apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Looks like a couple 4x4's and some 2x4's whitewashed and nailed together to me...

....not advice just wanted to say, that i love that room. Probably my favorite ever posted on the site.

track down the book handmade modern by todd oldham--he's got a decent looking platform bed instruction in it...looks simple enough, and definitely modifiable

Yeah, there seem to be 2 layers of 4x4s, the bottom on runs the width of the bed and gives it more height. For support I would definitely make it 3 4x4s lengthwise (Im a middle of the bed girl) and maybe widthwise too to make me feel safe. I would sand the wood and stain or paint it all, then put it together in the bedroom. Sand the ends like crazy! Splinters aren't fun in the bedroom!

The hardest part to attach would be the 4x4s but instead of drilling you could just have a piece cut out at the hardware store where each of the top ones will lay across the bottom so that it wont move around.

The 4x4s should be the same length or width as your mattress, and the 2x4s should be a bit longer than the width, and spaced according to your preference. This bed has 4 (2 per side) extra planks. If you space them more you might only want 1 per side, and if they are really tight, you might want more. Also consider 1.5 or 1 x 4s for something a bit lighter but still strong.

If you want to buy, Ikea has a similar platform bed which I believe is untreated, so you can paint however you like, and many futon stores sell futon frames like this.

3 4x4s the length of the bed

3 4x4s the width of the bed

lay the long 4x4s on top of the short and fasten (carriage bolts, screws, angle braces will all work

go to Ikea and get a set of bed slats to lay across the long 4x4s

If the bed slats are connected to each other you only need to fasten ever 3rd one or so. Or every one if you want it to be rock solid.

If you want extra height forgo the slats and get a standard box-spring/mattress combo. That will lift you up some, but will also make it look less like a classic platform.

Good luck!

Here's the slatted bed base from Ikea. I would start from this piece and measure out.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30072830

I second modfan's suggestion: Start from a slat base. Once you've suspended the slat base, the rest is just decoration and not structural.

From a practical point of view I always thought that a bed like this would be a PAIN to use. I just want to roll out of bed. I never did get the Peter Maley bed.

I used to have the most basic bed ever: ton of milk crates, plywood sheet, futon (also used a mattress), fabric stapled to plywood for skirt.

Bonus: tons of storage space in the milk cartons!

honestly, this bed is SOOO beautiful, simple yet eye-catching. thanks so much for all of your advice. i've been indecisive for such a long time but i just keep coming back to this post.

i'm thinking that i'm going to attempt to do it on my own and i think that modfan is totally right that i should go ahead and get the slats from IKEA and maybe use that book that AllyPo recommends as a guide.

The main thing is that little lip area where the clock is. but maybe i can just add that to a preexisting IKEA bed.

my plan is to get it done this weekend (or at least start it) so hopefully i make up my mind by then.

thanks all! i'll be sure to send over pics of my final result.

My boyfriend inherited a bed somebody made using 2 standard doors

The ideal low bed height is 18" from top of the mattress to the floor. Lower than that has your knees higher than your hips, so it is much harder to lift yourself out in the morning. While an 18" mattress height looks low to the eye, it is the same height as a standard sofa seat, so it is no harder to get in and out of a bed at that height than it is to get in and out of your sofa.

My cheap platform bed suggestion doesn't look like the bed pictured above. I had my box spring upholstered in highly discounted mohair fabric I purchased on eBay. I put the box spring on the floor, put the mattress on the box spring, and added a wall mounted headboard in the same fabric. The upholstering of the box spring cost $125 and the fabric ran $30/yd.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28955208@N05/3115458626/

RichardinLA, that looks about a million times better than I would have ever expected an upholstered box spring to look. Nice!

RICHARDINLA: i have to admit that i found the description of your bed hideous, but the pictures look absolutely GREAT!!! good job! :)

my bed is basically a longer full mattress (78" x 52" memory foam) on some ikea bentwood slats in a basic $20 adjustable metal frame i picked up at costco. the frame is too short for my bed, so i've played around with the 4x4 idea on paper before, but i've never made an actual product, mostly because i didn't want to have to move it, as i used to move every 6 months or so. now that i own my place and have no intentions to move anytime soon, perhaps it's time to finalise a design similar to this 4x4 idea. thanks for sharing!

any ideas on a source for the prints?