Friday, February 01, 2008

Murphy bed installation

This morning Marion & I installed the bed in Preston's room. Installation is always the scariest part to me. Marion has proven to me more that once that NO ONE's walls are plumb; so securing a cabinet to a wall can be a nightmare if you don't know what you are doing. After years of being a "helper" I have watched Marion more than once square up kitchen cabinets that I thought would never go in. She knows all the secrets to making everything fit. Of course while all this is exciting to me - it is drudgery to Marion who refers to herself as an "old woman with a broken back". She bitches & curses the whole time. We installed this bed on the short wall next to the closet. Preston's room is only 12 ft. x12 ft. so there is limited space. He will have more room now when a few friends come over to play music or video games ; they won't have to sit on the bed. This is the way it works - the bed closes up into the cabinet. To open it you lift the handles (they become the feet) to unlatch the plungers that hold the bed into the cabinet. the cabinet has gas pistons which allow it to slowly lower with the weight of the mattress . To close, you just lift the bed and with very little pressure (you can do it with one finger!) it slowly rises and recesses into the cabinet. You push the handle legs flat to lock it in. I have fashioned a temporary shelf beside the bed to hold Preston's alarm clock, reading light, etc. This is only until I can talk Marion into building a matching side cabinet!!! As she drove away today I think I heard her yell back at me, "I 'm retired now so leave me the hell alone!" (I will give her a few weeks rest!)

5 comments:

Jellyhead said...

It looks great Tuff. I didn't actually know what a 'Murphy bed' was.... I don't think we use that term over here. What a great space-saving idea for a smaller room.

Schiplady said...

Didn't think anyone used Murphy beds anymore. They were popular in small apartments when I lived in upstate NY in the 70's. Great idea. And you will have extra storage space when Preston is at school..........

doubleknot said...

Great Murphy bed and so kind of your friend to help you with it. Wish I had one in my bedroom it is so small - oh well I make do as I don't have friends who visit me in my bedroom. What a great mom you are fixing Preston's space for him.

Anonymous said...

For the record, we have been friends for many years now, and despite the fact that I no longer do this type of work for a living, It's hard to say no to a good friend like you.
I hope Preston enjoys the bed and I'm sorry if I was cranky during the building of it.
Marion

Kerri said...

The bed looks great Tuff, and I'm sure Preston will appreciate it.
Marion is a good friend to come out of retirement to do the job for you. Bad backs are not much fun.
You may not be posting much, but don't worry, you won't be forgotten! :)