 |
||||
Antique Dreams You may not live in the White House, but you can still have a presidential antique bed - here's what you need to know  Image courtesy Leonards New England On Jan. 15, a truck with "Sweet Dreams" inscribed on its side pulled up to the White House with an antique tall post bed for its new occupants. "[The Obamas] were looking for a king-sized bed, and they liked the idea of it having an American antique component," says Lois MacDonald, vice president of sales for Leonards New England. The antique bed was adapted to king size from tiger maple bedposts that originated from the Pennsylvania or New Jersey area in the 1820s. The resized bed also featured a roll back, ram's-ear headboard. Although MacDonald is unsure whether President Obama will be sleeping on the bed himself, she did know whoever slept on it was going to get a good night's rest. The company has been resizing and restoring antique beds for discerning clientele for 75 years. And while this delivery to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. has increased interest in restoring or resizing antique beds, experts say there are a few things to consider before hauling great-great-grandma's bed out of storage. The first thing to consider is the date of the antique bed. Nineteenth-century beds, for instance, were often four feet wide and less than six feet long. This means resizing the bed to modern dimensions is often necessary for a comfortable sleep. Experts say some antique beds are in good enough condition to withstand this type of work, while others cannot. "While a bed is generally simple in its construction, it has many vulnerable parts, such as the joints where the frame meets the leg," says Alexandra Bandon, multimedia editor for "This Old House" magazine, New York City. And while experts say that resizing a bed may increase its sales value, Bandon says "it certainly robs it of what were likely its original pleasingly aesthetic proportions." If you decide to seek out a professional to help restore all or part of an antique bed, MacDonald suggests "probably the best place to do it is around your home. Word-of-mouth is probably the most reliable way to have something restored." Although you may shop for affordability, this should not be the only factor in hiring a restoration expert, says Susan Golashovsky, an independent appraiser in Doylestown, Pa. "You should look for someone who is experienced in working with antiques. Ask them about their trade education. Ask if you can see their work. Call a few references to ask, not only about the work itself, but about the timeliness and responsibility of the professional," Golashovsky says. If you aren't sure the piece is worth the expense of restoring or resizing, Golashovsky suggests having it appraised. "Not all antiques have great monetary value," Golashovsky says. "If you are in doubt, consult an appraiser who has been accredited by a major appraisal organization such as the American Society of Appraisers. A professional appraiser will be able to determine if the bed is valuable or has mostly sentimental value. Once you know the value of the item you can make an informed judgment on restoration and/or conversion. The professional appraiser can also offer an opinion of how much - or how little - the changes will affect value." If you are considering restoring the antique bed yourself, be informed of the work involved. "Matching rare species of wood is difficult, as is finding or creating appropriate decorative elements, such as carvings," says Bandon. |
||||
|
||||
