Oh that is one beautiful piece, I love the history behind it as well. Very lovely. Have you don't any research to see what it may have looked like in it's original state? If it were me, I think I'd want to put it back the way it was.

If you have that bedframe sandblasted, you will destroy it.

I know that isn't what your specific request is about...but painting won't matter if you go that route.

Strip the paint yourself or have it dipped. Please.

That bed is somewhat of a "classic". I remember anguishing about buying one at an estate sale back in the '70s. They were originally painted or powder coated or something like that. I think they were a Sears product. I could be wrong about that though.

http://www.fineline-antiques.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=129&osCsid=768d99101fa5ddf26741793e17a43a90

Here is a link that might be useful: Similar

I vaguely remember my GGFather having a bed just like this with the metal cane panel and seeing them at farm estate auctions.

I would keep it in the original colors when you refurbish it.

{{!gwi}}

"If you have that bedframe sandblasted, you will destroy it.
I know that isn't what your specific request is about...but painting won't matter if you go that route.
Strip the paint yourself or have it dipped. Please."

It's not the sandblasting of old- it's some sort of "non-aggressive" blast that won't damage the metal. I looked at several quite similar pieces this shop has done and they all looked fine to me- detailing all preserved and nothing lost.
I may go poke around a furniture refinishing forum to triple check, but I've been talking to area people for a while now and this is the best option I have found.

Thanks for the concern- it is mine, too, and I will pursue my investigation.

I had a bed very similar to that in my Grandmother's house.

Mine was all black, a flat black, and the raised floral panels were painted in "true to life" colors. The roses were red and gold, leaves, green, etc.

I think this is the type of "bead blasting" cearbhaill was speaking of...

Here is a link that might be useful: http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=vintagelightingandfanshop

Hello---is the original finish on the bed? To me, the current finish is quite lovely and I'm having a hard time imagining that refinishing it will improve it's appearance. Maybe I'm too sentimental...but if that is the original finish, and my Grandmother slept in that bed with that finish, I'd leave it alone. I think it will look great as-is with the plaid you have chosen.

I may be in the minority though...

"Hello---is the original finish on the bed?"

No- from the original post- "it's been painted many times over".
:)

Consider having it "powder coated" in a solid pale cream, then paint the details you want to have a different color by hand.

You get a much better finish, it includes bead-blasting the old paint off, and it's all done by the shop.

I'm with Andreadrea on this one. I like the way it looks now and I love the plaid and story.

I bet your Kentucky home is precious.

I remember having an old iron bed dipped back in the seventy's and painting it white. As a matter of fact I have an old white iron bed upstairs, not similiar to yours.

At any rate, I would leave the bed the way it is. Personally, I don't like the flowers all painted in different colors. And they probably did it that way back in the day. But I don't care!

.....Jane

I think some pretty blue antique transferware would look pretty on the walls. Oh yeah, it's for your daughter, sorry.

An auto-body shop can also do a great job of painting it. I favor that over powder-coating, because I like a lacquer-type finish. I'd also vote for cream of pale grey, and not picking out the flowers, just because it's so hard to get it right, you can't bake that paint, and if you want to change your color scheme, you're limited by the flowers.

I think you should paint it cream as also suggested by lazygardens. I wouldn't pick out any detail - just all one shade of cream. The detail is lovely enough to hold it's own and I don't feel that it needs to be 'picked out'.

My mom has a bed like that in her guest room and the details are picked out in a different color. Pretty as it is I don't care for it that way because it's too busy looking.

Ttod's got a point. The overall design of the bed will be submerged by the details if you paint different parts differently. If you look at your original photo, in fact, it looks at first glance like a photo of a panel and some rails, the arch is barely noticeable. But if you look at the photos SO helpfully provided by dilly dally, the overall lines of the bed are what stands out.

So it depends on the effect you want. I'm also very prone to obsessing about details and making everything as intricate and special as possible, but I think there are times for a simpler look, and a fairly eclectic room just might be one of them. You might also be driven by trying to hedge your bets colour-wise and I can sympathize; ... I've finally identified that one reason I'm reluctant to pick a single colour for things is that I'm commitment-phobic! Fortunately, only in decorating :-)
The option of picking out the flowers can maybe soften the blow.

As for blasting, yes, it can be done with plastic beads or walnut shells and at lower pressure for more sensitive things.

By the way I love your design philosophy - it's one I share.

KarinL

Wow- the one solid color thing has got me thinking here.
I do see the point of not taking away from its design by mashing up colors.
More to think about, hmmm...
:)

I would paint it all cream. I think it should stay all the same color so you see the "whole" beautiful bed.

I like one color also. Either a cream or a bronze/brown like the two photos above.

Red

If it's not really in bad shape, how about taking it to a paint and body shop where they have a paint booth? Any rust could be removed also. The type of paint they use is almost chip resistant, and you wouldn't have to worry about the frame being destroyed.

Again, not the original question, but another concern re:sandblasting. Maybe you were thinking powder coating? My DD works for a powder coating company, and people bring in all sorts of things from motocycle parts to towel bars. I would take a portion of the bed to a powder coating company and see what their recommendations are before doing anything else. ;o)

Jumping in here with a question re: powder coating. Anybody have an idea about how much body shops charge to paint small pieces of furniture? I know it will vary. Thanks.