Bed Prices You Won’t Lose Sleep Over

The gleam of brass apparently adds the sparkle that we like in our homes, judging from the continuing popularity of brass beds. Since brass can run into big bucks, we tracked down some with affordable prices.

Beds Unlimited in Canoga Park offers an unusually wide selection of styles. Iron beds, iron beds with brass trim, brass beds with porcelain accents, daybeds, futons, and bunk beds are all on the showroom floor and at prices considerably under retail.

The two questions that should be asked when buying brass are: “Will it keep its sheen?” and “Is it solid brass?” When I posed these questions to store manager Jennifer Dunn, she assured me that they only purchase from manufacturers that treat brass with a chemical spray before it leaves the factory, a treatment that protects the brass from tarnish.

And I don’t think you really want solid brass, which would be so heavy that moving it would take a crew of musclemen. What you want is solid brass tubing, and all the brass beds at Beds Unlimited fit that requirement.

To give you an idea of the savings here, the top price in the store is for a queen-sized canopy brass bed with porcelain finials. Dramatic. Gorgeous. It sells at most stores for about $3,100; here it’s tagged at $1,979.

Several models come as a complete package, which consists of head and foot, frame, mattress, dust ruffles, comforter and shams. The love knot design would work in almost any decorating scheme, which probably is the reason for its popularity, and it runs $629 for the whole package. A nice grade of chintz is used in the comforter and matching shams; both come in either pastel solids or prints.

There is a wide selection of daybeds in a variety of designs from Victorian to Southwest to Cape Cod, and several are offered as a complete package that consists of two mattresses (the second one is for the trundle) and the comforter set. Double Hearts, an iron and brass combination, is an amazing $319 for the works.

Check out the bunk beds, made of two-inch iron tubing and soldered at each joining for strength and safety. The latest design in bunk beds is a full size on the bottom with twin on top, allowing more flexibility for a growing family. The $249 price is for the frame, and with two mattresses it’s $417, a great deal when you consider that it sleeps three kids.

Beds Unlimited entered into retail via the swap meet venue. When business blossomed, the management not only opened this store, but also continues to sell at local swap meets. Prices are kept down by buying only from local manufacturers (eliminating freight charges), taking advantage of COD discounts whenever possible and picking up merchandise from the factories. Another plus: Delivery in the San Fernando Valley is free.

Beds Unlimited, 21505 Sherman Way in Canoga Park, (818) 702-9999, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.