Looking for an antique furniture Subject Matter Expert

[Capsu78]

Hi all,
I have been having an antique bedroom set restored as a gift to my wife- (originally her mothers and then hers growing up).  The bed itself is a "full", so I went down to the mattress place.  The current "industry standard" is 54 inches by 75 for a regular full.  However, now that I have it reassembled and took precise measurements, I am finding that this 80 year old piece was built when people were smaller, and the correct size would be 54 by 70. 
We have done some internet research and can't find that specific size.  We can "jam" in a 75 inch, but that is what her dad did and it beat up the finish pretty well.  Now that it looks like new, I want to see if I can come up with a cleaner fit.
I "assume"  I can have a custom size created- for a price.  Does anybody have any other thoughts?  It will be "lightly" used, mostly for grand kid sleep overs, so I don't mind it being too short for our comfort.

As an mustachian aside, the economics to this whole deal are completely upside down.  We probably have 3 times it's street value already sunk into it.  It sat in California since her mother passed away, to the unhappiness of our CA relatives.  I suggested multiple times to "Goodwill it and be done with it"... She finally had it shipped to us (and kept me out of that decision making process... she said "expect a delivery for me today"!) where it sat for a couple months in the garage to my unhappiness... and again the discussion to "Goodwill it" was brought up.  After several attempts at this conversation, the Clue Bell in my head finally went off- this set means a lot to her.  I recalibrated my thinking, and said "Maybe getting this restored would make a really nice birthday gift for you.  The tears welled up in her eyes, said "yes, it would" and I have enjoyed every step of the rehab since then- finding the "hippie furniture doctor", hauling the stuff over to him, waiting 8 weeks, checking up on it every so often.  It now looks brand new and possibly nicer than her parents had ever seen it.  So now, the "mission accomplished" moment will be when I tuck my granddaughter into it, and have her sit in front of the vanity getting her hair done by grandmom...  Sometimes it's not what something costs, it what is its lifetime value it brings.

[KingCoin]

You can get a custom foam mattress for under $300. Not sure if it's something you'd want to sleep on 365 days/yr, but I'm sure it would be fine for kids or short term visitors.
http://www.foamorder.com/custom_cuts.php?product=conventional&shape=1
You can probably go even cheaper if buying a foam mattress "off the rack" and cutting it down to size.

[jenstill]

I recalibrated my thinking, and said "Maybe getting this restored would make a really nice birthday gift for you.  The tears welled up in her eyes, said "yes, it would" and I have enjoyed every step of the rehab since then- finding the "hippie furniture doctor", hauling the stuff over to him, waiting 8 weeks, checking up on it every so often.  It now looks brand new and possibly nicer than her parents had ever seen it.  So now, the "mission accomplished" moment will be when I tuck my granddaughter into it, and have her sit in front of the vanity getting her hair done by grandmom...  Sometimes it's not what something costs, it what is its lifetime value it brings.

I do not know the answer to your question; in fact, I am similarly stymied by an old-time bed frame. I may try the foam mattress idea; thanks KingCoin.

But, I just wanted to say what a touching story this is and how happy I am for your wife, and your whole family, for this gift of a meaningful heirloom.

[Argyle]

Yes, it's easy to get a mattress made to a custom size, and often no more expensive than a regular mattress.  The old beds also wear forever -- so it's a good investment.  Your great-grandchildren could easily still be using that bed, and valuing its history.  So good on you.

[Capsu78]

Just thought I would update the progress-  Getting a non standard sized mattress set was not as simple as I had thought.  The first place (American Mattress) was helpful in me getting my terminologies up to snuff, but the guy cautioned a custom made set cost between $2000 and $4000- a clear non starter.
So I called up my "hippie furniture doctor" who said, if stuck, he could shorten up a regular set for me.   However he steered me toward a manufacturer he thought would be the best suited to offer a custom build- Verlo.
They will "shorten" a mattress build for the price of the mattress set we choose- plus 25%.
So we picked out a mattress set from the lower end of the product line and placed the order.  Now onto the task of finding non standard sheets, but my wife says no major problem- she has some sewing skills and can modify something if need be.

Jen- thank you for your kind comment- I was "punching way above my weight class" when I asked my future wife out for our first date.

[Daleth]

Another thing you can do in that situation is lengthen or replace the sides of the bed frame. Assuming it's the kind that disassembles into four or more pieces (headboard, footboard, left side, right side), nothing could be easier than replacing the sides with longer but otherwise identical pieces... assuming the sides don't have any decorative carvings, that is. If they do, a skilled carpenter may be able to add some length discreetly and maybe then reinforce it with steel on the in-facing side. Then you can use standard mattresses and sheets.

[MKinVA]

Just buy flat sheets in double/full. Then you do the hospital bed fold and tuck.

[Capsu78]

Just buy flat sheets in double/full. Then you do the hospital bed fold and tuck.

I'll get my wife right on that ;-)   I do not meet the bed making expectations of the Chief Officer of Standards and Practices in the Capsu78 household.   She already has me enrolled in remedial "hanging jeans on a wooden hanger" training, so I am going to dedicate 2014 to mastering that skill... wait that was my 2012 and 2013 goal.