The idea of a tired-looking peach velvet buttoned headboard on a boxy divan with ruffled valance, is in the past - headboards are back, and beautiful...
Clockwise from top left - Layla Upholstered Headboard in Grey: from £695 for a double;
Gold Gilt Rococo Headboard: £1195 for a kingsize; Residence Upholstered Headboard: from £675 for a single;
Provencal Upholstered Headboard: from £620 for a kingsize
Beautiful headboards have experienced a bit of a resurgence recently, probably partly due to the need for that valuable underbed storage space which you instantly have with a divan base, and partly because they're a very instant new focal point for a bedroom, at not quite the expense of a whole French bed. Depending on the style, our headboards come either with no screws or fixings, or with wall-mounted fixings, so even the plainest of box divan bases can be transformed to fit in with the rest of your French style furniture, or perhaps it's time to bring in the antique cream, gold gilt or white painted furniture, and investing in a stunning elaborately carved or luxue upholstered headboard (have you seen our stunning new Layla Upholstered Headboard in Grey and Cream?) is your first step towards transforming your bedroom into a boudoir. (Of course, don't forget the coordinating antique white dressing table, Louis chest of drawers, French armoire and bedside tables will follow after that of course...). To hide that unattractive boxy divan base, simply invest in an unfussy straight valance with box-pleat corners. Try The White Company for a range of fabrics, from cotton velvet to Ian Mankin viscose linen, or Zara Home - we love their natural "Lino" valance Otherwise, our divan bases come in a choice of 12 great upholstery fabrics (aside from the usual damask or classic ticking options) which don't need to be covered up.
Artisan Walnut Headboard: £1200
We're particularly proud of our new collaboration with Oakmasters, a great UK family-run woodwork company who've created the Artisan Walnut Headboard for us - a unique piece of art in the form of a stunning, hand crafted piece of wood from the core of a walnut tree. It's given four coats of satin varnish to accentuate the beautiful grain, and it's edged in bark, which really makes it clear to see that it's a true slither or cross-section of a seriously handsome tree. It's an unusual alternative to a traditional headboard - a real focal point for your bedroom, and particularly stunning when running from the width of both your bed and bedside tables, tying the area together.
Bespoke headboards, Ariele Alasko
We had to include Brooklyn-based Ariele Alasko, a marvellously clever (and super pretty) lady who creates all sorts of amazing pieces of furniture from reclaimed pieces of wood, from coffee tables to headboards in Brooklyn, in this post. She says of her work: "I studied as a sculptor, but have always had a propensity for making sculptures that fit into houses. I eventually gave in to my desire {why fight it?} and decided to build reclaimed furniture instead. It felt great to start making things that people needed, wanted, and could use in their daily lives. I finally felt... useful!". We think it's all absolutely stunning, and we know that she ships internationally - just like our Artisan Walnut Headboard, it's surely got to be an opportunity to invest in a future heirloom piece!
Author: Georgia Metcalfe, Managing Director, The French Bedroom Company
