CasaSugar

Love It or Hate It? Spartan Daybed

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:00:00 PDT

Restoration Hardware's new Spartan Daybed ($6,000) reminds me a lot of the marvelous egg chair at the Mexican resort in the Sex and the City movie - but makes a much louder statement. With its modern, sculptural shape, the hand-woven wicker cocoon looks inspired by the curvy designs of Karim Rashid. My favorite thing about it is the little (well, big) peephole; you can just imagine anyone who can afford this cher chair probably has a crave-worthy view to go along with it. Do you love it or hate it?

Before and After: A Sad, Sad Daybed, Rescued!

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:19 PST

One Living Etc reader had been looking for daybeds by Ercol, a British furniture manufacturer known for its bentwood designs, for ages and finally bought this one off of eBay for a good price. But it required a bit of work. She "sanded it all down, oiled it, replaced the webbing which had crumbled to dust." And it needed a cushion! So she embarked on her first upholstery project and also made throw pillows to go on top. You'll be wowed when you see the finished project, so

Love It or Hate It? Principessa Daybed

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:15:35 PDT

London-based design firm Doshi Levien designed the Principessa Daybed for Moroso. It consists of several thin mattress layers and was inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's tale "The Princess and the Pea." I think it's absolutely charming and clever, and would bring a bit of nostalgic whimsy to any room! What do you think?

10 Daybeds Under $1,000

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:00:07 PDT

Daybeds are a great solution for accommodating an unexpected overnight guest, or simply sneaking in a compact seating option in a study or living room. I've found 10 great daybed choices, all under $1,000, to add to your home. Better yet, many of them are significantly less than a grand.

Cool Idea: Shipping Pallet Daybed

CasaSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:00:55 PDT

If you're low on cash for furniture, or just want to try something unique, make a daybed out of shipping pallets. You may spot some on the street, but you can also ask a local warehouse if they have any to offer or sell cheaply. Paint or spray paint a pair of them to match a cushion, and then stack them. You can either order a piece of custom foam to fit (try FoamOrder), or use a few small floor cushions or one long one as a makeshift mattress. I love how this one was painted white to blend in with the wainscoting. What do you think?

Source

Love It or Hate It? Groovy Vladimir Kagan Daybed

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:00:28 PDT

Talk about eye-catching -I'm having a hard time looking away! This Vladimir Kagan Daybed (price not available) is built from Walnut slab, which is augmented with Lucite arms and legs. I am absolutely in love with the velvet Pucciesque original upholstery. What about you? Can you dig it? Or is way too groovy for you? (Oh, and for more groovy designs, check out my Old or New Design game!)

Less or More: Crossbar Iron Daybeds

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:15:16 PDT

For the next installment of this game, take a look at each of these crossbar iron daybeds, and then see if you can answer my questions about them. If you're in the market for a metal daybed, be sure to check out my Good, Better, Best.

Take the Quiz

Good, Better, Best: Ball-Topped Wrought Iron Daybeds

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:15:41 PDT

A sofa by day, and a guest bed by night, a daybed is a versatile space-saver. Traditional Victorian style wrought iron daybed frames were originally handmade well before metalworking machines became available. So unless you're shopping antique stores, most wrought iron daybeds you find will be reproductions. I use the word "wrought" broadly; it actually suggests that the metal was shaped by hand, which, again, you're unlikely to find shopping franchise retailers. But you can let that slide, right? Antique, handmade daybeds may be cherished collector's items but that doesn't mean reproductions are an eyesore; they're often quite handsome. I've rounded up a selection for you to give you an idea of what's out there at various price ranges. The three that I chose are nearly identical in shape, though they have different finishes, and most likely have a variance in quality as well. Oops, and they're also actually made of steel, which means they're lighter than their iron predecessors.

Good: You can't get much cheaper than the Ikea TROMSNES ($179) bed. A classic shape, there's nothing frugal-looking about it. But Ikea beds are not known to be the most stable, and Ikea's products often take several hours to set up. The white finish is cute for a beach cottage or a girl's bedroom, but I don't see this agreeing well with testosterone. Unlike my "Better" and "Best", this bed does not have the option of a trundle underneath.
There are two more options, so

read more Better: The Ballard Designs Oak Park Daybed ($499) is a step in price, but won't break the bank. I'd expect it to be good quality and sturdy, and the option of a trundle bed (+$100) makes room for additional guests. There's nothing girl-y about its antique bronze finish, but if you'd like it to be, it's also available in a white finish. And again, its ball finials and vertical bars give it a classic shape that won't go out of style.
Best: The sloping sides of the Pottery Barn Whitney Daybed ($649, reduced from $749) give it a less "cagey" shape that's more appropriate to be used as a sofa than the former two. The quality of Pottery Barn's pieces has been proven through and through, so this classic design will also physically stand the test of time. This daybed also has the option of a trundle ($150), which to me really seems worth it if you're low on space. It's available in an antique brass or pewter finish, either of which will give it a sophisticated look that a white finish lacks.
Also, the bed shown above is the Restoration Hardware Nottingham Daybed with Trundle ($1185).

Steal of the Day: Farmhouse Daybed

CasaSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:15:49 PDT

I admit it: I have a slight obsession with daybeds, and this Canopy Daybed with Trundle (originally $1,229, on sale for $999), is absolutely no exception. This looks like the bed I want to sleep in when I visit some well-to-do distant maiden aunt's country home on a breezy summer weekend. I'd snuggle up, pull the canopy curtains, and plunge into a dog-eared copy of one of my Jane Austen novels. Do you find it as dreamy as I do?

Crave Worthy: Wellington Day Bed

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:45:08 PDT

I have no need for more living room furniture, but just in case someone steals my sofa and armchair, the Wellington Day Bed ($2,495) from Restoration Hardware is first on my must-have list. The frame is reminiscent of bamboo in shape, and uses a mortise-and-tenon joinery that's handcrafted from solid hardwood with mahogany veneers. I'd want to make this rather stuffy frame pop with some inspired pillows, but other than that, I can't think of anything else I'd change about this charming piece of furniture.