Bespoke design and build of a carved Gothic style oak bed

He doesn't get the time now, but Nicholas Berry (Managing Director of Early Oak Reproductions) spent many years making furniture and architectural joinery from old re-claimed oak.

Below is one of his design drawings for a bespoke Gothic style carved bed. Not a copy of an original, but a unique piece. In fact, just like an early piece, the only one in the world!

This bed was completely handmade by Nick (with help from his son and Geoff the carver), from ancient oak beams. Here it is, fully assembled and installed in his clients beautiful thatched Surrey cottage.

It was this very piece (in itself entirely bespoke) that inspired our clients, West Webburn Estates, in Devon, to commission their own bespoke gothic bed, using Nicks original old-oak version above, as a basis.

The mattress for the West Webburn bed was to be a super king (6ft wide), as opposed to the standard size mattress on the original bed (4ft 6ins). So, in widening the frame, we introduced an additional carved parchemin panel. Our client also wanted the footboard panelled, to match the design of the headboard, albeit much lower. The other modification was to shorten the footboard posts, to be the same height above the moulded footboard rail as the posts above the carved headboard rail. 

Of course, as always, we made sure that the working drawings took into account our clients preferred mattress height from the floor.

Here is the finished bed photographed in West Webburns attractively beamed Devon longhouse, together with matching parchemin panelled bedside cupboards (also made by us).

To view the bespoke bed featured here, including size options and prices, please click Gothic bed oak.