There are many styles of iron bed frames available, such as American and European antique reproductions, modern and custom designs, as well as cribs and cradles, childrens’ beds and daybeds.

Some companies specialize in restoring real antique cast iron furniture, since items made of this durable material exist dating back to the 1700s and 1800s. Since bed sizes used to be smaller, original twin and full size beds can be converted to king and queen sizes. Many of these antiques are canopy beds, exotic and stylish, especially if draped in fabrics to match the decor of the bedroom.

The term wrought is the archaic past tense of the verb to work. As the English language changed over time, the word has been changed to “worked”. Therefore, wrought iron literally means “worked iron”. The process of making these products is quite precise and complicated. Some mass-produced, light-weight ornamental metal work is not made of iron, but is actually milled steel.

True wrought iron is a very pure form of commercial iron with a low carbon content. It is tough, bendable and easy to weld. It is too soft to be made into high-quality knives or swords, and rusts easily. For the purpose of weapon-making, societies which discovered how to carbonize iron and mix it with other metals to make steel had a great advantage in warfare over their more primitive neighbors. Because wrought iron is a more basic and universal product, it is the “iron” referred to throughout history.

Archeologists find evidence of iron smelting as far back as 3000 BC in China. Wrought iron was originally made by a method called bloomery. Bloomeries employed small charcoal smelters, often pots or ladles, into which iron ore (iron oxide, or rusted iron) was placed and covered with a thin layer of charcoal. The charcoal was lit and air was blown onto it with a bellows, causing the ore to melt partially. During this process, the oxygen atoms would be released from the iron to bind with the carbon in the charcoal, releasing carbon dioxide which would bubble away. Therefor, little of the carbon entered the melted iron.

Using this old method, the fire does not get hot enough to melt the iron completely, so a spongy mass is produced containing iron and silicates from the ore, called iron bloom, which is how the technique gets its name. The bloom is then manually worked to remove the slag and impurities, giving rise to the term “wrought”, as the iron was pounded, twisted, and folded. Hammering a piece of wrought iron compacts the fibers, increasing the strength of the product, though it lacks the carbon content necessary for heat-tempering. During this process, many thin layers of slag are mixed into the metal, producing a distinct “grain”, and a fibrous appearance when broken or bent. Old, rusted pieces of wrought iron have a very distinct grain and resemble reddish-brown wood.

Producing iron by hand in a bloomery was a slow, small-scale and labor-intensive process. Iron production began on a much larger scale with the introduction of blast furnaces, which date back to approximately 1100 to 1300 in Europe. These furnaces produce bars of pig iron, a brittle compound with a high carbon content. By the 1750s, a number of oxides had been discovered to remove the carbon as carbon dioxide, similar to the process in a bloomery. Because blast furnaces completely melt the iron, the metal can be molded into cast iron products at this stage. However, cast iron is too brittle to be worked into shapes as is possible with wrought iron.

Wrought iron would be further processed by faggoting, a method whereby the iron bars would be bundled together like sticks of firewood and hammered into one piece, just as iron was worked by hand in medieval times. Each time the iron was folded and stretched, it became a bit stronger. Wrought iron which had been faggoted twice was referred to as “Best”, and had a tensile strength of 23 tons per square inch; if faggoted again it would become “Best Best”, then “Treble best” with a strength of 28 tons per square inch. With each processing, impurities would form as long thin inclusions, just as with hammering.

Due to the unique grain of wrought iron, it is difficult to work with; like wood, if stressed too much, it will split along the grain. Working with wrought iron is an art form that can take years to perfect. Unlike mass-produced milled steel items, a wrought iron product is a piece of art.

Wrought iron can be painted in any color, and many manufacturers do custom painting and design. Cast iron can be formed into any shape, so if you have a design or picture you want replicated, bring it to a cast iron shop and they will work the image into your furniture. Buying wrought iron will give you a unique piece of furniture, and helps support local artisans and industries.

About the Author:

J Schipper loves iron beds Washington DC Storage Luxury Toronto Real Estate

Written By: J Schipper

A popular method nowadays is to decorate a room according to a theme; haphazard dcor displays just doesn’t cut it anymore. For example, you can choose to go the modern route with steel, glass and leather or an Eastern-inspired theme complete with a divan and mirrored bedspreads. However, one the most popular choices among home decorators remains the tried and true theme of a rustic lodge or cabin.

Rustic-inspired furnishings usually feature warm colors and tend towards practicality and comfort. You can co-ordinate your whole bedroom with appropriate rustic bedding accessories, matching drapes, carpets, lighting fixtures and bathroom accessories. One of the more distinctive features of a rustic bedding set is its colors and motifs. They usually come in warm colors like brick red, deep greens, oranges, blues and dark grays all colors inspired from nature. The motifs are distinct in that they sport the themes of wildlife and the wild outdoors. They evoke the comfortable and relaxed atmosphere of a lodge or cabin.

Most rustic bedding sets are available in a wide variety of sizes and sheet combinations. A standard sheet set usually includes a top sheet along with a fitted bottom sheet and two pillowcases. It should be noted that in many cases only a single pillowcase is provided with the twin set of sheets. Rustic bedding sets come in all the standardized sizes Twin, Full, Queen, King and CAL king. This makes it easier for you to choose a set according to your needs and you don’t have to worry about the bedding set being either too small or too large for your bed.

You generally have the choice of two types of fabric: flannel and percale. While flannel is made from 100% cotton fibers, percale is 30% cotton and 70% polyester. The pricing also differs for the two fabrics on the whole the percale bedding sets are somewhat cheaper than flannel ones. Apart from the usual themes like woods, moose, bear, fishing etc., some companies also offer a ‘heritage’ bedding collection. These are classic designs for the more traditionally inclined.

Apart from the regular bedding sets you can also buy matching comforters (available in all the standard sizes), pillow shams and bed skirts. Some manufacturers also provide throw pillows and shower curtains to match your rustic bedding set. To complete the look of your room, you can even go so far as to use compatible window treatments. The drapes usually match the pattern of the comforter, and the headers, rod pocket and tiebacks complete the set. Blanket ensembles made from the finest fabrics are also an option if you’re looking to splurge. Heck, if you are so inclined, you could even invest in an heirloom quality handmade quilt with a rustic theme.

About the Author:

Copyright Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Are you looking to lend your home a rustic touch? Then drop by Rustic Adornments where we offer a wide variety of free rustic decor tips and advice. http://www.rusticadornments.com

Written By: Jared Winston

Its not expensive and its not out of your league with Ellens at your service, being chic and elegant is amazingly easy. Making a style statement and exuding elegance is definitely not alien to Ellens. Our pine and hardwood beds are of the highest standards of craftsmanship. Included in our wide range are custom-made twin beds that can be converted to full-size convertible couches. And for customers who like design with a bit of difference, our collection also feature a C-shaped bunk bed in solid steel, which combines the comforts of a twin bed and a couch! Its unusual as well as useful.

We at Ellens are particular about safety standards and easy installation. We certainly dont like our customers to struggle for hours to set up our products! Our beds are therefore shipped in three separate boxes that are easy to load into a car or truck. We provide all the tools required for setting up the bed, except for a screwdriver. These make your life easier and your bed will be ready to use in 45 minutes at maximum.

While we do believe in practicality and space-saving technology, we also understand the importance of aesthetics. Our bunk beds are crafted beautifully to compliment your interior dcor. Our platform beds include some gorgeous products, such as the nutmeg bed, saffron bed, and the thyme bed. Sounds heavenly? Wait till you see them! Our inventory also features a cute range of bunk beds specially designed for kids.

At Ellens we believe in providing our customers with the complete package, so that their homes may become stunningly beautiful. Adorn your newly acquired platform and bunk beds with some cushioning by choosing from our huge collection of fiber and hickory mattresses. You can also go in for some of our pillow covers and comforters to complete the bed gear. To give your bedroom a complete makeover, consider buying something from our varied collection of accessories we stock, such as standing lamps, floor lamps, coffee tables, screens, to name a few.

About the Author

Dan Noyes is a well known author who writes for www.ellensfuton.com
Written By: Dan Noyes

A teen bedroom serves different purposes, as this is a place wherein he or she not only sleeps but also entertains friends, studies and relaxes. So the furniture should be bought keeping in mind the arrangement and storage space, according to the requirements of the teenagers. Since the bedroom is also the place where one studies, it is important to have a comfortable desk chair and a table to go along with it. One of the key things that the furniture should have is storage space for CDs as well as books.

Teen Bedroom Furniture should reflect the attitude, personality and nature of the youth who owns it. Teen Bedroom Furniture, apart from beds, includes tables, dressers, benches and futons that are offered in various designs and styles. Today teenagers have the choice of choosing a basic student desk and a modified computer table that not only take care of the functional aspect but also the designs. The mantra that holds good while designing the Teen Bedroom Furniture and equipment is coupling functionality with a great sense of style.

Teen Bedroom Furniture includes dressers that have tilt-proof automatic stops. The cases are dustproof, thereby reducing your chores of dusting. They are made from high-quality, heavy-gauge, powder-coated steel that ensures resistance and durability. And with the option of changeable color drawer panels, if you grow out of color you can choose a new one. So if you want to liven up your room, jazz it up with vibrant and stylish Teen Bedroom Furniture.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Discount Bedroom Furniture provides detailed information on bedroom furniture, antique bedroom furniture, bedroom furniture sets, cheap bedroom furniture and more. Discount Bedroom Furniture is affiliated with Master Bedrooms.

Written By: Peter Emerson

Mr. Murphys design was constructed of steel bolted to the door jamb of a closet. The lifting mechanism consisted of two steel springs that were strong enough to do most of the work of lifting and tight enough to keep the bed in a vertical position when out of use. The unit was counter-balanced to also keep it in the horizontal, open position when needed. Early improvements allowed the mattress to pivot so it would glide from one position to another. Many of these beds are still in use, especially in the older apartments of San Francisco and New York City.

During World War II, steel was in short supply. Consequently, fewer beds were constructed, even though replacement parts continued to be made. After the war, people moved from their small apartments in the cities to roomier houses in the suburbs. Interest in the Murphy bed waned until the movement back to city living in the 1980s.

Meanwhile, the mechanism itself was gradually improved as new patents were granted. The basic Murphy bed mechanism, two springs that needed periodic adjustments, was modified until the unit can now function well without any adjustments for years, and can be guaranteed for ten years or more. Many units are no longer attached to the floor or to the back of a closet, but are part of custom cabinetry. The unit now locks in place in both the vertical and horizontal position. There are even mechanisms that are gas-piston driven or electric, especially useful for the handicapped and elderly.

The Murphy bed mechanism can be purchased and installed separately in preexisting or custom cabinetry, or will be delivered fully assembled with a purchased Murphy bed. Murphy Beds provides detailed information on murphy beds, murphy bed plans, wall beds, bed libraries, and antique beds. Murphy Beds is the sister site of Bunk Beds Web.

Written By: Dave Lavinsky

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During World War II and directly afterwards, the beds dropped in popularity, first because of the scarcity of steel, and then because people were moving out of the city to larger, suburban homes, and space was not at such a premium. In the decades of the fifties and sixties, the beds were mainly remembered as props in slap-stick comedy, or the place to hide the body in a mystery story.

Now, Murphy beds are experiencing resurgence, as professional people move back into the cities and make their smaller living spaces more functional. Many apartment dwellers are finding these beds already existing in older buildings, especially in places like San Francisco, where the Murphy bed was invented, and where many Murphy beds were sold for the apartments built between the 1906 earthquake and World War II. Antique Murphy beds are now much sought after conversation pieces and design focal points, as well as practical, still-functioning pieces of furniture.

Antique Murphy beds are also being sold in fine antique stores all over the country. Many of the original mechanisms still function and the cabinetry used to create the units can be quite beautiful. Buyers should remember, however, that a true Murphy bed is not going to be older than the invention, patented in 1900. The piece may be housed in a cabinet that is older than the patent, but the mechanism cannot be older than that. The buyer should be knowledgeable about the furniture of the period as a whole, and about the mechanism itself. Intelligently purchased, these beds can be an investment and a functioning piece of furniture. Murphy Beds Info provides detailed information on murphy beds, murphy bed plans, wall beds, bed libraries, and antique beds. Murphy Beds Info is the sister site of Bunk Beds Web.

Written By: Eddie Tobey