exactly the same shape that’s on the rug itself. The weirdest thing is that when we fell in love with this rug and snatched it up at a local outlet, we made absolutely no connection that it had a similar shape to the mirror above the sink. Hooray for happy accidents.

What are you guys up to in the bedroom (decor wise, I mean – let’s not get saucy). Has anyone else altered their bed to make it work better for their room? Or straight up built one from scratch? Anyone else planning to make a headboard in the next few weeks? I can’t wait to go fabric shopping…

Comments

  1. mary says

    i love it without the poles, but you know if you had left the poles on the headboard end, or just cut them down shorter, you could have made a nice fabric slipcover to just slip over them and change out as often as you wanted.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yeah, we thought about that but really want a nice solid wood headboard that we can lean back on and upholster so it’s nice and plush! Will keep you posted!

      xo,
      s

  2. Ainhoa@ALittleBite says

    We have a wrought iron bed with a tall footboard (is that its name?) that I’ve been itching to cut, for the same reasons.
    Too bad it won’t be reversible though.
    I love the new look of Ed the bed!

    Reply

  5. Nicole Dube says

    confession: I’ve been secretly hoping one day you’d ditch the posts on Ed the Bed, and put the bed on a different wall. And HUZZAH! you did!!! I LOVE the changes :)Fantastic room! And I can’t believe how much more I love the ceiling light now that it’s not visually flanked by posts. and all those dramatic changes for zero dollars. well done!

    Reply

  7. Amy says

    Oh thank goodness. Those posts have been bothering me since the beginning. I even kind of like the light fixture in there now that there’s less competition in that upper part of the room. Well done!!

    Reply

  9. Loren says

    This look REALLY great. I’ve kind of been waiting for you guys to do this for a while. I love the four-poster bed, but it really wasn’t working for ME in this room. (I didn’t want to leave any negative comments because I thought I was just being lame.) But seeing the pictures without the posts I think you made the perfect decision for this space. I like it WAY better now.

    Reply

  10. Shannon says

    See, this is what makes you guys talented. You can spot an issue and you’re not afraid to make modifications or create something to fix it.

    Well done!

    Reply

  11. Lauren says

    This is one of those “I didn’t realize how much I didn’t love it until it was gone” things. It looks so much more open and modern now…

    And please figure out how to put a headboard on that bed so I can do it to my Malm — ew that sounded wrong.

    Reply

  12. Katie says

    LOVE. Love love love. Everything – the new furniture placement, the new view from the hall, and the bed w/o the bedposts. Just when I start to wonder, “Now why are they messing with that, it looks fine to me?” y’all go and make it even better. You certainly have the eye! :)

    Reply

  15. Stevie says

    Please please post when you make that fabric headboard. We had an old twin bed my dad made for my brother probably 15 years ago that we put in my daughter’s playroom and it is DYING to have a new headboard. The current one just sits there looking not-so-pretty, not even attached, just chilling like an awkward teen trying to fit in their old clothes.

    See what I mean?
    http://www.lilymakesthree.com/2012/03/we-have-furniture.html

    Reply

  16. Krista says

    That looks so GREAT! Love it!

    My dilemma is that I did a tufted fabric headboard about 8 months ago for our queen sized bed. Last month we purchased a king sized bed (wow, it’s huge and super comfy) but the headboard is now looking ridiculous because of the 18 inch difference in width.

    Anyone have thoughts on modifying the current headboard to fit instead of getting rid of it and starting over? I was thinking *maybe* I could build a padded fabric frame to go all around it so it looks like the inner panel is meant to be framed by complimentary fabric on the framed portion?

    Reply

  17. Emma says

    Nice! I love that Ikea bed (those silly heads discontinued the Edland. How dare they?). It was oh so smart of you to keep the posts around in case you ever want to go back. It’s hard to commit sometimes. The bedroom is looking great!

    Reply

  18. Paula S. says

    LOVE IT!!! I tried to embrace the posts, but never could manage – at least not online. I am so digging the new arrangement, post-less Ed and am madly in love with that rug in your room. I can’t wait until you get to stain the floors too. It will be awesome.

    Reply

  19. Crystal @ 29 Rue House says

    How about a Lady Gaga/Madonna dance off? And maybe throw John in there for “kicks”. haha

    I can’t believe you’ve done all this with stuff that’s already in your house!! I wish I could do that! It looks magazine ready imo and I still love that dresser.

    I’ve actually got big plans in the bedroom to be done very soon – we are going to build a bed (our mattress has been on the floor for 8 months – was going to do an upholstered headboard but I’m holding off for now), I got two new lamps from the Restore and want to get this giant art/print from Ikea for over the bed (reason for holding off on the upholstered headboard).

    P.s. I like the idea of a dresser in the nook a lot better than a built-in since it keeps your options open in the future.

    Reply

  21. Misty @ 2brokebruces says

    OooOooo…Mucho more better-o! And for what it’s worth, I really like your floors and dresser the color that they currently are. It warms up the space and kind of ties in with the bright yellow on your pillows and give a little contrast to all the other cool blues in the room! Very pretty as always!

    Reply

  22. kristen says

    “we’ll keep you posted when we tackle other things, like dealing with the bare wall across from the bed…”

    spoiler in the dad’s day picture on instagram? i spy a new substantial piece of furniture :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s actually a secret book project- so it doesn’t stay! Haha. We’re just storing it there until a charity auction this fall when the book is out (sometimes we hide it in the sunroom or the playroom too). So we really are till looking for something real to go there!

      xo,
      s

  23. Karen says

    Wow!!! Soooooooo much better. I looks like such a cohesive room now (and will look even more so with a headboard). I think the bed (with poles) may have been just a tad too “sleek” for the room? Now you’re on your way to an awesome room! Have you even thought of doors for the sink area? To make that part of the “bathroom” if you will? Pocket Would a pocket door work?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We did think about a few things (rolling track door, pocket door, french doors) but aren’t sure where we’ll end up. Will keep you posted!

      xo,
      s

  24. Mary Ellen says

    i have been dying to make a headboard for so long but I have no diy skillz to speak of. I will look to see what you do for inspiration.. love you guys and hope you have fun in the atl next week. Hope you will get some fun time in with Clara at the Aquarium or maybe lego land. Hope you will also do a joint bower power /yhl visit, those are always so fun.

    Reply

  26. hannah says

    looks great!! love the new look!!

    and two random things- there are concrete bunnies at crate and barrel- i couldn’t resist, i blame you! :) soo much fun to chalk on!!

    http://www.crateandbarrel.com/garden-bunnies/f45195

    check this out- i think this trumps your embarrassing mtv/ Eminem video… yep it’s ryan gosling of “HEY GIRL” fame… and he’s scary good!

    Reply

  28. Rebecca in NC says

    It looks SO much better! Seriously, every time you post about your bedroom, I stare at the pictures trying to figure out what looks ‘off.’ It looks so open without the posts!

    Reply

  29. Sandi R. says

    We actually did the exact thing with a bed similar to y’all because it made the room feel very small. Ours however did not leave pretty circle so we bought curtain finials to add to them and just painted one cohesive color.

    Reply

  30. Sally says

    When I first started reading I thought Oh My! They aren’t cutting the posts, but I LOVE it. Much better! You could darken that dresser like katie did with the polystain. Just a thought. BTW, I need that rug, just love it!

    Reply

  32. Tamisha says

    Oh, this makes me happy. I never loved Ed. Felt like it cut up the room too much, stopping the flow. This is sooo much better. Good job. I’m in the middle of finishing up the master bath. ugh.

    Reply

  33. Christie says

    OH MY GOSH!!!! I love it! I didn’t comment this morning because I was on the fence about the move. But now, (post haircut) I think it looks amazeballs! Ed totally needed the haircut. It was like he was rocking a mullet at a business meeting. Totally out of place. And now, he is sleek, chic and awesome. Great job! :-)

    Reply

  36. Megan Elizabeth says

    Am I the only one gasping for air because you sawed off poor Eds posts? I suppose I’m so sad because Eds now discontinued. I know that the new post-less Ed goes better with your room, but I’m still teary eyed. What I’d pay for an Ed bed!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw, we felt the same way! I think we took solace in the fact that we could reattach them if we ever changed our mind down the line, but we must admit it’s much better for our room this way.

      xo,
      s

    • Megan S says

      I feel the same way! That being said, I love the new look but was very sad to see the posts go! John and Sherry, you did a great job so glad it worked for you two!

  37. abby says

    This looks AMAZING. Something about those poles just wasn’t jiving in the space now, and you did a great job tackling the project.

    Just an idea here – I’d love to see some of the darker blue from the rug in your headboard! I think it would bring some serious rug-cohesion the room.

    Reply

  39. Annette says

    Love love the changes you have made – from rearranging to cutting off the poles! I think cutting off the poles made a very dramatic difference. Looks more modern like the rest of your house.

    Reply

  40. cporoski says

    wow! what a difference! so great and so simple. That was so gutzy. I would be too nervous to just cut off pieces of my furniture. The risk was worth the reward.

    Reply

  41. Beth says

    The new placement and ‘haircut’ are fantastic! Only thing that would drive me nuts is not having an easily reachable nightstand for whomever is the righty sleeper. Have you considered using one of your awesome color-poppin’ garden stools or something similarly short to add enough reachable surface space on that side?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thankfully John has nice long arms and doesn’t have any issue with the new setup! Our old night tables were low, so we had to reach down to get things (it was impossible to open the drawers from bed) so it’s not much different now since these are finally the right height!

      xo,
      s

  42. Beth Thorson says

    We have an Ikea platform bed that has no headboard, but does have a wide brim around the bed. I simply slipcovered a no-longer-used crib mattress and let it rest on the platform at the head of the bed. It makes for a very comfy backrest!

    Reply

  44. Alex says

    I love this!!! Ed looks so much nicer on this wall and with a little bit of a haircut :) I had been wondering for a while if it was possible to give him a trim!

    Reply

  46. Kelly says

    Looks even better! room looks taller. have you guys thought about hacking into your other wall next to the bed and adding a second window :-)?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Sadly from the exterior that wouldn’t work (the nook is actually due to a large bump out with a giant window in the living room, so adding a smaller bedroom window next to the big living room one in the same bump out would look crazytown from outside!

      xo,
      s

  47. Ann L. says

    OMG Ed looks amazeballs with the new haircut. I’ve secretly hated him with long hair ever since I set eyes on him—so from my perspective, this is SUCH an improvement. Hooray!!

    Reply

  48. Heather W. says

    Just curious… Where is Jarvis now? Haha. I thought he was hanging out in the bedroom. I love the new placement and the bed without posts!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Now he’s in the playroom. Poor guy has yet to find a permanent home. He “flies” around a lot. Haha. I keep thinking I might love him the most in the middle of the to-be-built table on our future deck!

      xo,
      s

  50. Kayla says

    YES!!!!! I love the changes. It is so amazing what you can do by just switching around the placement of furniture and using other pieces you have. Amazing. The upholstered headboard is going to look fantastic.

    Reply

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