click to see larger images of this live edge wood bed
These live edge wood beds are visually striking and functional and were custom made for the clients. Each bed was made from mesquite and alder with a highly-figured curly maple headboard. The clients who commissioned the first bed wanted to read comfortably while sitting in bed. Earl sculpted the headboard so that reading was not only possible for them but would be comfortable. The second live edge wood bed is shown without slats in the shop prior to shipping to the client. The beds each have alder legs with mesquite sides and footboards. The mesquite boards on both bed frames have a live edge. The second bed is shown with a matching mesquite accent table. Each has a Original design with hand carved signature by Earl Nesbitt. Earl has been designing and building custom made furniture professionally for more than 30 years.
This is what the Missouri clients said about the first live edge bed shown: “Our bed is my favorite piece of furniture, and not just because we’re new parents and always short on sleep. We worked with Earl to come up with the design. It was a fun process, and our input combined with his creativity and expertise led to a gorgeous custom made piece that fits our needs perfectly. We started by picking the wood, looking through samples of dozens of different kinds to find the right textures and colors. My favorite is the mesquite, with its intricate grain and rich reddish color, and the natural-shaped edges that look just a little bit rustic. My wife Erin likes a more “polished” look, and the curly maple of the headboard is both classic and beautiful. The stained alder of the legs provides a perfect transition between the two, somehow highlighting both and bringing them into balance by being understated. Next, Earl led us through the sculptural-architectural aspect of designing fine furniture. First the functionality: I’m tall and can’t stand a footboard that keeps me from fully stretching out with my feet over the end of the bed. So Earl measured our new mattress and designed a frame with a low footboard. The big mesquite planks of the frame look and feel substantial all the way around, really highlighting the beauty of the wood, but I’ve never once banged my toe. Erin likes to read in bed, so Earl designed a solid headboard shaped and angled like the back of a chair – lumbar support and all. It is tall with a rounded top, giving it a traditional look and a size that really showcases the rippling grain of the wood. The substantial legs are rounded at the top, mirroring the shape of the headboard and again balancing the visual tension between the refined, classic look of the maple headboard and the luxury-rustic feel of the mesquite frame. It all comes together as a piece of functional art that is rightfully the centerpiece of our bedroom: sturdy and balanced, polished and comfortable, sculpted to show off the natural beauty of the wood. And most of all inviting, can I take a nap now?”
We sell Earl's fine art furniture exclusively online through this website and at juried shows throughout the country. Our studio is open by appointment only. Call for hours. We ship Earl's custom made furniture worldwide.
Call (505-592-9265) to buy a live edge wood bed designed and handcrafted by Earl.
Hover over the photos below to see descriptions of what Earl is doing.
