Built in booths & beds

Started by RoxyRocks, June 26, 2011, 02:05:41 AM

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RoxyRocks

I have decided Country Plans are probably hands down the best plans out there after looking for almost 4 yrs I just keep coming back to these and realizing they are hard to beat and don't waste space like sooo many others [cool]

I have somewhat of a obsession for built-ins and am hoping to have as many as possible in our house! I am wondering if anyone has done a built in nook/booth/table for the kitchen or bed? I am thinking about doing built in beds for our boys. I have seen some really awesome single and bunk bed pics but haven't found anyone who has done it themselves. Some not only save space by but incorporate shelving, draws, and some with lights....almost like a little get away.

MushCreek

The only complaint is that it is harder to make the bed- if you're into that sort of thing......
Jay

I'm not poor- I'm financially underpowered.


rick91351

RoxyRocks, I being a huge fan of the arts and crafts, craftsman movement and the usage of wood I will toss this out the.  If I were you go to the library, B Dalton's.  Look for books featuring, Gustav Stickley, Greene and Greene.  More contemporary Sarah Susanka I think the best is The Not So Big House Book.  

Ross Chapin http://rosschapin.com/Plans/plans.html  Also contemporary has a very good grasp of space and usage.  However people I know that have went to his showings were either in love or ran away thinking what a waste.  I have never been to one of his houses.    

If there is a Wood-Crafters around or that type of wood worker chain store many carry a lot of books.  For what you are looking for you can not beat Shop Drawings for Craftsman Interiors by Robert W. Lang.  It might even give you an idea if you are even really up to the challenge.  

Tossing this idea around for the table nook.  It is not a bad idea to have one side open.  Older people have a rough time sliding in and out of booths, as do some of us that our figures and weight have been going the wrong way.  That said some people like the coziness and out of the way feeling a booth provides.  

One great thing for built in sort of there sort of not, Murphy Beds  

http://www.murphybedcompany.com/

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=5720&source=googleps&utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google        

A couple built-ins I have done in my office.




Proverbs 24:3-5 Through wisdom is an house builded; an by understanding it is established.  4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.  5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

firefox

If you build a breakfast nook with benches built into the wall,
when you build the table in front of it, you might consider the
following.

Make a steel support for the table so that the table appears to
come out of the wall sort of like an ironing board without any
apparant support (NO TABLE LEGS!). Some heavy channel bent in a U shap comes to mind. Bottom leg below floor covering and vertical part in the wall,
so that the top leg seems to come straight out of the wall.
Maybe two of these 24" appart with struts welded between them like
a ladder.

Here is the trick. Mount heavy slides on the top like the ones they use for rack mounted computers. Then mount your table surface on
the slides. Have a latch of some kind so that you can move the table
in and out in increments. Ie adjust the distance between the wall
with the bench seat and the edge of the table for people with weigt
problems or pregnant moms.

Hope this made sense.
Bruce
Bruce & Robbie
MVPA 23824

considerations

Quote from: MushCreek on June 26, 2011, 07:23:36 AM
The only complaint is that it is harder to make the bed

Agreed....although i love the way "bed cupboards" look.  Norway and Scotland are two places where there are some really beautiful examples.

I've often daydreamed about a sort of cabinet holding a "Murphy" bed on its side that folds up into the sloped ceiling revealing a couch of sorts underneath.  I don't know if it could be done, but I think it might be a good use of space in these little cabins.  I've seen multiple examples of pre-built pieces that each have elements of this idea, its the sloping roof that I've never seen addressed.

Of course I want a couch that can be flipped on its angle corner so it can face either way as well.  Dreamer.... ::)


RoxyRocks

Thank you for all the idea's I will definitely be saving some of the tips! I have been thinking a lot about how a slide in booth might be challenging to anyone who is not 5'4 like myself! I do like the booths that are almost like a L shape and then have a free standing table....which might be more practical .

Rick what beautiful work ;D I love love Ross Chaplin and being originally from the Pacific Northwest I know he has a pretty big following there. It was looking at his stuff that actually lead me to finding this site. I considered buying one of his plans. It wasn't the $$ that stopped me but I had heard they can be somewhat challenging for people who want to really build their own homes not just contract it out. That really disappointed me but I am hoping to incorporate lots of this little ideas.

firefox

Hi, The reason I brought up that idea is because we had an alcove
with benches and a free standing table. It was a nightmare getting
in and out because of the legs. Think about it.
Another possibility might be a three leged table with the two legs
at the end up against the wall. It will be difficult to make something
that is stable enough, but I suspect it could be done.
Bruce
Bruce & Robbie
MVPA 23824

RoxyRocks

Bruce I went back and  reread your post.....I was on the run last time and only had a few secs lol you make some really good points and the more and more I think about it makes sense. Do you happen to have a pic of yours? What do you think about having strong under the benches....like baskets or draws?

firefox

Sorry, I tore the old stuff out years ago and haven't had a chance to work on the new stuff do to disability.

Having a fold up lid on the benches  can work for some folks. Ie the seats are made like a box with a lid. I think your idea may be better.
ie to have baskets that pull out. Think about what stuff you might have in them for a while before you decide what settup you want.

Bruce
Bruce & Robbie
MVPA 23824


OkieJohn2

The best restaurant booth seating uses a cantilever table mount, here is one example:
http://www.centralrestaurant.com/Cantilever-Table-Base---30-inWx-48-inD-Maximum-Top-c76p4569.html
Something like that could be easily fabricated locally.  The kind I am used to (but can't find a picture of) had and angle iron at the back edge nearly as wide as the table and then there was a tubular pipe bent into an L shape that went from the floor up to the angle iron then out to near the end of the table where a flat plate was welded to the top which screwed to the table top.  This also worked best with a table top with two radiused corners so no snags when getting in and out.
The problem with foolproof devices is that they fail to take into account the ingenuity of fools

firefox

That is exactly the sort of thing I was thinking of, but with
a little extra add on of the slides.
Bruce
Bruce & Robbie
MVPA 23824