Space Saving Ideas

[glenn-k]

Computer Bed

[jraabe]

Very cool! The placement of the hinge and brackets is brilliant.

Here is the rest of the story: http://www.flyingbeds.com/14.Euro_BunkBed/Euro-ComputerBed.htm

With a twin mattress and shipping it sells for about $2,500! ouch! I wonder if you could do something similar with off-the-shelf hardware. Do you think it is spring loaded?

If you like that, how about the Twirly Bed with a folding table and bookcase that spins around to become a queen bed ($5k)

[Amanda_931]

Those things are cute beyond belief, especially the twin job.  Quite sure I wouldn't want one if it were to be in daily use.  I'm not that organized.

I may even have put on my wish list at Lee Valley a coming-out-of-a-closet bed.  They sell both hardware and plans.  the idea in that case would be to keep the bed in a closet in case of blowing rain on the sleeping porch.

That sofa bed is really cute.  Don't have to take things off the shelf to lower the bed--if they're not too breakable and if the swinging mechanism is working smoothly.  It should be at 4 grand.  But at 4 grand why is it melamine?

http://www.flyingbeds.com/14.Euro_BunkBed/SofaBed/SofaBed.htm

Here's one of Lee Valley's hardware kits

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=41276&cat=3,40842,41271&ap=1

cheaper, Murphy style, but it doesn't come in queen, let alone king.

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=41277&cat=3,40842,41271&ap=1

But I'm probably going to get a folding mattress.  Trying to think of a way to make the height more or less right--chair height anyway--with that.

[bil2054]

I'm with Amanda on these gadgets.   The ingenuity is great, but with the bed-desk combo partiularly I would first kick something that shouldn't be, then start kicking it again for getting kicked in the first place. [smiley=undecided.gif]
Rockler has the hardware kits for Murphy beds also, about $250.  A bit pricier, but maybe there are quality issues, (anything as heavy as a bed, I'd want the sturdiest possible; it IS called a "Murphy" bed!)
They also have listings for library ladder systems, etc.  Anybody doing a ladder for a loft might want to take a look at the bent top design, idea wise.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2237&TabSelect=Details#top

They have alot of nifty hardware and gadgets for building space saving stuff, though I think they're expensive.  Good idea place.

[ki4hpz]

Small space kitchen at:
http://www.trendir.com/archives/000325.html#more

[Amanda_931]

Oh, yes, that bent top design is pretty wonderful.  But they don't sell hardware for this, just the whole ladder.  Durn.



It looks like what they're calling the a Murphy bed, Lee Valley calls the "fold-down".  But you can get twin size from Rockler.  And there may be three or four different brands around.

[Amanda_931]

The kitchen on wheels is gorgeous.  And I'd bet it's priced to match.  Two options for fueling the refrigerator.  Hooking water up with a garden hose??

The little shower (on one side-sink with mirror etc. on the other)--have to either put it in the garden or use the whole room as the enclosure--is neat too.

[Amanda_931]

More from Lee Valley.

Kitchen pantry unit--might be too complicated to use, but it does put a lot of stuff away, in small quantities:

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=48709&cat=3,43722,43723&ap=1

simpler, and good for bigger quantities--case lots, etc.

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=43655&cat=3,43722,43723&ap=1

Supply your own cabinets, you're buying just the hardware.

and I think I'd put kitty doors into there too.

[Doug_Martin]

I just ran across this a few minutes ago and I was going to create a new topic but it fits well here:

http://www.impactlab.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8183&mode=&order=0&thold=0

It talks about and shows a "Circular Kitchen".  Pretty neat space saving idea.

[jwv]

Wow Doug, how cool is that!  

Judy

[bil2054]

That really is a very cool design.  Much too small for me to be comfortable with on a daily basis,(though I have done with less.)  When I get in cooking mode, the pans can fly!
Amanda, the order page for the library ladders lists the hardware options seperately... don't know if that means you can order them seperate.  I'll ask and see if I get an answer.  That larder storage unit is great! I could see using that.  Have you gotten stuff from Lee Valley?

[jraabe]

What a great thread this is turning out to be...  

Kind of a minimalist, Mr Gadget, Swiss Army knife approach to designing a living space.

[tay_tower]

This reminds me of an idea I had. A Bed on ropes & pulleys. During the day its flush to the ceiling. At night, you lower it to the right height and hop in. Not sure how safe it would be though... but I bet there's a way out there.

[Jimmy_Cason]

This reminds me of an idea I had. A Bed on ropes & pulleys. During the day its flush to the ceiling. At night, you lower it to the right height and hop in. Not sure how safe it would be though... but I bet there's a way out there.

This bed is kind of like that.

http://www.floatingbed.com/

[tay_tower]

I found this:
http://www.bytesmiths.com/wiki/Bunk

Its a bunk that raised and lowered about 3' I think. I suppose with a wee bit of work, I could figure out how to lower it to 2' off the floor. Or maybe just get used to a raised bunk.

[Amanda_931]

Excellent service from Lee Valley, excellent quality, sometimes better prices than anyone else on exactly the same things.  Got a little set-screw from them that fits something I'd gotten months before--and not used yet.  I really like their reproduction books.  And the linished steel brackets, hooks, handles.  I've ordered from them 6-8 times.

Perfect they ain't--web site and search engine are pretty clunky, unless you have the catalogs handy.

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=45231&cat=3,43648,43651&ap=1



Shipping prices have gone up lately.

You could always lower the bed strung up on ropes and pulleys onto two benches--two chairs and a coffee table, whatever, or have legs that fold out under the platform.  I have seen pictures, although I don't think that they showed what they went down on--nothing, i.e. the floor--is also an option.

I'd worry about water lines stressing and breaking after six zillion rotations of the base cabinet on that kitchen.  I've seen that somewhere before--in a whole tiny house/apartment.  If it really does have the space available in 12 cabinets, might be worth thinking about the idea.

[achildofthesky]

Pretty cool stuff. I am so addicted to the idea of a small, but high quality transportable living space for future travels. Efficiency of space usage and nice fit and finish... I reckon that my mechanical and machine sort of upbringing plays into this but I also reckon that the Rube Goldberg in me cries out for appeasement... Thanks for the ideas folks.

Patty,
you know Puddins mom

[clovergecko1]

Its a bit off topic, but thats not a typical domestic housecat is it?

[Dberry]

Doesn't look normal...  A little on the wild side.  I want one!  My cat has ruled this house long enough.

[glenn-k]

Patty's posting in"Tooling up for the job"  about Puddin, when she first arrived on board.

Amanda: Puddin is pretty much great big baby with only occasional bouts of grumpiness. She loves her muttonchops scratched HARD. Bobcats are headbutt greeters, when they (I reckon I am an honorary Bobcat to Puddin and Boofus) meet, they tilt their eyes down and bump foreheads and then rub faces then do the kissy/face licking thing. She doesn't meow but purrs really loud and has yips and barks like a puppy when it is play or food time. Your comment about lapcat cracked me up. Been there, experienced that, got the (stained) t-shirt. She will most definately let you know if she wants attention or not. Kind of a genial aloofness alot of the time.

[achildofthesky(Guest)]

Hey there Glen pretty much said it all... Puddin the bobcat is getting to be a cow. That pix was when she was about 10-11 months old. She is about 35# or so. She often plays the part of my durability and reliability tester given she plays with VIGOR most of the time. Those paws are pretty big and the bob tail is very expressive. I never had a pet that had a pet like the little black cat, Binx was.

Patty

[firefox]

Off Topic

Hi Patty,
 Just a note to say thank you for posting Puddin's picture! I hope that you don't mind that I
have been sharing the picture with some close friends.
Bruce

[nandajor]

Always liked the Murphy bed idea.  In our Colorado cabin, we are building large closet, big enough for two queen mattress to stand up in. These days, mattresses with pillow tops, etc. are pretty rigid.  We are using two interior 36" doors. One door hinged on side of closet and the second hinged to the first, with small castors on each bottom door corner. The doors would swing open and form a privacy divider.  Mattresses could be stacked or seperated to make two sleeping beds. Of course, take a little more handling than fold downs, etc. However, no hardware required and would still hide away. I have also been thinking of reading light in closet, top or side and high shelf for bedding. Actually, since I love open storage, probably only build closet to 6 feet, and have the top for storage.  Just love all these inventive ideas. Nanda

[bil2054]

Nandajor, sounds kinda like the way futons were traditionally used... wake up, roll it up, put it away.   The Japanese are pretty clever about ways to use space.  Consider that the standard unit of measure for room size is the "jo", which is the square area occupied by a tatami mat.  That said, some of their bathtubs I either would not fit into, or would need serious help getting back out of![smiley=wink.gif]

Anyway, sounds like some good ideas.  Enjoy.

[nandajor]

I think the Japanese have wonderful clean design ideas. Even though, I seem to always end up with a more rustic and country style home, I really respect and admire the sparse and organized style of modern.  It appeals to my somewhat obsessisve desire to have things clean and clutter stowed away. I am always amazed at the ingenuity of my fellow human beings.