It's a great use of space. But would be even better curtained off.

Ahh nothing like a nap in your alcove bed with the breeze blowing through those great windows carrying the voices of the slaves toiling... Romantic. Seriously, what is this crap and why is it on this site?

I must have missed the non-existent nostalgia for slavery in the above post.

I actually liked Monticello a lot: it reminded me so much of Palladian villasfrom the area around Venice. I liked the rooms colors better than Mt. Vernon

Now I see it updated with built in cabinets in the two hallways this creates and some great under the bed storage. In my imaginary house, this would great with the office on one side and a dressing room on the other.

That just looks odd to me!

Interesting. I don't know how I would feel about having it in my own home, but it certainly works well in the space there.

What the hell does slavery have to do with anything ragarding this post? LET IT GO, PEOPLE!

I agree that there was no allusion in the text of the post to the Jefferson/Hemmings controversy, but while reading the post and looking at the photo, I was reminded that one of the rumors (which in this case appears to be unfounded) was that she slept in the space above his bed or used it for access to his room. That part of the story must be well publicized enough for a casual observer such as myself to associate it with the photo, and did make the photo, to me, somewhat jarring. Google "Jefferson," "Hemmings," "bed" for a report from Monticello.org.

nice small space solution, IF THIS WAS A SMALL SPACE! It looks totally wierd, and clearly there's no lack of space in Jefferson's mansion.

Good thing Jefferson had that career as a Founding Father.

Actually, those 3 windows up above the bed are windows into the closet/storage area. That door to the left of the bed is a stairway that leads up to that closet and he wanted to make sure it had good ventilation.

I lived in Charlottesville for 10 years and toured Monticello many, many times. It's actually not as big as you would think ...

I realize the post didn't make any reference to slavery and for those who want me to "let it go", my point is that yes, like you, I obviously read this site and enjoy a bit of eye candy, but for me it's just not possible to enjoy the aesthetic of a place which was created in a particularly brutal historical context without mentioning it. I know AT and of course all of its enlightened readers are so "green" and into "sustainability" and "ethically sourced" this, that and the other thing, but when it comes down to it, it's pretty uncomfortable to think about how and where the things we consider beautiful were and are produced, isn't it. So, no, I won't "let it go", mate. Does my comment not make sense to you? Does it make you uncomfortable? I'd have to say, I'm not surprised...

Wow... did you just say "LET IT GO"? I guess ignorance really is bliss.

And I have to agree, that's not a "small space solution" when it's connecting what looks to be two large rooms.

Wow. I wonder how many slaves you can fit into a place like that?
Monticello=Slavery. It was bound to be said.
I agree w/ Sherry2 and myherozero... When you see certain things/places, there are just certain things that automatically come to mind.
Also, it's not a "small space" solution. Looks odd in such a big room.

Okay, having successfully settled the "fact" that Monticello=Slavery, we can move on to banning Volkswagens because Volkswagen=Nazi. It would also be about as relevant to the original post.

And of course all of the slavery posters also completely shun Ikea furniture, because Ikea=Nazi too, right? That, at least, has something to do with Apartment Therapy.

Hey, word association can go anywhere.

But since you mentioned it, the Volkswagon beetle is a better small space solution than the above alcove bed.

You can't "enjoy the aesthetics of a place" that once had slaves? Wow then you probably just gouge your eyes out b/c hello, this is America honey, there was slavery all up and down the East coast in every big city at some point, so essentially most historical buidlings, homes, schools were witness to it. Furthermore, the post was about the ARCHITECTURE of the place, which was at the time very new and forward thinking. It's unfortunate that you are so narrow minded in your appreciation of history & of design.

"Hey, word association can go anywhere."

What, you don't think I'm just picking those examples randomly, do you? Tut. The Volkswagen Beetle was designed and manufactured under Hitler, as a nationalist symbol of the Nazi "volk" (people). Ingvar Kamprad, founder of Ikea, is a former member of a Swedish pro-Nazi organization, and has admitted to Nazi sympathies. If we are going to dismiss designs by association, surely the products of companies that have given profits, aid, and comfort to Nazis in current, living memory are at least as likely candidates as designed by a slave-holder 182 years dead?

"But since you mentioned it, the Volkswagon beetle is a better small space solution than the above alcove bed."

Sounds like a failure of imagination on your part. Just because the exemplar doesn't fit your idea of a small space doesn't mean that the alcove bed isn't a good small space solution. For instance, converting a supernumery closet into a kids' bunk is a great space solution in a small bedroom, and is also an example of the alcove bed.