Cheap chipboard bedmakers are trumped! If you aren't looking for a stylin', sexy Italian sack, but just want a really good, simple all-wood bed here's our roundup. Feel free to add to this list:
Pacific Rim Classic Beds ($537)
"Hand-rubbed with a finish of tung oil and pure beeswax to highlight the natural beauty of this distinctive Maple hardwood."
R. Bissell Shaker Platform Bed ($1250)
"Built from solid cherry, maple or oak my platform bed was originally designed for use with a futon (as shown) but can be made to accept a standard mattress or mattress and boxspring set."
(Re-Edited from 2006-03-02 - mgr)
I have the chelsea bed from Pompanoosuc Mills. They modified the curve of the headboard to my specifications, so it is slightly different, but EXACTLY what I was looking for. I LOVE it. Unfortunately, I will never be able to afford the matching armoire & night stand.
For any interested DIY'ers, the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking is hosting a weekend class in July to teach building a cherry pencil post bed. The class is $545 plus materials.
I don't know what prerequisite skills are needed, but you can click on my name for more details.
Thanks for the great list. I've been searching for a simple wooden bed today. I think I will get one that could go on this list, but isn't yet. It's Clear Lake Furniture's Shaker bed:
http://www.clearlakefurniture.com/beds/sleigh/#plain
1,700 for a king.
doug has the right idea. build your own. learn something and save money in the process. These are all ludicrously priced beds for the process and material. beautiful, sure. but ouch! that price!
Stickley makes several really interesting solid cherry, mahogany, and oak beds. The beds and the accompanying furniture are extraordinarily well made and are priced in the same range as the examples. They can be seen at www.stickley.com or at any Stickley, Audi and Co. showroom.
Does anyone know about the quality of the Rangeley bed from LL Bean? Looks simple enough, though I'm not crazy about the slit headboard, and the price is very good. Link below...
Ethan Allen has the same type of pencil post bed, also made in the U.S. and of the same quality for a third of the price as this one.
I love the Edo bed (made by a Californian company that I cannot remember or find the name of). It is sold all over the web - look for Edo lounge chair - the same companies usually sell it too.
It is solid mahogany and sells for around 700 - plus has two chair backs as the headboard - great for reading in bed!!
The whole collection is incredibly priced for solid mahogany (dining, dressers, bench etc.) and gorgeous modern Japanese style.
I first sat on the bed at Su Casa in Baltimore years ago, just after I bought a bedroom set/combo from West Elm/C&B (still in good shape, but oh how I regret this disposable furniture purchase!!).
don't make the mistake i did!
For beautifully, handcrafted, simple beds check out Thomas Moser at www.ThomasMoser.com. Some of their prices are quite reasonable, some bring tears to my eyes. And, they don't give trade discounts. Arghh! But everytime I get their catalog I drool. Their beds are nice, too!
Room and Board's Parsons bed fits into this catagory:
http://roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=377436&cat=45
I bought one about a year ago and it has worked out well. The price is on the lower end of the beds mentioned in the original post (about $700 for a queen size) and is pretty much indestructable. It's spartan by some tastes as Parsons-style furniture is wont to be, but it can be dressed up. (I took an old walnut leaf table, cut it into vertical slats, danish olied and waxed them, and mounted it using a block and tackle system top avoid any drilling.)