apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have that Tall frame from West Elm and with today's really thick mattresses, it's quite high for me. I appreciate the under the bed storage however in retrospect, I probably would have gotten the Low frame but used a box spring and a not-so-thick mattress. I do find that platforms in general make the mattress feel much firmer than the same mattress on a box spring.

The Parson's bed from Room & Board is modern, but quite high off the ground which makes for easy vacuuming. Its a great bed if you like the style.

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=377436&cat=45

If the price is an issue, these beds often show up on Craig's List. Best of luck!

Crate and Barrel has a retro modern beds that take a mattres & boxspring.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1011&f=24477

Meredith. I am with you. I have been waiting (impatiently) for years for the pendulum of the platform bed trend to start moving back towards the boxspring classic approach. I do believe that is beginning to happen. You can actually find HEADBOARDS these days. A few years ago there were NONE being sold.

Crate and Barrel now has non platform beds (the ARCHER) and headboards on their website. PotteryBarn has some headboards. More in my pricerange...WorldMarket has a headboard that I'm eyeing: the Spencer.

I've never gotten the concept of boxsprings as anything other than a way of American mattress companies to make more money.

Why would anyone want to pay extra for a box spring (which doesn't provide any more support then bed slats, but does collect more dust, bed mites, etc.) then have to buy dust ruffles, bed skirts, etc. to cover them up with?

I have that tall frame with the Overlapping Squares headboard from West Elm, with a big tall mattress, and it is _totally_ normal-bed height.

BEPSF -- I totally agree. I have a platform bed with a really great mattress -- and everyone who sleeps on it (both my parents and my inlaws, plus random other houseguests) rave about how comfortable it is. And its not uncomfortably close to the ground -- I think because the mattress is taller than usual.

Anyway -- here's a pic of my bed:

http://carsonmaddox.com/cordovanbedroom.htm

Gorgeous, right?!?!?!?!!

I'm surprised by this post- most people I know (myself included) prefer platform beds to boxsprings. And the platforms at Room and Board are sometimes *higher* than the typical boxspring-mattress combination. Mine, for example is 15 inches high. With a 7 inch mattress, that's nearly two feet off the ground. The secret of comfort, of course, is in the mattress. You really need an all natural latex mattress to reap the full benefits of the platform bed experience. These do not come cheap (mine was $1000), but I think they're pretty essential. Good luck!

I've posted about the Zen Bed from Crate & Barrel before. I have it and love it. Its technically a platform bed, but when I got mine, I had no way to dispose of my current box spring (was keeping the mattress) so I just stacked 'em both on there. The headboard is tall enough that it can be done without looking odd. I later ditched the box spring and initially thought the mattress looked way too close to the ground and considered going back. Enough babbling.. check it out.. its fantastic http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1012&f=8798

Does anyone have a west elm bed frame? I remember the saga of early west elm beds falling apart and I wonder if that is all solved now. Do they hold up well?

Maybe, I'm too tall or too old, but I don't get the sleeping close to the floor thing either. I found a simple (no head or footboard), high platform bed at Garnet Hill. With a 9" mattress it's as high as boxspring bed, but without the ugly boxspring and metal frame.

http://www.garnethill.com/jump.jsp?itemID=11994&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C5%2C8577%2C8578&iProductID=11994

Rather than focusing on a boxspring, why not look at overall mattress height. The ideal height for a mattress should be 18" to 20" (measured from the floor). This is roughly the height of a chair seat or sofa. At this height, getting out of bed is no more difficult than getting out of your sofa. Beds with mattress heights that are lower than 18" leave your knees higher than your hips. This makes them more awkward to get into and out of.

A 10-11" mattress on Room and Board's Domain bed should get you exactly where you want to be.

Platform beds always look really cool, but I guess I've been conditioned to find high beds more cozy. Probably because I slept on bad platform beds as a kid, but when I visited grandparents and great aunts and uncles I slept on their most cozy comfy old fashioned TALL beds (tall enough that when you fall out of them at age 4, it's an excitingly long drop) with the most amazing soft sheets, some of which my mom still has and they are still as soft, solid and white as they were 40 years ago.

If you live in a place like Chicago in an older apartment or house, chances are your floor space is limited but your ceiling height is generous. In that setting, a high bed just looks better, and the more storage available under the bed, the better. Also, in a place like Chicago, it gets coooollllddd down close to the floor!

I think the trick to avoiding the granny bed look but getting the granny bed comfort is to have an extra-high headboard, like many of the examples in the comments.

I've always slept on a bed with both box spring and mattress. I like the plush, comfortable, inviting look of having both. In the bedding section of ABC Home here in Manhattan (as well as other furniture stores) they use 2 box springs under the mattress to give the beds a more opulent look. I guess I just like the grandeur of it.

I too prefer to sleep higher up. I just measured, my bed is almost 25 inches off the ground. I wanted to avoid a shabby chic or country look, but also wanted a cozier, more traditional bedroom. There are exceptions of course, but to me most platform beds read either cheap, TOO modern/cold, or tackily Asian inspired. I have an old Hollywood frame and an attached headboard I got at Pottery Barn (Montgomery headboard, great because you can change the upholstery, which I did). Since it is such a simple look, all straight lines and no fussy details, it skews more modern (especially with all white bedding) without sleeping on the floor. Cost me about $900 total.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide on.

I have the Portica from Room and Board. It is not a platform (the Great Dane can fit under it if he slithers on his belly), doesn't use a boxspring, and is very easy to move. I love it. You can see it in my bedroom here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibush/2210458967/

I had just gotten the overlapping squares headboard and bed tall frame from West Elm (if only I can get more sleep!). I was looking for something contemporary as I have just redecorated my room and Apartment Therapy's post about West Elm was such perfect timing. I wanted to get rid of the box spring and the dust ruffle and I agree with bepsf about dust mites as I have allergies that's why I got the whole set. I almost bought the low frame but as tempting as it was it would have been hard on my knees ( I am not that old but I happen to have bad knees) to get down unless I am willing to literally crawl in and out of bed!

Have I just missed it, or has no-one ever commented on the fact that platform bed frame stick out and are a shin hazard!? I just know that if I had one, I'd have bruises all over my shins from walking into the edges & corners.

Thanks for all the responses. I didnt expect this question to make it. In a drafty 100 yr old Chicago condo building, it does get cold close to the ground, so that is one reason I dont love sleeping near the floor. Like others have said, I guess I am just more conditioned to think tall beds are more comfortable. I appreciate the insight on the taller options for beds and the high headboards.

For those of you who dont like their mattress too tall, but need a box spring, I just learned recently that they now sell half height box springs to accomodate today's super high mattresses. As far as the cost of a box spring, it's usually free with the purchase of a mattress so it doesnt typically impact the price.

Mamaviol, your comment is the best - I have thought about that. I know I would misjudge my steps in the dark and have some banged up shins! Thanks, Meredith

I made my husband get rid of his platform bed because the platform kept attacking me when I walked by (ie I was constantly hitting myself on the platform) We now have a super high mattress and boxspring and are planning on making a headboard and attaching it to the wall.