Last June at Parisian Clignancourt antique market I was looking for a bed for my son’s bedroom. There were plenty. But as it often happens, when you look for something particular, it is not there. I had a hard time to find a single size bed. In my two days walking miles and miles at Clignancourt (not that I mind, oh no, not at all!) looking for a bed I only saw two beds that were about the right size.
One of them made its way to Hong Kong.
Here it is still at the dealers shop at the market.
It was made sometime before the WWII. It is in a wonderful condition, has Parisian furniture maker plaque on that speaks of its quality. The only thing that needed to be changed – its upholstery. Besides being old and faded, the silk upholstery was pink color that the young man of mine was protesting against.
I spent endless hours looking for an upholstery fabric for this bed. I had so many ideas! One of them was to have it in chinoiserie fabric. I almost decided, went ahead and bought Chinese Rustic by Schumacher. By the time the fabric arrived, I rethought the upholstery idea. It must be classic elegant style. So, back looking.
The fabric I found this time was a beautiful Italian silk/cotton damask fabric, exactly how I had imagined it.
For the next few days: the usual two-people team on their knees with the bed in the middle of our living room. Depending on the task, either with staple gun or a glue gun in our hands. Endless stops to admire and praise our work.
The custom size mattresses arrived this morning, bed sheets on, mission accomplished.
