thanks Larry-
its a real pleasure to tackle a large scale project like this one and finally stand back and say yeah- it works!
my clients are happy and the piece is functional and practical while adding a warm beauty to their home….that’s spells success in my book.
if I did it again would I change anything?
yup- for sure….hardware is always the hardest part of for me in design and one day I hope to be set up to make all of my own hinges, claps etc…. For now I’m at the mercy of the specialty hardware supply stores.
thanks for the comment and keep well.
thanks mike-
the hardware is a recessed ring pull- this one is off the shelf from lee valley.
the walnut top is removable and sits in a cut out in the cherry. it has a fitted cork insert/plug to access the upper portion of the side table…the drawers start half way down on it so the top inside area is through this top walnut cover. it gives a place for napkins or cutlery and i thought it convenient to have it accessible during supper time.
because the walnut top sits inside a recess in the table top, you needed to be able to access the interior- this recessed pull was the hardware option my clients settled on….I was originally going to do a cut out sort of like the front drawer pulls in my ‘hunters heel’ side board but gave my clients the final say in aesthetic.
the next one will be wood! still need to make some head way into hardware manufacturing….i try to make my own when ever I can but the budget and time line sometimes dictates the final say.
thanks again for the comment.
What a great design and it makes me want to downsize my life and live more simply. I think the designs for apartment living both inside and out are really compelling these days and this only strengthens that perception. Great work Tom!
thanks Shannon-
I’m with you there- the simpler the better especially where space is at a minimal. Maybe not the case in most of North America but places like Toronto, New York and Europe already know the benefits to dual purpose furniture. This design is only the beginning for me-
keep well and stay tuned.
I did something very similar with my first Murphy bed, except the desk flipped up, and the top was covered with shallow shelving. They were deep enough to hold paperbacks, and I was able to lose the flip down legs, as the shelves are as deep as the legs were long.
I had to up the charge in the gas shocks to counter the added weight, is yours still well balanced or does the door want to fall a little fast?
If you really want to trick it out, add an alarm clock shelf and potlights to the inside.
Excellent solution to living large in a small space! I believe this to be a very lucrative and neglected market in North America (as you’ve pointed out). It’s a necessity in larger cities. Pieces need to be able to be mutli-functional and also be fairly easy to break down for moving. My little brother lives in Seattle and when he wanted a stereo cabinet for his vinyl collection, it ended up being a simple, somewhat shaker piece that was actually five pieces, a base that nested three boxes and a top that nested on top. Very simple, but it’s still his favorite piece of furniture ten years later.
Inspired execution of a an aesthetically pleasing space maximizer.
The comment about the hardware selection made me think that you might want a source for custom smithed hardware. I have a blacksmith friend I met when I took one of his courses for beginning blacksmiths. He does incredible, historically accurate restoration hardware and any other type of custom metal smithing one could imagine. While higher end off the shelf stuff can look fine, the caliber of his pieces has to be seen to be appreciated. You can reach him at: “jonathan nedbor” .
He might also have, or know where to get a hand cranked drill press; if you’re still looking for one.
Tom. Very cool. How did you secure the fold-down table to the bed bottom when it’s lifted vertical and not in use? Appears to be a type of rotating flange of some sort that turns into a slot in the edge grain of the table. Hard to tell from the picture.
Just goes to show everyone can have a spare bedroom!
Hey Dallas-
thanks for the comments-the table is secured with two ‘elbow catches’
they clasp a thin stainless steel rod on the edge of the table top.
Coming up with hardware is often a challenge and this was the biggest. The SS rod is held in place with SS cottar pins inserted into pre-drilled holes across the maple end grain…
sounds strange but it works!
Crazy cool work, Tom. It reminds me of what I love about wooden boat architecture-ultimate marriage of form and function. Every advantage (space, materials) has to be taken, but it has to look good doing it. Seeing it fold out into a table and then bed is like putting together a puzzle, every piece contributes to the aesthetic but is necessary for the other incarnations. Awesome!
Awesome work. Very cool design to multi-use.
thanks morton-
Great woodworking and even greater engineering, Tom. That it looks so cool is a real bonus.
Cheers — Larry
thanks Larry-
its a real pleasure to tackle a large scale project like this one and finally stand back and say yeah- it works!
my clients are happy and the piece is functional and practical while adding a warm beauty to their home….that’s spells success in my book.
if I did it again would I change anything?
yup- for sure….hardware is always the hardest part of for me in design and one day I hope to be set up to make all of my own hinges, claps etc…. For now I’m at the mercy of the specialty hardware supply stores.
thanks for the comment and keep well.
Looks great. I love the interlock between the platform and the side table. What is the piece of hardware on the top of the side table?
thanks mike-
the hardware is a recessed ring pull- this one is off the shelf from lee valley.
the walnut top is removable and sits in a cut out in the cherry. it has a fitted cork insert/plug to access the upper portion of the side table…the drawers start half way down on it so the top inside area is through this top walnut cover. it gives a place for napkins or cutlery and i thought it convenient to have it accessible during supper time.
because the walnut top sits inside a recess in the table top, you needed to be able to access the interior- this recessed pull was the hardware option my clients settled on….I was originally going to do a cut out sort of like the front drawer pulls in my ‘hunters heel’ side board but gave my clients the final say in aesthetic.
the next one will be wood! still need to make some head way into hardware manufacturing….i try to make my own when ever I can but the budget and time line sometimes dictates the final say.
thanks again for the comment.
Very nice use of space and wood! This proves that there is a need for a bit more aesthetically pleasing caster. ๐
thanks Jeff-
What a great design and it makes me want to downsize my life and live more simply. I think the designs for apartment living both inside and out are really compelling these days and this only strengthens that perception. Great work Tom!
thanks Shannon-
I’m with you there- the simpler the better especially where space is at a minimal. Maybe not the case in most of North America but places like Toronto, New York and Europe already know the benefits to dual purpose furniture. This design is only the beginning for me-
keep well and stay tuned.
When I read the title, I first thought you were moving in to the wood shop :). Great woodwork Tom, love the finished product.
hee-hee-hee…
you have no idea how close you are to the truth-stay tuned…
I did something very similar with my first Murphy bed, except the desk flipped up, and the top was covered with shallow shelving. They were deep enough to hold paperbacks, and I was able to lose the flip down legs, as the shelves are as deep as the legs were long.
I had to up the charge in the gas shocks to counter the added weight, is yours still well balanced or does the door want to fall a little fast?
If you really want to trick it out, add an alarm clock shelf and potlights to the inside.
Excellent solution to living large in a small space! I believe this to be a very lucrative and neglected market in North America (as you’ve pointed out). It’s a necessity in larger cities. Pieces need to be able to be mutli-functional and also be fairly easy to break down for moving. My little brother lives in Seattle and when he wanted a stereo cabinet for his vinyl collection, it ended up being a simple, somewhat shaker piece that was actually five pieces, a base that nested three boxes and a top that nested on top. Very simple, but it’s still his favorite piece of furniture ten years later.
Hi Tom,
Inspired execution of a an aesthetically pleasing space maximizer.
The comment about the hardware selection made me think that you might want a source for custom smithed hardware. I have a blacksmith friend I met when I took one of his courses for beginning blacksmiths. He does incredible, historically accurate restoration hardware and any other type of custom metal smithing one could imagine. While higher end off the shelf stuff can look fine, the caliber of his pieces has to be seen to be appreciated. You can reach him at: “jonathan nedbor” .
He might also have, or know where to get a hand cranked drill press; if you’re still looking for one.
hey tom,
thanks for the comments and the link.
I’d love to have some custom made hardware made up one day- may be sooner than later-
cheers.
Tom. Very cool. How did you secure the fold-down table to the bed bottom when it’s lifted vertical and not in use? Appears to be a type of rotating flange of some sort that turns into a slot in the edge grain of the table. Hard to tell from the picture.
Just goes to show everyone can have a spare bedroom!
Hey Dallas-
thanks for the comments-the table is secured with two ‘elbow catches’
they clasp a thin stainless steel rod on the edge of the table top.
Coming up with hardware is often a challenge and this was the biggest. The SS rod is held in place with SS cottar pins inserted into pre-drilled holes across the maple end grain…
sounds strange but it works!
Crazy cool work, Tom. It reminds me of what I love about wooden boat architecture-ultimate marriage of form and function. Every advantage (space, materials) has to be taken, but it has to look good doing it. Seeing it fold out into a table and then bed is like putting together a puzzle, every piece contributes to the aesthetic but is necessary for the other incarnations. Awesome!
thanks kate-
i appreciate the comment.