apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

If you drive a 18K car, you can't afford a 9K bed frame. Be realistic. That's like saying you can afford dinner at Per Se if you don't go grocery shopping for one whole month. Sure you can do it but one needs to be wise in life.

test

great looking bed frame btw.

I would recommend Environment Furniture on Broadway — great selection of beds that fit in with your aesthetic.

Try: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/carpenters-handymen/john-ewbank-cabinetmaker-and-finish-carpenter-012370

He was reveiwed on AT earlier this week and both commenter's had good things to say. I've never used him but you could always stop by and try to get some sort of price.

...so how many vials of crack come with that $9000 bed?

vivaterra.com has a similar "live-edge" headboard

www.baronet.ca

www.baronet.ca is crate & barrel stuff.

joebelt- re: your first comment: not necessarily, she could consider it, if she choose her car for reasons other than a status symbol of her current class status. Her values could be different from the "norm" in the US. Perhaps her bed is her car and her car is her bed, switching from what we as a nation generally spend respectively on those items.

My husband and I have an "old" car, which allows us to eat at nice places once in a while that we otherwise wouldn't be able to afford if we had a car payment and higher insurance costs. One of our friends was asking us recently about when we were going to upgrade to a newer, better car, because that's what's expected (and what our friend had done), but it's not really something we think a lot about. My point is that our choice not to upgrade even though we're in a higher income bracket than when we bought the car allows us to spend money on other things.

I do agree with you that $9k is too much to spend on a bed, period, without one of those special handmade mattresses that can run up to $50k (and even still, that's really nuts), but I think she needs to weigh the opportunity cost of spending that $9k. What does she give up? What does she gain?

However, from her question, she seems to be looking for another option, and probably one that's cheaper. I agree that going the carpenter route will get her closest for far less money.

kate,

I'm sorry but either you can afford a $9K bed frame or you can't. It's kind of like the old saying "if you have to ask for the price, you can't afford it". Maybe she "can" afford it but from the question I can assure you she shouldn't. Ask yourself this Heather, if you buy a $9K bed, can you still go out an buy a $15K dinning table, $2000 chairs, $5000 coffee table, etc. All I'm saying is that a home is more than a bed frame and if you doubt it wise to spend $9K on one item that means you can't or shouldn't splurge that much.

joebelt -

heather asked if we had any ideas for affordable alternatives. she was not seeking advice about allocating her savings or disposable income.

we're not looking for anyone to tell us whether we should or should not spend $10K. i've got my mother for that.

There is nothing like BDDW. Mixing in amazing pieces as a BDDW with other less expensive items- makes sense to me. I love the BDDW showroom. Inspirational. If I thought for a second I could afford that bed- I would be sleeping on it right now!

I couldn't really tell which BDDW bed was in the picture. Is it the mills bed or the sunday bed? In any case, you can probably have the bed made for $2500-3500. Another alternative would be to have a custom stain applied to one of the Atlantico beds. They are made of the same white oak and have very simple lines like the BDDW bed, but are not exactly the same. If I had a better idea of what you liked about the BDDW bed, I might be able to direct you to some similar alternatives.

As for what Kate said - I totally agree. I drive a 93 Nissan (my very first car...) and my custom bed arrives in 3 weeks. Different people have different priorities - as long as it adds up to something you can afford, get what you love.

again just because you can afford an expensive item, does not mean it is wise to spend that kind of money in a such a way. I'll go back to "if you have to ask for the price, you can't afford it". Which I'll translate for those that can't grasp the full meaning "if you have to talk money, you shouldn't consider buying LUXURY items".

thank you for making my point in your last paragraph RichardinLA.

You can look at it a different way, Quality furniture can last generations. (As an admirer and a furniture maker, I can attest to BDDW's quality and craftsmanship.) Will your car last generations? This is an investment. You spend a third of your life in bed, why not be inspired in it?

untold,

because she can't afford that kind of luxury. plain and simple. some things in life you can only admire but not touch. Life is a bitch what else can I say.

Perhaps "about half the price of my car" is just an expression.

joebelt--
She IS asking about a more affordbale option, so just give it up. Especially since how anyone spends their money here or elsewhere on beds or Jimmy Choos or travel or wine is none of your business. Unless you are sharing a joint bank account with him/her.

And there ARE categories of worthwhile luxuries, that may require sacrifice or choice. I think furniture is one of them, but that's just me.

there ARE categories of worthwhile luxuries IF you can afford them. If she could afford it and this was the perfect piece, why look for a cheaper option an risk being disappointed in the end? I'll give you the answer: because that's out of her comfortable price range. She can probably buy a nice and solid bed frame for $2-3K (which is luxury to most folks even on this site) but $9K is just too much.

But Heather if you can really afford it and the next day you can turn around and say buy a $15K dining table, then I would look no further and just buy this bed as it is both gorgeous and exactly what you are looking for!

She didn't say anything about needing a table, $15,000 or otherwise.

I understand Kathryn, it's just to make a point. What about if it's not a $15K dining table but her car is totaled, her boiler breaks, she loses her job, etc. Can you still be fine if this happened the day after you spent $9K on a bed frame? There's an interesting book you might want to read called "Maxed Out".

Thank you all so much for your responses. Just to clarify some things:

1) I have a mini cooper, which is a pretty cool car, but not super expensive.

2) I could probably afford the bed from BDDW and have the cash, but this would blow a lot of my budget for my new apartment so I found someone who will make something very close with a few adjustments (I want a higher footboard) for much cheaper. It is not super cheap cause it is made out of American walnut, but it is a lot less than the one above.. I will let everyone know how it comes out!

Thanks again.

"I could probably afford the bed from BDDW and have the cash, but this would blow a lot of my budget for my new apartment"

I rest my case.

Environment Furniture makes products that feel similar.

joebelt -
please stop. we'd all rather read about where to find a cool bed rather than your financial advice.

sometimes the truth hurts but as the saying goes a fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart.

who said anything about "good" counsel? you've yet to mention anywhere to get a similar looking bed.

And you know alexander; I'm not even getting on her case because I don't have a full picture of her situation. But having a custom bed frame made for $2-3K is more in line with her finances. However that is assuming, she is already an owner, has an emergency fund that equals at least 3 months salary and is not in credit card debt. If any of these weren’t true, I would also strongly discourage her from spending that much on a custom bed. Consumerism in this country comes at a price and everyone is going to pay a high price for our disregard, as a nation, of common sense financial responsibility.

I am an owner, I have an emergency fund that equals at least 3 months salary and I am not in credit card debt.

I am still not spending $9000 on a bed.

And I agree with Alexander, if I could find a bed that I liked for a similar price, I would get it.

I just bought a place and I want a bed that will last a really long time, I have been saving and dreaming about a really nice one for years..but I am not insane.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions on where to find an alternative. I have actually looked at most of those places.

Also, the one I am having make is out of recycled wood.

That bed looks alot like the Sumatra Bed at Pottery Barn.
I have one and LOVE it. It is extremely sturdy. Mine has been
disassembled and moved more than 5 times over the last 4 years and is still in perfect shape. I get compliments on it all
the time.

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p949/index.cfm?pkey=cfurbedall

best of all - it's $1100 for the Queen.

austin_luz, I see the resemblance too! It's a dark stain wood!

Heather--
Did you try Desiron?

joebelt--
I think *you* are being a "dark stain."

patrick (the other one),

How mature to resort to name calling when one's beliefs are threatened.

hello, i know this post is more than a year later than the original conversation, but i would love an update on this thread.

did hsue get her bed built? was she happy with it? can she share the name of the person who built it?

any idea how i can get in touch with hsue?