Wednesday, January 12, 2011

ironing board nightstand

bedside
My mother's bed is tall and luxurious. Once settled in, it's hard to leave. Because of the distance to the floor and the lack of room for an ample nightstand- books, computer, and notepads often pile into bed. It can get crowded on that fluffy down comforter. Something needed to be done.Hoping to help the cluttered surface situation, I temporarily slid an ironing board (a vintage wooden one as you would expect) between the wall and the bed.  She wasn't sure if it looked right... she does have quite particular aesthetics, that mom of mine! Needless to say... the ironing board nightstand was an amazing platform. It functions beautifully and has  become indispensable! Here it is in a sparse and minimal state,  but you'll often find it with a laptop, stack of books, magazines and room to spare. The genius (yes, I'm tooting my horn just to get my sweet mom's goat!) of the ironing board nightstand is not just in its "roomy design", but its adjustable height! Perfect for her tall bed, but easily reduced for bedsides with different proportions. If you're looking for a nice landing for all of your bedside reading, and only have a narrow space to fill... this might be a solution to consider.
bedside 2
p.s. This would also be a wonderful addition to any mama's repertoire for comforting a sick child(or any age for that matter) who was stuck in bed and needs everything within reach. Maybe I even need to sew a customized ironing board cover with pockets... so many possibilities from a humble repurposed ironing board! Pin It

38 comments:

  1. That IS genius Maya! I love it! Such a great solution & I love that it provides lots of space!
    xo
    Melis

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  2. OMGoodness! Such a brilliant idea ~ love the look and love the functionality!

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  3. it looks elegant ~ what a clever idea !

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  4. I really love this idea. Very clever.
    Sophie

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  5. ingenious indeed!!

    love this idea completely!
    and i see your mom is a woman after my own heart with a lovely collection of stones on her sill ... : )

    cheers ~
    prairiegirl

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  6. My Christmas present this year (from my mother and myself) was a vintage wooden ironing board just like this! My husband uses it with an exercise ball in the living room as his laptop desk. Love the idea of a nightstand/sick child station!

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  7. Charming as always. I like the idea of a cover with pockets, very cool Ms Maya. Burlap? xox Corrine

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  8. True genius! This is a really clever space-saver.

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  9. Ooooh! I'm so pleased you all didn't need as much convincing as my mother did!! I'll be sure to have her read YOUR words of enthusiasm ;)
    -Mary, that's my kind of Christmas present!
    -Corrine, Burlap? Has possibilities, doesn't it?

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  10. I am in agreement. Great idea!

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  11. What a great space saver, even next to a couch it would be great. I unfortunately do not get to hang out in my bed, even while sick.

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  12. Linen and Tulle- you and me both! I believe sick in bed days are the well deserved privilege of awesome grandmas... and of course, sweet little people.

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  13. We use the same thing (an ironing board--altho' not vintage & pretty like your mom's) to hold the girls' keyboard. It works perfectly, and adjustable. Thanks for sharing. There's a bakery in Berkeley (Bakesale Betty) that uses ironing boards as tables on the sidewalk, no less. So cool! I took photos and hope to post them soon.

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  14. c.g.Leong- what a good idea for a key board! Just the right shape. We've used the ironing board for a table before, but not like this... I'd love to see some of your photos of the Berkley cafe!

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  15. This is one of those things I'll be filing away in that little memory of mine. :)

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  16. That is beauticious! What a great idea. I always love thin tables; who knew I had one waiting in my garage!

    New to your blog; don't know how I found it, but it's very nice!

    --Stacey

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  17. Brilliant!!! I've been wondering where I was going to find a bed stand thingy as tall as my wondrous king size bed! I wonder if my cats would knock it over...

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  18. love it! i've been on the lookout for just the right wooden ironing board to use for a sofa table. i do believe there are less good antiques to be found on the west coast compared to back east. at least my part of the west coast:)

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  19. What a great idea! You're genius... I like that.

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  20. I just recently saw one of these and forgot to buy it! {maybe I will go back and get it now after seeing this} I didn't know what I was going to do with it, thought about hanging on a wall, but this is even a better idea. You should toot your horn, it is genius.

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  21. what a fabulous idea. Love it Maya.

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  22. What a great idea... especially next to a tall bed! Regular side tables just don't really work with the tall ones, do they?

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  23. You are so creative!!!
    wonderful idea :)

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  24. How gorgeous - it really makes for a beautiful statement piece.

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  25. Now that's smart! If I had my old ironing board next to my bed, I might actually get some ironing done too!

    Jody

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  26. That is a great idea! And you found a very nice one too. I also love that flowery pillow cover of your mom, the way it stands out in the white: great!

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  27. Well I think it looks right! What a great idea at just the right height too. That ironing board looks amazing.

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  28. How charming! I'm going to have to keep an eye out for an ironing board now - I have at least two perfect spots in my home that I can put one in.

    ~Jessie

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  29. This is such an awesome idea Maya! You could use it with your laptop, as an eating table. the possibilities seem endless. So cool.

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  30. I've been a lurker for awhile...I love the projects you share and the inspiration you give. I have an antique wooden ironing board (LOVE it!) and a guest room in need of a nightstand to fill a narrow space between the bed and wall...my ironing board might just find it's way in there! Thanks for the great idea!

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  31. Good idea, so creative and funny!

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  32. Love this. You are a genius!

    margie

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  33. I was given an antique ironing board that belonged to my husband's grandmother. I love the thing so much! And the first few years in our current home, I also had it as display table for all the photos and other trinkets in the guest bedroom. Now it stands up right against a corner, with weaved baskets and a lamp in front of it, in our family room. I love the way it looks no matter how you decorate with it.

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  34. very cool Maya...very creative. hope to have more tips.
    Ironing Board cover

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