DIY Inspired by Restoration Hardware St. James Bed

Love the Restoration Hardware look, but can’t stand to look at the price tag?  Me too.  I wanted a bed similar to what I saw in their catalog and showroom.  I designed this bed to look somewhat like the St. James bed, but not cost near the hefty price tag.

I’ve seen a few other posts around the web similar to this bed, but I decided to do my own.

This is built for a queen size mattress and box spring 60″ x 80″.

My inspired by RH bed

I started with all pine stock lumber from the local Home Depot.  Lined up my 1 x 6 and framed them out top and bottom, front and back with 1 x 4.

Use 1 x 4 x 50 (4) to screw or nail top and bottom, flip over and do the same.

(10) 1x 6 x 50 stock lumber

Using 4 x 4 posts available at any home improvement store, attach through your 1 x 4 ends with pre – drilled holes and 4″ screws.

4 x 4 x 60 (2) posts

Now to measure!  You’re going to add (2) 1 x 4 decorative boards spaced evenly 1/3 of your interior length and using glue and your 18g nail gun attach to the headboard as shown.

Next to add your top, cut a 2 x 4 to the current length of your headboard and attach with 1 5/8″ screws and add a 2 x 6 board cut to 64″ length for Queen flush with the back of the headboard and center so your overhang on each side is even.

For the decorative molding inside each panel I used a raised stencil effect.  I started with a cheap picture frame molding and cut in half, traced the outline and using a plumb line continued the shape to the bottom using the picture frame molding to trace again.

The moldingsTaped outlines for stencils

Now using bondo, a good quality wood filler or wood icing, fill in your stencil to create the “molding”.

Make sure you remove your tape while the filler is still wet and workable.

Repeat the process on all three panels

Now for the corbels.  These were expensive no matter where I looked, so I made my own.  Here’s what you will need for each one:

4 x 4 Deck Post Cap
Cut in 1/2

Plinth Block with Cove Trim for the Body

Fluted or Ribbon Trim cut to length of the body of your plinth block.

Cut, glue and clamp:

DIY Corbels

DIY Corbels
Glue and Clamp well

Use your finish nailer with 1 1/2 – 2″ brad nails to attach each corbel flush with the headboard and evenly at the top of each 1 x 4 panel.

Attach your DIY corbels with wood glue and finishing nails.

Use painters tape to hold in place while nailing.

Fill all your screw holes with filler, sand and stain.

Measure and attach small dentil trim to each panel.

For the foot board you will repeat the steps for the headboard changing your dimensions to 24″ height for interior framed panel, 29″ height complete.

Repeat the same steps for the footboard using the dimensions listed.

Your rails and slats will be cut to the length plus 2″ of your mattress set.  For this queen the rails are cut 2 x 6 x 82″ and attached with 4″ steel corner brackets and using  2 x 3 boards horizontally for slats.

Sand, stain or paint!

Finished Queen RH Inspired Bed

Added plinths and decorative wood details for posts

Dentil trim

**Disclaimer:  This design is owned and created by J Burns Design.  It has been replicated and sold by other businesses.  J Burns Design is not responsible for the quality or detail in any of those products.