Rope beds

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I have a rope bed which is not quite a full. I would like to add a frame of some sort in order to put a box spring and mattress on it. Is there any way one can do this with out having to cut the bed to have a frame fit. I really like the bed but I need to figure out how to add the mattress. If you might direct me in a direction to find out how to do this I would appreciate it. Thank y

-- Bennett (sjwk@earthlink.net), May 26, 2000

Answers

I have an old antique bed, that I grew up in, that is a 3/4 size. I measured VERY carefully the size mattress I wanted and custom ordered the mattress and box springs from a mattress dealer locally. It cost no more than a regular mattress and now our guest bed is comfy and quaint. Would at least investing in the mattress part help your comfort level? Check out custom sizing. I live in a rural area and could do this with ease. I believe the length was 70 inches. Keep us posted.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), May 26, 2000.

What are the dimensions? How about the cushion from an outside chaise lounge chair? Stitch together three old couch cushions? A used crib mattress? Make a feather bed? Sew a comforter and stuff it with polyfill? Surely there is a way.

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), May 27, 2000.

My antique 3/4 bed is 48" wide by 72" in length. I priced having a conventional mattress set made, then went and bought 2 foam camper mattresses. I put 1 X 4 slats across the width of the bed, and put the mattresses (stacked one on top of the other) on the slats. I thought about putting a sheet of masonite or plywood under them, but tried it out first and didn't need the extra firmness, 'tho some might. I couldn't find the right size mattess pad, so I made one out of an old comforter. JC Penney has sheets to fit this size bed - used to only come in white, now I believe that they have colors as well. I used a twin size dust ruffle I got from somewhere (where DID that come from?!) that I cut off of it's top piece and thumbtacked it to the inside of the rails. Looks good, works fine.

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), May 27, 2000.

Futon cushions sometimes work for odd sized things. An upholstrey shop would have a good selection of firm foam that could be cut to shape. If you want to keep the ropes, you don't need the box springs. The easiest way to use a box spring on the bed would be to screw and glue strips of wood near the bottom inside of the frame sides (and head and tail boards if possible-just a touch higher) then put slats across the same as any modern frame. Do a number on the value of the bed if it is an antique though. Might be able to build or modify a cheap new frame and fit it inside the existing frame. Might be able to hang a frame from the side rails of the existing frame, but that would be hard on the frame. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 27, 2000.

Gerbil is correct about decreasing the value if this is an antique, and from sounds of it, probably is. I haven't seen rope beds that aren't. You need to decide what is more important, the intrinsic(sp) value of the bed itself, or making it comfortable. Surely there is a way to may make it comfortable enough to use without altering the bed itself. Some good suggestions above. Jan B

-- Jan B (Janice12@aol.com), May 27, 2000.


When I was a kid, my dad put some old sofa cushions across the top of a rope bed, pushed it against the wall and we used it as a sofa. A few throw pillows and voila! Quite the conversation piece.

-- Betsy (sassyweitzel@yahoo.com), May 31, 2000.

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