Wood Four Poster Bed

England on wedding bells

With the royal wedding just around the corner, this could be the perfect time to rediscover the romance of Britain and learn more about its royal family.

THERE hasn’t been this much excitement since Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in 1981, as royal watchers get into a tizzy as Prince William prepares to tie the knot with Kate Middleton.

In conjunction with the royal nuptials, VisitBritain treated journalists from South-East Asia to a tour that highlighted the “Royal Romance.” To help get us into the mood of things, they opted to begin our tour in London, with its shops, restaurants, West End musicals, theatre and tourist attractions.

If you’re looking for a hotel that will give you the whole English experience, head to The Dorchester. From four-poster beds, floral furnishings, heavy furniture, marble bathrooms and afternoon tea, to the amazing service and attention to detail, this is a hotel that will guarantee a return visit.

The little personal touches we experienced included receiving a copy of The Star each morning, and handmade chocolates, macarons and fruits daily.

We were taken on the Royal Romance London Tour, a route designed by Chirton Grange. This tour took us in luxury cars through well-known spots like Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, The Strand and St Paul’s Cathedral, where Prince William’s parents were wed.

Crossing the Waterloo Bridge brought us to Waterloo station, home of the four-sided clock, a favourite spot for lovers who used to arrange to meet “under the clock”.

We also passed Westminster Bridge, saw the Houses of Parliament and The Mall. If you’ve been here, you will notice that The Mall is red in colour, so it looks like there’s a giant red carpet leading to Buckingham Palace.

Here, you’ll see the Queen Victoria Memorial, right in front of the gates of the palace, while Admiralty Arch at the far end leads to Trafalgar Square. At the south side of The Mall is St James’s Park, which is opposite Green Park and St James Palace on the north side.

And at the eastern side is the famed Horse Guards Parade, where the Trooping of Colours takes place.

Shopping in London is an experience in itself, and you’re spoilt for choice with all the top brands and famous department stores like Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and British high street brands like Top Shop and more. Make a beeline for famous shopping spots like Knightsbridge, Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street and Picadilly Circus, to name a few.

BED TYPES | CANOPY (4-POSTER) BED | Architecture Ideas

The Canopy bed – usually known as a four poster bed  – can add an extra element of style, romance and luxury to even the best bedroom. Some hotels use canopy beds in their exclusive suites.

WHAT IS A CANOPY BED?

A Canopy bed refers to a bed covered by a suspended cloth canopy. For hanging the cloth, usually the canopy bed will have a “canopy frame” supported by four posts, one at each corner of the bed. Hence the name four poster or four post bed. These posts may be plain or ornately carved. The frame for the drape is usually rectangular, reflecting the outline of the bed, though variations such as a circular frame above the middle of the bed are not uncommon. The drape often referred to as the ‘curtains’, may be a piece of net, lace, tuille or luxurious pure silk.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CANOPY BEDS?

There are two basic styles of canopy beds – the traditional canopy bed and the contemporary canopy bed. While the former aims to reflect a Victorian aesthetic, the latter is concerned with delicacy and subtleness. An alternative style has a smaller crown canopy that just covers the top of the bed over the sleepers’ heads.

Frames: A Traditional canopy bed usually has metal rod frames or intricately carved wood frames with lush romantic designs. The modern canopy bed also uses wood, metal or  a combination of the two but often features sharp, geometric designs.

Fabric: While the traditional canopy bed uses heavy embroidered pleated draping, the fabric for the modern canopy bed has the characteristics of lightness, softness, and sheerness and the preferred materials are silk, cotton or polyester.

WHAT ARE THE POPULAR CANOPY BED SIZES?

The most common canopy bed sizes are queen and king, but you can get twin or even single sizes. However these smaller versions are less popular because the proportions do not appear right.

WHAT COLOURS ARE SUITABLE FOR CANOPY BEDS?

Wide spaces and white walls are the perfect background for a unique furniture accent such as a contemporary canopy bed. The colours of the bed itself and its drapery can be selected according to personal preferences and the overall interior design of the bedroom. Thus you could have a white sheer draped on dark wooden/metal frames or printed, tie dyed fabric in bright and striking colours hanging from a white framed canopy bed.

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