Project: Bunk Beds
Needs:
1) 2 young children needed beds.
2) Beds needed to be safe enough for them to comfortably get on and off
at night if they had to get up.
3) Children also needed drawers for their clothes.
4) Children needed space to put clocks, books, and stuffed animals.
5) Bed needed to be able to grow with the kids as they grew.
6) Bottom bunk needed to be big enough to turn into a guest bed when company came.
7) Beds needed to be reversible for rearranging the room, or moving to another house.
8) Bedroom had an awkward placement of the closet, window, and door.
9) Beds needed to be sturdy for long life but still easy to use.
Solution:
1) Railing on top bed (both sides and end).
An additional little step was added for comfort in climbing on and off.
2) Staircase instead of a ladder. Complete with railing to prevent falls.
3) Drawers built under bottom bunk AND drawer built into each step on the staircase.
Staircase drawers are flush with the step to prevent tripping.
All drawers have handholds carved into the bottom to prevent snagging or tripping on handles.
4) Headboards with adjustable shelves AND trap doors for PJ's and other treasures.
5) Space under staircase for playing, reading, or games. The area is designed for shelves that can be put in later for books and storage baskets when children grow too big to play here.
Staircase can also be replaced with a ladder.
Mattress sizes will accommodate children until they are teenagers and older.
6) Bottom bunk is a full size bed. Top is a twin. A railing was not put on the sides of the bottom but the owners added a store-bought safety railing to keep the littlest one from rolling off. This can be removed for guests or as a child gets older.
7) Beds are completely reversible including the staircase and bottom drawers.
8) Beds were designed to fit in the only corner of the room away from the 3rd story window so children were safe, drawers can open and most outlets are accessible.
9) Space between mattress and railing on top bunk is big enough for hands to tuck in sheets and blankets. There is also enough space for bulky blankets to be tucked in so you aren't limited on the size or number of blankets that can be used.
Bed is solid Black Walnut with the drawer boxes being made of Baltic Birch. Top bunk can hold 300 lb plus. A grown adult can barely get this bed to wiggle due to it's durability.
Final Product:
There are 2 "non-wood" special features on these beds also made by us:
1) Picture Labels: so non-readers know where to put their clothes away.
Clip used was from Microsoft.
2) "Braided" fleece blankets made with a double layer of fleece--1 layer with a picture, 1 layer to match and then "braided" together. No more fleece string to tickle your face.
