I need help and advice to make a loft bed, including a study table,
book case, and all the necessity for my kid who will be moving out
from the University's dorm to a rented room (24'X84') before summer.

Originally, I thought of buying a used Ikea bed from craigslist and I
construct a study table with a bookcase and drawers etc. beneath the
loft bed. But after some thought, I decided it would be far simple if
I start from scratch and make everything in my garage, disassemble and
assemble at the site. I have more than sufficient maple lumber and a
twin size mattress.

I need suggestion and direction to source bed and desk hardware's and
if possible free plans. Thanks

Don wrote: I need help and advice to make a loft bed, including a
study table,
book case, and all the necessity for my kid who will be moving out
from the University's dorm to a rented room (24'X84') before summer.

My kids used plastic milk crates and interior doors, but that was a
few years ago.

Bed frames from Good Will.

Lew

Don wrote:
I need help and advice to make a loft bed, including a study table,
book case, and all the necessity for my kid who will be moving out
from the University's dorm to a rented room (24'X84') before summer.

Originally, I thought of buying a used Ikea bed from craigslist and I
construct a study table with a bookcase and drawers etc. beneath the
loft bed. But after some thought, I decided it would be far simple if
I start from scratch and make everything in my garage, disassemble and
assemble at the site. I have more than sufficient maple lumber and a
twin size mattress.

I need suggestion and direction to source bed and desk hardware's and
if possible free plans. Thanks

Well, if you figure it out let me know, because I'm also on the hook to
build a loft bed for my daughter, but luckily I'm not under the same
time constraints you are.

I did an initial investigation of what's "out there" as far as loft bed
plans, and I found a few interesting things in the Google Sketchup
Warehouse (http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/). I didn't find THE
plan that made me want to rush out to the shop and start cutting wood,
but you may have different requirements, and they might have some newer
things out there I haven't seen yet.

--
Any given amount of traffic flow, no matter how
sparse, will expand to fill all available lanes.
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/

In article ,
"Lew Hodgett" wrote:

Don wrote: I need help and advice to make a loft bed, including a
study table,
book case, and all the necessity for my kid who will be moving out
from the University's dorm to a rented room (24'X84') before summer.

I'm assuming there must be more going on in this room than just your
kid's sleeping and studying, or else the dimensions aren't quite correct
here...otherwise, I guess I don't really see the need for a loft
arrangement when you have over 2000 sf of space, especially when you're
used to a dorm room, but that's neither here nor there.

My kids used plastic milk crates and interior doors, but that was a
few years ago.

My post-dorm furniture was generally similar (although I wasn't part of
the construction of it). Lofted bed consisted of 2x6 or 2x8 frame with
plywood for the mattress, supported I think with some 2x2 or similar
bits around the bottom edges, and supported on a 2x4 frame. The desktop
underneath was a door at an appropriate height, laid across more 2x4
chunks attached to the upright framing. A bookcase of the cheapest
assemble-it-yourself wooden utility shelf style completed the ensemble.
The finish might be described as a natural patina, which sounds better
than "we sanded the splinters off." (There was a closet in the
apartment, and a separate chest of drawers, as well.) This worked fine,
although I would recommend some diagonal bracing for the uprights, and
maybe a shelf or something at one end of the bed to act as a sort of
nightstand.

Boards and cinder blocks or bricks work fairly well for bookshelves,
too, and are easy to reconfigure if needed.

Even today, my desk consists of an interior door, upgraded with a
polyurethane finish, sitting upon a pair of two-drawer filing cabinets.
Actually, I think the finish is rather wasted, as you can't really see
the surface of the desktop anyhow, what with all the papers and junk.

At any rate, anything you make out of maple will be fairly certain to be
De Luxe as college lofts go. Good luck and all!

--
Andrew Erickson

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot
lose." -- Jim Elliot

On Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:27:12 -0500, Steve Turner
wrote:

Well, if you figure it out let me know, because I'm also on the hook to
build a loft bed for my daughter, but luckily I'm not under the same
time constraints you are.

Yes, I do have time constrain. For the moment trying to finish a shed
in my backyard, so I could move all unnecessary things out of the
garage to make space for the construction of the loft bed. I could buy
a used Ikea loft bed for $150, and they are makes of metal tubes. To
incorporate a study table with an attached bookshelf plus drawers for
her clothing is complicated. Anyway the maple lumbers already paid
for, might as well use it now.

I did an initial investigation of what's "out there" as far as loft bed
plans, and I found a few interesting things in the Google Sketchup
Warehouse (http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/). I didn't find THE
plan that made me want to rush out to the shop and start cutting wood,
but you may have different requirements, and they might have some newer
things out there I haven't seen yet.

Good plans, but I am still using Win98SE and incorrect O/S for
Goggle's Sketchup 6 or 7. I need to construct the loft bed as compact
as possible. I'll surf around and next week, I'll will start working
on it, taking pics as I go along. I will post them in apbw after I
completed. Thanks for your Goggle Sketchup site. :-)

On Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:23:25 -0400, Andrew Erickson
wrote:

In article ,
"Lew Hodgett" wrote:

Don wrote: I need help and advice to make a loft bed, including a
study table,
book case, and all the necessity for my kid who will be moving out
from the University's dorm to a rented room (24'X84') before summer.

I'm assuming there must be more going on in this room than just your
kid's sleeping and studying, or else the dimensions aren't quite correct
here...otherwise, I guess I don't really see the need for a loft
arrangement when you have over 2000 sf of space, especially when you're
used to a dorm room, but that's neither here nor there.

My mistake here, my wife gave me the dimensions as I was not there to
see the room. The room dimension is 120"X84". It is a small room and I
need to give her as much space for her books and other necessity in a
compact space so she could concentrate on her studies.

I had check various web sites on loft beds' designs, including
Rockler, Lee Valley and so forth on bed's hardware's. The problem I am
facing is after making it, how to dismantle and assemble with as
little problems as possible and yet strong to last for the next three
years.

My kids used plastic milk crates and interior doors, but that was a
few years ago.

I was sleeping on the floor with a thin mattress when I was in
college, no hot water, not even a table in a cheap rented bare room.
And that was many years ago. We, as parent do what we can for our
offspring without going to the extreme. It's up to them to do their
very best and focus on their main objective -do well in their study.
Everyone has their own views and philosophy of life, how we treat of
our children. I never gave my children what they don't need and we are
financially strap anyway, with no room for luxury. No offence
intended:-)

My post-dorm furniture was generally similar (although I wasn't part of
the construction of it). Lofted bed consisted of 2x6 or 2x8 frame with
plywood for the mattress, supported I think with some 2x2 or similar
bits around the bottom edges, and supported on a 2x4 frame. The desktop
underneath was a door at an appropriate height, laid across more 2x4
chunks attached to the upright framing. A bookcase of the cheapest
assemble-it-yourself wooden utility shelf style completed the ensemble.
The finish might be described as a natural patina, which sounds better
than "we sanded the splinters off." (There was a closet in the
apartment, and a separate chest of drawers, as well.) This worked fine,
although I would recommend some diagonal bracing for the uprights, and
maybe a shelf or something at one end of the bed to act as a sort of
nightstand.

Do you have pics so I could have a better idea? I am thinking exactly
what you have describe here. She will have to live with this
contraction for the next few years. I expect her to sell it to the
next person that comes along after she graduate.

Boards and cinder blocks or bricks work fairly well for bookshelves,
too, and are easy to reconfigure if needed.

Yes, bricks' hollow blocks and a plain pine boaards makes a fine
bookshelf, but since the old man is still around and he has all the
power tools and lots of maple lumbers, why not make something which is
available?

Even today, my desk consists of an interior door, upgraded with a
polyurethane finish, sitting upon a pair of two-drawer filing cabinets.
Actually, I think the finish is rather wasted, as you can't really see
the surface of the desktop anyhow, what with all the papers and junk.

At any rate, anything you make out of maple will be fairly certain to be
De Luxe as college lofts go. Good luck and all!

Thanks for your view, I appreciate it.

In article , Don wrote:

On Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:23:25 -0400, Andrew Erickson
wrote:

In article ,
"Lew Hodgett" wrote:

Don wrote: I need help and advice to make a loft bed, including a
study table,
book case, and all the necessity for my kid who will be moving out
from the University's dorm to a rented room (24'X84') before summer.

I'm assuming there must be more going on in this room than just your
kid's sleeping and studying, or else the dimensions aren't quite correct
here...otherwise, I guess I don't really see the need for a loft
arrangement when you have over 2000 sf of space, especially when you're
used to a dorm room, but that's neither here nor there.

My mistake here, my wife gave me the dimensions as I was not there to
see the room. The room dimension is 120"X84". It is a small room and I
need to give her as much space for her books and other necessity in a
compact space so she could concentrate on her studies.

7' x 10' -- I'm a whole lot less confused now!

snip

My post-dorm furniture was generally similar (although I wasn't part of
the construction of it). Lofted bed consisted of 2x6 or 2x8 frame with
plywood for the mattress, supported I think with some 2x2 or similar
bits around the bottom edges, and supported on a 2x4 frame. The desktop
underneath was a door at an appropriate height, laid across more 2x4
chunks attached to the upright framing. A bookcase of the cheapest
assemble-it-yourself wooden utility shelf style completed the ensemble.
The finish might be described as a natural patina, which sounds better
than "we sanded the splinters off." (There was a closet in the
apartment, and a separate chest of drawers, as well.) This worked fine,
although I would recommend some diagonal bracing for the uprights, and
maybe a shelf or something at one end of the bed to act as a sort of
nightstand.

Do you have pics so I could have a better idea? I am thinking exactly
what you have describe here. She will have to live with this
contraction for the next few years. I expect her to sell it to the
next person that comes along after she graduate.

Unfortunately, I have no photos of the above-described wonderful
contraption. I kind of hoped to make some time to sketch a bit out over
the weekend, but that didn't happen (and isn't likely to happen anytime
soon, unfortunately). Sorry.

Here are a couple of approximately similar designs I found with a quick
google search:
http://www.stubborn-norwegian.com/loft-beds.html (the top image)
http://www.factory-direct-beds.com/loft-beds/

All the best.

--
Andrew Erickson

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot
lose." -- Jim Elliot

On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:25:34 -0400, Andrew Erickson
wrote:

Unfortunately, I have no photos of the above-described wonderful
contraption. I kind of hoped to make some time to sketch a bit out over
the weekend, but that didn't happen (and isn't likely to happen anytime
soon, unfortunately). Sorry.

Here are a couple of approximately similar designs I found with a quick
google search:
http://www.stubborn-norwegian.com/loft-beds.html (the top image)

The above is what I have in mind. With a study table and a book shelf
below. On each end of the loft bed a drawer chest for her clothing and
more books shelve on the other. A compact loft bed/study "contraption"
(thanks for not highlighting my many mistakes). I will take pic as I
go along and post it on my website later for anyone who is interested.
Thanks again.


http://www.factory-direct-beds.com/loft-beds/

Don wrote in

The above is what I have in mind. With a study table and a book shelf
below. On each end of the loft bed a drawer chest for her clothing and
more books shelve on the other. A compact loft bed/study "contraption"
(thanks for not highlighting my many mistakes). I will take pic as I
go along and post it on my website later for anyone who is interested.
Thanks again.

As someone who built some bunkbeds along the way, it came to my attention
that some kind of regulation exixt that requires a way to insure the mattess
does not fall out of the bed. When looking at commercial bunkbeds, I saw
this.

It did not affect me because I am a safety freak and had several ways of
securing the matteress. Including cables and screwing a peice of plywood to
the bed frame.

Something to think about.