“I im not permeeted to deesturb ze deesplay,” she said. “Eef you are serieux, come back when ze windows weel be chan-jay.” Unfortunately, I was leaving Paris the next day. After a lengthy discussion, the headstrong clerk sullenly agreed to remove the bag from the display if I vowed to purchase it. With the precision of a surgeon, she began the process of unlocking, unbuckling and unzipping each compartment. “Eet’s a Sac Chasse, ’ow you say, un ’unting bagge.” She explained every minute detail as she worked. “Oh, a hunting bag, but what a great carry-on it would make!” Her knuckles whitened as they gripped the detachable leather strap. I had to act fast and threw my credit card down to complete the transaction before being asked to get “Ze ’ell out of ze magasin.”

DIWhy
This multi-functional headboard boasts all the nighttime amenities required for sweet dreams.

DIWise
Reclaimed doors and shelves contribute to the perfect custom bed accessory.

DIY
$75–100 (SRP $250–300)

Time
6 - 8 hours

Materials
• 2 doors* (should be as wide as bed or wider when stood side by side)
• 2 kitchen drawers, wine crates or rectangular shelves
• 2 wall-mounted reading lamps
• 2 bed pillows with shams
• Cording or ribbon for sham loops
• Selection of small lipped vases
• Paint, stain or furniture wax (optional)
• 4 door knobs (that include back plates with two screw holes)
• 4, 2” hinges
• 5/8” and 11/2” wood screws
• 1” x 3” lumber, 6’ long
• Wood glue
• Clock or clock movement with shaft long enough to penetrate back of shelf unit
• Wood filler (optional)
• Degreaser (optional)
• 2 door stops

Tools
• Drill, 1/2” drill bit
• Jigsaw or table saw
• Brush, cloth or roller (if using paint or stain)
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Sander, 180-grit sandpaper

*If you purchase doors from a reclaim centre, the knobs and hinges will have been removed but will be on display close by and available for purchase.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is exerpted from Linda Bodo’s design book, “The Art of Upcycle.”

Step by Step
1. If painting or staining surfaces, sand shelves. If using cabinet drawers as shelves, remove drawer faces and all hardware. Fill holes with wood filler, if desired, and sand. If shelf units are finished in melamine, sand thoroughly to remove gloss finish and wipe with degreaser to ensure paint adhesion.
2. Position lipped vases in desired locations on top of cabinets and mark. Drill 1/2” pilot hole and use jigsaw to cut a hole as large as vase diameter. Dry-fit vases and remove.
3. If repurposing an existing clock, take it apart. Mark desired clock location in cabinet; drill an appropriate hole for clock shaft. Dry-fit clock in cabinet and remove.
4. Attach hinges onto cabinet drawers with 5/8” screws, 3” from top and 3” from bottom on opposing sides (one for right side of bed, one for left). Pre‑drill holes with 1/16” bit, ensuring that you do not drill clear through drawer walls.
5. Measure bed height and cut doors to desired height. Make sure they will be high enough to allow space for pillows and reading lights. Sand doors; remove any hinges or knobs. Line up recessed mounted sides of doors (where hinges were) face to face.
6. Mark height of bed on doors. Determine height of swinging shelves, which should be about 4–6” higher than mattress. Hold hinged shelf in place and screw hinges to side of door on either side of bed with 11/2” screws. Cut one piece of 1” x 3” to height of doors. Finish doors, shelves and 1” x 3” as desired.
7. Determine height of pillows and mark for placement of door knobs. (You want them a few inches above pillows.) Attach knobs to doors with 11/2” screws. Add cord or ribbon loops to pillow shams to align with door knobs.
8. Assemble headboard by screwing cut piece of 1” x 3” against seam between doors. Install reading lamps. Screw door stops to outside lower back side of shelves. Snug up bed to headboard.

Note: If shelves are more than three times deeper than headboard, add a two-by-four frame to back of headboard for maximum swing radius. NL