After seeing Jeanine's post on Desks and Furniture Designed From Plumbing Pipes, we thought we'd share a DIY we did a few years ago. For some reason, we decided to build our own bed. Out of pipes. We've used it every night for four years, and it still looks pretty good. Detailed plan follows.
We found the project in Country Home magazine and since it's not online, we scanned in our tattered page from the magazine. The plans are intended for a twin bed, so we measured our mattress and adjusted the width to a double-sized bed. Then we took the plans to our local plumbing supply store. (TMB Plumbing in Williamsburg at 475 Driggs). We ordered the Klee Klamps online from L.K. Goodwin Co. And we put the bed together according to the plans above in one afternoon.
As we said, it's held up fine. Occasionally it needs to be tightened with a hex key. Our only problem is that now we have two cats, and we'd like a larger bed! (See our entire house tour here)
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Sweet!
Amy - what are you using in the doors - I have similar doors (and roommates) and they currently have curtains on them, though I am considering redoing....
view Clairepetrol's profile
Clairepetrol,
I went to Canal Plastics, bought multiple sheets of colored plastic and cut them to size. I used hot glue to stick them to the window (You can peel the glue right off the glass, so it's an ok solution for a rental.) The problem is that when the temperature changes some of the plastic inevitably pops off. So, I actually wouldn't recommend doing it my way. The plastic is a bit too heavy.
I would instead buy a translucent paper--maybe a colored vellum and use double stick tape. I do love the effect, though. It allows light to pass through during the day (light is all important in a railroad), but gives some privacy at night.
I have another set of French doors and I'm thinking of trying the vellum option for those. I'll report back, if I do. And if you try something similar, send an email to newyork at apartmenttherapy dot com
view Amy A's profile
I think this is very cool...except I'd be worried about hitting my head or foot on a pipe (I'm a restless sleeper). Do you have anything besides pillows acting as a buffer/headboard?
view UWSretreat's profile
Nope just pillows (although you can see I have a lot of pillows). I've never hit my head either.
view Amy A's profile
I guess you could keep adding horizontal or vertical pipes to create more of a headboard and footboard.
What width pipe did you use? Was the project hard to build? What tools did you need? How expensive was it? What do you use for feet?
view meenasyaz's profile
Meenasyaz,
I enlarged the project instructions. The pipe size and directions for the feet fittings are included. The feet are from the Klee Klamp company. The only tools you need is the hex keys. The project was pretty easy to build. It cost a few hundred dollars. (I can't remember the exact dollar amount.)
view Amy A's profile
glad to see i'm not the only person with a hand-made bed; my 4-poster is made from garden ties and i also got the pattern from a decor mag (can't remember which one). i've had it for 9 years now.
until i got my new 24-inch thick mattress, i often hit my head on the cross-bar. hasn't happened since May!
:-)
view rouquinne's profile
Cool DIY, but I don't understand what the deal is with canopy beds that don't have canopies.
view Lisa Hunter (Montreal)'s profile