After looking at all types of iron beds, I found Craig's business. From our first email, he answered all my questions and sent me pictures of some wonderful bed options. He did a king conversion for us, painted it the exact color we wanted, and I couldn't be happier. We live in CO and had it shipped to us. The packaging was better than I could have imagined. I am thrilled with our new bed. It is unique, sturdy and so beautiful. Craig was wonderful to work with, super friendly and lightning-fast with his email replies. I couldn't be happier!!!! read more

There are reviews complaining about this company, and yes, I had to wait, but I received my bed. Thank you Craig for coming over and making my dreams come true with the placement of my bed. It is the most beautiful unique bed ever that exceeded my expectations especially with the additional four leaf clover on the canopy that adds character and charm. If you decide to purchase a bed from Craig, you will have the most unique bed that is not mass produced and can never be replicated or found today at any store. read more

Cathouse Antique Iron Beds - Antiques Near Me - Malibu, California

I wish I would have read the other reviews before buying this bed. if you must buy from him, make sure you are picking it up yourself. The bed was sent to the freight forwarder looking like it was a piece of trash. There was no bubble wrap , no box, no corner protectors, no signage saying this side up or do not lay flat. There was one blanket separating two pieces. The rails and wood slats were accompanied by no real link to the bed for the freight forwarder. I had to call them and have the freight forwarder make the package seaworthy and all parts known to be parts of one shipment. If you want one of his beds but it off eBay , they are easy to work with. Terri David read more

Effing con artist. Bought a bed frame from them...promised head to foot restoration...then after deposit...horrible communication... took approval pics, then, after getting my money and me approving the pics...all of the sudden tossed an extra $400 (min) of shipping costs at me...finally get the bed home and, sure, fine enough, the paint does not look as good as the pics, but, I've at least got my new bed frame here....but...ONE f*cking night sleeping in it and the paint is RUBBING off on me. Inferior work. Horrible communication. Money grubbing whores. read more

Craig is still at it with offering these incredible pieces of art I happen to sleep on. The craftsmanship still blows me away with each room I put these beds in. Always will recommend. Thanks Craig read more

Update: I eventually got the bed. The finish and all that is nice, it's a nice bed. I do not like that it is advertised as "queen" but actually the box spring sits on the rails rather than "in" the rails. In other words, it's a double size. But, whatever, it works I guess. I would still say the service is nothing to rave about, but I really wanted a bed like this and I really got a bed like this, so all is well. Just be prepared to wait a really long time. read more

Friend of mine suggested heading to Cathouse Beds for some furniture issues, and i was very happy to listen to him! Wanted to adjust our bed size to a smaller size, moving into a smaller apartment and can only fit a full, previously had a queen; everything was fast, efficient, great priced, and customer service was wonderful! Thanks Craig! read more

I purchased a beautiful frame from Craig and he worked directly with me to determine finish, delivery date and overall design. I am really happy with how my bed turned out and would recommend this business to anyone looking for a restored, antique bedframe! read more

I would steer clear if I were you. This guy only takes checks or money orders. No credit cards. How odd is that? Want to know why? He cashes the check immediately then takes MONTHS to complete a project. When you get the bed frame, it has shoddy welds. Two welds broke after delivery. I had to repair them myself. No phone calls returned. I did actually get to talk to this guy, I pretended I was a new customer, then I let'm rip. GO ANYWHERE ELSE. HECK, GO TO MACY'S! I promise that I will tell everyone about your shady, two bit operation till the day I die, Craig. Do not send your money to this guy. Think about it. Takes CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS ONLY. NO WAY TO DISPUTE A CHARGE. read more

All I can say is that I wish Cathouse antique Iron Beds sold everything. I would buy anything from Craig. The service was perfect, the bed was perfect, and I am so happy! read more

I love the product, and the correspondence was perfect until I opened my bed and discovered it was damaged. Severely bent...Craig was willing to have it repaired but that meant disassembling it, shipping it back and sleeping on my mattress on the floor. I suggested refunding me $200 for the cost of the shipping and I never heard back from him...I tried twice with no response. So disappointed after spending that much for a bed. read more

While searching for iron beds online after being unimpressed with new and reproduction models I found Cathouse Beds. Viewing photos of the antique beds in their inventory I fell hard for the Feathered Heart Bed. I had no intention of buying a bed, was just curious about what was available. The more I looked at the photo the more I knew it was perfect for my room. I wanted to downsize to a queen bed from a king. When I called I spoke to Craig, the owner. He was polite, courteous and prompt in answering my many questions via phone or emails. He kept me updated about the progress of the adaptations we chose for my situation. I want to be able to use the bed with or without the footboard. I took his advice and did not widen the head and footboard. I strongly advise this as well. This process takes a little time to customize and involves other craftsmen, but the stunning bed you will receive is worth the wait. Shipping via Fedex, was fast, reasonably priced and the driver was happy to put the 3 heavy boxes wherever I wanted. I could not be happier with my Cathouse bed and will probably purchase at least one more, as I remodel my cottage. When I walk into my bedroom now, I say "I love my bed!" read more

Cathouse Antique Iron Beds - Antiques Near Me - Malibu, California

I purchased a bed from Craig in October of 2014. Despite numerous emails and much correspondence and numerous excuses (truck delivered to wrong address, etc.)I still do not have the bed I paid $3450. for. Do not purchase from this company. read more

I wish I could say that Craig's response to my review was honest and true. But I am sorry to say it is not. Craig is very clear in his negoiations that all money for all modifications to the "antiques" is to be paid in cash and in advance. Linda read more

Cathouse Beds / Craig Spencer is a great find for anyone looking for authentic iron antique beds. I have found Craig to be very honorable in his knowledge and sale of his vast collection of merchandise. He will send a vast selection of beds, has great finishes and wonderful service. As an Interior Designer whose clients expect exceptional selections he is the best . Roberta Peters Design read more

Negative stars for this fraudulent and unethical business owner- stay away. Craig Spencer was very nice and personable in the initial calls and emails exchanged in the summer of 2013. I selected a bed, and sent him a check for ~$1500. I could do worse than kick myself for getting nothing formal in writing from him or checking out "Cathouse" on BBB or yelp beforehand! After months of excuses for not delivering the bed, and then silence at my emails and calls, I sent him a formal certified letter requesting a refund. I have received no response despite filing my claim with BBB. I am currently looking into legal options- he took my money (and I am no aristocrat here) and delivered NOTHING in return. Slimy, unethical and deplorable. read more

I wish I could give Craig at Cathouse Beds more than 5 Stars!!!! His work is impeccable. He is a real artist and extremely knowledgeable about antique iron beds. It is hard for me to believe anything negative written about Craig and his services on the Internet. In fact, I was out of town when my bed was ready, and I had no problem at all giving Craig the code to my lockbox so he could deliver the bed while I was not home. I wish I had another bedroom so I could get a new bed from Cathouse Beds. Rochelle read more

OMG - we are restoring an 1840 New England farm house and have been searching for over a year for a bed to finish up the master when we came across cathouse. We picked a bed from their inventory and a finish and it more amazing that I ever expected. Why would anyone buy a repro when you can get an original modified to your size (king) which you can't even tell their welder did flawless work. I highly recommend read more

I'll admit, like others have said, that customer communication isn't this company's strong suite. I've emailed and waited for responses, and have gotten frustrated or worried about my bed finally getting to me. BUT. I got the bed I dreamed of, custom matched to my dresser, at an affordable price. I love it. I'm still trying to get ahold of them to discuss order additional pieces (finials) for my bed, to which I haven't gotten a response, which is annoying since I was a customer. But would I trade the bed I have for a knock off or a cookie cutter at Macy's? Definitely not. Not all businesses have the best operational management, but when you end up with what you want in the end, it's still worth it. read more

This was our first 150 year old cast iron bed. Researched on the internet and found that Cathouse Beds had the best selection of original works. Craig Spencer was wonderful to work with. He worked with my designer in selecting just the right bed. And what wonderful white glove service! When a service didn't want to deliver to Idyllwild, Craig came and set up my bed for us!! What service.... Would definitely buy from Craig again when I need another bed and highly recommend anyone to purchase from Craig first . read more

Craig was amazing to work with! So personable and he is so knowledgeable, professional and has such a passion for preserving these beautiful beds. It has always been a dream of my daughters to have an authentic iron bed, and she absolutely loves it. The delivery service he provided did an amazing job. He always responded to my emails promptly and assured me on the "Shabby Chic" look, which she will always cherish. Many thanks! read more

I have purchased two antique iron beds for both my bedrooms and an antique iron crib for my son. The restoration and queen extensions always respect the integrity of the original bed and he only sells authentic antique beds not reproductions. Very highly recommend this merchant. read more

I want to thank Craig for a perfect business experience :) I am absolutely in love with my bed. Cathouse was an absolute pleasure to communicate & do business with. I would recommend their work to anyone I know and am planning on purchasing more frames in the future. Thank you Cathouse! read more

My mom purchased a bed from Craig about 6 years ago and after begging her to give it over to me she refused, so i had to get my own! My frame just arrived last week and i am very pleased. I love it! Craig did an awesome job and it is truly one of a kind. I would definitely recommend Cat house Beds. read more

We ordered a bed and it took months. We then receive a partial shipment. We returned it and Craig said he would issue a refund. Months later, no response to e-mail requests regarding the refund. I would not do business with this crook! read more

Our antique iron bed is gorgeous! It is the perfect addition to our home. Craig was very attentive and professional. He walked us through every step of his process to complete our bed. The bed is even more beautiful than we anticipated, and knowing the history of it's origin makes it even more special. Our bed is a piece of history we will cherish for many years to come. Thank you Craig! read more

If you are searching for a beautiful, unique, antique iron bed look no further than The Cat House Antique Iron Beds. Owner Craig Spencer will set you up with the perfect combination of bed style, bed frame finish, and superior customer service. Listen to his advice when choosing a bed because he's run into every problem, or circumstance, you could possibly have regarding turning an antique into a modern day iron bed frame and he's got the t-shirt! For example I purchased one of his amazing iron beds as a wedding gift for my wife in 2003. At that time it was a queen size bed. We graduated to a king size Temperpedic adjustable bed and Craig had to stretch the original frame using the antique castings from the antique bed and allowing for the movement of an adjustable bed. This is creating art in the antique bed business, so don't expect custom work in less than 6 weeks. The proportions and bed frame size was perfect. If your in an extreme hurry for your bed this is not the place to go, unless Craig has what you want on consignment. Antique iron beds are unique and giving you EXACTLY what you want is Craig Spencer's ultimate goal. He takes great pains to produce a quality custom made product just for you and your decor. Thanks Craig for an awesome job well done. read more

In our opinion, Craig is a dishonest con artist -- although we paid him in full, he refused to give us the bed we purchased. He has refused to respond to written and telephonic requests -- and apparently only returns phone calls if he thinks he will make a sale. We suggest you go elsewhere.. The Patti G, (realtor/owner of 'staging' business) who authored another review on this page is actually Craig's wife -- I wonder who else Craig got to write reviews??? Certainly not the folks he has cheated. read more

Worst customer service imaginable. Won't return calls or emails about service on a bed that he sold us a long time back that never was right and now has rusted. Really friendly when you want to buy something, though (total bullshit artist). read more

TOOK OUR MONEY, NEVER DELIVERED THE BED, EVER. I sent Craig Spencer a check for $4178.45, purchased a bed and asked him to slightly alter it for my wife's birthday. He provided drawings which we agreed to in writing. After 2 weeks beyond the due date and several excuses regarding warehouse being moved, we were told that they would not be delivering the bed. Why, I asjed in disbelief. after prodding him, they suggested that they may have lost the bed in the move, but thet they would keep looking for it. Then our calls went unreturned. For weeks we attempted to find them and get calls refturned and get Craig to accept responsibility. But they just refused. I called and showed up and Craig was never available. After another 6 months I personally made a plea to Craig trying to get them to just send us our money back, He ignored the plea, and just decided to pretend that it never happened. After hearing him just refuse to even acknowledge it, it became clear this was malice in every sense of the term. I tried again before the filing statute was about to expire, but again, no respsonse from anyone. We sued in Santa Monica small claims for just the $4178.45 plus the court filing fees of $90. Neither Craig, nor any representative from Cathouse showed up at the courthouse. We were awarded the exact amount we paid to Cathouse, plus the filing fee. That was 2008. After years of tryign to get them to pay the judgment or even acknowledge us, they continue to refuse. We have exhausted all reasonable means beyond a collection agency where we would need to pay just to get our funds paid, so we will lose again. After so many years, one must ask why would Craig not have the decency to pick up a phone and at least explain there must have been a mix up. But nothing. I have read how they do great work, but they stole our money and never explained. The court ruled nd commanded them to pay and they ignored. Be very careful with this company. read more

Over the last six to eight years I've purchased a total of five beds from Craig Spencer at Cathouse Beds. Craig has always been incredibly helpful with the bed selection process. It is in fact a bit daunting in that there are so many beds to choose from. Additionally, the beds look completely different once Craig has finished restoring them. He was also helpful when it came time to choosing the finish on the bed. I initially purchased 3 Queen beds (converted from double) for my newly purchased beach house. Initially I was concerned about not being able to pay with a credit card. However I was able to speak to some of Craig's customers who were able to allay my worries. Year later I purchased both a twin and King bed. The craftsmanship is incredible. It is impossible to tell how the double bed was converted to King Size. The castings and railings were impeccably duplicated. It is a true art. I really admire Craig for the work he does and that he is breathing new life into these 100+ year old beautiful beds. As the owner of 1871 House in New York City, I am a great admirer of antiques. I have spent the last 15 years of my life restoring our circa 1871 Brownstone with many more years to go. I am thankful that there are people out there like Craig Spencer performing what I consider to be an invaluable service. I know of no other business that performs this type of work so beautifully and only worry that Craig will retire! read more

Hold on a minute here I have just read some of these reviews and I am quite suprised as I have bought three beds from Craig. I have been an antique collector for years. If I had more bedrooms I would buy more. I love these beds. Craig is the only perosn that you can get a real orginal antique bed from that you can actually use. He has been doing this for years and has many repeat celebrity clients that I know that have bought his beds over the years. Addressing the person that wrote Craigs beds are reproductions just because the reviewer saw what they beleived to be'the same' bed offered as a reproduction by another shop is totally inacurate. People should be aware that Elliots Designs and other shops sell reproductions of vintage beds. But Craig sells original vintage beds, some of which you may find a similiar design that have been reproduced. Yes, a person can buy 'the same' bed from other shops, but the difference is that the bed that Craig sells is an original, not a reproduction. For someone that knows antiques when a person looks closeley, you can see the discernible differences. For most people a reproduction of a vintage bed is fine. For one thing, you don't have to deal with the issue of having the bed widened and lenghtened to fit a modern mattresses. This is no easy task to resize these orginal beds as there is at least four or five trades that have to work on the original to finally get a finsihed bed. In addition it takes a person like Craig, who has had years of experience, to know how to resize these beds so that the orignal designs are not compromised. The down-side with any reproduction bed is that you're not going to get a 100 year old (or more) original, or a truly unique piece, and I can tell you from my experience, (the 3 beds i've bought from craig for my 1924 beach-house) there are incredibly stunning frames out there which have not been reproduced. Either because they are so rare (and subsequently expensive) that the repro shops have not been able to acquire one, or the frames are too elaborate/ornate to reproduce cost-effectively. In addition these "repos' simply will not hold any value if you ever decide to sell them. Craigs beds, in my opinion, will hold and even increase in value. Don't you think the biggest-name interior designers in the industry know about Elliots, or know the difference between an original 100 year old bed and a repro? That's why you see Craigs beds mentioned as a supplier in the interior design magazines so frequently. So put to rest that claim from an uneducated consumer that his beds are reproductions. You have to keep in mind that there are reviewers here that have no idea what theyre talking about. Regarding the reviewer that said their bed is 'now rusting after having had it for a long time': It's an iron bed, not an aluminum bed. The fact that it didnt rust until after you had it for a long time sounds like you wore through the finish to the iron. If you wear through the finish and expose the iron, its going to rust (regardless of if its an original or reproduction). I've damaged the frame in my room from dragging suitcases over it, moving furniture around, etc. That's no fault of the bed. read more

Ordered my first antique iron bed frame back in November. Spoke with Craig for over an hour. He graciously spent the time giving me information about iron beds and discussing preserving the past in general. I felt like I was talking with a good friend, not someone trying to sell me a bed frame. Within minutes of our conversation, I was sent multiple bed frame options. The ordering process was smooth and efficient. Since I was in the process of moving to another state, Craig offered to hold the bed until I was ready for delivery. Once I gave him the go ahead, the frame was sent in excellent condition. Craig was right - it looks better in person!. Thank you Craig for your amazing customer service and most importantly allowing me to be a care taker of a piece of history! read more

Over the years I have purchased six (6) beds, one of them was a trade-in which had increased in value; a bed for my daughter's bedroom, son's bedroom, and after I moved on, my bedroom, a guest room and a pair of identical twins for kids' room. The first two beds I picked from the hundreds in his showroom, later on based on my desires he emailed many photos many times. Every iota of my requests was met to the "T", every thing was stated in writing, the trade-in value applied as stated, discounts were given, no charges was granted and to date the beds have not failed in any way, shape or fashion. Many family and friends have seen them, eye openers, in awe, thinking they are family heirlooms and upon hearing how I acquired them, have went on to purchase from Cathouse Beds. I plan on buying a couple more in the near future for my home in Belize. read more

I just purchased a bed from Craig at Cathouse Beds. I had been researching where to buy a real antique bed that could be converted into a Cal King, and Cathouse was one of the first names to pop up. I was a bit concerned about spending a lot of money on a bed that I found over the net. But, after seeing some of the beds that Cathouse converted and custom painted, I was sold. Craig then sent me numerous pictures of beds from which to choose until I found one that I wanted. After that, he had a sketch made of how the original bed would look once converted. He was amazingly attentive in his communication to ensure that I would be happy with my bed. We spoke about the conversion and I asked to have an additional casting placed in the center of the bed. He found the perfect casting and added it to both the headboard and foot board to make the bed even more special. We spoke in depth about the custom paint and he gave me wonderful suggestions. Craig has an artistic eye and I knew I could trust him to complete the bed without any further concern. Well, the bed arrived today and it is simply gorgeous! It came in three very well packaged boxes via Fed Ex Shipping. My husband and I are truly in awe over the beauty of our new bed! The aesthetic of the vintage iron castings mixed with the new refinishing is just nothing short of stunning. I cannot wait to dress it up and take pictures of it. It looks like it came out of a decorator's magazine! Thank you, Craig! We will enjoy this family heirloom for generations to come! read more

I've been dreaming of an authentic iron bed to put in my historic home for years. I stumbled upon Cathouse Beds on line after not finding anything I liked at antique stores. After reading some of the reviews, I was very hesitant. This would be a big purchase, and I couldn't afford to make a mistake. I decided to call the owner to have a conversation. I found Craig to be professional, well versed, passionate about his product, helpful, and anything but defensive about some of the reviews. Like anyone in business, when you serve enough people, you are going to have some unhappy customers. Fortunately, I'm not one of them. I am SO thrilled that I chose to trust Craig and move forward with my purchase. I ordered a beautiful iron bed with his help. I felt the price was very reasonable in comparison to other beds I'd seen. Craig also helped guide me in choosing a finish. He promised the bed would be done in two weeks--and it was. He promised the shipping would be done a week later, and it was. The bed arrived in perfect condition and was more beautiful than I imagined. Throughout the process, Craig kept in touch via email, easing my mind every step of the way. As for payment, no checks were involved. I paid half when I ordered--via credit card--and half after I approved the bed. Fair and easy. This is a class operator who really cares AND knows his stuff. I give him an A+ for service AND product. If you want an authentic iron bed that is finished correctly, do not hesitate to work with Cathouse Beds. Beautiful product. Excellent service. A. Topel Milwaukee WI read more

Craig, the owner, is fantastic and extremely helpful. I emailed him about my broken iron bed railings and although he does not replace railings he gave me so much information and steered me in the right direction. In addition, he offered to help make the railings fit my bed once the ones I ordered came in. He was prompt in his e-mail responses and willing to help out even though he wasn't getting paid for any of it... very rare in this town. Highly recommend him for any of your iron bed needs! Thank you! read more

Working with Craig Spencer on finding the perfect antique bed for us was more than just a shopping experience. It was a joining of artistic minds and hearts with the intention on Craig's part to manifest our creative vision. We found the perfect bed and then Craig assisted us in the conversion design. On top of that, he found a beautiful casting to add to our bed! The paint job was also beautifully done and the shipping was ideal! This was a perfect experience on all levels!!!! read more

I just received my bed from Cathouse design. It is gorgeous--a work of art, absolutely authentic (I checked), and Craig was stellar in his constant support. Yes, it took a few months to receive the bed, but with any authentic one-of-a-kind piece of art, it is well worth it! I suggest you not go into this purchase expecting a 'McDonald's' fast, impersonal service or product. Craig is clearly passionate about his work, he returned every phone call in a timely manner with enthusiasm and kind respect--an attention to personal generous service that has become obsolete in our fast-paced demanding world. I suggest you enter into the buyer relationship with this craftsman with the same kind and patient person to person approach. I am particular, my expectations are high, and if the opportunity presented itself, I would order another bed from Craig. read more

I have bought three beds from Craig over the past eight years and I have been thrilled with all of them. My latest purchase is a bed that he converted into a queen size for me. I couldn't be happier with it. His selection is amazing (not to mention the customization options), he is extremely knowledgable and passionate about his product, and he is very helpful when it comes to finding a bed that fits your style and budget. Communication can be a little slow at times, but whenever we connected, he had progress to report. If I am ever in the market for another antique iron bed -- and nothing compares to these beauties, in my opinion) -- I will absolutely be back. read more