Patricia Urquiola, a well know name in European furniture design has made a big hit with two new beds. The Glove Bed is the latest part of a theme which includes a series of chairs, armchairs, and chaise lounges all with a similar bold and tailored look. Patricia designed this Molteni & C production with a wide open front and contoured headboard making this masculine beauty right at home in most environments. I really like the small metal accent feet that add a nice modern touch to this great looking bed. The Tufty-Bed got its name for obvious reasons and offers a soft and plush low profile frame, making a suitable companion for a wide variety of case pieces. This time Urquiola teamed up with top notch maker B &B Italia bringing this more feminine hit to life. The Tufty sits low and firmly on the floor so you won't be tempted to hide things under the bed.
The great furniture designs keep coming from Italy with help from French designer Ito Morabito who has teamed up with Frighetto to bring us the Aryton modern platform bed. It has been described as "streamlined, sexy, and slightly space age" but of coarse art and fine furniture are subjective. Recently I have seen a lot more platform beds adopt the wider exposed rail design but the way these transition into the multi-level floating night stands is what make this platform bed so special. Ora-ito is an up and coming label from the young French designer who has given a "less is more" approach to an impressively mature collection of products including lamps from Artemide and the Evolution Chair from Zonotta. The Aryton bed is indicative of the brilliant collection by Frighetto who is no stranger to cutting edge Italian furniture.
Any bed named Dallas would most certainly have to be made from leather, a material that symbolizes the "old west". As for the style, you might not expect a very sleek modern platform bed with clean lines made in Italy, a country synonymous with fine leather craftsmanship. Since 1987 Meritalia has manufactured expressly designed and exclusive products at the highest level of quality marrying the creativity of major architects with the technique, care, ability, and experience gained in 40 years of activity in this field. The Dallas bed is completely covered in carefully selected leather and features detailed stitching with rigid inner steel frame. The Dallas range also includes chests of drawers with sunken handles in dark-stained oak that offer the perfect compliment to the leather, keeping in line with the natural element. Leather beds can also transition into a preexisting set of drawer units, and the Dallas comes in a selection of colors which add to its versatility.
The Marston Sleigh Bed from Restoration Hardware is a great looking piece of furniture that is made right in the USA. The bed is made from solid North American black cherry and cheery veneers. I really enjoy this bed and will tell you that it works in almost any setting whether your house is more traditional or modern. Another option, not shown in the picture, is to not get the footboard and just have the frame wrap around the foot of the bed. This option is a little less inexpensive and looks great. I know some people don't want the high footboard since it may block the view to the television.
A great feature of Restoration Hardware's Marston line is that they use the old artisan furniture technique of mortise and tenon joinery. This is where adjoining boards have grooves in them so that the board which meets it will fit into the grooves and create a secure, solid frame. Mortise and tenon joinery are used in place of nails to secure the frame. Most furniture today uses nails or glue to affix boards to one another. The mortise and tenon joinery is a technique that was developed centuries ago when these options were not available or when the use of nails was frowned upon as it took away from the craftsmanship of the furniture piece. I can tell you from personal experience, that the Marston sleigh bed is a quality piece of furniture, that is heavy, constructed well and made of hardwoods.
The queen version measures: 65"W x 96-3/4"L x 51-1/4"H
Price: $2995 - $3295
If there is one place you want to treat yourself it's definitely the bedroom furniture. Wake up everyday to the gorgeous Chateau Calais sleigh bed from Broyhill and start your day off right. This modernized set is based on the mid 1800's French Louis-Philippe design where the armoire and the sleigh bed originated. A rich dark stain and sturdy construction give the Chateau Calais an old world quality synonymous with the Broyhill name.The armoire can be used for clothes storage or an entertainment / media center by removing the shelves in its versatile upper compartment. Also available is a variety beds which can be used with the universal storage and display pieces. Broyhill also makes a great selection of furniture for every room in your home.
