Custom Bunk Bed for Michelle
Published April 13, 2010 at 9:48 amMichelle’s requests:
I would like a custom bunk bed made for my two girls. I am looking for:
Red oak finish
Must have stairs – Violet can not and will not do a ladder.
Low to the ground – I like the shorter height for safety.
Have a “cave like” lower bed for my oldest
Storage – I have a small house downriver and need to store their clothes. I am okay with a “commercial” dresser being put in as long as it matched/didnt look strange.
Sturdy – Needs to be able to hold an adult with the child.Similar to this one but stronger and more affordable if possible:
The current room layout:
Where the chair ends is about 96 inches. The bed in the top right is the crib, bottom left is car bed. Along the left wall is a giant change table/wall unit which will have to go.
Thanks,
Michelle
What a great project Michelle! We can certainly make this bed. We would make it in 4 sections: the lower bed, upper bed, dresser, and stairs. To keep the price low we will use plywood with oak veneer and edge banding, along with less curves to simplify the construction. We will add extra support to hold 2 people at a time. We can also space out the time line to meet your budget. You can purchase the sections as your budget allows.
Here is the basic shape with the colors showing the sections:
If you would like to accept this proposal and make a down payment, we will begin the design process in which we will further customize the details.
Another option would be to have shelves instead of drawers. This would lower the price considerably. Maybe just the three drawers in the stairs? and shelves for shirts and pants instead of the dresser?
A couple of thoughts:
It is slightly out of budget, can any changes be made? We may have some flexibility for finishes. Once we are not trying to match the change table and crib, we can have some variance if it would help.
Once we settle up on finances, it would be a good thing for exact measurements to be taken -either by my husband or someone from rouge river.
Will the bottom bed be on any sort of caster?
Can the platform have a slight raised edge perhaps, as a subtle rail?
What depth of mattress will the beds accommodate?
There are a few things that could bring the price down. If we switched the drawers in the dresser for shelves, with optional doors on the front, we could lower the price $100-300, depending on how deep you want the shelves.
We could definitely add rails wherever you would like.
We would adjust the design to fit any depth mattress you choose.
Yes, I will get exact measurements and go over the layout of the room with you after the down payment.
The lower bed was not shown with casters, however they are an option that would raise the price slightly and also raise the height of both beds. We would recommend felt pads as the budget friendly alternative.
The finish choice could also help lower the price. The original quote was red oak with a clear finish (we recommend tung oil), but if you would like a painted finish, that could save about $200.
Here is the option with shelves and doors instead of drawers:
Just checking in – I will follow up later with an email as well.
Today is Violet’s 4th birthday and her party is Saturday so things are a bit hectic.
I think we would keep the drawers. We have learned from using the girls change table that wicker baskets pulled out from shelves look nice but are not user friendly. All the clothes are small and tiny and do better folded in drawers.
Michelle, You can save some money and get a wonderful result by finding an old, natural oak dresser of about the right size on Craig’s List. We can cut the legs off, provide an oak base with felt bottom and design the bunk structure around the piece which can slide in and out. Now you have the best of both worlds—beautiful rustic furniture, highly functional and efficient bed design.
I spoke to our friends at Steppingstone about you. Perhaps, you could come to the school to discuss your daughter with the experts. Here are some dates: All on Fridays 9:30 – 11:30 am
April 16, 30
May 7, 28
I know you’re working, but I am sure that you will find that a half day spent at the school will be well worth the investment. Many questions which rattle the back of your brain can be answered in that time.
All the best, Tim
Hi
Your site is beautiful! I am Michelle’s best friend, I hope you don’t mind me jumping in and asking some questions.
I think using an existing dresser as the foundation for the project is a great idea! I’m trying to figure out some measurements. I’m assuming that the top Bunk is a standard 75″ mattress space. So the cavity underneath the loft would be 75″ as well. From that, I’m figuring 42″ for the width of the lower twin so that it can slide in and out, which leaves 33″. So with a little wiggle room all over, would it be safe to say a dresser between 32-34″ in width is what you will need in order to keep this same design and have it accommodate standard twin mattresses? Do I figure correctly that up to 40″ wide would result in a XL twin (80″) on the top bunk? How wide are the steps? 96″ is the maximum usable space. The steps wouldn’t be wider than 15-16″ would they? And possibly if there is any dead space between the dresser and the lower bunk, some accent cubby holes or something?
I’m just trying to work out how wide a dresser she can get in order to maximize storage.
I’m assuming that matching finishes would be difficult, but that if you went with a painted finish the dresser could be sanded down and painted along with the rest, if we found a well-built piece that is a bit banged up?
(I actually may have something that will work perfectly in my barn, but need to know what measurements will work)
Hi Rebecca,
That sounds great. We can actually design the upper bed and stairs to be sure your dresser can fit. When can we start?
Rebecca,
Can we see a picture of the dresser you have in mind?
Tim
Hi Michelle,
Here are the rough dimensions of the design. It would accommodate a dresser up to 34″ wide and 32″ tall. If you would like the bottom of the upper bed to be lower than 32, then the dresser would have to be shorter as well. (Click the image to enlarge.)
Well – we have been looking for dressers – so hopefully this will come together soon.
I do know that from when Randy and I played with the floor models – I do want everything shifted. Meaning the order from left to right would be platform bed, dresser, and stairs or can things easily interchangeable?
Michelle
Wow! That’s a challenge… I think we can do that. Then if you move, or if the kids want to flip it around every six months, you can.
Good idea.
Michelle,
R— mentioned that you are keen to cut cost. We have a mixed bag of materials we can use to cut the cost substantially, like for example, plantation plank hardwoods of various sorts, and knotty pine doors which came from a recent renovation. These are two suggestions that come to mind. There may be others when we get into the wood pile. We will need some good quality plywood for structural integrity, but it need not be oak veneer. Fir would be fine.
Cheers!
Rufino,
Your model looks like you have included doors in place of risers. Is that the case?
It would be nice if each tread extended back the full width of the stair unit with a door in place of the riser so that it can either drop down or lift up to reveal a cubby hole to store linens and clothing. If that is what you drew, I do not see how you will hold the price down. That would be a cool feature, but time consuming to build and finish.
Tim,
I am very much looking forward to this. Please review the email I am sending Rufino. I have found a dresser for us!
Will do, Michelle. I am too!
I sent the email.
I saw the next thing with a smile-
Do you know anyone who works super cheap and wants to help us strip wall paper and paint? Randy is dreading it. He told me when we put up wall paper, before the oldest was born it would never ever ever come down.
We are a long ways away from painting but I am a planner and list maker!
Michelle,
Some material substitutions…
I have an idea.. I know you guys are just thrilled with my crazy ideas
Can you throw together (inexpensively) a set of doll bunk beds? Ophelia’s birthday is May 28th and I would love to put the girls dolls in “big girl beds” to show them what their beds will be like