Murphy Bed

[br928]

I want to build a Murphy bed for my college age son. The design should be one a 20 something would like.

I searched the forum and could only find one reference for a Murphy bed. I seems to me this should be a more popular project just due to its versatility and usefulness. Surely some of you guys have tackled this project.

I have looked at tons of pictures of Murphy beds on the web and all the designs have been pretty uninspiring. I am not looking for a typical armoire or bookcase design. With the Bot's help I would like a design that is outside the box. I would like to get some suggestions from some of you guys out there. The ones that come up with the gear driven peepholes and the like!

Here are my basic design criteria so far.
I am using a Create-A-Bed Murphy bed mechanism.
I need storage on either side of the bed for the pillows when the bed is put up. (Tall drawers)
Need room on either side for clock/radio.

The problem I see with most of the designs is keeping vast expanse of area interesting when the bed in the up position. I am not sure a 3D relief of a wildlife scene is going to work here! That’s just not his thing.

I am just getting started on this project so any suggestions or examples you find on the web would be appreciated.

Stan

[myxpykalix]

http://flyingbeds.com/14.SmartBeds/Tale-ComputerBed.htm

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19346
usually this is for small parts or designs but someone may have a design they wouls share if you ask.

http://www.wallbed.com/ a complete system, looks decent

http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/search/search.cgi?Realm=All&Terms=murphy+bed&submit.x=15&submit.y=13

http://www.google.com/ google is your friend...

Looks to me like since the mechanism and construction is fairly standard that what you want is suggestions on cabinet design. You might want to get suggestions from the boy as to what he's interested in to steer your design ideas. Here is a jpg fom 3dmodelclub for an example. I could see a full length model of this on the face of the bed when closed would look cool.
http://www.3dmodelclub.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,654/category_id,5/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,143/vmcchk,1/

[blackhawk]

Stan - I built a Murphy bed just a couple of years ago using the kit sold by Rockler. The components in the kit were USA made and excellent quality. The instructions were also great. They had written instructions and also included a DVD showing the build.

I will dig up some pictures tonight and post them.

[bleeth]

Stan:

Hafele sells the hydaulic mechanisms for much less than I see on the Create a bed site. I did one some years ago for my sisters home office and the design for the face was a pretty basic series of 6 raised panels. Even though once the pistons were adjusted correctly it didn't need an additional lock since she has grandkids around I put in a slide bolt from the side on an upper shelf of the flanking bookcases where little hands couldn't reach or know they were there. For a more modern look some free flowing shapes in some MDF or foam and finished in different colors and textures would make it look like a huge mural relief.

[br928]

Jack, I had found a couple of those sites and have been pouring over them. flyingbeds.com beds has a few nice ones but still more traditional. Their lift is stronger and cost much more. But, it can lift a full plate glass mirror with a king mattress and box spring set!

Dave, I couldnt find a hydralic system by Hafele. The one I did find was over $2k. I am sure that is not the one you are referring to.

Brad, I did buy the kit from Rockler @ 20% off of $299. That one is Create-A-Bed. It seems like a good kit.

I am looking for some out-of-the-box design ideas to push the limits of the ShopBot. Panel cutting, 3D and indexer if need be.

[blackhawk]

Stan - Here is a pic of the Murphy bed that I made. Mine was pretty traditional, so not a lot of out of the box items. I only used the Shopbot to make the 4 decorative 3D pieces on the front. The front is all solid oak raised panels/rail and stiles. The solid oak made this part extremely heavy, but the shocks from the kit handle the extra weight fine.

The only thing that I would do differently is to use a double layer of 3/4" ply for the sides and cover the raw edge with a 1-1/2" wide moulding. When the bed is lowered the single piece of 3/4" ply just looks thin cosmetically. Structurally, it has been fine.

[jdervin]

Here's an idea that might be up the alley of a college-age son (though you'd have to change some dimensions of the casing to create air-space under the mattress)...

What about mounting some speakers under the mattress, facing the floor. When open it's a bed, when closed, it'd be a heckuva speaker cabinet. And rather than just cutting holes for the speakers, use the Bot to create some fancy grill-work.

Or maybe take the idea a bit further and add a flat-screen TV. That way he'd have to make his bed before playing video games.