She says: I could not find a suitable storage bed in my budget that fit in the 64" x 88" alcove in my tiny apartment (450 sq. ft.), so I decided to build a plywood stage around a rolling LACK shelf to give the bed the appearance of a built-in.

before

after
Killorn continues: GREAT for additional storage, I just pull the LACK shelf out to access seasonal clothes, larger office supplies, resource books, even my vacuum!


Total cost including LACK shelf: $130
Thanks, Killorn!
(Re-edited from 04.19.07 - CB)

Comments (30)
Um, that's awesome. I really love the little front and side view graphics!
I agree with Shannon -- this is super cool. And I didn't initially realize that the shelving unit is on castors. Even better!
Makes me wonder what other brilliant things Killorn has come up with for the rest of the apartment ...
Love this but the mirror over the bed made me cringe. I hope at the very least you're using earthquake safe picture hangers.
Another vote for totally cool.
I agree that it looks a little dangerous in there. But very very nice solution with the lack shelving, and a great job with the visual descriptions!
The mirror is wonderful.
I absolutely love that ruffled bedspread! Where did you find it?
The comforter cover is DKNY "Pure Snow" - Picked it up on eBay for $25!
Very smart use of the lack. I was planning on doing a simular thing myself! I think it looks great- and I like the mirror!
Killorn - I love this design. What size bed is that?
I love this! You really just used plywood?! I want to make something similar. How high off the ground is your bed and what did you use to hold it together?
i'm in love with this 'cos it solves so many problems in one. it meets and surpasses the marks on storage, efficiency, attractiveness, and luxury. it's a sumptuous bed and a super use of the bookshelf and i can't get over how great it looks framed by the curtains! is that bedspread from UO?
nevermind i see it's a dkny bedspread, but recently i saw a very similar spread and i think it was from UO. i'd like to know the size of the mattress too. looks like a full to me, which is what i plan on using in my b/r.
I love the look of this, and it makes excellent use of an alcove! My only concern would be warping. Plywood tends to warp with time (sometimes only a few months) and it could become bad for your back. I'd love to try this with my antique mahogany headboard, which came with my grandmother's wedding set, sans bed frame. Right now it's just propped behind the bed, against the wall, and I think this would be a great solution for me! If I did it, I would add an addition support beam at the midpoint, under the mattress board. Thanks for the great idea!
clever
That mirror may make other people cringe, but I am in love with it!! Where did you get it??
super cool, I love it all...esp the mirror!
this is awesome!!!
P.S. I was caught off guard by the "cringe" comment also, but she means for safety reasons not style.
i live in ohio never gave the mirror a thought. it is a fabulous on a small budget as far as i am concerned!
This may possibly be the most comfy, most inviting captain's bed ever.
I've always wanted a bed in an alcove with curtains like that.
That would be the best place to read, ever!
wow
i'm totally doing that
I love this bed - I wish I had a similar alcove to create something like this.
Re: Mirror - If it's gonna fall off the wall, it would slide straight down the wall between the mattress and the wall - I wouldn't worry about it.
Please help me find a similar duvet cover or quilt! Ever since the first time this bed was posted, I have SCOURED eBay for DKNY "pure snow". Nothing!! Then I found a similar quilt on Brocade Home and was waiting for the price to come down...and they closed!!
Would a second Lack shelf fit under there for yet more storage?
Wow! How cool - Cruising through AT to see what I missed over the last month and I see my bed, the very one I am sitting on now!
The plywood DID warp, which I remedied by taking the original two boards and cutting them in half then nailing each piece onto their own legs, essentially creating 4 little "tables" that nest around the Lack shelf. This has prevented further warping so far, and added additional reinforcement to the overall structure.
The mirror was a CL score - $10! I just spray painted the original gold plastic frame ivory.
The mattress is queen size, which fits perfectly into the alcove with a 3" gap by the wall, allowing that pesky mirror an escape hatch if it were ever to decide to leap off the wall to kill me in my sleep.
Please click my name to send an email if you are interested in the structural dimensions.
Genius, love the use of the ikea shelving unit...
I like the idea of adding storage by my bed, but now that we are in SF, I'm afraid an earthquake would make books tumble upon me until my death! This is the PERFECT solution. Access to the books, but having them safe underneath me. This is TOTALLY on my to-do list!
Love, love, love it! I wander what would it look like if the Ikea unit was white...
Can you please repost the pictures? I can't see them from my computer but I would love to try this DIY