The French Bed Project Part One
We have been commissioned to strip and reupholster a French bed (which I have plastered all over Instagram). It was a much bigger project than I had first imagined and the preparation has been enormous! My partner and I have both agreed if we were to take on another bed of this size we would certainly have to dip the frame to get rid of the old paint. If you are thinking of refurbishing a bed like this you need to seriously consider the amount of time it will take to complete. I had no real idea that it would be so mammoth, however we have made such great progress. Below are a few photos of the bed to show how much we have completed (and how much we have left to do ahhhhh).
Admittedly the hessian fabric underneath (if it hadn't been so old and smelly) looked beautiful. It's probably how I personally would love a head board to be displayed complimented by a white painted frame. BUT this bed is not for me (sadly).
After stripping all the stuffing and every nail and tac out of the wood we had to clean it up. You wouldn't believe the amount of dirt that came off the paint. I took a few photos to show you just how grimy it really was. It must have been stored away for a long time or belonged to someone who smoked because it was just caked in muck!! At this point we were on day two of refurbishment and I thought it would only take a long weekend (how naïve I was!)
I cannot tell you the difference it made once we had cleaned it up (just using a small bit of soapy water) was remarkable! in addition to the cleaning we study the detail a little more and realised it would not be possible to use a machine sander to get rid of the paint, the frame work and ornate carving were far too delicate. So it meant having to hand sand the entire bed or as we later decided paint stripper.
The picture above and below shows you just how clean the paint came up! And aren't those wood carvings beautiful! At this point we had probably spent four days on simply cleaning and preparing the bed for upholstery. Our hands were in pieces and we were high from all the products we had used to clean the paint to reveal the wood underneath.
After taking the bed apart we could clearly see how much work really needed to be done. Although getting rid of the tacs, staples and fabric wasn't as difficult as anticipated. Everything lifted right out, it was just the shear amount of old horse hair and hessian fabric we had to dispose of that shocked me. I'm sure we must have packed up three or four bags.
Admittedly the hessian fabric underneath (if it hadn't been so old and smelly) looked beautiful. It's probably how I personally would love a head board to be displayed complimented by a white painted frame. BUT this bed is not for me (sadly).
After stripping all the stuffing and every nail and tac out of the wood we had to clean it up. You wouldn't believe the amount of dirt that came off the paint. I took a few photos to show you just how grimy it really was. It must have been stored away for a long time or belonged to someone who smoked because it was just caked in muck!! At this point we were on day two of refurbishment and I thought it would only take a long weekend (how naïve I was!)
I cannot tell you the difference it made once we had cleaned it up (just using a small bit of soapy water) was remarkable! in addition to the cleaning we study the detail a little more and realised it would not be possible to use a machine sander to get rid of the paint, the frame work and ornate carving were far too delicate. So it meant having to hand sand the entire bed or as we later decided paint stripper.
The picture above and below shows you just how clean the paint came up! And aren't those wood carvings beautiful! At this point we had probably spent four days on simply cleaning and preparing the bed for upholstery. Our hands were in pieces and we were high from all the products we had used to clean the paint to reveal the wood underneath.
I haven't taken any more photos (YET) of what stage we are on now but we decided to use paint stripper on the side panels and the smaller bottom frame of the bed. Despite the acid reducing the paint that is on the wood it is still going to need sanding down by hand and at the moment I do not even want to think about how long it will take us.
Nevertheless I am amazed we are taking on a project of this size and doing so well, and as usual I am not sure I could have done this without my partner in crime (thank goodness for him!). Look out for the next blog (which I am hoping will be the completed bed) anyway watch this space.
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