Eastlake Headboard Makeover

Rachel
by Rachel
I had an antique walnut Eastlake headboard and footboard sitting in my furniture pile for almost a year until I decided it was time to give it a makeover! I REALLY wanted it for my own master bedroom, but we had a queen size bed and the Eastlake bed was a full size. So after thinking on it for awhile I came up with a solution.
The headboard and footboard had a dark lacquer covering it that made the grain barely visible. So I started by stripping the finish off so all that was left was the bare wood. This was a very time consuming process, but completely necessary.


Then, to add an additional 6 inches in width to the headboard so that it would be queen size, I cut off the side posts of the footboard and used a pocket hole jig to attach them to either side of the headboard.
Then after cleaning off all the residue of the stripper and letting it dry, I sealed the entire thing with Danish Oil in Dark Walnut. It really preserved the natural wood and added richness to the tone.
To install the headboard I simply attached it to a 1x6 and then used hanger bolts to attach the 1x6 to the metal bed frame.
Because our headboard got a major upgrade, I had to add some minor but impactful changes to the rest of the room as well. I planked the walls and painted them white, I painted the frame of the nightstand, I made some ball mason jar bedside lamps, and shopped my house for some blue and gray pillows!
We love the bold statement this headboard makes for the room now!
The final result is something that we will continue to enjoy for years and hopefully be passed down to our children.
Just so you have an idea of the impact this headboard made in the room, the left is our room 6 months prior and the right is what it looks like now!


This master bedroom refresh spurred other makeovers, including installing a barn door on our master bathroom and making over our master bathroom. Be sure to click the link below to see the rest of the updates!
Rachel
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Mickey Baron Mickey Baron on Feb 06, 2016
    I have a bed much similar to this! I bought it 30 yrs. ago at an Estate sale. It's also a full size, but has a foot board just as ornate as the headboard, only smaller. I LOVE the bed! My husband..not so much. It's over 120 yrs. old & was made when people were much smaller in statue. We also have moved on to a queen. It's retired to a corner in the basement I will NEVER get rid of it! Which leads to my QUESTION; Mine, also, has a very heavy kind of stain on it. It seems to be saturated in this dark stain/paint that doesn't show the wood grain at all. I considered painting it once, when I was going to move it up into the spare room. What IS this stain/paint, & how do I try to get it off? Just looking at it, you can tell it's on there thick & saturated through the wood. It's definately not easily peeling off at its old age. I'm sorry for this lengthy question. Your bed & room are gorgeous, by the way. First time I've ever seen a bed similar to mine, except in an old Clint Eastwood movie. I screamed at my husband, "LOOK! There's my bed!!!" And still do today at reruns. LOL
  • Helena Helena on Feb 09, 2016
    I like the design. Love using the old to make new again. What did you do with your old Head/Footboard and did you make the mason jar lamps yourself?
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  • Pam Pam on Feb 16, 2016
    Absolutely gorgeous!
  • Jude Jude on Mar 21, 2016
    absolutely love your room!!! The bedside lights aren't my fav... takes away from the beauty & charm of the room.
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