Adventures in collecting college furniture

[NM_Shooter]

I've been scrambling to find furniture for my daughter's apartment.  You'd think she would have taken more interest in this.  When it comes to procrastination she inherited that from me.

Anyway, I've been hustling, watching Craigslist and scrounging, building some stuff too.  Best score was a dining table set by Broyhill.  Table, chairs, nice stuff with wood and wrought iron insets for $175.  Nice maple dresser too. 

I am building her a lofted bed so she can get a little more floorspace.  Hoping to have this finished Wednesday (Broyhill chairs in the corner) :



Best score by far is a free desk.  My village was dumping this today and I found it and rescued it from the curb.  It was marked up, had some water damage and the finish on the top was shot.  30 minutes of 320 grit with a random orbital, two coats of poly, and two coats of wax has made this usable.  I wish I had taken a before/after series of this thing.  Honestly, I didn't think it would turn out so nice.



Did a quick water test on it just for fun 



I have a relative who has a coffee table they are donating to the cause, and I need to find a small shelf unit.  Then I am calling it good!

[Redoverfarm]

But did you do the ultimate college test. Beer? 

[NM_Shooter]

Better not be any dang beer in there!

[peternap]

But did you do the ultimate college test. Beer? 

Sure sounds like a FATHER, doesn't he John?

[Squirl]

I have had a loft bed for a few years.  My best suggestion is to put lots of cross bracing. (Weight up high with no bunk bed underneath = leverage)  I put cross braces from the top of the post to the bottom of the opposite in the back of the bed.  You never know how long of a service life you may get out of it.  My recollection was you have one daughter in college (graduate school too?) and a sibling that might use it someday too.  Just getting in and out on a regular basis can put a lot of strain on it.


Good luck.

[MountainDon]

I made a similar one for use at home. I had the luxury, the advantage of being able to drill a hole into a couple wall studs and lag it in place. I agree that free standing it needs some bracing, perhaps a plywood sheet across the back [against the back (long side) and across one one end]