the headboard: part 2

I won't keep you in suspense any longer.  Here is the beautiful new headboard!

I guess that technically it's not really a headboard.  We plan to put a metal framed bed in front of it that already has a headboard of its own.  It's an art piece.  Either way - I'm in love!

Let's take another look at the before of the wall.

You can read more about the first part of the project at the headboard: part 1

Here's the step by step of how it went up.  First of all we have fantastic friends, Brian and Jamie, that let us borrow their compressor and finish nailers.  Take a look at this baby.  This is a serious compressor.  I think it only turned on to refill twice during all our work during the day.  That's what 33 gallons will get ya.  I certainly wouldn't mind owning this.  Of course, when we get to that point, I think ours will be a slightly more petite version (like 6 gallons).

So here we go.  We decided on a staggered pattern, much like a wood floor.  We marked the three 2x4s in the center with a line that we could use as a reference to work from.  We set the first board against one of the lines and then marked the back of the board to cut.  We used a scrap of 2x4 to create a slight lip on the edge of the headboard.  We also created a lip on the top.  That way if we want to run a cord along the side it will be hidden.  And if we put anything on the top we won't have to worry about it falling down on top of us.

Here is a picture of the first few boards going up

And here we are a little further along.

Here's where we stopped for a Home Depot run and to sand some more boards.

To do the bottom section of the headboard we had to find the studs in the wall.  Luckily they were pretty close to the lines we had already.  We marked the center of the studs with a line running vertically down the wall.  We also marked the edge of the headboard with painters tape as a guide.  We then marked each board with a speed square where we wanted to make our cut.

This is how we covered the sides of the build out.  We ripped down some boards and ran them vertically along the side.  I forgot to take a finished photo of the sides, but you can see them in the finished headboard photo.

And here is the finished product again.  You can also see the finished baseboard in the corner.  

And here is Steve hugging it.  We took turns giving it hugs and stroking it as the project went along.  It's just so pretty you can't help it.  

And don't worry.  I go downstairs at least a couple of times a day just to look at it and make sure it's okay.  I love it!

As far as a cost breakdown the project was pretty much free.  The frame was left over from our previous bookcase build out.  The boards were from a fallen down fence we got for free.  And Jamie and Brian let us use their nailer so we didn't have to buy one.  Other than the gas to get to and from places and the power to run the tools, all it cost us was a little elbow grease.  Who doesn't love a free project?!
(I should mention we did have to spend about $20 to finish up the baseboard).

So there you go.  It may be a while before we have a final master bedroom to show you (I'm thinking Spring).  Of course, you'll get to see all the little projects along the way.