Octagon Progress
In a normal situation, it is easy to place night tables on each side of a bed. But normal night tables, either square or rectangular, will not work in my abnormal situation due to the angle of the adjacent walls.
What will work are triangular-shaped night tables.
Another consideration is that the night table to the left will be in front of the window. I really hate furniture obscuring windows. So, any night tables will need to be see-through to protect, you know, my delicate sensibilities. The night tables also have to be tall, at least 25-inches. This is the height of the mattress and I think night tables should be AT LEAST mattress height or higher. NOT lower. There is nothing worse than trying to grab your ringing phone, in the dark, in an unfamiliar place, on a table top that is low. Oh, the horror.
In addition, I am wary of any antique wood tables. I looked but everything I found was either $$$$, too solid, or not a complement to the oak bedroom set. I want the set to stand out AS a matching set. Any additional wood antiques in the room will likely dilute this effect. Thus, something clearly modern seems ideal, and might offer a tantalizing counterpoint.
Needed, too, are a pair of wall sconces so my guests can read in bed. The sconces need to be adjustable so as to offer any guest light where they want it, and be able to accept at least a 60W bulb.
I cannot imagine finding period-correct gas/electric sconces that will work in this situation. In addition, installing such sconces would confuse the historical narrative as there were no sconces in this location in 1894. Indeed, bedside sconces were not even a thing in 1894 from what I can tell. (There will be period-correct gas/electric sconces across the room to each side of the mantle and at the original locations.)
So, I ordered these. They adjust in three locations. I like the black and brass. I also liked the price: $85. For the pair! Including free shipping! I was worried that they would look and feel cheap, but they are actually quite nice. Under each sconce will be a dimmable wall switch.
To my surprise, triangle side tables are not hard to find. That said, I was gobsmacked at how many table I liked were OUT OF STOCK. I discovered the same thing in looking at sconces, and duvet covers. OUT OF STOCK seems to be a new reality as Covid disrupts everything. It is also hard to find tall triangle tables, 25-inches or higher. Anyway, these tables are 30-inches high. The brass will complement the sconces. Not crazy about the gray. The tables are $106 for the pair (!) with free shipping.
Another option would be a round table. But it will have to be only about 12-inches wide. Otherwise, it will stick out too far and make getting in/out of bed difficult. I really like this table. It is 30-high and 13-wide, and $140 each with free shipping.
Although I visually prefer the round table, I worry about it being knocked over as a guest stumbles about in the dark in an unfamiliar room. The triangle tables seem unlikely candidates for knocking over, and I could even attach them to the wall. I also like their price.
So, I think I will order the triangle tables even though they do not thrill me.
What do you think?
SUMMARY
I already have the sconces.
Any night table must be:
- See through.
- 25-inches high or more.
- Small round (like 12-wide) or triangle.
- Not a wood antique.
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Not that anyone asks me for decorating advice, EVER. But I like the triangular ones because I think they’re less likely to tip over, and you can attach them to the wall if they do. The round ones look very tippy to me, and I *am* an expert in knocking things over. Can’t wait to see what you decide, because you DO have an eye for decorating, one that I’m in awe of.
I forgot to mention: I love how the bed sits against your new wall! And I really like the sconces.
Thanks, Barb!
I think that the grey would be easy to paint. A high gloss white or even black to match the sconces.
If they come pre- assembly, it’s even easier.
In lieu of an outright sidetable, have you considered old wood plant stands? They tend to be higher and you might easily affix a larger top to them if necessary!
Lucite?
Derek, I would need Lucite + triangle shape + right height.
I prefer the triangular tables as well. The round one just screams “PLANT STAND” to me, and does not look very practical, especially for guests.
Considering the simplicity of a modern table (such as the triangular ones you have there), having a set custom-made by a local welding shop or other craftsperson might be an option. You could build some to your exact requirements quite simply with square steel tubing and a MIG welder, and use birch plywood (painted or stained) for the tops/shelves, or a solid-surface material like Corian. It’s unlikely to be as cheap as $106 once you account for the labor, but something worth considering. I often find myself making little custom furniture pieces to fit a very specific location (although I usually try to find something manufactured first, as I’m starting to value my time more as life goes on).
Lastly, It looks like you’ll be cutting holes in your newly-finished wall for the sconce electrical boxes; an all-to-common (cursed?) routine of my projects too, haha. You could use surface-mount boxes and raceways to mount them, and lamp cord for a plug-in power to avoid that and be less permanent (if you ever wanted to move them easily, etc). This should be electrically code-compliant, as they’d be considered an appliance, (just a lamp assembly mounted to the wall), as long as they are supplied through a cord that plugs into a receptacle. If you’re positive about the locations, however, conventional in-wall boxes and wiring will certainly be cleaner.
Seth, the wiring is already in the walls for the sconces. I just have to cut in the boxes, which is easy.
Hi Ross.
Louis Copt here. Are you receiving mail at 526 Union? I have something I want to send you. The room is looking good!
Oh, one more (minor) observation; it appears you may be using more screws than necessary in your drywall. The standard code and manufacturer guidelines are 16″ spacing for walls, 12″ spacing for ceilings.
No harm in using a tighter spacing, just more heads to fill and sand (although screws in the open field are pretty effortless).
Since you are so handy Ross, why haven’t you considered making the triangle bedside tables? I am sure that there is some scrap quartersawn Oak that can be cut, routed edge, stained, and finished to match the existing furniture.
You can do it Ross, and you can stamp the bottom with your name and date of manufacture!
With all your experience in fixing wood in this home I’m certain you could make your own night stands exactly how you envision them. I would think you could make them so much better and spend less. That would be IF you want to take on another project….
NO! MORE! ADDITIONAL! PROJECTS!
There are probably some people that could build you side tables.
Yes, Doug, but competent people? Where would I find such a person?
The sconces are great! My opinion on the table is that it won’t work. It won’t fit in the space, either the triangular or the round one, since it cannot squish back in to the corner. With the light already taken care of, what would most people now put on a side table? A phone, or a book, or both would fit on those tables. But many people now have CPAP machines. Mine is small enough for that table because I do not use the humidifier that attaches to it, but most will be too big for those tables. What would work, and would also work for using laptops in bed, is a table similar to the ones they have in hospital rooms, but one with more style… I am thinking lucite or a metal frame and glass top? With wheels, of course, to protect the floor. Anyway, just my thoughts as I sit in my very similar bed, with my CPAP on an old fashioned dictionary stand with wheels beside me, and my laptop balanced on my knee.
Here, but with wheels?
Here.
Also too low.
And such a table would be real problem on the left side of the bed. When you push it away from the bed, it would then fill the “aisle” space, preventing one from leaving the bed!
Hi, Miriam!
I looked at such tables but none were high enough to go over the mattress.
And over a person!
The one you link to is too low.
Miriam, I’m not clear why you think the triangle table won’t fit?
As my drawing indicates, a triangle fits perfectly next to the bed sides.
An alternative would be to go to a glass store with yiour measurements and get really thickj glass shelves made. But FIRST find a way to atach to wall !
Hi, Kim! That might work to the right of the bed, but not on the left where there is no wall.
The triangular (actually pentagons aren’t they?) I think would work. I expect the grey pieces are simply screwed to the frame. Just pop them off, spray paint a nice black – and now they fully complement your reading lamps.
I’m in the minority here, because I really like the round tables! They reflect (?) the round shapes of the sconces and thus match those better. Also I don’t think they will tip so easily, since they’d be next to the pillow and one usually doesn’t leave the bed from there.
That being said, if you spraypainted the gray parts of the triangle tables matte black to match the sconces, that would look quite nice as well 🙂
Love the wall sconces. I like the triangle side tables too, but if you don’t love them, then you can always wait
on that until you find something you truly love.
The other day you wrote about your future bedroom and how you were concerned about how to make the
wallpaper, drapes, and stained glass all work together. If it doesn’t all work, maybe you could use the
wallpaper in this room? That way you could, for sure, get the white chenille bedding you wanted. Maybe
it wouldn’t go with the stained glass? BTW I love that wallpaper and the drapes too!
I like the triangle tables for this situation although I’d purchase an 18” marble tile and slice it diagonally in two to fit on top of each.
If you’re already considering modern/contemporary looks, what about floating shelves instead of tables? Mountable at your preferred height, even less visual obstruction (no legs!), and easy to vacuum under 🙂
Whoops, just saw the above reply that there is no wall available on one side of the bed. Carry on!
The round table is cute at first glance but then I thought it looked like something that would be in an outside cafe where you would drink a beer! So my vote is the triangle tables attached to the wall. And I too love the light fixtures!! What a great deal!!
Wow. Its modern Victorian! The wallpaper, drapes, sconces and the grey/gold of the side tables- perfect!!!
So. My vote? Definitely TRIANGLE!! All those textures and colors together are–like i said, modern Victorian!
Heres a crazy idea…………….
Since u LOVE to fix light fixtures, why dont you drill holes around the rim of the shade of the sconces and install crystal dangles!?!
I dont know what the shape is called, but those straight faceted ones with the point on the end. They were on one of those chandeliers you have in your store! It was the black and silver , i think colonial ?? 20s chandelier.??
I think that would be outstanding AND scrumptious! And give a touch of romance too!
Just sayin….. what do ya think?? 😁🙂
Oh yea. That black wallpaper and dark fabric for curtains was supposed to go in YOUR room. How about in here instead?? Hmmmm?? Just a thought. Thats the combo i was thinking of when i said modern Victorian!
I would wall mount some appropriately sized shelves made to match the color and style of the furniture at just the height of a nightstand
Cut two triangles out of wood/metal/plexiglass or whatever and mount them on the wall? You can put them at whatever hight you desire, no legs to obscure the window and super easy and quick to make so wont take up much time and effort. I bet it would take less time than searching the internet for something you can buy.
Or buy ready, triangle floating corner shelves:
Here.
Here.
Here.
Here.
Here.
Here.
Amazon search.
Hi, Erin!
None of these options will work to the left of the bed. A window is in the way!
From the picss it seems the bed could be moved to have the right side of the bed right where the new wall begins, and that would leave more wall on the left side to tuck in a floating triangle table there.
I really like the grey triangular tables! I think they are stylish and functional.