Getting crafty

Moving to a foreign country with three duffle bags has both advantages (I get to decorate a new place from scratch!) as well as a few challenges (oh, I have to pay for all of it? Where do I find custom frames? how do you say that in German!?) 

While furnishing my apartment I picked up a few used pieces as well as hit up IKEA to try and maintain a moderate budget to furnish this place. While I got a good deal on my original bed, I really, really didn't like it. It was too low, had a footboard that I was way too tall for, it was boring and just wasn't cutting it. 

Here's what I was dealing with as I got up this am:

I found a great diy plan for a platform bed on instructables, as well as instructions on building a fabric covered headboard and decided to give it a try. With some borrows tools and he help of google translate I headed out to the hardware store and did a bit of shopping

One thing I love about Berlin is that there is a huge DIY culture here.  Because it's a city with over 3 million people, most everyone is in apartments and while "kellers" (or little storage units) are common, most people don't have garages or space for workshops. No table saw? No worries- you buy the wood and the hardware store will cut it to your specifications. Not sure if places in the US do this? I just know I've used this service a few times and I love it- not having to cut saves loads of time and it's the scariest part for me, the cuts are more accurate than if I did them, and its just awesome. 

After a bit of help getting this stuff back to my apartment I got to it. 

My DIY crate / end table with wheels came in handy today. 

My living room/guest room/ workshop. 

In all it took less than three hours to make the bed frame (of course that was starting with pre- cut materials)

Once the bed was done it was time for the headboard. 

Thankful a colleague from work lent me a power drill, sander and staple gun so I could let my inner crafty/ handy girl out and make a platform bed and a headboard today. I have a proper big girl bed again and I am stoked.. And now I have a legitimate excuse to buy new bed linens :) 

It *may* be a bit taller than I was expecting, but i love it.