Design: A Matera Confession

I live in Manila and I am a cheapskate.

I am drooling over the Matera bed for weeks and weeks now. I want it so badly but I don't know where to get it in Manila. I searched tons of furniture stores here but no one has it. Shipping it from the US is out of the question. It's about 5 large, in USD, and I am not going to cough up cash just like that... add to that the shipping + tax that would probably reach around 1 grand.

Then I had the brilliant idea of having a similar design made by awesome craftsmen in the Philippines.

Here's the Matera-ish in the making.

The bed was made from reused yakal hardwood. My dad offered to give me some of the pieces of hardwood he bought, and I am a sucker for free stuff. The craftsmen/carpenter also works for him. After days of sanding the hardwood, and multiple coats of wood stain...

See here, the color is darker than DWR's original Matera, which is made from oak. I like the dark wood stain better.

Photo from DWR

Matera: Solid oak and veneer. Matera-ish: Solid yakal all the way.

The slats are a tad fewer than the original, 12 compared to 20, but they're also made from yakal. The original Matera used ash slats, which is just a medium density wood.

It's coming together, and I'm uber excited.

As for the drawers, it's not similar to the Matera at all. I hate built-in drawers in beds. Besides, without the built-ins, I can clean under the bed much easier.

Here's the inspiration for the drawers from Martha Stewart.

I forgot to take photos of the drawers in process. The finished product will just do. Stay tuned!