What to do with this headboard?
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Kelli Di Capri on Jan 27, 2014It's lovely! What about jewel coloured glass behind the fretwork, paint the whole of it in gilt and add enamel jewel colours to the button details - it'll bring out the Arabic feel to your mirrors :) Think Alhambra!Helpful Reply
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169756 on Jan 27, 2014I love the the design and would probably paint it and leave it at that. The design would make a real statement. It would go with the current mirrors if you painted it white. Just my own idea, but make it your own!Helpful Reply
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Jackie Golladay on Jan 27, 2014@Penny Hughes White. french country. look at ones on Pinterest.. you can do this.. I think it is kind of short tho, when you put pillows on it you might lose it,, just a thought. I personally like the white one and would remove the mirrors and center the existing headboard and put white shelving around it.. Just a thought.If I lived by you I would buy the white headboard from you if you did not want it.:) Let us know how it turns out. I mean shelving top and sides.. would look fab!Helpful Reply
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No longer available on Jan 27, 2014Very pretty! Since it is for your lake cottage, I like the idea of painting it white. Maybe some of those pretty details you can highlight in a litle gold like the circles, or even gray if you prefer a weathered look with the cottage style. Someone mentioned that it might be a little short and lose the details behind pillows, good point - maybe it can be mounted on the wall rather than bed frame and then you can mount it a little higher. Great find!Helpful Reply
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Aimee Simon on Jan 27, 2014I would distress it and give a vintage feel....and if you want it white...that would work tooHelpful Reply
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Shari on Jan 27, 2014Are you keeping the same bedding? When I think beach cottage, I think of watery shades of blue. I can envision using white linens and painting the headboard a pretty shade of aqua, or linens in an aqua print and painting the headboard a slightly darker (or lighter) shade of aqua pulled from the bedding. You could possibly even paint it two-toned... the main body of the headboard aqua and the inset circles white, or visa versa. Of course, solid white would be great too but since you already have the white mirrors, a little color would provide a little variation and visual interest on that wall.Helpful Reply
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Christine on Jan 27, 2014I actually found a Henredon king head board similar to that. $10 at H4H! I was lucky to find a bench at another reuse center that is EXACTLY the same length. I'm going to attach the headboard to the bench, probably paint them and have a great bench with a back for my own back porch. So it doesn't actually NEED to remain a head board. :) I'm also thinking sidelight for a door. Hmm.Helpful Reply
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Judy Jackson on Jan 27, 2014Make a bench out of it for your lake side houses' porchHelpful Reply
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117135 on Jan 27, 2014I would paint it a shabby white! Turn the old headboard into a bench!Helpful Reply
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Confessions of a Serial DIYer on Jan 27, 2014On HGTV a while back, I saw them add fabric to the back of a similar headboard. It's hard to visualize, but it looked beautiful when it was finished. They painted it first and I think the fabric was padded.Helpful Reply
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Marian taylor on Jan 28, 2014This headboard just screams for a wedding ring quiltHelpful Reply
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Haifa on Jan 28, 2014I would paint it a color that really pops. Something blueHelpful Reply
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Janice Phillips (JP) on Jan 28, 2014I found a headboard exactly like this one at an Estate Sale. I painted mine in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Provence. It was gorgeous! It sold the first week to a client for her beach house! Good luck @pennyhughes!Helpful Reply
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MikkiGirl on Jan 28, 2014I'd paint it a white chalk paint and maybe use a soft blue or green for the detail pieces that connect the rings. Sharon@Lilikoi Joy's suggestion of mounting it higher on the wall is great!Helpful Reply
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Laura Tweed on Jan 28, 2014make a fantastic ornamental mantle over a fire if a shelf was added and a long thin mirror behind the ornate bit at the topHelpful Reply
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Joan @ Nicer Than New on Jan 28, 2014I assume you will keep it as a headboard. I would paint and distress it if you like that look or paint it and perhaps use a metallic paint on the round medallions to bring them out. Another idea is to use two shades such as tan or grey for the frame and white or cream for the circles. Regardless, I LOVE it! Great find!Helpful Reply
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Anna Ibarra on Jan 28, 2014Wow, what a lovely pattern, I like it. I'm sure you'll get tons of suggestions. People are very crafty here. But good find and can't wait to find out what you did with it.Helpful Reply
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Confessions of a Serial DIYer on Jan 28, 2014Yes , Cindy... Perfect ! :)Helpful Reply
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Connie K on Jan 28, 2014What a great find. Geometric designs are really getting hot again and this circle pattern has so much potential. You mentioned painting it in a metallic paint and I think it could be beautiful especially given some of the new metallic mediums and colors. There are some new metallic looks to consider. One that I like looks like both silver and gold. It is sometimes called Champagne but then on some pieces you can tell it is actually a technique using both silver and gold. You aren't limited to one metallic color these days. There are beautiful examples of silver or gold used with bronze. If you can, look at some examples in a furniture store or if that isn't convenient, do a search on "metallic furniture finish" and you find lots of examples, both DIY and furniture manufacturers. Stein World, Pulaski, and Horchow are some of the furniture companies with some beautiful finishes. I'd love to see a photo when its finished.Helpful Reply
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Jim L on Jan 29, 2014This is NOT an ugly headboard! It is very nice looking and 1000% better than what you have in there now! Paint it and use a wash to compliment the other colors in the room. The idea of using the old headboard for the back of a bench is pretty good...can you use it on another bed somewhere. It looks like a nice old headboard. If you want to add fabric behind the rings, that would be an interesting look...I think that you found a great buy at the thrift store.Helpful Reply
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Red Wind Studio on Jan 29, 2014paint it black and use silver gilding wax on the medallions or do a mutli tone like ASCP coco, graphite and old ochre it would look fabulous and still using some gilding waxHelpful Reply
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Victoria Larsen Stencils on Jan 29, 2014I would use metallic paint to give that beautiful design some sheen. Martha Stewart puts out some really pretty colors. I would use a contrasting metallic on the ornamental pieces connecting the circles. What a lovely piece!Helpful Reply
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Debby Boyle on Jan 29, 2014It is an awesome headboard, I would tape off the little metal pieces & paint it. Paint can't do wonders....Helpful Reply
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Sarah Wilcox Davolt on Jan 29, 2014Paint it and add fabric with a lot of batting behind the fabric so it billows (peeks) through the openings.... Easy diy project!Helpful Reply
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Certa Pro Of Southern Rhode Island on Jan 29, 2014Chalk paint is great. It looks wonderful and has afairly easy application. The white gives a very quant cottage feel. If youwere looking for a more advanced DIY, there are a ton of stripping and woodbleaching tutorials online. That would give a weathered and beachy feel, makingthe metal accents a real statement. Good Luck. Jovana Ferra CertaPro Painters of Southern Rhode IslandHelpful Reply
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Cheri Dittler on Jan 29, 2014since it is your lake house, I would paint it with chalkpaint..maybe a dark cream, then wind pliable branches and twigs and grape vines throughout the circles, making it look more rustic. cheri dittlerHelpful Reply
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Lori Fay Bugher-Dieter on Jan 29, 2014Weirdness! I have this very same headboard, it's an old Drexel piece, very well made. I painted mine a gloss white and it is beautiful. I'd really like to do something else with it though someday. The medallions come off, you can just take them off to paint.Helpful Reply
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Ellen Collin on Jan 29, 2014If you would like to use it a back to a bench in your house or yard, paint it with Rustolem paint and build a box seat with cushions. I try to think out of the box on things like thisHelpful Reply
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Liliana Wells on Jan 29, 2014If you are going to use this as a headboard, I would paint it white; but remove the ornaments connecting the circles first. After painting, replace them. You can even paint the ornaments a metallic color so they pop out. Please remove the mirrors on eaither side of the bed, they would crowd the wall with the new headboard. I would love to see what you finally decide to do with it. Good luck.Helpful Reply
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Kim Houston on Jan 29, 2014I think it would look great with either a chalk paint/wax finish, or just a good distressing and wax finish. I would also paint the medallions with an antique bronze or other metallic paint. Incorporating a nautical them in the room would look great with that headboard.Helpful Reply
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Ivy Lynne on Jan 29, 2014It would make a great bench back, don't you think?Helpful Reply
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Linda J S on Jan 29, 2014with mirrored furniture being so hot, it might be interesting to put mirror tiles behind the cut outs after it is painted if you did not want to use fabric.Helpful Reply
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Deb289574 on Jan 29, 2014I love it. I would sand it down and paint it white with the metal pieces black. I would then remove the mirrors on either side and put them somewhere else. They take away from the look of the headboard.Helpful Reply
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Anne on Jan 29, 2014Yes, paint the headboard but put a double layer of fabric in back of the open areas. Organza, silk, a good quality polyester with some sheen to it might work also. A double layer because it needs to be strong enough to staple onto the back and something with a slight shine would be more formal than a flat look. Looks great and I would have bought it, too!Helpful Reply
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Debra on Jan 29, 2014Shabby chic itHelpful Reply
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Melissa on Jan 29, 2014think it would be cool as wall decoration, keeping just the decorative part and painting itHelpful Reply
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KAT on Jan 29, 2014Looking at the room, I would take the medallions off the new headboard, paint the headboard with antique white chalk paint, then replace the metal... Then I would use the current smaller headboard as a bench at the end of the bed... Many tutorials on making benches out of headboards on this site, even if you have to cut it down... Paint it also in the white chalk paint... Then I see end tables... One white, one dark... Paint them as well. I would use the mirrors on either side, but put some silk greenery draped around the top to break up the plain mirrors... Lastly, the grey wall color is nice, but I would paint that particular wall a darker grey to set off the white pieces... Maybe use it for a few accents, window frames and door and leave the other walls the lighter grey. Just some ideas!Helpful Reply
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Cynthia E on Jan 29, 2014If you don't want to use actual mirrors behind circles (which is a great idea-- along with attaching it higher on wall so don't lose details behind pillows). You could use Krylon's looking glass paint on plexiglass for the antique mirror / mercury glass finish. With an antiqued white finish wood and antiqued silver metal accents would be beautiful. Home improvement stores will cut the plexiglass at minimal to no cost for you.Helpful Reply
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Lex263207 on Jan 29, 2014I love the geometric part. Could you saw off the bottom, bulky base? From there, paint & add decorative knobs and hang in a long entry or hallway. There are many uses for the knobs besides coats or towels. You could add photos hung with a ribbon, etc. I did something similar with an old headboard. Mine's still a work in progress. Got the knobs at Hobby Lobby. Can't remember paint color, but it's a soft golden yellow. Used my palm sander to distress & added Valspar Mocha glaze. If there was a nice, clean line to cut it, this could also make a nice vertical piece!Helpful Reply
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Janice Phillips (JP) on Jan 29, 2014I'll check, Penny. My computer has crashed since that time and I have lost my photo files. If I do, I'll get them to you as soon as possible. JPHelpful Reply
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Mary Anderson on Jan 29, 2014I like it just the way it is!Helpful Reply
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Lisa on Jan 29, 2014Help answer this question...mount headboard to old wooded doors or shutters to make tall use brackets for the bottom and paint white and distress if doors or shutters are to tall chop them off on the bottom to desired height!Helpful Reply
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Carmen on Jan 29, 2014Make it shabby chic, white distressed paint job.:-)Helpful Reply
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Sandy on Jan 29, 2014I think fabric behind the geometric shapes would be a good idea. Paint of your choice and as suggested above, remove the mirrors and use elsewhere. Would love to see a photo when you finish with this project.Helpful Reply
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Beverly Hullender on Jan 30, 2014I love this! Such a unique style and so many ideas! You can easily go a brilliant white with this and give it more of that "cottage feel" with the option of creating a shabby-chic look by using a fine sandpaper to make it appear worn. The medallions can be white (giving it that older, vintage feel) or paint them gold. If you're more dramatic, use black, or a black-gray combination (paint the inside of the circles gray then spray paint the front allowing a slight over-spray to edge the gray) That would work only for people who don't demand "perfection" but would give it some great depth. Obviously, painting the medallions (gray, gold, silver, etc) will give it another dimension as well. Looking forward to see what you do with this. Having mirrored glass cut for the back will give it an entirely different effect as well. If you do this, don't forget to paint the back as well (as the mirror DOES show part of the backside!)Helpful Reply
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Shirley on Jan 30, 2014I would make a bench out of it.Helpful Reply
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Rebecca on Jan 31, 2014Penny, I love the bedding! Is it still available and if so where did it come from? Some great ideas here. Have you decided yet?Helpful Reply
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Rebecca on Jan 31, 2014I think raising it up is a very good idea. What about putting antiqued mirrors behind the holes and painting it the deep plum of the velvet bedding. The swirls would play off of each other nicely. The room needs a little pizazz!Helpful Reply
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Pam Moore on Jan 31, 2014Hi I would keep the decorative part of the headboard and saw off the rest. I would sand it and use a your favorite paint color watered down so it it goes on like a color stain and then poly urethane. In between the circles you could display pictures of your memories at the cabin.Helpful Reply
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Melody M on Jan 31, 2014i agree with Shirley ... make a nice bench out of it..it would be really cute on front pouch with nice huge cushons ...Helpful Reply
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Pigaloo Pwincess-o'Eberyfing on Feb 02, 2014It would make an awesome bench back.Helpful Reply
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Rebecca on Feb 05, 2014You need to make the mirror old, or buy an old mirror that's all pitted and flakinking on the back. That would give you the cottage-y feel you are going for. I'll have to keep an eye open for embossed velvet and make a duvet cover like that. I was just hoping I could buy it ready-made. Thanks anyway.Helpful Reply
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Perla on Feb 05, 2014USTED PODRIA HACERLO UNA HERMOSA BANCA ...Helpful Reply
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Kelly Boettcher on Feb 06, 2014I would paint it a bright accent color with a high gloss paint.Helpful Reply
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Sandy Bonson Riley on Feb 28, 2014Cut in half and make a bench with flat boards for seat.Helpful Reply
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Barbara on Feb 28, 2014I like the white shabby chic idea. It looks like you have a white and dark dresser on each side. Keep the medallions dark to match other metals but hang a beautiful colorful picture that speaks the style of the room and pulls in that gorgeous eggplant color. It seems to be missing an accent color in the room which the picture can bring in and maybe then a pillow or lampshade to matchHelpful Reply
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Renata on Jan 31, 2015Give it to me is the best idea...lolHelpful Reply
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Linda on Apr 13, 2015Can easily increase height by adding 2 x 4 legs that will be hidden then paint a color of your dreams. Then I would pad and do button tuft on the sections with the circles. Will be fabulousHelpful Reply
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Penny Hughes on Apr 13, 2015This is what I did!Helpful Reply
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Heather Bussey on Feb 25, 2016Paint the inset (circle section to look like metal -I would go with rustoleum matte black or oiled bronze but you might want it lighter). Paint and slightly distress the frame.Helpful Reply
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Penny Hughes on Feb 25, 2016Painted it white,kept it simple.Helpful Reply
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Penny Hughes on Feb 25, 2016Painted it white,kept it simple.Helpful Reply
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Linda Sherman on Oct 22, 2016Such a great find Penny. I've never seen this style before. My hubby is a bicycle enthusiast and immediately saw wheels - but you probably want to continue with a LAKE theme. I would paint it a weathered white wood and pad over the circles and cover that with canvas. Then I would attach to the wall off the floor and give it some height.Helpful Reply
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